Italian coffee, made properly at home
Southern Italy

Crema di caffè

Frozen whipped coffee cream, eaten with a spoon

The thing sold from a chilled tap at every Italian beach bar in August. It is three ingredients and a freezer.

Coupe
Freeze
3–4 h
Whip
2 min
Serve
Small glass
Servings
1

Ingredients

  • espresso or strong moka coffee, cooled200 ml
  • sugar100 g
  • whipping cream, cold150 ml

Method

1

Dissolve sugar in the hot coffee

Stir until completely clear, then cool it fully in the fridge.

2

Freeze until slushy

3–4 hours. You want soft crystals, not a solid brick.

3

Whip the cream separately

To soft peaks only.

4

Blend together

Blitz the slush, then fold the cream through. It should hold a swirl on a spoon.

5

Back in the freezer

30 minutes to firm up. Stir before serving if it has set hard.

Notes

  • Dairy-free: whipped coconut cream from a chilled tin works and adds a note that suits it.

What you need

  • Blender or stick blender