Recipe Review

Shake It Up: Caffè Shakerato

Emily Han
Emily Han
Emily Han is a Los Angeles-based recipe developer, educator, herbalist, and author of Wild Drinks & Cocktails and co-author of Wild Remedies. For recipes and classes, check out her personal site.
updated Jan 29, 2020
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

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)