Affogato
A sweet and creamy brandy cocktail ∙ Blend ∙ 4 min ∙ 13.5% ABV ∙
The Affogato is a blended dessert cocktail of grappa, coffee liqueur, brown crème de cacao, hot espresso and vanilla ice cream, served in a cocktail glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Blend all ingredients with three cubes of ice: Grappa di Moscato 45 mlCoffee liqueur 15 mlBrown crème de cacao 15 mlEspresso coffee 30 mlVanilla ice cream 1 scoop
- Pour into the chilled glass
- Garnish with three coffee beans floated in a petal formation in the center of the cocktail’s foamy head
Tips
- Pulse the blender in short bursts rather than letting it run; whip the ice cream too long and the drink turns thin and frothy.
History
The affogato is an Italian dessert of gelato or ice cream topped with hot espresso; its name means "drowned" in Italian, describing how the hot coffee is poured over, and partly melts, the scoop. Its precise origins are not documented, though its use of espresso means it could only have emerged after espresso machines became available in Italy in the early 20th century.
Modern bar versions, sometimes called affogato corretto, add a liqueur or spirit to the espresso, turning the dessert into an after-dinner drink. This Affogato cocktail uses the same components—espresso, vanilla ice cream, and spirits (grappa, coffee liqueur, and crème de cacao)—but blends them all together.
FAQ
What is an affogato cocktail?
A dessert cocktail based on the Italian affogato, ice cream drowned in espresso. Here grappa, coffee liqueur, brown crème de cacao, hot espresso and vanilla ice cream are blended together and served in a cocktail glass.
What is affogato made of, and what alcohol goes in it?
The spirit is 45 ml Grappa di Moscato, a grape brandy, with 15 ml each of coffee liqueur and brown crème de cacao. They are blended with 30 ml hot espresso and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How to make a boozy affogato?
Blend the grappa, coffee liqueur, brown crème de cacao, hot espresso and a scoop of vanilla ice cream with three ice cubes. Pulse in short bursts; run the blender too long and the drink turns thin and frothy. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and float three coffee beans on the foam.
What coffee is best for affogato?
Hot espresso, as this recipe calls for; its concentration carries the coffee flavor through the ice cream and spirits. Weaker drip coffee would dilute the drink.
Is an affogato blended, shaken, or stirred?
Blended. The vanilla ice cream needs to be broken down and partially melted into the espresso and spirits, which shaking or stirring alone cannot do.