AffoGAYTO: Coffee, Queerness, Community

Affogato: a dessert drink with a shot (or two) of espresso poured over ice cream. Affogayto: a dessert drink with a shot (or two) of espresso poured over ice cream made by two queer friends. 

On October 19, Zoe Cameron set up her pop-up vegan ice cream business Scream Queens at Virgil’s plant shop in Kansas City, Missouri. Zoe brought her friend Tarmine Guichette who doesn’t officially own a business but has done coffee pop-ups in the past. Together, the two slung affogatos for lines of eager customers. 

“It’s a fun event for the community, and I’m excited to be sharing it with Zoe, my friend,” Guichette said. “And I love coffee and ice cream, so it’s the perfect combination”

Another queer pop-up, Spicy Moon, sold vegan and gluten-free donuts. The small business working together to put on Affogayto is a reflection of the closeness of the LGBTQ community in Kansas City. 

“I feel like people really turn out for stuff, like, any, like, queer event in Kansas City,” Cameron said. “I feel like there’s just so many people who are gonna come out to it and, like, be a part of the community, and it’s just like, a super strong community.”