10 Delicious Coffee Desserts Always Worth Ordering

Coffee and dessert form a delicious flavor combination that rivals the best of them. We don't have to tell any coffee or sweet treat lovers that. With this in mind, knowing which classic options feature both elements is the only way to ensure you can not only seek them out, but never miss out on a fantastic coffee dessert again. That's why we rounded up a list of the best coffee desserts so you can keep them on your radar moving forward. Surprise surprise, they're not all from Italy, either. We wouldn't be mad if they were, but the country isn't the only place that excels in the realm of coffee desserts.

Not all coffee desserts are worth ordering every time you spot them on a menu. Some are more of a one-off to be enjoyed sparingly. However, the ones found below all boast decadent flavors, drool-worthy textures, and tons of classic appeal, so they are more than deserving of your repeated attention. A more in-depth look at how we determined which coffee desserts would make the list can be found at the end, but there's no need to rush. For now, let's find out what they are so you can plan your next sweet treat indulgence wisely.

Tiramisu is a classic Italian dessert with tons of mass appeal. The fact that it boasts worldwide recognition and even has its own holiday is proof of that. However, its delicious layers of ladyfingers dipped in espresso or strong coffee and Amaretto, whipped mascarpone cheese with egg whites and sugar, and cocoa powder on top are what make people come back for it time and time again. It's super creamy, has lots of bite, and is decadent beyond belief. Tiramisu directly translates to "pick me up," and, considering its coffee infusion, it more than delivers in that regard.

Despite the many ingredients used and how involved the dish sounds, you can easily make tiramisu at home. After all, you can purchase ladyfingers from the store, meaning you don't even have to make the cake-like layer from scratch. Even so, ordering one from a classic Italian restaurant is always worth it. Depending on the spot, it's likely the cooks made the entire dessert from scratch. In addition, there are many renditions of the recipe, so it's exciting to see what a particular chef has added to the traditional format. It could include fruit, be alcohol-free, or feature extra layers of creamy, cake-y goodness, all of which lead to incredibly tasty results.

The beloved affogato is another coffee dessert that comes from Italy, the place that takes both coffee and dessert very seriously. Unlike other elaborate desserts, the beauty of an affogato lies in its simplicity. For those of you who aren't already familiar with the dish, it consists of espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream. That's it. Even so, the two elements come together in a way that makes you think they were made for each other. It starts near-perfect, but the more the ice cream melts and the espresso fully integrates itself, the creamier and tastier it becomes.

Traditionally, an affogato is made with vanilla ice cream, but let's face it: That's not the only flavor that can do the dessert justice. Chocolate, coconut, pistachio, peanut butter, and more also result in a delectable variation. Details aside, ordering one from a restaurant or ice cream shop is always worth it. Most of us don't have an espresso machine at home, so taking advantage when you're out in the wild makes perfect sense. Premium ice cream, like the stuff you get from a classy ice cream shop, coffee spot, or restaurant, also takes the dessert to the next level.

Moving over to France, you'll find the next coffee dessert that is always worth ordering: the éclair au café. Or, in layman's terms, the coffee éclair. Just like the classic chocolate version of the dish, it consists of a butter-laden pastry shell filled with creamy pastry cream and a fine layer of icing on the top. However, instead of the pastry cream being vanilla, it gets a serious boost by adding coffee. In addition, the icing on top is coffee- or espresso-flavored, although a chocolate espresso mash-up is not uncommon. Either way, though, it is a coffee dessert that people everywhere swoon for.

Making coffee éclairs is a labor of love. After all, we don't all have the patience to pull off perfectly textured pastry shells and then stuff them. As a result, ordering them from a bakery or restaurant is a no-brainer. These establishments should not only have the know-how but also excel at creating them, so taking advantage of their expertise is the way to go.

Panna cotta is another iconic dessert that comes to us from Italy. Traditionally, it is made by cooking cream with gelatin and sugar, so it's simple yet incredibly tasty. It can also be infused with countless flavors, and espresso just so happens to be one of the best. That's right, espresso panna cotta is a thing, and if you ever spot it on a menu, make sure to give it a try.

With a panna cotta, cooking cream with sugar and gelatin leads to a velvety smooth texture with a bit of jiggle, similar to Jell-O, but much less constrained. As a result, each bite melts in your mouth in a way that can only be described as divine. If you are vegetarian, don't fret. You, too, can get a taste of espresso panna cotta; you'll just have to seek out one that opts for egg whites instead of gelatin. Thanks to the slightly wobbly texture of the dessert, they'll thicken it just as well as gelatin.

Mousse may be simple at its core — it's essentially just heavy cream, milk, confectioners' sugar, and a flavor, whipped until smooth peaks form — but it delivers a velvety texture that is sure to leave your taste buds reeling. In a good way, of course. While chocolate mousse tends to be the most popular flavor, if you ever see it with coffee added to the mix, prepare yourself for a dessert of legendary proportions. That goes for both chocolate coffee mousse and straight-up coffee mousse, too. Either recipe is a show-stopping pick that will leave your mouth dreaming of it for days to come.

Making mousse isn't all that complicated, but obviously, ordering it from a restaurant is even simpler. Pro cooks sure know their stuff, too. FYI: Vegan coffee mousse is also a thing. You just need to swap out the heavy cream and milk for coconut milk. Actually, even if you don't practice a plant-based diet, this rendition is one to seek out. The coconut milk adds a delicious sweetness that anyone can love.

