We're Missing Out On Italy's Frosty Coffee Granita

As breathtaking as the country is, Italy can get brutally hot in the summertime. It gets so hot, in fact, that many locals who live towards the middle of the country head to the coasts during the months of July and August to catch the cool Mediterranean breezes and ocean air. No matter where you are in the country, though, there's always a way to experience some of the delicious treats the Italians indulge in to stay cool when the temperature spikes.

One way is indulging in creamy gelato when in Florence, or sipping lemon tea granitas in Rome. Another refreshing option is enjoying your coffee completely frozen, like a slushie. Forget cold brews and Frappuccinos; in Italy, only sub-zero coffee will do and that's just what you get when you have a coffee granita, or, as the locals in Sicily call it, granita al caffè. The treat dates back centuries to an ancient time when Sicilians would buy snow from a traveler who traversed Mt. Etna and then they'd keep it icy in a thermos-like container called a pozzetto, adding honey or fruit juices to it as a way to cool off in the hot weather with a frozen treat.

Today, coffee granita is so popular that many Italians even enjoy it for breakfast. And why not? It is just coffee with a bit of sugar and not much else; but, that being said, a granita is about as far from your typical hot morning cup of joe as you can get.

A coffee granita is truly for anyone who loves coffee — and frozen desserts. And the best part is, you don't have to book international airfare to experience it. A granita requires no special equipment and very few ingredients, making it something anyone can easily make at home.

To start, you'll want to use very strong coffee, preferably espresso. Stir some sugar in the brew until it dissolves completely, and add a little vanilla extract, if desired. Pour the liquid mixture into a flat baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until solid. To serve and get the classic granita look, scrape the frozen coffee with a fork so it creates icy crystallized shavings. Scoop into serving cups and serve with spoons — it's also common to top granita with fresh whipped cream if you want to add a dollop on top.

Some recipes will advise you to stir and scrape the mixture every 30 minutes until slushy so that it's easier to scoop out and serve. Either way, coffee granita is easy, cold, sweet, totally refreshing, and even offers a little caffeine kick to boot. This would be a welcome treat on any sweltering afternoon or evening, on either side of the pond. 

It's no surprise that Italy excels at making coffee into a tempting dessert. After all, the caffeinated drink plays a huge role in culture and society in the European country where cafés are on nearly every corner. Needless to say, there are other tasty desserts you can enjoy featuring coffee as the star, like an affogato, tiramisù, and coffee gelato. They're all wonderful ways to end a meal and keep cool on warm evenings. (Though, as in the case of a coffee granita, many of these treats are available year-round, even in the winter.)

An affogato is basically a shot of hot espresso that's served over a scoop of gelato, with the traditional flavor being vanilla. The coffee begins to melt the ice cream, leaving you with a cool, sweet mixture that still has a strong coffee flavor. Tiramisù is made by soaking ladyfinger cookies in espresso and sometimes a liqueur like rum or marsala wine, and layering them with a sweetened mascarpone cheese mixture. It's served chilled and dusted with cocoa powder. Of course, gelato comes in dozens of flavors, but enjoying coffee-flavored gelato is a whole other experience.

Ending a meal with a coffee is basically an unwritten rule in Italy, one that we shouldn't miss out on just because we live across the pond.