Italian summers are long and hot. Perfect to sample Italy’s three classic cold coffees!
Here’s exactly what to order when you need a cool caffeine hit: the frothy caffè shakerato made by shaking espresso with ice, the dessert-like affogato combining hot coffee and cool gelato, and the spoonable semi-frozen crema al caffè.
Where to find them, how to order, and typical prices below.
Italy does summer properly – it’s long and it sizzles. From late March, temperatures climb past 20 °C and often peak around 40 °C in July and August. Glorious, yes, but at times blistering. On those sweltering days, it’s only natural to get a craving for an iced coffee to cool you down and keep up your energy.
In this guide today, I want to share with you three Italian cold coffee drinks. Pick one when you are dashing between museums or pausing in the shade on a piazza. They look good in their elegant glasses, taste good at any time of the day, and are very refreshing. They are my go-to Italian summer treat – from the crema al caffè I enjoyed this August in a cafe next to the Church of San Nicolò in Bari to the countless affogato and shakerato I had between Vicenza, Verona, and Venice while living in Italy.
So, without further ado, let’s start. First with a 30-second cheat sheet, followed by detailed information. There is also a small section with frequently asked questions.
New to Italian coffee drinks? You might also like: 21 Types of Italian Coffee (and how to order each) and Italian Coffee Culture – 19 Rules (which explains, among other things, why the bar is the best place to get a coffee in Italy).
30-Second Cheat Sheet
- Caffè shakerato – Espresso shaken with ice and (usually) sugar, poured frothy into a stemmed glass. Sometimes spiked with liqueur like Baileys. €2.50–€6.00.
- Affogato al caffè – Scoop of gelato “drowned” in hot espresso. Eaten with a long-stemmed spoon, this is a crossover of coffee and dessert. €3.00–€12.00.
- Crema al caffè – Spoonable, soft-serve coffee- and cream-based mousse with a cold, velvety texture that melts on the tongue. Dispensed from a countertop machine. €2.50–€6.00.
Italian Cold Coffees: Shakerato, Affogato & Crema al Caffè (What to Order in Italy in Summer)
Pin this blog post!
Caffè Shakerato – Cold Shaken Coffee
Caffè shakerato is a very elegant drink. Customarily served in a stemmed glass, it has a thick and stable velvety froth, making it light and refreshing. Every sip is uplifting. It is made by energetically shaking a long shot of strong espresso with ice chips in a metal shaker, making it feel more like a cocktail.
When you order, you’ll be asked if you prefer it sweetened with sugar (in Italian, dolce or zuccherato) or not, in which case it will be quite bitter (amaro).
I normally take my coffee without sugar, yet I almost always ask for my caffè shakerato sweet. Its amaro version can taste a touch too sharp to me. Try both and see which you prefer.
You can also dress it up: ask for whipped cream (panna), a drizzle of chocolate, or have it shaken with a splash of liqueur. A shot of Baileys is a popular add-on.
Typical price at a no-frills bar/cafe: from €2.50 at the counter, with extras like panna or alcohol costing more.
Affogato al Caffè – Scoop of Gelato “Drowned” in Espresso
Two of Italy’s great pleasures – espresso and gelato – meet in one indulgent treat.
Affogato al caffè literally means “drowned in coffee”: a scoop of gelato (traditionally vanilla) is placed in a glass, briefly chilled in the freezer so it doesn’t melt at once, and then a shot of freshly made espresso is poured over it. You eat it with a spoon, letting the hot coffee coat each bite of gelato. Simple, decadent, and found all over Italy – from the classic version to more elaborate takes.
Case in point: the glorious affogato I had in a small coffee bar in Vicenza, where they drizzled the glass with chocolate syrup and piled in the gelato.
This is the easiest Italian cold coffee to recreate at home. This way, you can enjoy a taste of Italy on a hot day, wherever you are.
Typical price at a no-frills bar/cafe: from around €3.00, though it varies by location. In elegant restaurants in popular Italian destinations, I’ve seen affogato al caffè listed as a dessert for a steep €12.00.
Crema al Caffè – Spoonable Coffee- and Cream-Based Mousse
My all-time favourite! I don’t think I missed a single chance to have one all summer.
Crema al caffè is essentially a grown-up slush: a churned, semi-frozen blend of cream, coffee, and sugar dispensed from a countertop machine. As soon as the weather warms up, these machines appear in bars across Italy, ready for brisk business.
It’s served in a glass (usually with size options) and eaten with a small spoon. You don’t drink it, you savour it, spoonful by spoonful. The best way I can describe it is as smooth, soft, cold mousse which melts on your tongue with just the right note of uplifting sweetness.
Typical price at a no-frills bar/cafe: from around €2.50 per small glass. Expect to pay significantly more for larger sizes in tourist hotspots.
Frequently Asked Questions about Italian Cold Coffee Drinks (FAQ)
No, instead of being simply poured on top of ice cubes, it’s shaken like a cocktail to create a stable froth. It’s also typically served in a tall stemmed glass.
