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Affogato


If the frappuccino recipe is too much work for you, then try a affogato. What is an affogato?  It is a traditional Italian espresso-based treat that is on many Italian restaurant's and cafe's menus in Italy.  The full name is really "affogato al cafe" or "drowned in coffee" - in Italian.  What is drowned in coffee?  Gelato or ice cream, of course!  This is a very simple recipe, just mix iced coffee with a scoop of gelato!  A simple way to get that frappuccino fix on a hot day.


First, you have to have some iced coffee on hand.  To get good quality iced coffee, it involves a little more than just brewing regular coffee and adding ice, although you can do it that way, too.  I use the cold-brewed coffee method which makes a coffee concentrate that's much less bitter than normal, has low acidity (so it seems naturally sweeter), and it has a very rich coffee flavor - perfect with some vanilla gelato.


Cold-Brewed Coffee Concentrate (makes about 2 -3/4 cup)

2/3 cup very freshly ground coffee (medium to coarse-ground coffee)
3 cups cold water


Add the ground coffee into a large glass container

Add the water and mix together.



Cover and let it sit at room temperature for 12 hours.
Strain the coffee through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve or a sieve lined with cheesecloth.  Strain this two times to be sure a get all the sediment.


In a tall glass filled with ice, fill with equal parts coffee concentrate and water, or to taste.




To make affogato al cafe, you can use gelato or ice cream, or you can experiment with various flavors.  I use vanilla gelato, the basic.  Add 1 or 2 scoops of gelato and as much coffee concentrate as you like (I like equal parts)




Stay refreshed this summer!




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