We'll take our iced coffee shaken, not stirred. Welcome to shakerato 101!
What is a shakerato? In short, it's an iced coffee drink from Italy that's literally shaken until frothy. It's usually sweetened with a touch of simple syrup. The end result is a perfectly foamy iced coffee with an aerated texture that makes all the difference. It's basically an iced coffee that's just amped up to the next level of delicious!
In Italy, you'll find shakerato coffee on every cafe menu. It's incredibly common, especially in the warmer months. Of course, in Italy, espresso is king - so they'll traditionally use a shot of hot espresso, tons of ice, and some simple syrup. It's shaken vigorously in a cocktail shaker until delightfully frothy and refreshing. If you order it, expect that it might be served similarly to a cocktail! You'll often see it served in a martini glass with no ice.
Shakerato coffee hasn't fully had its moment here in the 'states, but we do see it cropping up on menus from time to time. Even though it's scarcely in coffee shops here, the silver lining is that a shakerato coffee is super easy to whip up at home. Just beware - if you make one, you're going to want to make it every morning. All you need is some coffee (room temp or cold will work best!), some sweetener, and any other flavorings you want to add. Traditionally in Italy, simple syrup is used in the coffee, but Giada always turns to agave nectar. In her Lemon Shakerato recipe, she adds just a touch of lemon zest before shaking it up. It makes a world of difference, and creates a seriously refreshing iced coffee. We also have been known in the past to sometimes throw in a little spoonful of nutella! You can even add a little milk to up that froth factor.
Really looking to jazz things up? We're not above adding some booze to the mix - and neither are the Italians! You'll sometimes see it in Italian bars spiked with Bailey's. Giada's preferred method of turning this refreshing coffee into a bonafide cocktail is to add a touch of limoncello!
Making your own shakerato at home? Be sure to tag us in your instagram stories and we'll share!
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