Although relatively new to Hanoi, affogato is steadily gaining popularity in modern cafes and European-style coffee spots, particularly in the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem and Tay Ho area, where visitors can enjoy both the flavors and the charming atmosphere of the city.
Affogato is a decadent dessert that combines creamy vanilla ice cream with a shot of hot espresso poured directly on top. The sweet, refreshing ice cream perfectly balances the bold, bitter notes of the coffee, creating a truly delightful experience for the senses.
Traditional affogato consists of a shot of hot espresso poured directly over vanilla gelato. Photo: Salento – Dolce Vita.
In Vietnam, affogato began appearing around 2015 within the specialty coffee community. From 2015 to 2018, it became popular in many cafés across the country, and it has recently surged back into the spotlight.
After arriving in Vietnam, the dessert was adapted using distinctly local ingredients, giving rise to a Vietnamese-style affogato. Many cafés use vanilla or coconut ice cream topped with espresso or phin-brewed coffee poured directly over the scoop.
When TikTok exploded with “pouring coffee over ice cream” videos in October this year, affogato quickly became a mainstream trend.
Nguyen Quang Tu, owner of PaiOi Café, a Hanoi-based coffee shop, said he introduced affogato because he wanted to offer drinks with a new texture, not expecting it to become the shop’s bestseller. About 200 cups are sold each day.
The drink became so viral that the café exceeded its serving capacity and had to limit sales to 100 cups per day. Some customers reportedly returned four or five times before being able to try it.
However, due to the café’s small size and limited capacity, and because the ice cream requires deep freezing to maintain quality, the shop has capped sales at 100 cups per day in December, available from 7:30 AM to 7 PM, or until sold out.
In Hanoi, a representative from Salento – Dolce Vita, an Italian – inspired coffee shop on Thanh Nien street said that orders for affogato have suddenly increased by 50- 60%, even though the item has been on the menu since the café opened.
By Cam Anh
