Greek Frappe

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. ...

The Greek frappé is one of the strangest and most beloved coffee drinks in the world. It’s made with instant coffee — yes, instant coffee — and yet it is the unofficial national drink of Greece, sipped from tall glasses at cafés across the country every single day from morning until evening. If your only experience with instant coffee is a sad mug of brown water at a hotel breakfast bar, a properly made frappé will surprise you. It has thick, café-quality foam, a clean and slightly bitter coffee flavor, and the most refreshing iced-coffee texture of any drink we know. It also takes about 90 seconds to make. ...