Guides

Types of coffee drinks and how to make them

Pick a drink to see what goes into it, how strong it tastes and how to make it at home. No two cafés pour quite the same size, so read the amounts as typical rather than official. Coffee and water are in grams because you’ll be weighing them, and 1 g of water is 1 ml anyway.

Iced and sweet

Affogato

Hot, bitter espresso melting into cold, sweet vanilla.

  • Espresso ≈ 30 ml
  • Gelato, one scoop
  • About 30 ml
Cross-section, drawn to scale, with typical amounts.

A scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream “drowned” in a hot shot of espresso, which is what the name means in Italian. It’s dessert and coffee in one, and it’s best eaten quickly.

RatioOne shot per scoop
RecipeHot espresso over a scoop of gelato
MilkNone (gelato instead)
Serve inSmall glass or bowl
Time25–30 s shot
How strong it tastesMedium

How to make it

  1. Chill a small glass or bowl in the freezer for a few minutes.
  2. Add one or two scoops of vanilla gelato or ice cream.
  3. Pull a single or double shot and pour it straight over the top.

Tip: No espresso machine? Strong moka pot coffee works well here.

Common mistake: Soft ice cream melts into soup the moment the shot hits it. Scoop it firm, straight from the freezer, into a chilled glass.

Variations

  • Chocolate or hazelnut gelato instead of vanilla
  • Topped with crushed amaretti or chopped nuts

At a café

Look on the dessert menu. Most places list it there rather than with the coffees.

Affogato vs. shakerato: A shakerato is espresso shaken with sugar and ice. It’s something you drink, where an affogato you eat with a spoon. See the shakerato

You’ll need: Espresso machine, grinder and scale.