Order a frappe in different places and you might get three very different drinks — a creamy, milkshake-like dessert, a whipped instant coffee classic, or simply a cold coffee served on ice.
So what is a true frappe?
In this guide, we’ll break down the origins, the ingredients, and how it stacks up against other iced coffees — plus share a recipe for making the perfect version at home.
What Is a Frappe?
The frappe is a simple drink, but there are generally considered to be two versions — the classic Greek frappe and the modern one found sold by Western coffeehouse chains.
Classic Frappe
The classic frappe was invented in Greece by Dimitris Vakondios in 1957. He was working for Nestlé at the time and was exhibiting a chocolate drink made by adding powder and milk to a cocktail shaker and shaking it.
On his break, he wanted to have an instant coffee as he usually did, but couldn’t find hot water. Instead, he added instant coffee, cold water, and ice cubes to one of the shakers he had been using, and created “frappe coffee.”
The word frappe means “struck” in French — the coffee adopted the name after Vakondios’ method of violently shaking the brew.
Modern Frappe
The modern frappe doesn’t have a clear inventor, but it’s popular in cafes for its easy preparation.
The barista adds coffee, milk, and ice to a blender (often with flavored coffee syrup) before blending the mixture together to form a slushy-like consistency.
This creates a very smooth and cold coffee drink that’s loved during the summer months, particularly among those who don’t drink very strong coffee. The flavor is far creamier and sweeter than cold brew or iced coffee.
The modern frappe is different from the classic one in its method and uses slightly different ingredients.
Typically, the instant coffee Vakondios used is substituted with espresso, and the blended drink is often topped with whipped cream. These changes make the drink much more luxurious than it once was.
What’s in a Frappe? (Basic Ingredients)
The basic ingredients of a frappe are straightforward and tasty. This is likely one of the reasons it’s seen such success for large coffeehouse chains.
Core ingredients in frappes include:
- Coffee Base — The original coffee used for the first frappe was instant, but espresso and cold brew are both popular choices today for a richer flavor. Cold brew’s natural sweetness and smoothness make it an ideal choice for a luxurious drink.
- Ice — Every frappe is either served over ice or is blended with ice.
- Milk — You’ll find frappes with either dairy or plant-based milk, both offering a smooth, creamy texture and flavor.
- Sweeteners — For the traditional frappe, granulated sugar is often used as it can give the foamy drink more structure. In blended drinks, syrups and flavored creamers are more popular.
- Toppings — Whipped cream (or a vegan alternative) is the most common topping, but they can be topped with anything. Caramel frappes, for instance, are often topped and decorated with caramel to make them visually appealing. Other classic toppings include cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla, and even marshmallows.
Frappe vs. Frappuccino vs Iced Coffee: What’s the Difference?
Frappes, frappuccinos, and iced coffee are all spectacularly popular, and it may seem like there’s actually very little difference between them.
Let’s clear up any confusion and break down each drink:
Best Cafely Products to Make a Frappe at Home
Making a frappe at home is a tasty way to get through the summer heat without spending coffee shop prices. However, different coffees are ideal for different uses.
Let’s take a look at how these options compare:
Vietnamese Coffee 2.0 (Instant Café-Style)
Pre-mixed sachets of premium coffee, organic sweeteners, and milk powders. Just shake with ice and water for a smooth, balanced frappe in seconds.
Try Cafely’s Vietnamese Coffee 2.0
BanMe Coffee (Bold Peaberry Robusta)
Dark roast robusta with notes of dark chocolate, toasted almond, and black cherry. Strong, high-caffeine espresso base that pairs well with syrups and toppings.
SaiGon OG (Butter-Roasted Blend)
A smooth mix of peaberry robusta and arabica, roasted with traditional Vietnamese butter techniques. Mellow, nutty, cocoa flavors that shine when blended with milk.
A DIY Recipe for the Ultimate Frappe
It’s super easy to make a killer frappe at home, especially with our DIY recipe.
