Geluna Gelato

Geluna Gelato is a gelato and coffee shop in downtown Cary, on East Chatham Street. The owners call gelato ice cream’s Italian cousin, which is a fair way to put it: same idea, different method, noticeably different result.

The shop’s own explanation is that gelato is a bit like ice cream, but smoother on the tongue, with flavors that really pop. That is the pitch, and it holds up. Coffee is the other half of the counter, which makes it a reasonable stop at any point in the day.

What to know

• Gelato is made with more milk and less cream than ice cream, so it has less fat.
• The churning is slower, so less air is worked into the mix.
• Gelato is served at a warmer temperature than ice cream.
• Less fat and less air together give it a denser texture and a more intense flavor.