COFFEE GUIDE
Affogato
Hot espresso poured over vanilla ice cream. Dessert and coffee in one.
WHAT IT IS
An affogato is a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream topped with a single or double shot of hot espresso. The word means "drowned" in Italian. The hot espresso melts the ice cream slightly, creating a creamy espresso sauce around the scoop. It is both a dessert and a coffee.
HOW IT IS MADE
A scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream is placed in a small bowl or cup. A freshly pulled espresso shot is poured directly over it. Served immediately before the ice cream melts completely.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE
Bitter espresso and sweet vanilla cream in every bite. The contrast between hot and cold, bitter and sweet, is the whole point. The melting ice cream creates a creamy coffee sauce.
WHEN TO ORDER IT
As a dessert. After dinner. When you want something indulgent that is also coffee. On a hot day when you want hot espresso but also ice cream.
HOW TO ORDER IT
Say "affogato." Ask if they use gelato or ice cream (gelato is traditional and better). Ask if you can get a double shot.
VARIATIONS
Double affogato: two espresso shots. Affogato with ristretto: sweeter and more concentrated shot for a different balance. Affogato with flavored ice cream: beyond vanilla is less traditional but sometimes good.
CAFFEINE
About 63mg for a single-shot affogato, 125mg for a double.
According to Pulled Coffee data from 462,531 coffee shops worldwide, 15.9% of all coffee shops are classified as specialty — the type most likely to serve a proper Affogato. In cities like Vancouver (4,175 specialty shops) and London (3,621), your chances of finding a great one are significantly higher than the global average.
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AFFOGATO BY CITY