Frappuccino

A frappé is a cold, foamy, or blended coffee drink. That’s the simple answer. The longer answer is that “frappé” is one of the most confused words in coffee — because three completely different drinks share the name, and they have almost nothing in common except being cold and containing coffee. This guide explains all three: the Greek frappé (the iconic 1957 invention with the thick foam), the Starbucks Frappuccino (the 1995 blended ice drink), and the French café frappé (the original, broader category that gave both newer drinks their name). It also explains the etymology, the caffeine and calorie math, the most common variations, and the misconceptions that confuse people the most. ...

A Starbucks Frappuccino costs $6–8 and often has more sugar than a can of soda. A homemade version takes 3 minutes, costs under $2, and you control exactly what goes in it — including how strong the coffee is and how sweet you want it. This guide covers the classic coffee frappuccino, every popular variation, and the technique that makes the difference between a watery blend and a thick, restaurant-quality result. (For the bigger picture — what a “frappé” actually is, how the Frappuccino was invented in 1992 by The Coffee Connection in Boston, why Starbucks owns the trademark, and how the blended Frappuccino differs from the shaken Greek frappé — see our what is a frappé guide.) ...