Affogato, Three Ways

An affogato is one of the simplest desserts there is. You pour coffee over ice cream and eat it before it melts. Here are three versions to try.

1. The classic

One scoop of good vanilla gelato and 30 ml of coffee extract poured over the top. If you like it warm, gently heat the extract first. If you like it cold, pour it straight from the fridge.

2. Salted caramel

Use salted caramel gelato, pour over the coffee, and finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt and a little crushed biscuit. It's sweet, salty and bitter all at once.

3. Green tea affogato

Swap the coffee for green tea extract over vanilla or white chocolate gelato. Oolong also works beautifully. It's lighter, more floral, and a nice surprise for guests who don't drink coffee.

A tip for cafés and restaurants: affogato is one of the easiest dessert menu items to add, because there's no extra equipment and no waste. With a shelf-stable extract you can pour a consistent serve every time, even when the espresso machine is flat out with the morning rush.