A Toast to the Frappé

When I say “frappé” I’m not referring to some basic Starbucks beverage, I’m talking about the Greek-styled frappé.

A frappé is basically a stronger version of iced coffee, with never ending bitter-sweet foam towering atop. This drink is simply unique in both its taste and texture.

On the rocky beaches of the sea-side city of Saranda in southern Albania relaxing along the Adriatic is one of the places you can find this specialty drink. There’s no way to enjoy the view of crystal clear water than with a frappé in hand.

Albania and Greece boarder each other by both land and sea; naturally, the two happen to share a lot of similarities when it comes to food and drink. Greek imports are also one of the most common to be found throughout the country. One of my personal favorite imports is by far the Nescafé instant coffee.

Ugh, instant coffee; I know. But believe me, the frappé is just about the only exception. The thing with Nescafé’s instant coffee is that it is purposely made to make the perfect frappé. In this case it is made in a way that increases the production of the drink’s iconic foam.

Frappés are enjoyed in a variety of ways, and since the European lifestyle is heavily focused on leisure time, they are mainly consumed when relaxing. My favorite time and place to sip on one would have to be at the beach, where they are usually served by local restaurants and cafés. Some other ways they are enjoyed are in cafés with friends and family, after a meal, in the morning or at night.

MAKE YOUR OWN: Start by adding around 2 teaspoons of instant coffee (preferably Nescafé, but if you can’t get your hands on that, any kind will do) to something like a cocktail shaker, blender or protein shaker. Really, anything that could make this drink super foamy. Next, add in cold water (about 2/3 cup) and your desired amount of sugar and milk.

I usually add as much sugar as I do the Nescafé, just because it is espresso based and fairly strong. Feel free to add in a few ice cubes if you’d like then shake it until it forms a super thick and frothy foam. Pour it into a tall glass and sip it out of a fun colored straw, enjoy!

#coffee