Affogato coffee

Affogato coffee (also translated as affa qi duo) — Affogato is not an English word but an Italian one. It’s an Italian-style coffee that resembles a dessert. Recently, many friends have asked me how to recreate Starbucks’ version of Affogato coffee. With summer here, it’s the perfect time to enjoy something cool, sweet, and dessert-like (coffee-flavored, that is).

Affogato coffee is a type of Italian coffee, and the method is very simple. First, you need to prepare three essential ingredients/tools: ice cream, espresso, and a nice cup.

Authentic Affogato coffee uses Italian gelato. Simply place the ice cream in the cup, then pour a small shot of freshly extracted Italian espresso over it — and it's done. According to research by Front Street Coffee, more meticulous cafes will use a chilled glass so that when the espresso is poured in, it doesn’t immediately melt the ice cream, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful contrast of hot and cold, and the balance of bitter and sweet. (It’s recommended that you pay attention to this detail when making it — otherwise, even if the recipe is right, the wrong cup can ruin the visual appeal of the Affogato…)

And this is precisely the essence and symbolism of Affogato coffee, because “Affogato” translates to “drowned” in Chinese. Front Street Coffee believes it likely describes the scene of ice cream being “drowned” by espresso — pretty vivid, isn’t it?

If you love both coffee and ice cream, then Affogato can satisfy both cravings at once. The espresso melts part of the ice cream, giving the coffee a richer body, and the vanilla-flavored ice cream pairs perfectly with espresso, balancing out its bitterness. And when you take a bite of the ice cream, you’ll also taste the aroma of the espresso.