Table of Contents
- 1. What Is a Frappe?
- 2. Where the Word Frappe Comes From
- 3. How a Frappe Is Made
- 4. How a Frappe Differs From Iced Coffee
- 5. How a Frappe Differs From a Milkshake
- 6. The Different Types of Frappes You Will Find at Cafes
- 7. What Makes a Frappe Worth Ordering
- 8. How Frappes Fit Into the Broader Cold Coffee Menu
- 9. Frequently Asked Questions
- 10. Trying a Frappe at a Local Cafe
If you have ever looked at a cafe menu and found yourself wondering what is a frappe and how it is different from the iced coffee sitting right next to it, you are asking the right question. Both are cold, both contain coffee in most versions, and both are served in large cups. But what goes into them, how they are made, and what they taste like are genuinely different. This blog walks through everything you need to know about frappes, from where the word came from to how they are made and what sets them apart from other cold drinks.
1. What Is a Frappe?
Understanding what this drink actually is requires looking at both the word itself and the drink it describes.
What is a frappe in the most straightforward terms? According to Merriam-Webster, a frappe is defined as a partly frozen drink or a thick milkshake. The word comes from the French verb frapper, meaning to chill or to strike, and has been in use in the English language since the early 1900s. In modern cafe menus across the United States, the frappe most commonly refers to a blended cold drink made with coffee, ice, milk, and sometimes ice cream or flavored syrup.
What makes a frappe distinct from other cold drinks is the blending process. Unlike iced coffee, which is simply coffee poured over ice, a frappe is blended until the ingredients are fully combined into a smooth, thick, creamy consistency. The result is a drink that sits somewhere between a cold coffee beverage and a dessert.
The key characteristics of a frappe:
- Blended rather than poured over ice
- Thick and creamy in texture
- Usually contains coffee, milk, and ice as the base
- Often topped with whipped cream
- Can include ice cream as a blending ingredient
- Served in a large cup with a straw
- Sweet in flavor, often richer than standard iced coffee
2. Where the Word Frappe Comes From
The word frappe has a longer and more varied history than most people realize, and understanding it helps explain why the drink goes by different names in different contexts.
According to Wikipedia, the modern frappe coffee drink was invented in 1957 in Thessaloniki, Greece, by a Nescafe representative named Dimitris Vakondios. During a break at an international trade fair, Vakondios could not find hot water for his usual instant coffee. He improvised by shaking the coffee with cold water and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. The resulting frothy, chilled drink became an immediate hit and quickly spread across Greece, where it became a fixture of outdoor cafe culture.
The Greek frappe differs from the American cafe version in that it is made with instant coffee rather than espresso and is more foamy than creamy. The American cafe frappe, which is closer to a blended milkshake-style drink, developed separately and became widely known through coffee chains in the 1990s and 2000s.
The word itself, however, predates both versions. The French frapper has been used to describe chilled drinks since the 1800s, and early versions of cold, iced coffee drinks called cafe frappe were documented as far back as the 1880s in American cookbooks and food publications.
3. How a Frappe Is Made
The preparation method is what gives a frappe its distinctive texture and sets it apart from every other cold coffee drink.
A standard cafe frappe typically starts with the following ingredients:
- Espresso shots or strong brewed coffee as the base
- Milk or a milk alternative such as oat milk or almond milk
- Ice — usually crushed or cubed
- Flavored syrup or sweetener to adjust the taste
- Optional ice cream blended directly into the drink
All of these ingredients are placed into a blender and blended together until smooth. The blending process breaks down the ice and combines everything into a uniform, thick consistency that cannot be achieved by simply stirring or shaking. The result is a cold, frothy drink that is significantly thicker than iced coffee and has a texture closer to a very thin milkshake or a smoothie.
At Icki Sticki, the Frappe is made by blending your choice of ice cream directly into the drink alongside coffee, which adds a richness and creaminess that distinguishes it from other blended coffee drinks. The ice cream component means the drink functions as both a coffee beverage and a dessert in a single cup.
The finishing steps typically include:
- Pouring the blended mixture into a large cup
- Adding whipped cream on top if requested
- Drizzling sauce or syrup over the whipped cream as a finishing touch
- Serving immediately while the ice is still fully blended into the drink
4. How a Frappe Differs From Iced Coffee
This is the comparison most people are looking for when they search for what is a frappe, and the difference is more significant than it might appear from looking at two cold drinks side by side.
