What is affogato? A simple affogato recipe and steps for how to make affogato at home

Coffee and dessert are the two after-dinner staples when hosting guests, so why not combine the two at your next dinner party with an affogato recipe? What is affogato you may ask? This coffee-based dessert is one part ice cream, one part espresso, and entirely sweet.  

If you have no idea how to make this coffee dessert, you’ve come to the right place. Learning how to make affogato has never been easier. In this guide, we’ll walk you through an easy-to-follow affogato recipe so that you can make this drink at home. Once you see how easy it is, you’ll want to serve this rich, creamy coffee dessert every time you host.

What does affogato mean?

So, what is affogato and what does ‘affogato’ mean in the first place? The affogato meaning translates to “drowned” in Italian, and in this case refers to the concept of “drowning” a scoop of ice cream in a shot of espresso. The most traditional form of affogato includes one scoop of vanilla gelato – or ice cream – topped off with a shot of hot espresso. There is no set affogato recipe, however, and this tasty desert can be made various toppings and ice cream flavors.  

In general, this dish is all about the sweetness of simplicity: one scoop of ice cream, one shot of espresso. In other words, you don’t need to fuss over making affogato. It is an ideal post-dinner dessert that requires far less hassle and just as much – if not more – sweetness than any other dessert.