The Salento iced coffee, also known as Lecce coffee, is one of the most beloved summer drinks in Salento and all over Puglia. Cool, sweet, and aromatic, it is perfect for refreshing yourself on hot summer days. If you’re lucky enough to visit Lecce or other Salento locations, you’ll easily find it in almost every bar in the area.
The recipe is simple yet unique: it’s espresso poured directly over ice, with the addition of traditional artisanal almond milk. This ingredient not only naturally sweetens the drink but also gives it a distinctive aroma and taste.
Almond milk: which one to use for real Lecce coffee?
Beware: the almond milk used in Salento coffee is not the one commonly used as a plant-based alternative to cow’s milk, nor the classic almond syrup used for granitas or ice pops. Instead, it’s an artisanal product, made with a high percentage of almonds and a variable amount of sugar, according to taste.
In Puglia, it’s easy to find ready-made, but if it’s not available in your area, you can also make it at home with a few natural ingredients. At the end of the recipe, I’ll explain how to do it.
Once the almond milk is ready, just add it to freshly prepared hot coffee (with a moka pot or espresso machine) and pour it into a glass full of ice. In seconds, you’ll have a fresh and invigorating drink, perfect for summer.
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 1 Person
- Cooking methods: No Cooking
- Cuisine: Regional Italian
- Region: Puglia
- Seasonality: Summer
- Energy 115.50 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 8.72 (g) of which sugars 0.00 (g)
- Proteins 3.30 (g)
- Fat 4.98 (g) of which saturated 0.00 (g)of which unsaturated 0.28 (g)
- Fibers 12.42 (g)
- Sodium 21.30 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for 1 glass of Lecce coffee
If you are celiac, the almond milk label should read “gluten-free”.
- 1 oz coffee
- 4 cubes ice
- 1 oz almond milk (artisanal)
Tools
- 1 Coffee Machine espresso
- 1 Coffee Cup
- 1 Glass
- 1 Teaspoon
How to prepare Salento iced coffee or Lecce coffee
Also add the coffee (3) and stir with a teaspoon to mix it with the almond milk (4).
Serve the Lecce coffee immediately.
How to make almond milk at home
Ingredients for about 1 quart of almond milk:
• 250 g of peeled almonds
• 1 quart of still water
• 100 g of granulated sugar (amount can vary to taste)
Soak the almonds in cold water for at least 8 hours. Drain and put them in a blender with about 2 cups of water. Blend well for 2-3 minutes, until you have a white and homogeneous mixture. Strain the mixture using cheesecloth, a clean dish towel, or a nut milk bag. Squeeze well to extract all the liquid. Set aside the solid part (almond okara – can be reused in cakes or cookies). Add the rest of the water to the strained liquid and also add the sugar. Stir well until it completely dissolves. Store in the refrigerator and shake well before use.
