What does affogato mean in Italian?

Ancient chronicles tell us that the Affogato first saw the light in northern Italy, where espresso coffee reigned supreme and ice cream was a gift from the gods. The magic of this creation lies in its simplicity: a scoop of vanilla ice cream, bathed in the dark nectar of freshly brewed coffee. Over the centuries, the Affogato became a symbol of sophistication and culinary pleasure, delighting the most discerning palates of the time. The smoothness of the ice cream wonderfully contrasted with the intensity of the coffee, creating a heavenly balance that made those who tasted it sigh with pleasure. Our Affogato is a tribute to history and a passion for good food. With artisanal vanilla ice cream and the highest quality espresso coffee, each spoonful is a journey into the past, a tribute to the culinary masters who created it, and a celebration of life itself. Delight your senses with this wonderful creation that has withstood the test of time and remains a symbol of the greatness of Italian cuisine. Join us at Nicoletta to enjoy this authentic culinary delight. The term “affogato” in Italian means “drowned,” a description as evocative as it is accurate for this divine dessert. Centuries ago, in the sunny lands of Italy, this exquisite delicacy was born, captivating palates and hearts alike to this day.

What Is an Affogato. An affogato is gelato drowned in espresso. While its exact origins are up for debate, it is an Italian dessert that is believed to have gained popularity in the 1950s when the ice cream industry modernized. Although affogatos are commonly enjoyed after dinner, they're also a delicious treat for when you need a little caffeine boost. In fact, two Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Gurus have even told me they use pints of vanilla ice cream to make affogatos for their morning coffee almost every day at work. As people who spend their entire day experimenting with ice cream, I’d consider them the experts. So, if they say adding espresso turns ice cream into breakfast, I think I have to believe them. Many affogato experts will insist that the drink can only be made with vanilla ice cream, I think it’s hard to mess up an affogato. All you really need is any ice cream you can find and a shot or two of espresso. Her biggest hot take is that the best ice cream base for an affogato is not vanilla gelato, but actually coffee ice cream.

The Italian word affogato means ‘drowned’. In this classic Italian dessert, gelato is drowned by a shot of fresh, hot espresso coffee. While gelato has a long and venerable history, the humble affogato only made its way into the English dictionary in 1992! The Italian origins of the dessert are unclear. Traditionally the affogato is served with Fior di Latte gelato. Some say that the traditional way to serve it is with vanilla ice cream, but this is technically incorrect from the Italian perspective. The hot bitterness of the coffee contrasts beautifully with the cold creaminess of the Flower of the Milk. Our Fior di Latte is particularly special as it is made with local milk from the happy cows at Vine Farm Dairy, Great Dalby. We like to serve classic Italian dishes to our Leicester friends! The Italian word affogato means ‘drowned’. In this classic Italian dessert, gelato is drowned by a shot of fresh, hot espresso coffee. The Italian origins of the dessert are unclear. The hot bitterness of the coffee contrasts beautifully with the cold creaminess of the Flower of the Milk. Our Fior di Latte is particularly special as it is made with local milk from the happy cows at Vine Farm Dairy, Great Dalby. We like to serve classic Italian dishes to our Leicester friends! Traditionally the affogato is served with Fior di Latte gelato. Some say that the traditional way to serve it is with vanilla ice cream, but this is technically incorrect from the Italian perspective. We are proud to know we were the first venue in Leicester to serve an authentic affogato. With your gelato, you can choose to have a freshly brewed shot of Caffe Vergnano espresso poured over the top. If you want a caffeine-free alternative, then ask for pure melted chocolate straight from our on-counter chocolate tap! It’s like Willy Wonka, but better!