An affogato, which originated as an Italian dessert, is made using two ingredients — ice cream and espresso. In 2016, Starbucks took inspiration from the traditional post-meal treat and introduced the option to order their Frappuccino beverages “affogato-style” to its menu. Many local coffee shops will also serve an affogato, even if it’s not on the menu.
An affogato usually has 65 to 85 mg of caffeine depending on the strength of the espresso added to it. “Affogato-style” drinks can contain as much as 130 mg of caffeine if espresso is combined with another form of coffee, like a Frappuccino. You also can prepare an affogato with decaf.
Today, you can discover any number of combinations of creamy coffee with various flavors and sugars. The result is a range of dessert-style beverages that cater to your sweet tooth while also giving you a caffeine boost. But what is affogato, and will the caffeine content in it keep you up at night?
What is Affogato?

The word affogato is derived from the word “affogare,” an Italian verb that means “to drown.” This term is quite apt for the dessert, as it is a simple combination of ice cream or gelato topped by or “drowned in” rich, warm, and freshly-brewed espresso. Affogatos are a popular Italian dessert, and you’ll typically find them served in cafés after lunch and dinner.
Affogato-style drinks in the United States are something similar. Starbucks launched affogato-style Frappuccinos in 2016, allowing customers to order any Frappuccino with espresso poured on top. As the hot coffee works its way into the drink, it melts the ice. The process and its resulting “marbling finish,” as Starbucks beverage developer Ryan Coombes calls it, resembles the Italian dessert.
The flavors in an affogato complement each other quite well. The cold, sweet, and refreshing ice cream (or frozen beverage of your choice) balances out the hot espresso and creates a beautiful mess. The same goes for the coffee: the shot slowly trickles down the ice cream or shake and turns into a visually stunning and delicious drink. The temperature contrast is also quite interesting.
In terms of the flavor of an affogato-style drink, the espresso shot adds its signature flavor of to the base it’s poured on. You can get a different flavor depending on whether you choose ice cream, a shake, a smoothie, or a Frappuccino as the base.
The taste also depends on the kind of roast you’re using. If you use a darker roast, you’ll get a richer, deeper coffee taste.
How Much Caffeine Is in an Affogato?
The caffeine content in an affogato depends on the brewed coffee or espresso poured on top. This means that if you use espresso, then you can expect the same amount of caffeine that’s present in the shot.
This will also depend on the type of roast and the coffee you use, but in general, you can expect somewhere between 65 and 85 mg of caffeine.
However, if you’re ordering a beverage “affogato-style” and you choose to add a shot of espresso over an already caffeinated base drink, then the total caffeine content will increase. For instance, if you go for Starbucks’ tall vanilla bean Frappuccino topped with an espresso shot, then the total coffee content will be around 75 mg.
Meanwhile, a tall Caramel Frappuccino served affogato-style has 125 mg of caffeine. For an affogato-style tall mocha Frappuccino, you’re looking at 130 mg.
Can You Make Affogato With Decaf Coffee?
If you want to stay away from caffeine but still enjoy the lovely contrast of an affogato, it’s entirely possible to make one using decaf coffee. While the taste might be slightly different and you won’t get the energizing effect of the caffeine, you can still enjoy the sweet goodness.
Will an Affogato Keep You Up at Night?

The answer to this is tricky. Several factors affect the potency of caffeine, including the total amount in your drink (or dessert), the time you consume it, the amount of sleep you’re getting, and your personal tolerance. It might be helpful to compare the caffeine content of the espresso in your affogato to the amount in the coffee or energy drinks you normally have in a day.
Remember that springing for the tall affogato-style mocha Frappuccino means consuming roughly 130 mg of caffeine. If experience has taught you that similar amounts are enough to mess with your sleep, enjoy your drink as many hours before your bedtime as you can.