Okay, so we know an affogato is one form of coffee ice cream dessert, but you can also take the middleman out by infusing ice cream with coffee or espresso from the start. That way, there's no need to mix ingredients when dessert time rolls around. It also ensures a complete mix of flavors and helps it stay as cold as possible for as long as possible, which, of course, has its benefits. After all, it's not like you can enjoy an affogato in a cone. With coffee ice cream, you absolutely can.

You can always pick up a stellar coffee-flavored ice cream from the store. Van Leeuwen, for example, makes a delicious one. Still, ordering one from an ice cream shop is a great decision. When you do, you get to pick from various toppings and also have the option for a sugar or waffle cone, both of which perfectly complement the flavors of coffee ice cream. Plus, fresh-made ice cream is where it's at. We all know that. Pro tip: Always get coffee ice cream when at Cold Stone Creamery. According to a Food Republic ranking of the store's flavors, it scored the No. 1 spot.

Opera cake may sound a whole, like tiramisu when you consider the ingredients and format — they both feature layers of cake, creamy filling, chocolate, and coffee — but the difference between opera cake and tiramisu is in the details. For starters, opera cake is from France, not Italy. In addition, the individual elements feature matching flavors, but that's where the similarities end. Opera cake has six alternating layers of almond-flavored sponge cake, coffee buttercream, and chocolate ganache. The result is an eye-catching creation that is sure to wow anyone by sight alone, and since our eyes eat first, that's always a plus.

Opera cake tastes just as decadent as it looks, too. The smooth coffee buttercream paired with almond sponge cake and rich chocolate ganache gives your palate a wonderland of textures and flavors in every bite. The hint of almond from the cake really sets it apart from a lot of other coffee desserts as well. So, if you ever see opera cake on a menu, don't overlook it because you think it is too similar to tiramisù. It's actually another coffee dessert that is worth considering.

Coffee granita is yet another Italian dessert everyone needs to try at least once in their life. Somewhere between a slushy and shaved ice, it's a basic frozen treat with lots of tasty style. In its most basic format, it consists of water and strong coffee that's been frozen to create small, granular ice crystals. However, adding sugar to the mix is also common, so is topping it with whipped cream, or panna cotta as they call it in Italy.

In Sicily, coffee granita is seen as a common way to beat the summer heat and is traditionally enjoyed for breakfast along with brioche. Yup, morning coffee dessert unlocked. Even if you don't spot it on a menu stateside, you can easily make a basic coffee granita at home with just a bit of coffee, ice, and a plastic bag. However, it's one treat you don't want to pass up on a menu, either. Uniquely textured, light, and undeniably delicious, it makes the perfect pick-me-up at any time of day.

Coffee and walnut cake is a classic British dessert that's been around since the early 20th century. Its long-lasting presence in the culinary world is more than enough for us to include it on this list. Considering its across-the-pond origins, it is not to be confused with an American-style coffee cake, either. It is not a crumb-topped bread. Instead, it's a drool-worthy cake with lots of coffee throughout that any lover of the flavor and dessert would be a fool not to try.

One of the reasons coffee and walnut cake has remained popular for so long is that it turns the featured flavors up to the max. The cake and the frosting contain both of the namesake ingredients. With this in mind, you get maximum presence of each in every morsel. While appreciated, the smattering of walnuts on top doesn't do the heavy lifting. Regardless, traditionally, coffee and walnut cake features two layers with frosting in between and another layer on top, not on the sides. Still, it can be tweaked to consist of three layers with frosting everywhere.

Oh, the espresso martini. Whether you typically consider a cocktail a dessert or not, this one has all of the elements needed to bring you over to the dark side of boozy desserts. The classic recipe features vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso vigorously shaken and served up. However, if you prefer a milkier rendition, you can also order them with a cream liqueur. Either way, though, they are tasty enough to go down quickly. If we're being honest, maybe too fast. Velvety smooth, deliciously rich, and overflowing with deep coffee flavors, it's mixology perfection.

Lucky us, the espresso martini is having a moment in the sun right now, so you can find the drink on restaurant and bar menus everywhere. However, a lot of places dial in their recipe and fall back on subpar ingredients to get the job done, which is not the ideal way to enjoy this treat. Instead, you want to order them from elevated spots that actually have an espresso machine and carefully curate the cocktail from start to finish. When you find yourself at a spot that fits the bill, ordering an espresso martini is always worth it. Best of all, you don't have to wait for a meal to have one. We think it's okay to eat dessert first.

There's no shortage of coffee desserts, but to make our list of delicious coffee desserts that are always worth ordering, a recipe had to showcase what the flavor paired with sweet treats is truly capable of: utter perfection. While something like coffee roasted almond and toasted coconut dark chocolate bark sounds pretty tasty, it isn't necessarily one you would want to order when you are out on the town. Heck, it might not even be a dessert you make repeatedly, so recipes like that didn't make the cut.

As opposed to more creative coffee dessert options, every one that made our list delivers enough mass appeal to make just about anyone a fan. They also feature over-the-top coffee flavors and mouth-watering textures that, with every bite, show you exactly why they are the best of the best. Lastly, they have long-standing track records of popularity. So, make them at home, order them when you spot them on a menu, or seek them out specifically, because they are all culinary gems.