We Tried Wawa’s Affogatos (Yes, All 3)

It’s beginning to seem like there’s nothing Wawa can’t do. And, to be honest, we’ve kind of been there for all of it―including the most recent Snack & Go Tacos, for instance. (We have other hobbies, promise.) So of course, when Wawa announced their new line of affogatos, we knew we had to try them.

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If you’ve been to either a fancy coffee shop, a traditional Italian restaurant, or one of those über-fancy Starbucks, you already know what an “affogato” is. For those who don’t, it’s simple. An affogato is an Italian treat―a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato “drowned” with a shot of espresso. The result is exactly what you’d expect: an exquisite contrast of rich and hot and creamy-sweet. It’s a time-sensitive treat, usually something you’d (hope to) consume on a piazza, at your classy European leisure. But, believe it or not, our trio of affogatos purchased from a busy Wawa on the side of a highway more than delivered. Here’s what we thought

Original, Caramel, and Chocolate Affogatos

Pros: They keep it simple. Most fast food and coffee/beverage chains seem to be adding nostalgic flavors, bright yellow syrups, and all manner of cold foams to their drinks, dirty or otherwise, so you kinda couldn’t blame Wawa if they went that same busy route. They don’t―and that’s key. The affogato is about simplicity and contrast. They keep it small. Yes, the affogato is a decadent treat. But it’s usually just a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato, and Wawa followed suit―each flavor was served in a small plastic cup with a lid wide enough to accommodate either straw or spoon.

The Original Affogato is the backbone of all three, and once I tasted that I knew we’d be in for a trio of treats: creamy, somehow not-too-sweet vanilla ice cream, and surprisingly rich espresso that (of course) immediately sinks to the bottom, but not without leaving warm, rich trails of coffee and dragging some of that creaminess down with it. It really is a time-sensitive treat, the kind you wanna be at the Wawa “Order Pick Up” station for immediately. And the flavors, while not extraordinary, were surprisingly balanced―again, thanks to that lovely dose of deeply roasted (not bitter) espresso.

As for the Caramel and Chocolate flavors, the variation isn’t too drastic, so follow your palate. You can guess the caramel drizzle made the caramel flavor sweeter (and you’d be right, though not unpleasantly), while the chocolate syrup (judiciously applied) actually brought out the depth of the espresso. In truth, though I think I liked the Original best―that simple, ingenious combo exists for a reason, and at Wawa prices, for this quality, it’s definitely worth a try. 

Cons: Really hard to pin down a con on any of the three. The vanilla flavor was a bit insipid, but in the same way it can be hard to find a really good vanilla ice cream. If the Wawa was less busy (don’t go at lunch hour), I might ask if they could dial it back on the syrup (though nothing was cloyingly sweet). To be honest, this would be a nice late-summer after-dinner treat, a surprise classy ending to a casual date or something similarly easy-breezy.