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.
💡 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!
👩🍳 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.
- 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. 😋
- 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
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.
🥙More Greek Recipes:
🧡 LIKED THIS RECIPE? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. 😋 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.
Jen Talley says
Sending my mom this recipe!
Jas says
Yasss! Hope she'll enjoy as much as we do. 🙂
Michele Peterson says
When I was in Greece I fell in love with Greek frappe - this iced coffee transports me back!
Jas says
Oh, even better sipping on it in beautiful Greece! ❤
Marina says
I love ice coffee, thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!
Jas says
You are so welcome, Marina! 🙂
Amy says
That was a super delicious recipe! Like I needed more excuses to drink more coffee! LOL
Jas says
Lol, I hear ya! 😀
Lizet Bowen says
Yes! we are making this Greek frappe all through this summer! 🙂
Jas says
That's what we've been doing for years! 😀 Thanks for stopping in and enjoy!
Sue says
Who knew a classic Greek frappe could be so easy and delicious!
Jas says
Right? It checks off all the boxes: quick, easy, budget-friendly, and delicious! 😀
Emily Flint says
This Geek Frappe is so delicious and easy to make. I may never go to the coffee shop again!
Jas says
Thanks, Emily! We drink 3-4 of this frappe daily during the summer, so it's definitely a money-saver. 🙂
Saif says
I've been looking for frappe recipe and I am glad to find this. They remind of the frappe drink I ordered in Starbucks. I definitely need this in summer season.
Jas says
I'm glad you found it too! It's so easy and inexpensive to make! 🙂
Anjali says
I haven't been to Starbucks in so long since the pandemic started, so I was super excited to try this recipe and recreate my Starbucks experience at home! It was delicious!
Jas says
So happy to read this, Anjali! Thanks for stopping in! Stay safe! x
Dannii says
We are saving ourselves a fortune by making our own iced coffee at home. These look perfect.
Jas says
Indeed! As much as we consume it during summer months, it's definitely a much cheaper option!
Raquel says
So wish I could have caffeine because I would drink the hell out of this;)
Jas says
I wish you could have it too! 🙁
stephanie says
This Classic Greek Frappe is so delicious, I made it for the first time today and will be making it again.
Jas says
I'm so glad you like it, Stephanie! xo
Rosa says
I consider my solo trip to Greece (and Israel) the trip of my lifetime (so far) and my wonderful memories of the trip include Greek frappes! I loved how they would custom make them for you to your preferred sweetness. On hot days like today I dream about those frappes, but I never buy them here because they're loaded with sugar. Can't believe I didn't think to make my own before now. Thanks for the recipe!
Jas says
Hi, Rosa! Memories to last a lifetime, I'm sure. My husband drinks about 5 of these on a hot day. 🙂 Hope you'll make it for yourself and revive those sweet memories 🙂
Miz Helen says
I will love your Frappe! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Jas says
Thank you, Miz Helen! It's so refreshing and although we don't have summer temperatures yet, we're enjoying it daily.
Leslie says
That coffee mug does look pretty awesome! Unfortunately, my coffee tends to spill when I'm carrying it to the car, not when it's on a table. Though we could certainly stand to have a water bottle version of this with our rambunctious 2-year-old running around. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Jas says
I frequently elbow mine when it's on the table, especially next to my laptop, lol. A water bottle version would be cool! Take care, my friend!
Marissa | Squirrels of a Feather says
Lovely! I have never tried one of these, but now I want to 😉