Drink Guide: Affogato al Caffe

Serving Suggestions, Garnishes and Variations for Affogato

• Serving Suggestions

  • The glass you choose can make a world of difference in the presentation. Pick a glass that tolerates temperature extremes and freeze it for about 10 minutes to frost the glass before pouring.
  • There are actually affogato glasses available from many top servingware companies, but you don't have to go that far. Most affogato glasses are narrower at the base than the top. The shape catches the ice cream partway down the glass and leaves empty space at the bottom to fill with melting ice cream and espresso, creating a sophisticated layered look.
  • If you're serving affogato to a crowd, scoop the ice cream into glasses in advance and put them into the freezer until the coffee is ready. Make the coffee in a moka pot or transfer the shots into a pitcher as they're done. Pour the espresso over the ice cream at the table. Serve with a bowl of freshly whipped cream and an assortment of garnishes.

• Garnishes

  • Coarsely ground coffee beans
  • Finely ground (Turkish grind) coffee
  • Powdered cocoa
  • Chocolate shavings
  • Crumbled cookies or biscotti
  • Drizzle with chocolate syrup
  • Pirouette cookies or wafer straws

• Variations

  • Mocha Affogato
    • Substitute chocolate gelato for vanilla ice cream. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate liqueur.
  • Almond Affogato
    • After the espresso has started to pool, drizzle the ice cream with Amoretto liqueur and top with crushed almonds.
  • Kahlua Affogato
    • Drizzle the affogato with Kahlua liqueur.
  • Tiramisu Affogato
    • Place a small square of sponge cake in the bottom of the glass. Drizzle with Amoretto. Add a scoop of vanilla gelato. Pour espresso over the ice cream and top with freshly whipped cream.