Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Crema al Caffè (Coffee Cream)
A thick, frosty, whipped coffee dessert-drink served cold in Italian cafes during the summer. Perfect for a quick, sweet caffeine boost.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- strong espresso (chilled)
- heavy whipping cream (very cold)
- powdered sugar
- cocoa powder (for dusting)
Equipment
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Mixing bowl
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Espresso
Brew 2-3 shots of strong, high-quality Italian espresso. Sweeten it heavily with powdered sugar while hot.
- 2
Chill Espresso
Let the sweetened espresso cool to room temperature, then place it in the refrigerator until it is freezing cold.
- 3
Prepare Cream
Ensure your heavy whipping cream is extremely cold. For best results, chill the mixing bowl as well.
- 4
Whip the Cream
Pour the cold heavy cream into the bowl. Begin whipping it with an electric mixer on medium speed.
- 5
Add Espresso
Once the cream starts to thicken slightly (soft peaks), slowly pour in the cold, sweetened espresso in a steady stream while continuing to whip.
- 6
Whip to Consistency
Continue whipping until the mixture becomes very thick, creamy, and holds its shape, resembling soft-serve ice cream.
- 7
Do Not Overwhip
Stop whipping immediately once stiff peaks form, otherwise the cream will turn into coffee-flavored butter.
- 8
Chill (Optional)
For an even frostier texture, place the whipped crema in the freezer for 15-30 minutes before serving.
- 9
Prepare Glasses
Take small, clear espresso cups or shot glasses.
- 10
Pipe or Spoon
Spoon or pipe the thick coffee cream into the glasses.
- 11
Garnish
Dust the top lightly with unsweetened cocoa powder or a few chocolate shavings.
- 12
Serve
Serve immediately with a small spoon. It should be eaten rather than drunk.
Cooking Tips
- Temperature is everything. The espresso and the cream must be extremely cold, or the cream will not whip properly.
- Powdered sugar is better than granulated because it dissolves instantly and stabilizes the whipped cream.
Variations
- Crema al Caffè con Nutella: Swirl a teaspoon of Nutella around the inside of the glass before filling it with the cream.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- In Italian bars, this is usually churning constantly in a slushie-like machine behind the counter.
Nutrition Estimate
220 calories · 1g protein · 10g carbs · 20g fat · 0g fiber per serving