Here are the tools and ingredients you’ll need to get started:
- Espresso or Instant Coffee — Either coffee choice is fine for making a frappe. However, espresso can offer a more complex flavor.
- Milk — Any dairy or plant-based milk is fine. The traditional Greek choice is evaporated milk, which can be pleasantly rich.
- Sugar or Syrup — If you’re using instant coffee, we recommend granulated sugar as your sweetener because it can add structure to the coffee foam, creating a nicer texture.
- Ice — You’ll get to know a good milk-to-ice ratio as you make a few frappes. We suggest starting with a good handful of ice at first and adding more to get to the consistency you like.
- Blender — For a modern, cafe-style frappe, you’ll need a blender since it’s a slushy-style drink. If you don’t have a blender, you could use an electric milk frother to make a foam from equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and water, and then combine with milk and pour over ice for a traditional frappe.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Here’s the step-by-step process for making a frappe at home:
Step 1: Add Your Ingredients to a Blender
Put the ice in first, and then add the other ingredients on top of it. This will make it less likely you’ll run out of space. This is the time to add any exciting flavored syrups you might enjoy — mocha and caramel are popular, and coconut or pistachio would be tasty too.
Step 2: Blend
Pulse the ingredients for 2 to 5 seconds at a time until smooth. Blenders can sometimes get hot when they run for a while, so make sure you pulse to prevent the heat from melting your drink.
Step 3: Decorate the Glass (Optional)
Many chain stores will add a little extra syrup to the glass, creating a swirling pattern on the inside. This isn’t necessary, but it does look pretty.
Step 4: Decant Carefully
Carefully transfer the smooth frappe to your glass. The mixture should be quite thick, similar in consistency to a milkshake or a slushy.
Step 5: Top & Decorate
Topping a frappe with whipped cream (or a vegan alternative) is very popular, as is adding some syrup or sauce in a pretty pattern. You can add anything here, from a dusting of cocoa to rainbow sprinkles — go wild.
Step 6: Serve & Enjoy
Finally, enjoy your drink. Many people find that the experience of drinking until the frappe is around half full, then mixing in the toppings, is a fun part of the experience.
FAQs: What Is a Frappe?
Now that we’ve delved into the world of frappes, let’s clear up some FAQs.
1. What Is a Frappuccino vs a Frappe?
A Frappuccino is Starbucks’ take on a frappe, and it’s typically sweeter and creamier than a regular frappe.
2. Do Frappes Have Coffee in Them?
Yes, frappes are typically served with coffee in them, usually an espresso. However, some dessert-style drinks are served without.
3. What’s the Difference Between a Frappe and Iced Coffee?
A frappe is a mixture of coffee, ice, milk, and sugar blended. An iced coffee is just brewed coffee that has been poured over ice.
4. Is a Frappe Just Coffee Blended With Ice?
To some extent, yes. Frappes are a mixture of coffee, ice, milk, and (often) a sweetener, blended until smooth.
5. Do Frappes Have Milk in Them?
Yes, frappes usually contain milk, but if a coffee shop offers plant-based milk alternatives, they’ll typically offer frappes made with those as well.
6. Why Are Frappes So High in Calories?
Frappes often contain a lot of syrups and sweeteners, as well as whipped cream. All of these ingredients add calories.
7. What Is the Creamiest Type of Coffee?
Frappes and whole milk lattes are usually considered the creamiest type of coffee.
8. Is There Caffeine in a Frappe?
Usually, yes, most frappes are made with caffeinated espresso or instant coffee. However, decaf options are usually available from coffee houses, and they can be made at home.
9. Does Frappe Always Have Whipped Cream?
While it’s exceptionally popular to top a frappe with whipped cream, it’s not essential. As with most cafe drinks, it’s customizable to your personal tastes.
10. Should I Put My Frappe in the Fridge or Freezer?
Frappes are best served fresh, but you can store leftover frappes in the fridge for one to two days. However, the drink won’t have the same creamy taste and texture.
