How to Make a Greek Frappé Recipe (Iced Coffee)

This Greek Frappe recipe will quickly become your favorite iced coffee to prepare at home.

There are few things better than sipping on a cold and delicious caffeinated beverage on a hot summer’s day. This Greek frappe recipe is a favorite amongst those in Greece and beyond.

While the dalgona coffee may be all the rage right now in the local Greek coffee shop, my go-to will always be a Nescafe Greek Frappe! There’s no better frappe coffee recipe for a coffee lover!

A greek frappe is perfect to pair with your breakfast, or to enjoy while taking a much-needed afternoon break. While you may find it most enjoyed during the summer, it’s a coffee that can be enjoyed year-long.

Looking for hot Greek coffee? Check out our Greek coffee recipe.

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What is a Greek frappe?

The Greek frappe is the most popular coffee drink in Greece. It is a cold iced coffee beverage that is made of instant coffee, sugar, water, ice cubes, and sometimes a dash of milk.

The traditional Greek frappe is made with Nescafé frappé, a type of instant coffee, and it is mixed with cold water and sugar. Many people like to also add cold milk to their frappe. The frappe is elegantly presented over a bed of ice, crowned with a lusciously frothy top.

It is favored amongst Greeks for its ease of making and delicious taste. It is the best thing to drink in the warmer months of the year and the type of coffee that we make here at home on a regular basis.

Why is the Greek frappe so popular?

The greek frappe is popular due to its refreshing and delicious taste – as well as the fact that it’s such a simple thing to make at home!

It only requires a few basic ingredients and is complete with thick foam on top, just like you could find on top your local Starbucks drink (but the Greek frappe is healthier and tastier!)

Greek frappes are a staple in coffee shops throughout Greece, and they pair well together with many traditional Greek foods, such as gyros, souvlaki, and more.

Who created the Greek frappe?

Dimitris Vakondios invented the delicious Greek frappe in 1957 and it quickly became a favorite.

It has been said that while Vakondios was at the Thessaloniki International Fair, he wanted to have a coffee but because he didn’t have hot water on hand, he used cold water instead.

He loved the cold coffee and thus the Greek frappe was created and is still cherished almost a century later.

Ingredients for Greek Frappe Recipe

We believe the best result for making a perfect Greek frappe is to use the instant coffee by Nescafe Frappe. While you can use other forms of instant coffee in place of it, the Nescafe Frappe is the most commonly used in Greece (and we think it’s the best here in America, as well!)

Another key ingredient is 1-2 spoonfuls of sugar, which can be adjusted to how sweet you like to take your coffee. 

You can choose to make your Greek frappe with the amount of sugar that best suits your taste: glykós (sweet), métrios (somewhat sweet), or skétos (no sugar).

So the key ingredients are:

1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee (Nescafe Classic instant coffee is the best choice)
0-2 teaspoons of sugar
Water
Ice
A splash of milk (optional)

You will find our recipe card at the end of the post below.

How to Make a Greek Frappe

Below, we will show you step-by-step how to make a Nescafe Greek frappe at home.

You will start by putting your instant coffee and sugar in a tall glass. Adjust the amounts you use according to your personal taste preferences.

You will then add a little water (cold water.) You want it to cover the coffee and sugar, but only use a small amount.

Then you will use your frappe mixer (we like these frother wands on Amazon) to mix everything up into a thicker froth layer.

Once you have created a frothy layer, you will add some ice to your cup.

Then you can add a little cold water and a splash of milk if you desire. Add a straw, and you have created the most popular drink in Greece right at home! (And not only will it taste better than a Starbucks latte, but it’ll be healthier for you and cheaper! Win – win!)

Equipment for Classic Greek Frappe Recipe

So what will you need for this traditional Greek frappe recipe? Let’s take a look at some key things that will help you create the authentic Greek drink in your kitchen.

A handheld electric frother (milk frother) – Amazon

Nescafe Frappe Classic – You may be able to find this at your local grocery store, but I like to grab mine from my local Greek market or on Amazon because it’s imported straight from Greece.