Crema di caffè was developed in Naples in the 1800’s, when the summers were very hot, but no one wanted to forgo their afternoon cup of coffee (I can totally empathize with that). So the women in Naples came together and developed a way to get that sweet coffee fix in a nice chilly way that is just perfect for those hot summer days… and crema di caffè was born.
The combination of strong coffee and sweetened thick whipped cream is heavenly. Shave a little dark chocolate over top and you have a creamy cool way to enjoy your afternoon cup of coffee, even on those really hot summer days.
Let’s get it started…
The toughest element of making crema di caffè is waiting for the coffee to chill (its a pretty easy recipe). Once you realize how much you love this cool creamy coffee, you will be keeping a mug of strong sweetened coffee in the refrigerator so you will always have it on hand.
Since this is probably your first time, brew a pot of strong coffee or make some espresso and pour 3/4 cup into a mug. Add 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar into the coffee while it is still really hot and stir until it is fully dissolved.
Place the coffee into the refrigerator until it is fully chilled.
Once the coffee is fully chilled, begin whipping 1 3/4 cups of heavy cream. You can do this in a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer. Once the heavy cream starts forming large bubbles, add 1 tablespoon of confectioners sugar and continue whipping.
Once the heavy cream begins forming soft peaks, slowly drizzle in 3/4 cup of chilled and sweetened coffee…
My mixer was set at medium speed up until this stage, but as soon as I add the coffee, I raise the speed to medium high and whip the mixture until it is thick and full of light airy goodness.
This recipe makes enough for four servings, so I fill two short glasses with crema di caffè and place the remaining deliciousness in the refrigerator for later.
Although it is perfect as is, I love shaving a little dark chocolate over the top. It looks so beautiful and adds a little bit of chocolate to the creamy coffee flavors and that is never a bad thing.
The next time you are craving some coffee, but don’t want something hot, don’t forget your new BFF crema di caffè.
Buon Appetito!
Crema di Caffè
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup strong coffee or espresso
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
- dark chocolate shavings (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Brew a pot of strong coffee or espresso
- Place 3/4 cup of coffee and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar into a mug
- Stir until the sugar has fully dissolved
- Place the coffee in the refrigerator until it is fully chilled
- Add 1 3/4 cups of heavy cream into a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer
- Whip the heavy cream until large bubbles begin to form
- Add 1 tablespoon of confectioners sugar into the heavy cream
- Continue whipping the heavy cream until soft peaks begin to form
- Slowly add the chilled coffee as the heavy cream continues whipping
- Whip until the mixture is thick and airy
- Transfer the crema di caffè into glasses and garnish with shaved chocolate
