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Caffè shakerato
Caffè shakerato: hot espresso shaken hard with ice and sugar into a cold, frothy, velvety summer coffee
When July heat settles over Italian piazzas, bar regulars from Rome to Bologna switch their morning or after-lunch espresso for a shakerato. The barista pulls a fresh shot, tips it into a cocktail shaker with ice and sugar, shakes hard for fifteen seconds and strains it into a chilled martini or wine glass, where it settles into a dark body under a thick, beige, mousse-like crema. It tastes intense and bittersweet, colder and smoother than iced coffee, with a texture almost like a light cream. The common mistake is using too little ice or shaking half-heartedly: the coffee stays warm and the foam collapses within seconds. Fill the shaker at least half full with ice and shake until the metal is too cold to hold comfortably. It is ready when you hear the ice rattle softly and the shaker frosts over, and the pour has a thick foam on top. One shaker holds one double espresso, so it is fairly strong in caffeine. Chef's tip: dissolve the sugar in the hot espresso before adding ice; granulated sugar barely melts once the coffee is cold.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 1
Ingredients
For the shakerato
- ¼ cup freshly brewed espressoa double shot, or strong moka-pot coffee
- 2 tsp sugaror 15 ml sugar syrup
- 8 ice cubeslarge, fresh from the freezer
To serve
- 3 roasted coffee beans (optional)for decoration
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put a coupe, martini or small wine glass in the freezer for a few minutes while you make the coffee.
2 minStep 2: Brew the ¼ cup freshly brewed espresso and stir in the 2 tsp sugar straight away so it dissolves completely in the hot coffee.
1 minStep 3: Fill a cocktail shaker or a jar with a tight lid with the 8 ice cubes, pour the hot sweetened espresso over it and close tightly.
1 minStep 4: Shake hard for 15–20 seconds, until the shaker is frosty and the coffee sounds thick rather than splashy.
1 minStep 5: Strain into the chilled glass, holding back the ice, so a thick layer of beige foam forms on top. Add 3 roasted coffee beans and serve immediately.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 35 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does caffè shakerato take?
- About 5 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 1 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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