Coffee ice cream is a desert that is made from frozen milk or milk substitute and coffee or coffee flavoring. The desert is eaten cold and can be found in many parts of the world. There are many varieties of coffee ice cream available, though the most common variety is made from sweetened milk or cream and ground coffee. Whole coffee beans and other ingredients, such as chocolate, caramel, and nuts can also be added.
The main ingredient in coffee ice cream is ice cream. This desert food is made by cooling cream while continuously stirring or shaking it to keep it from forming into ice. Cooling milk slowly while keeping it moving allows it to form into a thick, cold liquid with a high viscosity. Once it has been formed, ice cream must be kept at a temperature below freezing or it will melt. It is also possible to make ice cream out of fat free or low fat milk or from milk alternatives, such as soy, rice, or coconut milk.
In addition to milk or cream, coffee ice cream is also made with a sweetener, such as sugar. Artificial sweeteners or syrups can also be used to sweeten ice cream. Salt and eggs can be included to improve the taste and texture of the ice cream.
Turning regular ice cream into coffee ice cream is simply a matter of adding coffee to the ice cream while it is being mixed and cooled. Coffee grounds are often used because when they are mixed in, the coffee flavor is dispersed throughout the ice cream. Alternatively, it is possible to use artificial flavorings to mimic the flavor of coffee. Whole or coarsely crushed coffee beans can also be used, which will make the ice cream crunchy when it is eaten.
If coffee ice cream is made with whole or ground coffee, it will contain caffeine. Coffee beans can be roasted longer to remove most of the caffeine, but even decaffeinated beans can affect people who are sensitive to this chemical. Eating this dessert at night can interfere with some people's ability to sleep.
Other ingredients that go well with the taste of coffee can also be used in coffee ice cream. Caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and hazelnuts, flavors common in coffee drinks, are often found in specialty coffee ice creams. New combinations of flavors are frequently released by ice cream manufacturers as well.