Iced coffee is brewed coffee, either hot or cold, that is poured over ice and served cold. The preparation is straightforward. The coffee is liquid, the ice melts gradually into it, and the drink becomes more diluted as time passes. The texture is thin and watery, similar to regular coffee but cold. The flavor is determined primarily by the quality and strength of the coffee used.
A frappe is a blended drink. The ice is not added to the coffee — it is blended into it. The result is a completely different consistency. A frappe is thick, creamy, and uniform throughout. There is no separation of ice and liquid, no dilution over time, and no thin watery texture. The drink holds its consistency for a reasonable amount of time before it begins to melt and separate.
The key differences between the two:
- Preparation — iced coffee is poured over ice; a frappe is blended with ice
- Texture — iced coffee is thin and liquid; a frappe is thick and creamy
- Dilution — iced coffee dilutes as the ice melts; a frappe does not dilute in the same way because the ice is already incorporated
- Sweetness — frappes are typically sweeter because of the added ice cream or flavored syrups
- Calorie content — frappes are generally higher in calories due to the milk, ice cream, and syrup content
- Temperature experience — iced coffee is cold but liquid; a frappe feels more like a frozen dessert drink
5. How a Frappe Differs From a Milkshake
Since a frappe and a milkshake are both blended, thick, cold drinks served with straws, the question of what separates them comes up naturally.
The main difference is the coffee component. A milkshake is made primarily from ice cream and milk, sometimes with flavored syrups. It does not contain coffee unless it is specifically a coffee-flavored milkshake. A frappe, by contrast, starts with coffee or espresso as the foundational ingredient. The coffee is not an optional addition — it is what makes a frappe a frappe rather than a milkshake.
A second difference is the ratio of ingredients. Milkshakes use a high proportion of ice cream relative to milk, which creates an extremely thick consistency. Frappes use a higher proportion of coffee and ice, with milk and ice cream as supporting ingredients rather than the primary ones. The result is a drink that is thicker than iced coffee but thinner than a standard milkshake.
Key differences between a frappe and a milkshake:
- Frappes are coffee-based; milkshakes are ice cream-based
- Frappes are thinner in consistency than most milkshakes
- Milkshakes do not contain espresso or brewed coffee unless specifically flavored
- Frappes have a coffee flavor as the dominant note; milkshakes lead with sweetness and cream
- Both can contain ice cream but in different ratios
6. The Different Types of Frappes You Will Find at Cafes
Frappes vary considerably depending on where you order them and what the cafe specializes in. Understanding the main types helps set expectations before you walk up to the counter.
Classic Coffee Frappe
The most straightforward version. Espresso or strong brewed coffee blended with milk, ice, and a sweetener. No ice cream, no elaborate flavoring. The coffee flavor is the primary note and the texture is creamy but not as rich as an ice cream-based version.
Ice Cream Frappe
A version that blends ice cream directly into the drink alongside coffee, milk, and ice. The ice cream adds significant richness and sweetness and pushes the drink closer to the milkshake end of the spectrum while still maintaining the coffee flavor as the base. This is the type Icki Sticki serves, blended to order with your choice of ice cream.
Flavored Syrup Frappe
A version that uses flavored syrups such as caramel, vanilla, hazelnut, or chocolate to customize the taste. The syrup is blended in with the coffee and milk rather than just drizzled on top. This creates a more uniform flavored drink throughout rather than a separate layer of flavor at the top.
Fruit-Based Frappe
A version that uses fruit flavors or fruit purees blended with ice and a liquid base. Some versions contain coffee and some do not. Mango, strawberry, and passion fruit are common flavors. These tend to be lighter and less rich than coffee-based frappes and appeal to people who want a cold blended drink without the coffee component.
7. What Makes a Frappe Worth Ordering
People who try frappes for the first time often wonder why someone would choose one over a simpler iced coffee. The reasons come down to texture, flavor complexity, and the overall experience of the drink.
According to the National Coffee Association, blended and specialty coffee beverages have seen consistent growth in popularity among American coffee drinkers, particularly among people who are newer to coffee culture and prefer sweeter, more approachable entry points into the category.
A frappe offers a few things that iced coffee does not:
- A texture that feels more substantial and satisfying than a thin cold drink
- A sweetness level that makes coffee more accessible to people who find it too bitter
- A dessert-like quality that makes it appropriate as an afternoon treat rather than just a morning beverage
- The ability to incorporate different flavors, ice cream varieties, and toppings that allow for significant customization
- A visual appeal from the blended consistency and whipped cream topping that makes it one of the most recognizable drinks on a cafe menu
For people who enjoy coffee but also enjoy dessert, a frappe occupies a useful middle ground that neither a black iced coffee nor a plain milkshake can fill.
