DESSERT FAMILY
Affogato
An affogato is a simple Italian dessert: a shot of hot espresso poured over a scoop of cold vanilla gelato. The espresso melts the gelato into a warm, creamy, bittersweet pool that is part drink, part dessert.
- Cup size
- 4-5 oz
- Served
- Hot
- Strength
- 5 / 5 (concentration, not caffeine)
- Caffeine
- ~63 mg typical
The diagram shows the measured espresso; the gelato is not drawn.
WHERE IT SITS
- Affogato
- Espresso
In the cup
What's in an Affogato
The affogato is the most delicious kind of simple. A scoop of cold gelato, usually vanilla or fiordilatte, goes into a small cup or glass, and a fresh, hot shot of espresso is poured straight over it. The name is Italian for drowned, and that is exactly what happens: the espresso drowns the gelato, melting it into a swirl of warm coffee and cold cream.
The magic is in the contrast. Hot meets cold, bitter espresso meets sweet gelato, and the two blend into something richer than either alone. It is eaten with a spoon as much as sipped, somewhere between an affogato and a coffee float, and it is best enjoyed immediately, before the gelato fully melts.
- START HEREAffogato
- Espresso
An affogato is espresso and gelato and nothing more - a classic way to end a meal in Italy, and one of the easiest ways to turn a single shot of coffee into a small celebration.
Ordering an Affogato
At the counter
An affogato arrives as a scoop of cold gelato with a fresh, hot shot of espresso poured over it, usually at the end of a meal. It is as much dessert as drink, eaten with a spoon as the espresso softens the gelato into a warm-and-cold swirl. Eat it right away, before the gelato fully melts.
- Cup size
- 4-5 oz
- Served
- Hot
Make it at home
Making an Affogato at home
- Scoop cold vanilla gelato or ice cream into a small cup or glass.
- Pull a fresh, hot shot of espresso.
- Pour the hot shot straight over the gelato at the table and eat it right away with a spoon, before it melts.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is an Affogato?
An affogato is a shot of hot espresso poured over a scoop of cold vanilla gelato. The espresso melts the gelato into a warm, creamy, bittersweet mix that is eaten with a spoon, making it as much a dessert as a coffee drink.
What's in an Affogato / what's the ratio?
An Affogato is 1 oz espresso, over gelato in a 4-5 oz cup - one shot of espresso poured over a scoop of gelato.
Is an Affogato strong?
On our concentration scale, an Affogato rates 5/5. Strength here means how concentrated the coffee tastes - not how much caffeine is in the cup.
How is an Affogato different from an Espresso?
A plain espresso is just the shot on its own, small and intense. An affogato takes that same shot and pours it over gelato, turning it into a warm-and-cold dessert. The coffee is the same; the affogato simply drowns it in gelato.
Is an Affogato hot or iced?
Traditionally hot. An Affogato is served warm, not over ice.
How much caffeine is in an Affogato?
Around 63 mg is typical for an Affogato, scaled from USDA's measured figure for espresso rather than measured in the cup. It is approximate - the real amount shifts with the beans, the roast, and the pour.