The phenomenon of Greek frappe coffee
Why did Greece fall in love with frappe, and how did simple instant coffee turn into a drink without which it’s hard to imagine a Greek holiday?
Frappe – a symbol of everyday life in Greece
Frappe coffee is an inseparable part of Greek culture. Walking through the streets of Athens, Thessaloniki, or the Greek islands, you’ll almost always spot people with a tall cup of iced coffee in hand. Whether sitting at a café table or grabbing it to go – literally everyone drinks frappe.
There’s even a joke that you can recognize a Greek because they hold a cigarette in one hand and a frappe in the other. And there’s definitely some truth to it!
The history of frappe – an accident that changed Greek cafés
The story of this coffee begins in 1957 during the International Fair in Thessaloniki. That’s when a Nestlé employee, Dimitris Vakondios, couldn’t find hot water during a coffee break to make his favorite instant coffee. So, he put coffee, cold water, and ice cubes into a shaker… and the very first frappe was born.
Since then, Nestlé has become the main producer of instant coffee in Greece, and frappe has turned into the country’s most recognizable coffee drink.
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Where does the name “frappe” come from?
Although coffee frappe is a symbol of Greece, the name itself does not come from Greek. “Frappe” originates from French and means “iced” – a perfect description for this cool, refreshing coffee.
So, which frappe should you choose?
In every café in Greece, you can order frappe in several variations:
Glykos (sweet) – 2 teaspoons of coffee + 3 teaspoons of sugar
Metrios (medium) – 2 teaspoons of coffee + 2 teaspoons of sugar
Sketos (plain) – 2 teaspoons of coffee, no sugar
You can also add milk or enjoy the classic black version.
And you – have you tried Greek frappe yet? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!