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 โญbucks 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.
๐ฅค 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.
๐ 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.
๐ก Top tip
Shake vigorously to allow the thick foam to form. The longer you shake, the thicker and frothier the foam will be.
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!
๐ฉ๐ณ 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.
๐ 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.
- Sweet (Glykós): 2 teaspoons of coffee and 4 teaspoons of sugar (how my husband likes it).
- Medium (Métrios): 2 teaspoons of coffee and 2 teaspoons of sugar (my personal preference).
- Plain (Skétos): 2 teaspoons of coffee and no sugar.
- 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. ๐
- 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.
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Frappe is iced coffee, sometimes topped with milk or cream, whereas Frappuccino is rather like a milkshake with coffee, milk, and ice cream.
Freeze it in an ice cube tray. Then, when you're ready to make your frappe, use your coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes! This won't water it down like regular ice cubes do, keeping it strong and bold until the last sip! You can do the same with leftover hot coffee, just let it cool before freezing.
๐ฅMore Greek Recipes:
๐งก LIKED THIS RECIPE? Leave a โญโญโญโญโญ rating and/or a review in the comments section. ๐ HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my Newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.
Classic Greek Frappe (Iced Coffee) Recipe
EQUIPMENT
- Mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee , Nescafe
- 2-4 teaspoons white sugar, adjust to your preference of sweetness
- 2 tablespoons water
- Ice cubes
- Milk (optional), or use heavy cream, condensed milk, or evaporated milk to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Pour 2 teaspoon instant coffee granules, 2 teaspoon (or more) sugar, and 2 tablespoon water into a small mason jar with a thigh-fitting lid or cocktail shaker. [*See our step-by-step process photos in the post above and extra tips.]
- Close the lid tightly and shake vigorously for 1-2 minutes until very foamy.
- Fill a tall glass halfway with ice cubes. Pour the foam into the glass and slowly top off with cold water.
- Top it off with a splash of milk or cream if using.
Video
Notes
- This recipe makes one serving. Feel free to double (or triple) the ingredients if you need to serve more people.
- 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.
- Check out the "Variations" section in the post above to learn how to modify it to get the best-tasting iced coffee!
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Nutrition
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.
Emma : Ettieandme says
This looks sooo refreshing! I lived in Greece for a while and the frappes were the main thing that got me through the day in the summer heat! thanks for sharing the secrets on how to make a great one:)
Barrie Mooney says
Beautiful!! I love the foamy top!
Jas says
That's the best part ๐ Thanks for visiting!
Jessica Cantoni says
I'm sure your frappe is much nicer that a Starbucks one anyway!! x
P.S I have a world food linky over on my blog jesseatsandtravels.com if you're interesting in joining in! x
Jas says
Thanks so much and thank you for stopping in, Jessica! I'm heading over to your party now. ๐
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
I need that mighty mug, hahaha! The frappe looks so inviting. I need to try this! Thanks for sharing, Jas. x
Jas says
The mug is mighty, ha! Thanks, Jhuls ๐
Robin Kublick says
I LOVE a good Greek frappe! But I use a hand held frother. Quick and easy! And I usually add a bit of coffee creamer liquid if I want to give it a bit of flavor, and since me and milk don't get along so good, I use almond milk or coconut milk.
Jas says
I should get me one of those! I never liked milk and drink my coffee black but this frappe needs a bit of sugar (I use organic coconut palm sugar) ๐
Maggie says
Is it really only 2 tbsp of water? That seems like such a tiny volume and the amount in the glasses in your photos seems like much more. Please advise!
Jas says
Hi, Maggie! I see how it might be confusing and I'm fixing it. The two tablespoons are just to make the froth but then in the directions (step #2), it says to top off your glass with cold water or milk. Thanks for pointing it out! Hope you'll enjoy the frappe, my husband makes 2-3 daily ๐
Teresa at Aging Like a Fine Wine says
I just pinned and tweeted this and I'm looking forward to giving the recipe a try! Thank you for sharing with us at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty!
Jas says
Thank you, Teresa! Have a great week.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says
I could drink one of those right now - they look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with us at #blogginggrandmotherslinkparty. I've pinned and shared on social media. Catch you at the link up next month!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond.
Jas says
Thanks, Sue!
Grammy Dee from GrammysGrid.com says
Yummy! I know this must taste really good. I'm not a coffee drinker but on occasion I buy one just for something different. Thanks Jas for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I shared this post.
Jas says
Thanks, Dee!
Lori Hill-Smith says
I'd love to try this!
Jas says
Hi Lori, I hope you do. So easy to make! ๐
Christie Hawkes says
This looks divine! I want one right now. I confess to spending $5 a day on iced lattes, and they aren't nearly this pretty. Thanks for sharing on #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty.
~Christie
Jas says
Thanks, Christie! I guess if that's your only vice then it's ok, lol
Donna says
Our warm weather has finally hit, making this recipe a perfect choice!
Thank you for including it #blogginggrandmotherslinkparty .
Jas says
Thank you, Donna. We love it.
Theresa @DearCreatives says
I seriously need one of these in my life. I was organizing my craft room, with my teen & coffee went flying across the room, no joke. Love the coffee recipe btw. Thanks for sharing at the #InspirationSpotlight party @DearCreatives Pinned & shared.
Jas says
Thank you, Theresa! It happens way too often in my house too ๐
Debbie Kitterman says
Jas, another delicious recipe! I don't drink coffee, but my husband does and I know he'd love to make something like this. Thanks for linking up with #TuneInThursday this week. See you next time!
Jas says
Thanks! I hope he likes it. Have a blessed weekend ahead!
Miz Helen says
I just pinned this Frappe and can't wait to try it! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday! Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon.
Miz Helen
Jas says
Thanks, as always, for your kindness Miz Helen!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
That's a beautiful drink! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW's DIY party!
Jas says
Thank you, Helen!