Shakerato: The Italian Iced Coffee Style You Can't Miss Out On

When the summer heat gets a bit too much, even if you're a fan of a hot latte, the thought of drinking the warm beverage may still lose its appeal. Instead, people turn to iced coffee as an alternative to wake up, get their caffeine fill, not to mention cool down a little bit. There are countless fantastic iced coffee recipes out there, but one you shouldn't overlook is the caffè shakerato.

With its frothy texture and bold flavor, the shakerato can easily win over even the staunchest coffee aficionado. For how great and refreshing it tastes, the recipe for a shakerato is surprisingly simple to pull off. All it takes is one fresh shot of espresso shaken vigorously together with sugar and ice, and you have in hand what's possibly the finest expression of Italian coffee culture, where every sip is an experience that's worth taking time to savor.

The shakerato is such a hit in Italy that you can order it at most bars and cafés across the country when the hot season hits, typically from spring until the end of April. No one can say for certain who or when the drink came about, but the name shakerato — a combination of the English verb "shake" with the Italian suffix "-ato" — has been on the menu for decades.

As mentioned earlier, making a shakerato is incredibly easy: just coffee, ice, and a sweetener like sugar or simple syrup shaken together in a cocktail shaker. The shaking serves three purposes: it cools the drink, helps the sweetener blend in evenly, and creates a frothy layer of sweet crema on top of the coffee. This creamy layer is the star of the show in the shakerato, giving it a rich texture that sets it apart from your average iced espresso.

But the most interesting bit is that despite being an "iced" coffee, you actually won't find any ice in the glass. Italians believe too much ice can upset digestion. So, after shaking the coffee with ice to chill it, the ice cubes are strained out, leaving only the cool coffee behind in the cup. Not necessarily a bad thing, since you don't need to fret about your drink getting watered down in the sun anymore!

The shakerato is actually a great beginner-friendly recipe to try out if you're practicing making Italian coffee drinks at home. Begin by pulling a fresh shot of espresso. If you don't have access to espresso, you can use instant espresso powder as a substitute. Let the espresso sit for a minute to cool slightly, then pour it quickly into a cocktail shaker that's been chilled in advance. You'll want the espresso to be hot so the sugar will dissolve faster. Next, add your choice of sweetener to the espresso in the shaker.

Finally, you've hit the mixing stage! Fill the shaker with ice, ensuring it's tightly sealed, and give it a good shake for about a minute to allow the coffee to aerate and foam up inside. When you're ready to serve, strain out the ice using either one half of the shaker or a straining spoon as you pour the frothy coffee into a chilled martini glass. Salute!