Affogato

An affogato, known in full in Italian as (gelato) affogato al caffè ('(ice cream) drowned in coffee'), is an Italian dessert comprising a scoop of plain milk-flavored (fior di latte) or vanilla gelato or ice cream topped with hot espresso. Some variations add a shot of amaretto, bicerin, Kahlúa, or other liqueur.

Varieties
Though restaurants and cafés in Italy categorize the affogato as a dessert, some restaurants and cafés outside of Italy categorize it as a beverage. Whether a dessert or beverage, restaurants and cafés usually serve the affogato in a tall glass with a narrow bottom, allowing the ice cream to melt and combine with the espresso at the bottom of the glass. Occasionally, coconut, berries, honeycomb and multiple flavours of ice cream are added. A biscotto or cookie can also be served alongside. Affogati (also pluralized as "affogatos") are often enjoyed as a post-meal coffee dessert combo eaten with a spoon and/or drunk with a straw.

While the recipe of the affogato is more or less standard in Italy, consisting of a scoop of fior di latte (unflavored) or vanilla gelato topped with a shot of espresso, variations exist in European and North American restaurants.

Various desserts of ice cream "drowned" in other liquids are documented, including whisky, hot chocolate, soda, kirsch, Vin Santo, and port wine.

History
The origins of the affogato are unknown, but it gained popularity in Italy during the 1950s. This coincided with the industrialization of ice cream production. English-language dictionaries document the use of affogato in 1988.