Shake It Up: Caffè Shakerato

Italian beverages have captured our hearts this summer. Yesterday, Faith wrote about her discovery of BibiCaffè, a fizzy espresso soda. Here in my kitchen, I have been shaking up another refreshing espresso drink, the caffè shakerato.

Apparently, shakerati have been all the rage in Italy during the past decade. A step above regular iced coffee, this beverage is born in a cocktail shaker and customarily served in a martini glass or champagne flute. It’s delightfully elegant yet easy to make – simply combine ice cubes, freshly-made espresso, and sweetener in a martini shaker, shake vigorously for about 30 seconds, and strain into a glass. The result is a deliciously smooth and refreshing deep brown drink with topped with a layer of foam.

Different recipes call for either white sugar or simple syrup; I prefer the latter. Variations may also include vanilla, chocolate, liqueur, gelato, or cream. And if you don’t have a martini shaker, one site even suggests you can shake it up using a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Recipes:
• Espresso Shake Up, from Faith Willinger
• Fare Il Caffè Shakerato, from Mokaflor (in Italian, but there’s a great video)
• Caffe Shakerato Con Cioccolato, from Imbibe Magazine
• Caffè Shakerato, Bar Italia Version, from Over the Tuscan Stove

Related:

At-Home Frappuccinos — the Vietnamese Way

(Image: Emily Ho)