Introduction:Want to easily recreate popular café desserts and refreshing drinks at home? This article breaks down in detail the preparation process of two classic beverages—Affogato and Sparkling Iced Americano—from ingredient selection, extraction parameters to assembly steps, providing clear and easy-to-follow visual guides. Affogato is characterized by the hot-cold contrast between espresso and ice cream, while Sparkling Iced Americano combines the crispness of carbonated water with the richness of coffee. Even beginners can follow the steps to quickly get started and enjoy a professional-level coffee experience.

Want to easily make café-quality coffee desserts and drinks at home? Through detailed visual tutorials, this article walks you step-by-step through the creation of two beloved coffee beverages: Affogato and Sparkling Iced Americano. Affogato is a classic combination where hot espresso is poured over ice cream, and the fusion of hot and cold makes it more like an enchanting dessert; while Sparkling Iced Americano offers a refreshing and energizing taste sensation through the clever pairing of sparkling water and espresso. From ingredient preparation to extraction techniques, and finally to presentation, each step is clearly explained—so even novice coffee enthusiasts can easily master it. Follow the steps below, and you’ll find that making these two drinks is simpler and more fun than you might think.

First, let’s introduce how to make Affogato. Its core concept is pouring a freshly brewed shot of espresso over ice cream. When the hot coffee touches the ice cream, it not only gradually melts it but also creates an attractive layer of coffee crema foam on the surface. Although this drink is often categorized as coffee, it’s actually closer to the definition of a dessert. So, how exactly do you make a perfect Affogato? Here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps.

First, prepare the necessary ingredients: your favorite ice cream (it’s recommended to choose a rich milk or chocolate flavor), a wide-mouthed container (to facilitate pouring coffee and observing the blending effect), a shot of espresso (about 38g of extracted liquid), and a piece of your favorite cookie for garnish (optional).

Step one: Use a spoon to scoop out a large ball of ice cream and place it in the wide-mouthed container. (If you particularly enjoy a rich sweetness, you can add one or two extra scoops, adjusting entirely to your personal preference.)

Step two: Use an espresso machine or a moka pot to extract about38 gramsof espresso liquid, ensuring the extraction is even and the crema is rich.

Step three: Slowly and gentlypour the freshly extracted hot espressoover the ice cream ball, which helps preserve more of the coffee crema and creates an appealing layered effect.

Step four: Finally, insert a cookie on top of the ice cream as decoration, adding both flavor and visual appeal.

Congratulations—you’ve now completed a delicious and enticing Affogato, ready to enjoy this marvelous interplay of hot and cold flavors.

Next, let’s see how to make the refreshing Sparkling Iced Americano.

Prepare the ingredients: a cup with a capacity of about300 milliliters, a bottle of sparkling water (it’s recommended to choose a sugar-free or low-sugar variety to highlight the coffee flavor), a shot of espresso (also about38 gramsof extracted liquid), and some ice cubes.

Step one: Put about80 gramsof ice cubes into the cup, then pour in170 gramsof sparkling water, leaving room for the coffee liquid to avoid overflow.

Step two: Extract38 gramsof espresso liquid using an espresso machine, ensuring the extraction pressure and time are at ideal levels to achieve optimal flavor.

Step three: Slowly pour the freshly extracted espresso into the mixture of sparkling water and ice cubes, gently stir until evenly mixed, and then it’s ready to enjoy. It’s recommended to drink it immediately to experience the best balance of bubbly texture and coffee aroma.

And just like that, a Sparkling Iced Americano that combines the crispness of carbonation with the rich aroma of coffee is effortlessly complete—perfect for hot summer days or when you need a pick-me-up.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.