Coffee
with cream might get a lot of heat from coffee connoisseurs, but cream and
coffee? Now, that’s an intriguing idea, and the concept has a name—affogato al caffe. When
you want a little something sweet and reasonably caffeinated, this Italian
treat may hit the spot.
That’s right. As is the case with many coffee- and espresso-based indulgences, affogato al caffe comes
from Italy. While Italian coffee-drinkers see American-style coffee as muddy
water, you can’t hate on them for being coffee snobs. Okay, you can, but you’ve
got to appreciate their tenacity.
What Exactly is an Affogato al Caffe?
Italians have introduced the world to many delicious things like Neapolitan
pizza, cannoli and authentic macaroni. They also produce world-class wines,
cheeses and olive oils. Despite all that, the universally loved Italian exports
may be espresso and gelato. A melding of the two? Bellisima.
Affogato al caffe—or
affogato for us uncultured Americans—translates to “drowned in coffee.”
Honestly, though, what else did you expect from the birthplace of Vito
Corleone, A.K.A. the Don
(A.K.A The Godfather)? The dish is a scoop of sweet, innocent gelato
“drowned” in a shot of bitter, darkly addictive espresso (espresso shouldn’t
taste bitter, but it made for great imagery). Capisce?
If you “non capisce”
the reference, you don’t deserve coffee or
ice cream.
What Happened When It
Arrived in the U.S.A.?
When the caffeinated treat made its way to the U.S., affogato received a warm
welcome and was appropriately appropriated (as expected). That doesn’t mean it
tastes bad per se—just
different. Unless you’ve been to Italy for affogato, gelato affogato al caffe Americana
is going to be pretty darn good.
Just like a story from the twisted mind of an author, affogato is now commonly
enjoyed with strong coffee as a popular adaptation of the original. In fact, if
you’re going the coffee route, strong coffee is a requirement.
How Can You Live the
Sweet Life?
Once you’ve even thought about pouring some smooth, dark or medium roast coffee
over a chilly scoop of ice cream, you can start living the sweet life. While
Italian espresso bars are all about efficiency, you don’t have to rush the
process when making a version of affogato
al caffe Americana. When using coffee with high caffeine instead of espresso, brew it with a
Moka pot, AeroPress or French press to make really strong coffee.
Another way to butcher an affogato in true Americana
fashion is by using different ice cream flavors like chocolate, pistachio or
coffee (what? That one should be a no-brainer). Top with an extra shot of
espresso or one more splash of a bold roast, and you’re good to go. Italians
might see it as an abomination, but what do you care?
If you’re looking for a caffeine kick with an indulgent side, skip the coffee
with cream—pick cream and coffee instead. The most caffeine coffee could add to your affogato al caffe Americana
depends on the beans and the brewing method for your pour of choice. No matter
how you make it, it’s going to taste delicious—unless you use lousy coffee,
which by Italian standards is pretty easy to do.
About Death Wish Coffee
Co.
Hate waking up? Just never
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caffeinated beans to keep you cracked out on coffee when you’re awake. With every
cup of The World’s Strongest Coffee and The World’s Strongest Medium Roast, you
get 300 mg of caffeine. Now you’re asking, okay, but what else? Sassy mother
functioner, aren’t you? From their beans to their Cold Brew, all their coffee
is USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade. With highly caffeinated coffee and
decaffeinated merch (decaf never guaranteed), Death Wish Coffee Company really
slaps. Yeah—you heard right—it slaps. It slaps so hard, NASA slapped it into
space once. Drink this, and you might never want to go to sleep in the first
place.
