How to Make Traditional Greek Frappé Coffee

Instant coffee is a must. A frappé made with any other foam tends to collapse, and you'll end up drinking coffee-flavored ice water.

Frappé, loved the world over for its refreshing and cool taste, was invented in 1957 in Greece by Dimitris Vakondios, quite accidentally. Dimitris wanted to have his usual cup of coffee, but fortunately, didn't get any hot water. Needing his caffeine fix, he simply shook a spoon of instant coffee with cold water and ice cubes, inventing the frappé.

Since then, the frappé has gained immense popularity, serving as the prime breakfast drink for many Greeks. Affectionately called the 'National Drink of Greece', the Greeks have taken it with them wherever they went, spreading its popularity even more.

The word frappé itself comes from France, and means 'beaten'; but in context of the drink, it translates to 'chilled'. Although, the French Café Frappé is pretty different from the Greek frappé.

The traditional Greek frappé is an iced drink, with thick, creamy froth on the top. The original version had no milk or sugar, though many Greeks like their frappé with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Here's how you can make it -

What you need -

• Instant coffee - 2 tsps.
• A glass of cold water (250 ml)
• A few ice cubes
• A cocktail shaker

How you make it -

1. Take the shaker, and put all the coffee in it.
2. Add just enough water to cover the coffee (approx. 10 ml).
3. Shake the shaker vigorously for around 30 seconds to get a thick foam (it will look light brown)

4.Grab a glass and fill it half-full with ice cubes.
5.Pour the coffee-water mix on the ice cubes slowly, and then add the rest of the cold water till the glass is full.
6. Serve with a straw, as the Greeks do, and a glass of water at the side.

Above is the original recipe, closest to what Dimitris invented. Many variations of this beverage exist though. Some of them are -

The Greeks like to have their coffee very sweet and very strong - glykós. Use four teaspoons of sugar for this one.

They also enjoy having it either métrios (two teaspoons of sugar), or with no sugar at all - skétos.

Many people like adding milk to it―evaporated is best.

Have a French Café Frappé―espresso blended with 100 ml milk (approximately), and some vanilla flavor.

Another version is to have a frappé topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Some other popular versions include adding flavors or liquor to it.

The Greeks typically have a frappé leisurely, chatting with friends and having a sip; taking around an hour or two to finish a glass. While they chat, they rotate the straw and the ice cubes, making soft clinking noises. This characteristic sound is said to be as pleasurable as the drink itself.

Though, in many places frappé is more like a sorbet - fruit juice on crushed ice, in some it resembles a coffee-milkshake; this is how the Greek frappe is made and consumed in Greece.