Both! It’s a scoop of gelato with hot espresso poured over. It’s usually eaten with a spoon. If you order one, you won’t need a separate coffee.
It’s a ready-made mix sold in Italy, which is churned using a special countertop machine. At home, you can recreate it with strong espresso, sugar, and whipped cream (there are plenty of recipes online). If you make it, let me know which recipe you used. For me, it’s an Italian summer treat and I can’t wait to have it during my yearly visit to Italy.
In summer, you can usually find caffè shakerato, affogato, and crema al caffè in any self-respecting Italian bar and patisserie. An easy cue is to look around for the crema al caffè machine. It usually sits on the bar counter or near it. Many gelaterias also serve affogato and crema al caffè.
Yes, you will find local iced coffee specialties in the different regions of Italy. Try caffè in ghiaccio (also known as caffè leccese) in Salento in Puglia, granita di caffè in Sicily, and capo in B freddo in Trieste.
In Conclusion
Here they are, the three traditional cold coffee drinks to make your hot Italian summer so much more enjoyable and energetic.
Caffè shakerato, affogato al caffè, and crema al caffè are a must-try during the hot season in Italy. Each comes with its own traditions and ways to enjoy it.
In this guide, I shared with you what I’ve learned about these three cold drinks during six years living in Italy and on my yearly returns to the bel paese. Try them all and tell me your favourite. I’ll always be devoted to crema al caffè, but each of the three brings back memories of beautiful corners of Italy.
If you’d like to learn more about Italian coffee, you might enjoy:
Thank you for reading!
More Helpful Information About Italian Food and Drinks
Food in Italy: Rules of Italian Breakfast, Italian Breakfast Foods and Drinks, How to Eat Well in Italy, Food of Lake Garda, Italian Cheeses, Traditions of Panettone, What is Polenta, Caperberries, Mandorlato Veneto, Venetian Fritella, Sant’Antonio Cakes, Making Prosciutto, Arrosticini, Tortellini, Cremino
Food Festivals in Italy: Chestnut Festivals, Truffle Festival, Cherry Festivals, Pea Festival, Prosciutto Festival, Chocolate Festival
Coffee in Italy: Italian Coffee Culture, History of Italian Coffee, 21 Italian Coffee Drinks
Markets in Italy: Rialto Fish Market, Padua Market, Types of Markets
More Helpful Information About Italy
Best of Italy: Italian Piazzas, Italian Markets, Accommodation for Every Budget, Best Times to Visit Italy, Italy in Summer, Italy with Kids
Christmas in Italy: Fun Facts, Things to Do, Italian Nativity Scenes, Panettone, Christmas Guide
Northern Italy: Best Cities to Visit, Major Airports, Reasons to Visit
Lake Como: Travel Guide, Reasons to Visit in Winter, Best Towns, Best Things to Do, Milan to Lake Como, Nearest Airports, Getting Around Lake Como
Lake Garda Towns and Villages: Best Towns, Lazise, Desenzano del Garda, Riva del Garda, Malcesine, Torri del Benaco, Punta di San Vigilio, Campo di Brenzone, Borghetto and Valeggio sul Mincio
Visiting Lake Garda: Travel Guide, Map of Lake Garda, Getting Around Lake Garda, Lake Garda with Kids, 8 Best Airports, Venice to Lake Garda, Verona to Lake Garda, Milan to Lake Garda, Bologna to Lake Garda
Venice: Travel Guide, Essential Tips, Things to Do, Major Landmarks, Hidden Gems, How to Navigate Venice, Venice in a Day for Art Lovers, Train Stations, Nearest Airports, Best Tours, Beaches of Venice, Quotes about Venice, Boats in Venice, Haunted Venice, Day Trips from Venice, Arco del Paradiso
Verona: Things to Do in One Day, Verona Opera Festival, Day Trips from Verona, Romeo and Juliet Itinerary, Verona to Venice, Verona to Milan
Padua: Things to Do in One Day, 101 Facts About Padua, 10 Reasons to Visit Padua, Day Trips from Padua, How to Reach Padua
Vicenza: Things to Do, Day Trips from Vicenza, Best Museums, The Beauty of Vicenza
Treviso: Travel Guide
Veneto: Top Places to Visit, Unique Adventures, Most Colourful Places, Mysterious Places, Most Beautiful Lakes, Reasons to Visit, Main Cities, Prettiest Small Towns, Most Beautiful Villages
Lombardy: Best Cities and Towns, Reasons to Visit, Brescia
Friuli Venezia Giulia: Venzone, Most Beautiful Villages
Emilia Romagna: Bologna, Ravenna, Comacchio, Most Beautiful Villages
Marche: Reasons to Visit, Gradara, Frasassi Caves, Temple of Valadier
Umbria: Reasons to Visit Perugia
Campania: Naples
Thank you for reading! Please, leave a comment, pin the images, or share this Italian cold coffee guide on social media.
For more useful information like this, you can follow my blog’s page on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to my strictly no-spam newsletter.
Pin This Blog Post!
