Affogato, known in full in Italian as affogato al caffè (lit. 'drowned in coffee') and gelato affogato al caffè (lit. 'gelato drowned in coffee'), is an Italian dessert comprising a scoop of gelato or ice cream, either plain milk-flavored (fior di latte) or vanilla, topped with hot espresso. Some variations add a shot of amaretto, bicerin, Kahlúa, or other liqueur.

Varieties

Although restaurants and cafés in Italy categorize the affogato as a dessert, some restaurants and cafés outside of Italy categorize it as a beverage. Whether a dessert or beverage, restaurants, and cafés usually serve the affogato in a tall glass with a narrow bottom, allowing the ice cream to melt and combine with the espresso at the bottom of the glass. Occasionally, coconut, berries, honeycomb, and multiple flavors of ice cream are added. A biscotti can also be served alongside. Affogatos are often enjoyed as a post-meal coffee dessert combo eaten with a spoon and/or drunk with a straw. While the recipe of the affogato is more or less standard in Italy, consisting of a scoop of fior di latte (plain milk-flavored) or vanilla gelato topped with a shot of espresso, variations exist in European and North American restaurants. Various desserts of ice cream in other liquids are documented, including whisky, hot chocolate, soda, kirsch, vin santo, and port wine.

History

The origins of the affogato are unknown, but it gained popularity in Italy during the 1950s. This coincided with the industrialization of ice cream production. English-language dictionaries document the use of affogato in 1988.