Espresso Granita
[Home Cafe Recipe] Perfect for Summer Dessert! How to Make Refreshing and Sweet Espresso Granita
Enjoy a delightful Italian dessert, granita, easily at home! Inspired by the traditional method of freezing fruit, sugar, and wine mixtures, we’ve created an Espresso Granita with a familiar yet special flavor using aromatic espresso. It’s like tasting premium coffee ice cream, with a coolness and smoothness that will make you forget the heat, perfect for a summer treat. For special occasions or a personal indulgence, create your own home cafe atmosphere with this Espresso Granita recipe. (Reference Recipe: YouTube ‘Copictures’)
Main Ingredients- Freshly brewed espresso, 200ml (instant or stick coffee can also be used)
- Cold water, 200ml
- Granulated sugar, 100g (adjust to taste)
- Pure vanilla extract, 2 tsp (for enhanced flavor)
- Pinch of salt (approx. 1g, to balance flavors)
Optional Ingredients (Flavor Boost!)- Chilled heavy cream, a little (for garnish and added richness)
- Chilled heavy cream, a little (for garnish and added richness)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, brew 200ml of fresh, strong espresso. You can use a home espresso machine, or dissolve strong instant coffee or stick coffee in hot water. Using Illy beans will further enhance the rich aroma.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the base for our granita. In a bowl, combine the espresso, 200ml of cold water, 100g of granulated sugar, 2 tsp of aromatic vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt (about 1g) to balance the flavors. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. The kitchen will fill with a delightful coffee aroma as you stir.
Step 3
Pour the well-mixed espresso liquid into a freezer-safe container (a metal one is recommended for faster freezing). This is the only preparation step! Now begins the waiting game and the delicate process of creating the unique texture of granita.
Step 4
Place the container in the freezer and wait for about 1 hour. Initially, it will start to form a thin layer of ice. This is the perfect time for the first ‘scraping’! Granita is best when made with finely scraped ice crystals, rather than large chunks. If it freezes solid, it will be too hard like ice cream. Use a fork to gently scrape the slightly frozen parts and mix them.
Step 5
After another 1.5 hours, open the freezer. You’ll start to see more ice crystals forming. Like snowflakes in winter, gently scrape the frozen parts with a fork and mix them again. By repeating this process, you’ll gradually create a smoother and finer ice texture.
Step 6
Wait another 1 to 1.5 hours before checking the freezer again. You’ll notice more ice has formed and might be clumping together. Again, use a fork to break up any large icy chunks and mix everything evenly. Stir the ice with a delicate touch.
Step 7
This is the final scraping stage. Now, it’s like scooping soil with a small shovel – break down any remaining icy chunks and scrape to achieve the final texture. Once you reach this stage, your delicious Espresso Granita is almost ready! It’s done when it easily breaks apart when scooped with a spoon.
Step 8
With your completed Espresso Granita, you can create two wonderful home cafe creations. The first is an Espresso Granita dessert topped generously with sweet whipped cream, and the second is an Espresso Granita Latte with chilled milk. Enjoy choosing and savoring them according to your preference!
Step 9
Scoop the finished Espresso Granita generously into a beautiful serving bowl. Top it with a dollop of softly whipped cream. The refreshing, slightly crunchy texture of the cold granita combined with the sweet cream will fill your mouth with a delightful cool sweetness. It’s like enjoying a premium dessert from a fancy cafe.
Step 10
Now, let’s make the Espresso Granita Latte! It’s best to use a bit less milk for the latte. Fill a pretty glass with the granita, then slowly pour chilled milk over it. We added a little too much milk and didn’t get a perfect marble effect, but the combination of coffee, milk, and granita was absolutely delicious! Make a large batch ahead of time, and you’ll have a perfect cool dessert for hot summer days. Give this Espresso Granita a try!
