Affogato, or more fully affogato al caffè, is an Italian dessert comprising a scoop of gelato, either fiordilatte or vanilla, topped with espresso.
Some variations add a shot of amaretto, bicerin, Kahlúa, or other liqueur.
Cafés usually serve the affogato in a tall glass with a narrow bottom, allowing the gelato to melt and combine with the espresso at the bottom of the glass.
Occasionally, coconut, berries, honeycomb, and multiple flavors of gelato are added.
Biscotti can also be served alongside.
In Italy the affogato is often categorized as a dessert, while outside of Italy restaurants and cafés categorize it as a beverage.
Affogatos are often enjoyed as a post-meal coffee-dessert combo eaten with a spoon or drunk with a straw.
While the recipe of the affogato is more or less standard in Italy, consisting of a scoop of fiordilatte or vanilla gelato topped with a shot of espresso, variations exist in European and North American restaurants.
The origins of the affogato are unknown.
English-language dictionaries document the use of affogato in 1988.