8. How Frappes Fit Into the Broader Cold Coffee Menu
Understanding where a frappe sits relative to other cold drinks helps put the full menu in context when you are deciding what to order.
The cold coffee menu at most cafes covers a spectrum from light and simple to rich and complex. At the simpler end you have cold brew and iced coffee, both of which are straightforward coffee drinks served cold with minimal added ingredients. Moving along the spectrum you encounter iced lattes, which add steamed or cold milk to espresso for a creamier result. Further along comes the frappe, which adds the blending step and often ice cream to create the thickest and richest cold coffee experience available.
If you want to understand more about where cold brew and iced lattes sit on this spectrum, read our blog on cold brew vs iced latte for a detailed comparison of those two options.
The frappe sits at the richest and most dessert-like end of the cold coffee spectrum. It is the option for someone who wants coffee but also wants something that feels like more than just a beverage. If you want to see where the frappe fits within the full menu of cold and hot drinks available at a neighborhood cafe, the full drink menu at your local Icki Sticki covers everything from cold brew and iced lattes all the way through to blended frappes and specialty drinks.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Is a frappe the same as an iced coffee?
No. Iced coffee is brewed coffee poured over ice and served cold. A frappe is a blended drink made by combining coffee, milk, ice, and often ice cream or flavored syrup in a blender until the ingredients are smooth and creamy. The preparation method, texture, and flavor profile are all different. Iced coffee is thin and liquid while a frappe is thick and creamy.
Does a frappe always contain coffee?
Most frappes served at cafes contain espresso or brewed coffee as the base ingredient. However some cafes offer fruit-based or dessert-based frappes that do not contain coffee at all. If you are ordering a frappe and want to know whether it contains caffeine, it is worth asking the barista before ordering.
What is the difference between a frappe and a frappuccino?
A frappuccino is a trademarked product name. The word itself is a combination of frappe and cappuccino and refers to a specific style of blended coffee drink. A frappe is the general category of blended cold drink that the frappuccino is derived from. All frappuccinos are frappes in style, but not all frappes are frappuccinos.
Is a frappe better hot or cold?
Frappes are always served cold. The blending process requires ice as a core ingredient, and the thick, creamy texture is only achieved when the ice is fully incorporated into the drink. A hot version of the same ingredients would be a different drink entirely.
Can you make a frappe without espresso?
Yes. Some frappe recipes use strong brewed coffee rather than espresso. Others use instant coffee, which is how the original Greek frappe was made. The key element is a strong coffee base that can hold its flavor when blended with milk and ice. Decaffeinated coffee can also be used for a caffeine-free version.
How is a frappe different from a smoothie?
A smoothie is typically made from fruit, vegetables, yogurt, or protein powder blended with a liquid base. It does not contain coffee unless specifically designed as a coffee smoothie. A frappe is coffee-based by definition and is designed to be a cold coffee beverage rather than a fruit or nutritional drink. The textures can be similar but the flavor and ingredient profiles are distinct.
10. Trying a Frappe at a Local Cafe
Now that you understand what a frappe is, how it is made, and what sets it apart from iced coffee and milkshakes, the best way to fully understand the difference is to try one. The experience of the blended texture and the combination of coffee and ice cream or flavored syrup is something that reads differently on a menu than it does in the cup.
Frappes are available at cafes that offer a full cold coffee menu alongside other specialty drinks. If you want to explore the full range of cold and hot drinks available at a local cafe in Verona, WI, visit Your Neighborhood Cafe in Verona, WI for the complete picture. You can also place your order online before you arrive.
Key Takeaways:
- What is a frappe? It is a blended cold drink made from coffee, milk, ice, and often ice cream or flavored syrup — the blending process is what makes it fundamentally different from iced coffee
- A frappe is thicker and creamier than iced coffee because the ice is blended into the drink rather than added to it, creating a uniform texture throughout
- The word frappe comes from the French verb frapper meaning to chill, and the modern coffee frappe originated in Greece in 1957 before spreading globally through cafe culture
- Frappes sit at the richest end of the cold coffee spectrum, between an iced latte and a milkshake, making them the most dessert-like option on most cold coffee menus
Ready to Try a Frappe?
If you are ready to experience a frappe made fresh to order, you can explore the full menu and place your order at your convenience.