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Caffè leccese
Caffè leccese: espresso poured over ice and almond-milk syrup, the summer coffee of Salento
In Lecce and the towns of Salento, summer mornings start at the bar with a caffè in ghiaccio, and the local version, a fairly recent invention now poured everywhere from Otranto to Gallipoli, adds a pour of latte di mandorla: the sweet almond-milk syrup Puglian bakers have made for generations from local almonds. A short glass is filled with ice, the almond syrup goes in, and a hot espresso is poured straight over so it cracks the ice and blends into a pale, cold, nutty coffee. It is sweet without being sticky, with a marzipan aroma and a clean bitter finish. The common mistake is letting the espresso cool before pouring: it no longer melts and mixes with the dense syrup, which then sits at the bottom. Pull the shot and pour it at once, then stir. It is ready when the drink is evenly caramel-coloured and the glass feels icy. Lecce bars serve it from about May to late September, often with a pasticciotto. Espresso means a fair hit of caffeine. Chef's tip: if you can only find unsweetened almond drink, stir 1 tsp of sugar into it first, but real Puglian almond syrup gives the true taste.
- Total time
- 4 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 1
Ingredients
For the coffee
- 2 tbsp almond syrup (latte di mandorla concentrate)Puglian or Sicilian; or homemade
- 5 ice cubes
- 2 tbsp freshly brewed espressoa single shot, or strong moka-pot coffee
To serve
- 1 tsp toasted almond flakes (optional)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Fill a short tumbler about two-thirds full with 5 ice cubes and pour in the 2 tbsp almond syrup (latte di mandorla concentrate).
1 minStep 2: Brew the 2 tbsp freshly brewed espresso and pour it straight over the ice while still piping hot; you will hear the ice crack.
1 minStep 3: Stir with a long spoon for 15–20 seconds until the drink is evenly pale caramel and the glass is frosty. Scatter 1 tsp toasted almond flakes on top and serve at once.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 90 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 17 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does caffè leccese take?
- About 4 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 1 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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