Self-medication for low energy can come in various forms. It would appear that the most popular ones (if coffee shops are any indication) are a caffeine jolt or a sugar fix. Now, what happens if you combine the two, say, as a searing hot espresso poured over decadent ice cream?
Hoochie mama.
Affogato is an excellent mid-afternoon treat, or if you are planning to dance the night away, a great way to end dinner. When I was little, occasionally my mother would order a decaf after the meal and I would get ice cream, and it was our ritual for me to scoop some of my ice cream into my mother’s decaf. I would stare in fascination as the ice cream melted and made milky swirls in the dark brew. There is definitely something magical about the pairing of cream and coffee, never mind the combination of cold and hot. For those of us obsessed with different states of matter, it doesn’t get much better than affogato.
Affogato
(Italian for “drowned,” and yes, I would be happy to drown in this, please and thank you)
When making affogato, timing is everything; it is ideal to have the ice cream remain as cold as possible, and to pour over a fresh shot of espresso that is as hot as possible. If you are able to work in tandem with one person in charge of scooping ice cream while the other is pulling espresso shots, this is the best situation.
Regardless, scoop your ice cream into little cups or bowls. Pull your espresso shots into separate cups. Allow your guests to pour their espresso over their ice cream themselves, as this is the best part! Eat with a spoon.
Some recipes suggest adding whipped cream or liqueurs, but we think the simplicity of just two components is best. If it is really good espresso, and really good ice cream (perhaps homemade?!), then it needs nothing else.
Affogato is a very clever way to enjoy freezer-burned ice cream that has gotten a little frosty with age – since most of the ice cream is going to melt when the espresso is poured over, who’s to know?
Enjoy the happiness of preparing and eating something so delectable, as well as the wonderful buzz of energy that follows. Dance, darling, dance.
