Classic Greek Frappe (Iced Coffee) Recipe

Greek Frappé is a frothy blend of coffee, ice, and sugar, served with an optional layer of cream on top. With only three ingredients, this refreshing treat is easy to make and will leave you craving more.

If you've never had an authentic Greek frappe, get ready for a delicious surprise! It will make you forget all about that expensive ⭐bucks frappuccino and the Dalgona whipped coffee.

This iced coffee recipe is perfect for hot summer days, especially if you're a caffeine lover. It's a real classic Greek frappe you can now have at home!

It's super simple to make, even my husband makes it several times a day when he's working in our yard on really hot days. It's his favorite go-to summer beverage.

What is Frappe?

In Greece, the Nescafé frappé is more than just a refreshing caffeinated drink. It's an integral part of the outdoor Greek coffee culture and one that has been enjoyed for generations.

The Greek frappe has an interesting history, originating in the 1950s when an accidental discovery led to its creation.

It all began in Thessaloniki, Greece, when an employee of Yannis Dritsas (a representative of the Nestlé company) couldn't get hot water to make his instant coffee. Instead, he improvised by shaking a few teaspoons in a glass of cold water.

🥤 Why you'll love this Greek frappe

• It's quick and easy to make.
• You only need three ingredients (if you count ice cubes).
• It's budget-friendly.
• This frothed coffee tastes absolutely delicious!
• It's perfect for every coffee lover who needs a quick caffeine fix.
• There's no need for a frother, shaker, blender, or fancy coffee machine - just a jar.

🛒 Ingredients and Notes

• Instant coffee granules - see below for the best type.
• Sugar - granulated white sugar. I found that coconut sugar changes the original flavor. You can experiment with other 1:1 sugar substitutes.
• Water and ice cubes - that's basically one ingredient, fresh and frozen. You can use crushed ice, but it will quickly dilute your coffee.
• *Creamer - Cream or milk is optional, and it will affect the creaminess and richness of the drink. My husband drinks it black, but I love adding heavy cream or condensed milk when I have leftovers from another recipe. You can experiment with dairy-free creamers if you prefer.

What type of coffee is best for making frappe?

Frappe is only made with instant coffee. If you want authentic Greek frappe, use Nescafe Instant Coffee. Of course, you can make it with any other instant coffee brand, but it won't be an authentic Greek Nescafe frappe.

Greeks have varying preferences for the strength of their frappes, so use your preference as a guide for this recipe.

How to make authentic Greek frappe (without a blender)

Step 1

Pour teaspoons of instant coffee granules, sugar per your personal taste, and a little bit of water (enough to cover the ingredients) into a mason jar with a lid.

Step 2

Close the lid tightly and shake for 1-2 minutes until very foamy.

Step 3

Fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes. Pour the frothy sugar mixture into the glass and slowly top off with more cold water.

Step 4 (optional)

You can top it off with a splash of cream or cold milk (regular, evaporated, or condensed).

Enjoy while dreaming of sunny Greece!

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

• If you make it with milk instead of water (except for a little bit in the first step), you'll have a frapógalo - a cold frappe float.
• Don't skimp on the shaking step. Shake vigorously! The harder you shake, the more foamy your frappe will be!
• It's damn near impossible to get all the foam out of the jar...so pour some water in it, put the lid on, and shake. Pour contents into your glass, and repeat as necessary.
• No shortcuts! If you try to add all the water and then shake, you'll end up with just the foam.

👉 Variations

In Greece, you can order this latte-like national coffee in three degrees of sweetness, the amount of which is based on personal taste.

1. Sweet (Glykós): 2 teaspoons of coffee and 4 teaspoons of sugar (how my husband likes it).
2. Medium (Métrios): 2 teaspoons of coffee and 2 teaspoons of sugar (my personal preference).
3. Plain (Skétos): 2 teaspoons of coffee and no sugar.
4. With milk (Me gála): 1 tablespoon of evaporated milk or another creamer of your preference.

This Greek frappe recipe is a classic, but you can modify it and make it your own:

• Add whipping cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you like it extra creamy. 😋
• Replace milk or cream with chocolate milk.
• Make it boozy and add a shot of Baileys or Kahlúa.
• Add vanilla extract or ground cinnamon.
• Use decaf Instant Coffee.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🥙More Greek Recipes:

Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in May 2017. It was updated in March 2024 with new photos, a video, and great recipe tips.