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This easy Italian affogato coffee dessert recipe requires just a few minutes and few ingredients. The result is the most delicious Italian dessert! Just so you know, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you purchase through them. 

Ciao ciao! We’ve just returned from Italy, and I have a whole bunch of recipes to share that I worked on there… but first coffee. If you’re a coffee lover, you need an affogato in your life this summer. Coffee ice cream has been one of my favorites forever, and this Italian version is even more fun.

With just two everyday ingredients you can make the most creamy, melty, delicious dessert in just a few minutes. Whether you’re looking for an easy (easiest ever!) dinner party dessert or just want a little pick-me-up treat for yourself, affogato is the answer. 

What is Affogato? 

Affogato means “drowned” in Italian, and it makes sense, as ice cream, or gelato, is drowned in coffee. Freshly brewed espresso mellows the sweetness of ice cream and the flavor combination is just perfect. Traditionally, gelato is scooped into a glass and hot espresso is poured over. Of course there are some variations you can make as desired, which I’ll be getting to in a minute. Affogato really is a crowd-pleaser – Starbucks even made a frappuccino based on this popular Italian dessert. To make a foamy affogato, why not try it with a Shaken Espresso? 

How to Make Affogato 

A glass canister of ground espresso coffee in the foreground with two Bialetti moka espresso makers in the background.

Make Espresso

The way I make my coffee every morning, and my preference for traditional Italian espresso is easy and relatively inexpensive. You don’t need a big fancy espresso machine, though those are great too, a stovetop Bialetti Moka pot will do. They come in a couple of different sizes. I like to stick with Italian espresso here and use Illy. 

A small blue espresso cup and saucer with an espresso shot sit on an outdoor table in Tuscany, Italy.

While we were in Italy I often used the Nespresso machine to make a single shot of espresso right into the little cups. Fun fact: small straight up espresso shots are the coffee of choice in Italy. Milky drinks like cappuccino are reserved for breakfast only, while espresso is often served at the end of meals. Grabbing a quick coffee in Italy also traditionally means standing at a bar. The “bar” is most commonly referring to coffee rather than cocktails. 

A shot of espresso in a cup, a scoop of vanilla ice cream in an ice cream scooper, and a glass with spoon on a tabletop to make affogato.

Scoop Ice Cream 

Vanilla ice cream is the standard and in my opinion the best choice here, as it lets the coffee flavor really shine. If you’d like more of a mocha/chocolate flavor, I recommend adding dark chocolate shavings, a sprinkle of cacao powder, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce at the end. For a dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan affogato, I like Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss in Madagascan Vanilla Bean. Scoop the ice cream as close to espresso pouring time as possible to avoid too much melting. 

A scoop of vanilla ice cream sits in a glass next to a shot of espresso before making affogato, an Italian coffee dessert.

 Pour Espresso Over Ice Cream

A hand pours a shot of espresso coffee over a scoop of ice cream to make affogato.

Pour the fresh espresso straight from the pot or from little espresso cups. 

How to Eat Affogato

Affogato in a glass with a metal spoon sits on a marble countertop. This Italian dessert is made with coffee and ice cream.

If you haven’t had affogato before you may wonder if you drink it or scoop it up with a spoon, but the answer is both! Scoop up ice cream with the spoon, then drink the rest. The important part is to enjoy it immediately after adding the espresso as the ice cream melts quickly. 

Affogato Recipe Variations & Tips

A can of Illy coffee in Italy.

  • Serve with Gluten Free Vegan Almond Biscotti 
  • For a slower-melting version, use cold coffee
  • Top with chocolate sauce for a mocha version 
  • For dinner party prep, pre-scoop ice cream into glasses and freeze ahead 
  • For a holiday spin, top with smashed candy canes
  • Use decaf if you’re sensitive to caffeine 
  • For a boozy version, add a splash of Italian amaretto liqueur 
Yield: 4

Affogato

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Affogato is a simple and delicious Italian dessert that requires just two ingredients: espresso and ice cream! Learn how to make the classic affogato recipe, plus a few tasty variations. This affogato is easy to make vegan and gluten-free.

A hand pours a shot of espresso over vanilla ice cream to make affogato, an Italian dessert.

Ingredients

  • 4 scoops vanilla ice cream (dairy-free if desired)
  • 4 shots strong espresso (decaf if desired)
  • dark chocolate shavings or sauce (for garnish, optional)
  • fresh mint sprigs (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Scoop ice cream into small-medium sized glass cups or mugs.
  2. Immediately pour espresso over the ice cream.
  3. Garnish with chocolate shavings and mint, if desired.
  4. Serve immediately with small spoons.

Notes

Do-ahead: If making affogato for a dinner party, scoop the ice cream into glasses and freeze ahead of time.

This is an easy recipe but it's important to serve affogato as soon as the espresso is poured over the ice cream as it will melt quickly.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 140Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 59mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your favorite calculator.

© Marina Delio
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Dessert