- Greek Cafe Frappe
By Jonathan - Angels Greek Island Homes
Cafe Frappe is an ice chilled ’shaken’ coffee with foam on top. It is very popular in Greece especially in the hot summer months. It is very easy to prepare (just add water and shake!).
In Greece, Frappe means ’shaken’. It was invented by chance in 1957 at the International Trade Fair in Thessoloniki. Nestle was demonstrating a new chocolate drink mixed with water in a plastic shaker for children. When an employee wanted a cup of coffee and finding no hot water, he put a spoon of instant coffee in the shaker with some cold water and milk and shook it all up. Frappe was born!
It is made with spay dried instant coffee and contains nearly no oil. When dissolved in water, it forms simple but stable foam similar to the crema found on espresso.
Like Greek Coffee it is available in plain, medium or sweet. It is always shaken, never stirred.
How to make Greek Cafe Frappe
- Add one or two teaspoons of instant coffee to a plastic sports shaker, depending on the strength you want. Cocktail shakers can also be used!
- Add about three tablespoons of cold water
- Add sugar to taste. (Two spoons for medium, four spoons for sweet.)
- Close shaker tightly.
- Shake like the devil for at least 30 seconds or until the mixture becomes all foam – the more you shake the better.
- Pour foam into a glass
- Top up with water, add milk, ice cubes and stir.
- Serve naked (optional) with a straw.
In many Greek islands like Skopelos for example, you can buy ready made frappe coffee shakers and all you need to do is add water.
Happy shaking!
