This Matcha Affogato recipe is a fun twist on the classic Italian dessert of ice cream or gelato with a shot of espresso. It's perfect for those who are adverse to coffee or are just looking to try something new beyond simply drinking matcha. It combines the bitter earthy matcha with the sweet and creamy ice cream for a delicious treat; a showstopper simple dessert for special occasions or everyday.
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Ingredients
- Matcha tea powder: A high-quality ceremonial grade matcha powder is my preference – the more vibrant the green, the better the matcha. If the green looks kind of muddy or murky or a little brownish, it’s likely not a high quality matcha. Matcha can be found in some specialty grocery stores or home stores, but you’ll find the widest range ordering online.
- Some of my favorite brands include: Tenzo, Rocky’s Matcha, Jade Leaf, and while I haven’t tried it, I’ve heard Ippodo is great.
- Water: Hot water is used to dissolve the matcha powder to make it drinkable.
- Ice cream/gelato: I find matcha pairs particularly well with gelato and ice cream given their creaminess, specifically flavors like pistachio or vanilla (think: pistachio matcha latte). But other flavors like caramel or cinnamon would also be great. If you want to double down on the matcha flavor you could also use a matcha ice cream or green tea ice cream.
How to make a matcha affogato
1. Sift and measure your matcha into a small bowl.
2. Add water on top of the matcha powder and whisk together in a circular motion until frothy.
3. Pour the hot matcha shot over a scoop of ice cream or gelato.
What is matcha?
Matcha is a form of green tea powder made from finely ground green tea leaves. It’s earthy and bitter, but overall smooth and pleasant to drink.
What is an affogato?
Affogato means “drowned” in Italian – so it loosely translates to ice cream being “drowned” (e.g., covered) in espresso (which is used in a traditional affogato), or this case, matcha.
What are the best tools for making matcha?
- Scale: a kitchen scale helps ensure you get the right amount of matcha powder for your recipe.
- Fine mesh strainer: to sift the matcha and remove any big clumps before you add the water, this helps get you a smooth, lump free mixture.
- Matcha bowl: my preference is a wide-bottomed bowl with decently high sides and a spout. I find this is best for getting the most consistent whisking, best froth, and easiest pour.
- Bamboo whisk or handheld milk frother: these are the best tools to mix the matcha and water together – a matcha whisk is ideal because of it’s shape and size, seamlessly combining the ingredients and creating a nice smooth froth. A handheld frother is always my backup because it blends everything together well, but sometimes leaves a few chunks. If you don’t have either of these, a small metal whisk will be fine but might leave some clumps.
Tips and tricks
- Don’t use boiling water, it’ll burn the matcha powder and give it a more bitter taste.
- Affogatos are best when made right before serving because the warm matcha will melt the cold ice cream.
- Serve your affogato in a clear bowl or cup, part of its beauty is seeing the ice cream and matcha combine.
- If you're an impressive person and make homemade ice cream, that would be incredible with this recipe.
FAQs
Yes, it has about 30 - 60 mg of caffeine per serving, which is less than coffee but more than plain green tea. So affogatos may keep you awake if you’re not used to having caffeine at night; consider enjoying these mid-day if so.
You should eat it with a spoon until the ice cream is all melted, at which point you should drink the remaining ice cream / matcha mixture.
Yes, matcha is naturally vegan. So if you are vegan or vegetarian, as long as you choose a suitable gelato / ice cream, this dessert is fair game!
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📖 Recipe
Matcha Affogato
Equipment
- Matcha whisk
Ingredients
- 3 g matcha powder sifted (little less than 1 tsp)
- 40 ml hot water
- 1-2 scoops pistachio or vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Sift your matcha into a small bowl.
- Pour the hot water over it and whisk together until frothy.
- Pour the matcha over a bowl or cup of ice cream.
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