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32 Drinks

Affogato · ah-foh-GAH-toh

An Italian dessert drink made by "drowning" a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream in a hot espresso shot.

  • Origin: Italian
  • Ratio: 1 scoop gelato : 1 espresso
  • Availability: Specialty

Affogato (Italian for "drowned") is one of the simplest things on a café menu and one of the most reliable. A scoop of cold gelato or ice cream is placed in a glass and a fresh espresso shot is poured directly over it, melting the cream into a hot-and-cold espresso float. It works as either a dessert or an afternoon pick-me-up and is best at shops that take both their espresso and their gelato seriously.

Etymology

From Italian 'affogare,' to drown. The gelato is 'drowned' in the espresso.

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