The Mint Smoothie® Affogato

Writing and photography by Maureen Argon

Chocolate + mint. Two iconic flavours. Chocolate and mint together IS  Rhéo Thompson’s iconic Mint Smoothie.

So simple.

It satisfies all the senses the minute you open our door. The fragrance, the taste and the memories created by the good times giving and receiving these bites of chocolatey minty deliciousness.

Step into Rheo Thompson’s and you’ll find that these two simple flavours lend themselves to a lot of creativity.  And so, we offer you the Affogato.

It’s a similar story with our Mint Smoothie Coffee produced by Baden Coffee Company. Their moto – “small batch roasted in small town Ontario” tells you why we love them. Their care and commitment to producing exceptional coffee + our peppermint oil results in this wonderful extension of the Mint Smoothie experience.

So grab your Mint Smoothie Ice Cream and Mint Smoothie Coffee and let’s go!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A MINT SMOOTHIE® AFFOGATO

The beauty of an Affogato is that it is simple and refreshing and it all comes down to quality ingredients. So here’s what you’ll need to make your Mint Smoothie® Affogato. 

• a pint of Mint Smoothie® Ice Cream
• a bag of Mint Smoothie® Coffee
• a Mint Smoothie® Bar (for shaving on top if you’re in the mood)
• a glass 
• an ice cream scoop
• a spoon
• and optionally, a shot of Mint Smoothie® Liquer

More about your ingredients!

The Ice Cream – often the base is gelato but we find that ice cram works just as well, if not better. It adds to the creaminess! And we obviously love our mint + chocolate combination here, but if you would like to soften that flavour profile you can always swap for a classic vanilla or rich chocolate ice cream. Both will pair nicely with the Mint Smoothie® Coffee. 

The Coffee – classically an Affogato is served with a shot of espresso. So if you’re using a regular coffee, like our Mint Smoothie®, you’re going to want to brew your coffee strongly. To achieve a stronger taste, consider increasing this ratio to around 1:12 or even 1:10. For example, if you have 20 grams of ground coffee, use 240 grams (8 ounces). If you want that classic shot of espresso, swap it our and use over the Mint Smoothie® Ice Cream. 

The Liqueur – this is an optional ingredient and Affogato’s are often enjoyed without any liqueurs BUT they can be a fun addition. If you’re wanting to go this route, we recommend trying Junction 56 Distillery’s Mint Smoothie® Liqueur. Other classic options are amaretto, frangelico, rum and khalua. Really you can choose whatever you like, just remember that this version has a strong mint profile so you’ll want to pair with that in mind. 

MINT SMOOTHIE® AFFOGATO

Prep: 10 mins

Assembly: 5 mins

Total: 15 mins

Yield: 1 serving

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large or 2 small(ish) scoops Mint Smoothie® Ice Cream 
• 1 shot (30 ml/1 oz) hot Mint Smoothie® Coffee 
• 1 tsp grated Mint Smoothie® Bar
• 1 tbsp Mint Smoothie® Liqueur (optional) 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Select cup or bowl suitable for affogatos. We recommend a clear glass to really showcase the layers.
2. Brew your coffee. Since espresso is normally used, we recommend brewing a stronger coffee by  increasing your coffee to water ratio to around 1:12 or even 1:10. For example, if you have 20 grams of ground coffee, use 240 grams (8 ounces). 
3. Grate your Mint Smoothie® Bar using a peeler or knifer for shavings or a zester for a finer finish.
4. Scoop your ice cream into your glass. I like to stack two small(ish) scoops on top of eacother for the height.
5. Assemble. You can either assemble and serve these by pouring the coffee over the ice cream along with the liqueur (optional) and then topping with the shavings. Or another fun option is to allow your guest to pour right at the table. This makes for a great presentation. 

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Tag @rheothompsoncandies on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece!