My trip to Zurich a few weeks ago was my first time to the city. Though I’ve been to other parts of Switzerland — Interlaken, Lugano, and Locarno — I was anxious to go to Zurich, if only to see how it compared. Switzerland always strikes me that it’s such a small place, has so much cultural influence from its neighbors, yet remains distinctly its own thing. Nowhere was this truer than Zurich. The streets were filled with people from all over the globe and though everyone is friendly and speaks fabulous English, you can look around and tell — from the tall clock towers to cross flags and people speaking Swiss German — you are definitely in Switzerland. And what better way to enjoy the city than with a Caffe Freddo | Zurich-Style Iced Mocha.
What really stood out to me were their cafés. Zurich knows how to do café culture right with everything from pastry shops that serve coffee like the classic Condotorei Schober to quiet, bookish coffee shops to hip coffee and cocktail bars like Milchbar and Bovelli.
We stumbled across Bovelli in the late afternoon, much in need of a caffeine pick-me-up. Being the coffee lover I am, I perked up when I saw they were serving not only coffee tonics but also something I’d never heard of: a Caffe Freddo.
I was with my awesome travel companions Julie, Rachelle, Eden, and we ordered pretty much their whole coffee menu. The caffe freddo was by far our favorite! Made like an Iced Mocha-y version of a Caffe Shakerato, it was a touch sweet with a strong espresso flavor and a bit of vanilla and chocolate too. As in, everything I love about dessert and coffee in one.
Since I’ve been back, it’s been my drink of choice to beat the late summer heat and I’ve made a few adjustments, using coconut milk instead of regular milk and making it with a double espresso shot for a more intense flavor. Like Switzerland itself, this {Caffe Freddo} Zurich-Style Iced Mocha recipe seems a bit Italian or French but it’s 100% Swiss and I’m 100% all about it.
Now, go stock up on all your cooking essentials, then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!
{Caffe Freddo} Zurich-Style Iced Mocha Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut milk or your favorite milk
- 1 shot freshly brewed espresso
- 1/2 ounce agave syrup or simple syrup
- 1/4 ounce chocolate syrup
- Dash vanilla bean paste or extract
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Add coconut milk to a serving glass and add a few cubes of ice. In the base of a cocktail shaker, combine the espresso, simple syrup, chocolate syrup, and vanilla extract. Fill shaker with ice, close, and shake seriously hard until the shaker is frosted and the mixture has created a sort of espresso foam, about 20 seconds. Strain into the serving glass and serve immediately.
