How to Make a Fantastic Frappé From Home
Iced coffee is incredibly popular these days, with so many different varieties to choose from! Whether you want a simple and straightforward iced americano or a more sophisticated iced latte, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Frappés have been around for a number of years now and are sought after in the younger community in particular. Frappés have become something of a status symbol, and rocking up to college or university with a Starbucks frappuccino has become a must if you want to fit in!
But, a frappé itself is not all that hard to make, and can actually be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home! Not only will this save you the time it takes to go down to your local coffee shop and order your favorite frappé, but it will save you money as well!
So, let’s take a closer look at how to make a fantastic frappé together!
What is a Frappé?
So, what exactly is a frappé I hear you ask?
Well, it is a coffee-based, iced drink that is blended to give a smooth consistency. Rather than a traditional iced coffee that has ice cubes floating in it, frappés have a thicker texture and are usually topped with whipped cream and flavored syrup.
Frappés are usually made from strong freshly brewed coffee, milk, ice cubes, and some form of sweetener to give them a more dessert-like taste.
Frappés are not always made from coffee, however. They can also use flavored teas, juices, or hot chocolate as their base.
History of the Frappé
Whilst frappés are incredibly popular in modern society, they have actually been around for centuries.
Don’t get me wrong, people from the 1800s weren’t parading around the streets with their Starbucks caramel frappuccino! But, the idea of a blended, iced coffee-based drink has been around for a long time.
As per The Spruce Eats’ article by Mariette Mifflin “What Is a frappé?” (24/06/2022), the first versions of frappés were introduced in Greek trade markets in the 1950s. Back then, instant coffee was used and the story goes that the frappé was actually created by accident.
One of the representatives of Nestle who was working at the Thessaloniki trade fair was trying to demonstrate how to use an instant chocolate-based drink in their new metallic shaker (like a cocktail shaker).
Then, another worker could not find any hot water for his instant coffee that he was going to drink on his coffee break, so instead took inspiration from the cold shaker, added milk, instant coffee, and ice cubes to one and hey presto, the first frappé was born!
After this revelation, Nestlé went on to make the frappé one of the most popular drinks in Greece. It is found in virtually every coffee shop there and has since been further popularised by coffee giants Starbucks, with its trademarked frappuccino.
How is a Frappé Different From an Iced Coffee?
A frappé is actually quite different from a traditional iced coffee, as the ingredients are blended rather than just stirred.
This gives your frappé a much thicker and smooth texture compared to a normal iced coffee. Frappés also tend to be blended with flavored syrups and topped with whipped cream.
Nitro coffee also has a smoother, thicker, and richer texture than regular cold brew coffee. If you want to find out more about nitro coffee and how it’s made, check out my article on it here.
A frappé is generally seen as more of a dessert-based drink rather than just a thirst-quenching iced coffee. Frappés also often contain a lot more calories than a standard iced coffee, so drink them sparingly!
Find out how a frappe differed from an iced coffee and a cold brew here!
How to Make a Fantastic Frappé
There are a few simple steps to follow to make the perfect frappé from home.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide and you’ll have a frappé that’s even better than Starbucks in no time!
Check out my YouTube short walking you through the process here:
The following recipe makes 1 serving of frappé.
Equipment:
- Ice Cube Tray
- Blender
- Serving Glass
- Straw
Ingredients:
- 2 cup/ 16 fl oz/ 460 ml strong, freshly brewed coffee (espresso is preferable)
- 1 cup/ 8 fl oz/ 230 ml whole milk (or milk alternatives)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar/sweetener
- 2 tablespoons of flavored syrup (caramel, almond, etc)
- Whipped cream (optional).
Method:
Step 1: Coffee Ice Cubes
The first step to creating the perfect frappé from home is actually a bit left field…
We are going to make coffee ice cubes.
This may be something new to you but go with it.
One of the biggest mistakes that coffee lovers make when trying to recreate a frappé at home is to add too much ice and not enough coffee. This ends up making a weak, flavorless slushie-type drink that is nothing like what you get in your favorite coffee shop.
Instead, we are going to make ice cubes that actually contain coffee. This way, when we blend them to make the smooth frappé, we are actually blending frozen coffee rather than just water!
Simply brew 1 cup of coffee; this can be espresso, french press, or any coffee brewing method of your choice. Then let this cool slightly and add to your ice cube tray.
Put these in the freezer for about 1 hour and you’ll have perfect coffee ice cubes to make your frappé fantastic!
Step 2: Prepare Ingredients
Whilst your coffee ice cubes are chilling out in the freezer, it’s time to prepare the other ingredients.
We want a second cup of freshly brewed coffee. Again, this can be a shot of espresso, a long black, or even an instant.
The main thing here is that the coffee should be strong, so its flavor isn’t diluted when we blend it up with all the other ingredients.
Once you have your cup of coffee ready, you’ll need a cup of milk to go with it. I’d recommend whole milk for the creamy texture, but if you are lactose intolerant any milk alternative like oat milk, soya milk, or almond milk will work just fine.
Finally, get your whipped cream and a flavored syrup of choice ready too.
If you aren’t sure which flavor of syrup to get, then check out some of the most popular options on Amazon.
Step 3: Blend
The next step is to combine all of your ingredients together to produce your thick, creamy frappé mixture!
Simply add your coffee ice cubes, milk, brewed coffee, 1 tablespoon of flavored syrup, and 2 tablespoons of sugar or sweetener to your blender.
Blend this mixture up until you have a smooth, creamy iced consistency that is between a paste and softened ice cream.
If you are struggling to blend up all of these ingredients on the first go, simply shake your blender container up to re-distribute the ingredients and blend again until smooth.
Step 4: Serve
Next, we need to serve this and present it as nicely as possible!
To serve your frappé, simply pour it into your serving glass or glasses. If the texture is too thick to pour, simply add a splash or two of water and blend again until you achieve the consistency you are looking for.
Step 5: Top with Syrup/Cream
The finishing touch is to add your whipped cream and syrup to the top of your frappé to get the full experience!
Add a squirt of whipped cream to the top of your serving glass, drizzle your remaining tablespoon of flavored syrup on top of this, and add your favorite drinking straw.
Your fantastic frappé from home is now complete!
Summary
Overall, the frappé is an incredibly popular coffee-based drink for good reason. It is a delicious, creamy, almost dessert-like drink that can be made quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home!
Use this recipe as a guide to making a delicious frappé for yourself, friends, and family!
Related Questions
What is a frappé Made From?
A frappé is made from brewed coffee, ice, and milk, and is generally served with flavored syrup and whipped cream.
Is a frappé Just Coffee and Ice?
Not exactly. Frappés also contain milk, and flavored syrup and can even be made using special coffee iced cubes rather than regular ones for an even more intense coffee flavor.
What is the Difference Between a Frappé and a Frappuccino?
A frappé is the traditional, generic name for blended iced coffee. Whereas, a frappuccino is a trademarked name for this type of drink owned by Starbucks.
How Much Coffee is in a Frappé?
A frappé generally contains around 1 shot of espresso or 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee. However, if you use coffee ice cubes as well, this could up the coffee content to 1.5 or 2 cups per serving.
