Greek Frappe

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Greek Frappe is a foamy Greek iced coffee made with instant coffee, cold water and ice. It takes about a minute to make and you don’t need a frother. A jar, shaker, bottle or even a thermos will do the job.

You can make it plain, sweetened or with milk, depending on how you like your iced coffee. I first had this cold coffee in Greece and it was so refreshing on hot days!

What is Greek frappe?

Greek frappe is a cold foamy coffee drink made with instant coffee. It is served over ice and can be made plain, sweetened or with milk.

In Greece, you can usually order it plain, medium sweet or sweet.

How to make Greek frappe

Add instant coffee, sugar if using and a little cold water to a shaker, jar or bottle with a lid. Shake well until the mixture turns thick and foamy.

Pour the foam into a glass with ice, then top it with cold water. Add milk if you like your frappe creamier.

Tip: If you use sugar, add it before shaking. It dissolves much better this way than when stirred into the finished iced coffee.

Greek frappe sweetness levels

In Greece, frappe is usually ordered by sweetness level:

• Skétos: plain, without sugar
• Métrios: medium sweet, usually 2 teaspoons sugar
• Glykós: sweet, usually 4 teaspoons sugar

You can always adjust the sugar to your taste, but these are the common options you will see in Greece.

Can I make Greek frappe without a frother?

Yes. You don’t need a frother to make Greek frappe at home.

A cocktail shaker works well, but a jar with a lid, water bottle or thermos can also be used. I have been using a thermos to make our frappe and you can do so too. Just make sure the lid closes well before shaking.

What coffee should I use?

Greek frappe is made with instant coffee. In Greece, you often see Nescafé used for frappe. Sometimes the jar even says “frappe” on the packaging.

That said, any instant coffee should work too. That’s what we do as well when we don’t have the exact Greek brand.

Do not use ground coffee though. It will not dissolve properly and you won’t get the same foam.

Greek frappe with milk

Milk is optional. If you like your frappe black, skip it and use cold water only.

For a creamier Greek frappe, add a splash of milk after you pour the foam over ice. Whole milk gives it a creamier taste, but any milk you normally use in iced coffee will work. You can also add a little less water if you want a stronger coffee flavor.

How many calories are in Greek frappe?

Calories depend on how much sugar and milk you add. A plain Greek frappe without sugar or milk is very low in calories.

Greek frappe version	Approx. calories
Plain, no sugar or milk	7
Medium, with 2 teaspoons sugar	about 39
Sweet, with 4 teaspoons sugar	about 71
With milk	about 15 to 40 calories, depending on the type and amount of milk

These are estimates. The final number depends on the instant coffee brand, how much sugar you use and how much milk you add.

Troubleshooting

My frappe is not foamy enough

Use only a small amount of water at the start and shake the coffee well before adding the rest of the water. Instant coffee is important here because it creates the foam.

My frappe tastes too watery

Use less water, add more ice or make the coffee foam stronger by adding a little more instant coffee next time.

Our Greek frappe in Greece

We first enjoyed Greek frappe on our trip to Santorini and I still remember how refreshing it was on a hot day. It was everywhere, from cafes to pool bars, always cold, foamy and served over ice.

That is the version I wanted to make at home.

We also loved Greek salad, kebab, koftas and tzatziki for lunch. Simple food, but so good on hot days.

What Greek foods do you like? Let me know in the comments!

More iced coffee recipes for you to try

If you like quick cold coffee drinks, you might also like instant iced coffee, iced caramel latte, cinnamon iced coffee or orange cold brew coffee.

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