Granita di Caff'e

4 bucks Starbucks coffee makes me wince. It take $3.78 to make Granita di Caff'e (coffee ice) and I can make it again if I want to at no cost. It is not anywhere near same as yummy Starbucks, but it is pretty good. It's an easy Italian treat.

- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons instant espresso coffee powder (if you prefer, you can use decaffeinated coffee for the espresso in the recipe, or try one of your favorite instant-coffee blends..)
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup chilled whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* Heat one cup water and 3/4 sugar to boiling in 2-quart saucepan; reduce the heat. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle in coffee powder gradually, stirring until dissolved. Stir in 2 cups water. Pour into ice cube tray. Freeze until mushy in center, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

* Stir the mixture; freeze 1 hour. Stirring after 30 minutes. Stir again before serving. The mixture should be broken into tiny ice crystals but should not be solid.

* Beat the whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in chilled bowl until soft peaks form. Serve the whipping cream on top.