Shakerato recipe: learn how to make Italian shakerato coffee, Italy’s iced coffee!
Italy is famous for its delicious coffee, especially in the form of espresso and cappuccino, two of Italy’s most successful coffee creations.
However, Italy is also the land of a delightful iced coffee drink, perfect for those hot Italian summers – or hot summers back home, with an Italian twist!
Here at Mama Loves a Drink we know shakerato well. Did you know that one of the two mamas behind this website is from Italy?
Yes, that’s right, we have an Italian in the house. So, when it comes to recipes for Italian coffee, you can trust us: we know the real thing!
Whether you are about to go to Italy and want to know what a shakerato will be like or you’re back from your Italian vacation and cannot have enough of this Italian iced coffee drink, this page is for you!
On this page, you find a perfect recipe for this refreshing summer drink with the looks of a cocktail and the refreshing kick of your morning coffee.
Let’s take a look at how to make Italian Iced Shakerato at home.
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What is a shakerato?
Shakerato is Italian iced coffee.
Shakerato is a mixed Italian -English word that literally translates as ‘shaker-ed’ and yes, it sounds as weird in Italian as it does in English!
Despite the oddity of the name, the work ‘shakerato’ is descriptive of what the drink is: coffee poured into a shaker with ice and sugar and shaken to create an ice-cold beverage.
In Italy, shakerato is made in cafes and usually served at the table, unlike espresso. The traditional shakerato glass is a martini glass.
Italian shakerato vs Iced coffee
The main difference between Italian shakerato and standard iced coffee is the lack of ice cubes in the shakerato.
In a standard iced coffee, you have your coffee drink and ice cubes in a cup. In an Italian shakerato, the ice cubes go in the shaker and cool down the coffee but are not served with it.
This is why for coffee to-go a standard iced coffee works better than a shakerato: a shakerato is a sit-down type of cold coffee, as the elegant martini glass presentation suggests!

Tools you will need for making an Italian Shakerato
- Martini glasses
- Classic cocktail shaker ( with strainer)
- Ice cube tray
How to make your Shakerato
Ingredients:
- 100g Italian coffee
- 200g Ice cubes
- 50g liquid cane sugar. If you do not have it in liquid form, you can also use granular sugar. In that case, add it to your hot coffee rather than to the ice as suggested below or it will not dissolve.
Instructions:
- Put your martini glass in the fridge or freezer to cool it
- As it cools down, put the ice in the shaker and add your liquid sugar.
- Add your coffee (it is important to add the coffee last or it will melt the ice, ruining the taste and consistency of your drink)
- Close the shaker and, very quickly, shake vigorously for about 15 seconds
- Pour in the martini glass (use a strainer to stop the ice cubes from rolling in too)
- Serve immediately
Grab your printable recipe here:
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Italian Shakerato Coffee Recipe
Deliciously refreshing iced coffee drink, Italian style. Shakerato coffee is the perfect summer drink: served in a martini glass yet alcohol-free, it is an elegant, refreshing way to serve coffee on the hottest days of the year
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 glass 1x
Ingredients
- 100g Italian coffee
- 200g Ice cubes
- 50g liquid cane sugar
Instructions
- Put your martini glass in the fridge or freezer to cool it
- While the glass cools down, put the ice in the shaker and add your liquid sugar
- Add your coffee (it is important to add the coffee last or it will melt the ice, ruining the taste and consistency of your drink)
- Close the shaker and, very quickly, shake vigorously for about 15 seconds
- Pour in the martini glass (use a strainer to stop the ice cubes from rolling in too)
- Serve immediately
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 0 hours
- Category: Coffee Connoisseur
Enjoy your coffee drinks, or want to learn the difference between a latte and a cappuccino? You’ve come to the right place! Pop on over to our coffee connoisseurs to learn more about your favourite brew.