A frappe needs only four things, and most of the drink's character comes from the coffee. The rest of the list keeps the sweetness in line, while the top blender for frappes handles the texture.
How-to
How to Make Frappe in Blender: Step-by-Step
How to make a frappe in a blender: chill the coffee, weigh the ice, blend low to high, and pour a thick, pourable drink in four steps.
The step that most often ruins a blender frappe happens before the blender is switched on. Warm coffee poured over ice melts into a thin, watery drink, so the coffee has to be cold before anything else goes into the jar.
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Four ingredients make up a frappe
- Cold coffee: two double shots of espresso, or a half cup of prepared instant espresso or strong brewed coffee
- Milk: a quarter cup of whole or 2% milk
- Ice: four ounces of cubes, about one cup
- Sugar and vanilla: two tablespoons packed light brown sugar and a quarter teaspoon vanilla extract
Four steps from cold coffee to glass
The method is short, and the order matters. The coffee, milk, sugar and vanilla need to sit in the jar before the ice goes on top, so the blades have liquid to work through.
- Chill the coffee until it is very cold, and make it ahead if you can.
- Pour the coffee, milk, sugar and vanilla into the jar, then add the ice on top.
- Blend on low speed, raise to high, and keep going for 20 to 40 seconds until the drink is thick, smooth and creamy.
- Pour into two glasses, top with whipped cream if you like, and serve right away.
Weigh the ice rather than counting cubes
Cubes vary in size and shape, so counting them gives an unreliable batch. Weighing about four ounces keeps the frappe from tasting diluted, since extra melting ice waters down the coffee. For how the blades handle the cubes themselves, our piece on crushing ice without damage goes deeper.
Aim for light and pourable, not thick
The best blender for frappes comparison covers motor power and jar size, which decide how a jar handles a full cup of ice. Once the ice is blended, the texture is the thing to judge.
Aim for a drink that is light and pourable rather than overly thick. A mixture that sits like a paste has gone past the point of good texture, so stop the blender as soon as it pours. Unsweetened plant-based milk can be swapped in for dairy, though the frappe may turn out icier and less creamy.
Coffee strength sets the flavor
The stronger the base, the more the coffee comes through, and a frappe made with weak coffee tastes mostly of milk and sugar. For a shortcut, dissolve instant espresso powder in cold water before blending. A tablespoon of powder in a half cup of cold water works, stirred until the espresso is fully dissolved.
Frequently asked
Can you use a regular blender to make a frappe?
Yes. The method here needs only cold coffee, milk, sugar, vanilla, ice and a jar that can take crushed ice, and the steps do not depend on a special setting. A blender with a preset for icy drinks can run the same sequence with less watching, but it is not required.