What is a frappe, and why should you make one? This tasty drink is Greece’s “official” coffee, and Greeks drink it all year! It’s made with coffee, sugar, ice, and water. The ingredients are blended, shaken, or beaten to create a refreshing drink.
If you love this Frappe coffee, you will also love Traditional Greek Coffee, Greek Mountain Tea, or How To make a Greek Breakfast Feast!
What is a frappe coffee?
A frappe is an iced instant coffee prepared in a shaker or blender. Its name is derived from the French word of the same name (frappe), meaning “beaten”. Frappe coffee is accompanied by many ice cubes and enjoyed with a straw.
Is frappe coffee Greek?
Yes, it is. Frappe is often referred to as our national coffee. It was accidentally invented in 1957 at the Thessaloniki International Fair by Dimitris Vakondios, an employee of the Swiss company Nestlé, the maker of Nescafé instant coffee.
At the time, Nestlé was introducing a new chocolate-based children’s drink.
During a break, Dimitris wanted to drink his usual Nescafé with hot water and sugar. He couldn’t find any hot water, and, having seen his manager many times present the chocolate drink with a shaker, he decided to do the same with instant coffee mixed with cold water.
This is how this popular coffee drink was created and would later enter the Greeks’ daily lives. The company had indeed launched an iced instant coffee some years earlier, and Vakondios invented the rich foam of the frappe as we know it. Frappe consumption skyrocketed, and Nestle adopted this version of the story as the birth of the frappe.
Frappe coffee has accompanied many generations of Greeks in their most enjoyable moments and is identified with the summer months of relaxation and carelessness.
Here is what you need
There is no specific recipe for a frappe. Everyone can follow their own, depending on their tastes and preferences.
Basic recipe: Put two teaspoons of instant coffee, one teaspoon of sugar, and a little room-temperature water in a glass. The amount of water should not be much because a lot of foam will be created during blending. Use a milk frother and blend the coffee into a creamy foam. Add ice and fill the glass with cold water. Stir well and add some cream* if you like.
*Greeks often put evaporated milk in their coffee. I think it is in everyone’s memory drinking evaporated milk diluted with water instead of fresh -unless we were in Crete and I had to drink warmed fresh goat’s milk-I hated it. When I was growing up, it was the only milk in the house, unless mom needed fresh milk for a recipe. Fresh milk took a while to become mainstream in Greece. I would say in the 80s the grocery shops started having lots of fresh milk on the shelves. It is interesting to note that evaporated milk has been around in Greece since 1929.
About this frappe recipe
This recipe pays homage to a famous cafe in Athens. The recipe was created by Christos Lentzos in his famous cafe in the Pagrati district in 1965. The Lentzos frappe is legendary, a recipe kept a top secret for years. It was unique and delicious. Their coffee became very popular in the 70s and remained a source of pleasure for decades. In the 90s, my friends and I used to frequent the cafe, enjoying thick, creamy coffee before nightclub escapades or on a lazy afternoon, chatting and arguing for hours.
Here is how to make the Lentzos frappe
Lentzos frappe is strong, sweet, and thick. The foam is more like cream. It requires you to move your straw continuously, occasionally licking it. A chef once said the Lentzos frappe is reminiscent of tiramisu.
To make two coffees:
Frappe variations
- Try a frappe with a scoop of ice cream like chocolate or vanilla.
- Pour a tablespoon or two of creamy Baileys for a velvety texture.
- Add some whipped cream on top with either caramel or chocolate syrup.
Greek desserts to enjoy with frappe
Cooked it? Rate it!
If you tried this recipe, I’d love to know how you liked it — drop a comment below or tag me on Instagram @thegreekfoodie__.
How To Make A Frappe coffee
Equipment
- blender or immersion blender
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons instant coffee full tablespoons
- ½ cup sugar for a medium sweet coffee
- 1½ cups water room temperature
- heavy cream or your favorite creamer, optional
- ice cubes
- cold water
Instructions
- Add the coffee, sugar and the water in a blender. Blend for a few minutes until mixtute is thick an silky.
- Add ice cubes to two tall glasses. Divide the blended coffee between them, and fill with cold water.Stir gently and add heavy cream if you like to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Try a frappe with a scoop of ice cream like chocolate or vanilla.
- Pour a tablespoon or two of creamy Baileys for a velvety texture.
- Add some whipped cream on top with either caramel or chocolate syrup.
Nutrition
