You might be familiar with the shakerato, a classic Italian summer drink, if you’ve had Starbucks’ shaken espresso. That’s where the barista shakes up espresso and simple syrup with ice, then serves it with milk and syrup. For a more traditional take on the shakerato though, head over to Ballard’s Homage Coffee, which keeps things simple: Two shots of espresso shaken with lemon zest and simple syrup, then poured straight-up into a glass.
It may not sound like much, but the approach lets the flavor of the coffee shine through. When we visited last week, co-owner Clinton Chambers was pulling shots of single-origin Columbia beans from the Connecticut roaster ilse, which had a summery, fruit-forward flavor profile. Shaking with ice aerates the espresso, making it lighter, and the simple syrup and lemon zest sweetens it just enough for it to be approachable for all of you who don’t drink straight espresso.
Homage’s shakerato is served with a twist of lemon in a cocktail glass, and it’s visually striking — Chambers says that when one person gets one, it turns heads and results in I’ll-have-what-she’s-having-style copycats orders. “If I make one, I make 10,” he says.
But it’s also the cafe’s most “misunderstood” drink, Chambers says. It’s practically pure espresso, so it’s just four ounces of liquid. Some people expect a larger volume of liquid; some even want some ice or milk or soda water, which Chambers can do — but that’s a different drink. Some people want to take a shakerato to go, which means replacing the elegant glass with a paper cup. You can do this, but please don’t. The shakerato at Homage deserves your attention. Sit down for a few minutes and focus on it. You won’t be disappointed.
