Espresso + ice cream = affogato deliciousness

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It’s a blend of hot and cold, of smooth and sharp, of rich, creamy butteriness and acidity that is one of my favourite coffee beverages.

It’s straddles dessert and a final sip of caffeine after a meal.

It’s caffé affogato.

If you’re thinking it’s too hot for coffee, or that you don’t want a processed coffee beverage on ice from a chain restaurant, then affogato — the original — is the way to go. It’s a simple shot of espresso poured over some vanilla ice cream or gelato.

The word affogato is derived from the Italian verb affogare, “to drown,” but the culinary usage also includes a sense of poaching (as in an egg). Either way, the ice cream languishes and luxuriates in its rich espresso bath.