Crema al caffè
Crema al caffè or Italian Coffee Cream is an easy cold, frothy, eggless coffee dessert you can enjoy at the end of a meal or as an afternoon treat.
There are many traditional Italian coffee desserts. For example, the famous Tiramisù, Coffee Mascarpone Cream or Coffee Affogato made with Gelato.
Espresso has a deeply rooted tradition in Italian culture. Drinking espresso after a meal is almost a ritual for many Italians. Many consider coffee cream a summer alternative to the common espresso.
Crema al Caffe or Italian Cream Coffee is one of the Italian summer pleasures that make a day better. Soft, velvety, creamy indeed, the coffee cream is certainly not dietetic but it certainly makes you happy.
The recipe for preparing the coffee cream like the ones of the bar(cafe) is very fast and once prepared it can be kept in the refrigerator and lasts for a few weeks. If you love coffee, this is a recipe you absolutely must try in the summer together with coffee granita with cream and shaken iced coffee. It is a really easy recipe that requires few kitchen utensils and sometimes in Italy it is prepared with a simple bottle!
What kind of Coffee is Best?
As for the type of coffee, you can use whatever you prefer. Espresso, mocha, even decaf, or instant coffee dissolved in two espresso cups of boiling water. The important thing is that the coffee has a rich and intense taste.
A maximum of 4 oz (two espresso cups) can be used for this. If the coffee is too watered down, it would spoil the texture of the whipped cream and the coffee taste would be barely noticeable.
I personally used the Nescafè Espresso Machine which makes a cold espresso brew instantly without having to add ice or wait to cool down.
In Italy, crema al caffè is a popular tradition enjoyed at the bar (cafe), in a small cup, on hot summer days. You can enjoy crema di caffè simply as it is, in a little glass or espresso cup or you can decorate with bitter cocoa or coffee powder, or add chocolate chips or chopped nuts or coffee beans!
The secret to a perfect coffee cream is to use all the ingredients very cold. Just whip them all together with a blender and you’re done!
The result is an extraordinary Italian coffee cream with a thick, frothy and velvety consistency.
Recommended items to make this recipe:
Watch my latest video on Instagram! Leave a like and a comment!
[instagram-feed feed=1]Thanks to this very quick recipe made with only 3 ingredients – whipping cream, espresso and powdered sugar – you can make an iced sweet Italian coffee cream at home. Like the one you can find in an Italian coffee cafes.
- 2 oz espresso (or 4oz if you want a loose consistency)
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 5 tsp powdered sugar (or erythritol)
- instant espresso powder, cacao powder (to decorate)
To make the authentic Italian coffee cream recipe, first you need to make a strong, thick and creamy coffee. I recommend making Italian espresso, using either an espresso machine or a moka (caffettiera). The coffee should be rich and strong in flavor, not watery.
Pour the coffee into the blender bowl. Add 5 teaspoons of powdered sugar.
Add the heavy whipping cream and blend until nice and creamy. You decide the consistency. So if you like a loose consistency, you can add more espresso brew and less heavy cream. Just regulate with the measurements based on you preferences.
Decorate with espresso powder or cacao powder. Enjoy cold in glass coffee cups.
Storage
You can store Italian coffee cream for a couple of days in the refrigerator. But it’s best enjoyed freshly made.
Make it Keto
If you want to make this recipe keto all you have to do is substitute the powdered sugar with the erythritol and you are good to go!
