Thursday, June 17, 2010

Caffe Granita


The Espresso Break: Summer is here and it's already hot, hot, hot! But fear not. The Neapolitans have just the right beverage for this season. My children usually beg me to get the granita whenever we pass a street vendor. The drink comes in many flavors (their favorites are strawberry and lime). The granita is essentially a slushy with soft flakes of ice and sweet syrups mixed together in a special granita blender.


But the drink also comes in an adult version -- slushy ice mixed with espresso. Served in a glass or in a plastic espresso-shot cup da portare (to go), a granita is made by putting hot espresso in the freezer for a few hours until slushy, but not frozen.



I had the Caffe Granita at Arx Caffe, located along the road between Castel Sant'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino. The beverage has a grainy texture, so it's usually drunk slowly in small sips.


The Arx Cafe also has tables and chairs upstairs where you can admire the stellar view of Naples.


7 comments:

LindyLouMac said...

Um, I might just try one of those sometime.

Anonymous said...

Oh my this sounds like just the answer on this HOT and HUMID day today! Jen

Barbara said...

Glad it sounds as good to you, Jen and LindyLou! I especially like the 'da portare' version where I can take it along with me in a small plastic espresso cup.

Saluti!

Anonymous said...

I would like the "da volare" version if it could get around the world to me! :) Jen

Barbara said...

LOL! "Da volare"... I wonder if, in the end, that would become an entirely new Granita flavor. :)

Arlene said...

I made an iced coffee to kick off the first day of summer. I think after reading this, I need to graduate to trying to make caffe granita.

Espresso said...

Charming Cafe :)