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Caffè Shakerato Corretto

Cocktails

Shaken Espresso with Amaretto

Italy's foamy iced espresso, shaken hard with ice and a little syrup, then nudged with amaretto for a smooth almond finish. The perfect cool pick-me-up on a hot afternoon.

Italy's foamy iced espresso, shaken hard with ice and a little syrup, then nudged with amaretto for a smooth almond finish. The perfect cool pick-me-up on a hot afternoon.

5 min Prep Time
1 Servings
easy
Coffee Cocktail

Instructions

  1. Pull a fresh shot of espresso and stir in the simple syrup while it is still hot so the sugar dissolves fully.

  2. Fill a cocktail shaker about two-thirds with ice cubes, then pour in the sweetened espresso and the amaretto.

  3. Seal the shaker and shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds, until the outside is frosty and the coffee turns thick and foamy.

  4. Strain into a chilled rocks glass (or a small stemmed glass if you have one), letting the foam settle on top.

  5. Serve right away, while the foam is still standing.

Equipment

  • Cocktail ShakerEssential for building the signature foam
  • JiggerOptionalFor measuring the espresso, amaretto and syrup
  • Hawthorne StrainerOptionalTo hold back the ice when pouring; the shaker's built-in strainer also works
  • Rocks GlassesChill first; a small stemmed glass is the traditional serve if you have one

Nutrition Facts

Calories
170
Protein
0.3g
Carbohydrates
22g
Fat
0.1g
0

Per serving

The story

Where it comes from

The caffè shakerato has been a fixture in Italian bars since the mid-20th century, when baristas started shaking hot espresso with ice to serve a cold coffee that still had a thick crema-like foam on top. It became especially popular in the warm months as an elegant alternative to plain iced coffee. Adding a liquor turns it into a "corretto" (literally "corrected"), and amaretto is a natural partner because its almond sweetness echoes the roasted notes in the coffee. You will find versions of it all over Italy, often served in the late afternoon as a lift before the evening.

Coffee Cocktail

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