Freddo Espresso: The Greek Iced Coffee Recipe

published on 11.05.2023 — by Marc-Alexandre Emond-Boisjoly — 6 mins of reading —

Freddo Espresso is a Greek iced coffee made by blending a double espresso with ice, without any milk or added sugar. Its creamier cousin, Freddo Cappuccino, adds a layer of cold milk foam on top. Both come together in just a few minutes and are meant to be drunk right away, before the foam settles.

Ville en grèce pour prendre un bon café de spécialité

Origin of Freddo: The Greek Frappe Reinvented

Greek frappe, made with instant coffee shaken with cold water, has existed in Greece since 1957. Greek baristas later looked to modernize this base using espresso instead of instant coffee: Freddo Espresso was born in 1991, followed by Freddo Cappuccino in 1993. Both drinks answered a demand for a caffeinated, refreshing coffee suited to the Mediterranean climate.

Freddo is now a staple of Greek cafés, much like espresso is elsewhere in Europe. Its popularity has spread well beyond Greece, reaching specialty coffee shops worldwide, which have adopted it as a summer drink.

Freddo Espresso or Freddo Cappuccino: What's the Difference

Freddo Espresso

Freddo Espresso starts with a hot double espresso, blended with 6 to 8 ice cubes in a blender or a shaker. The result is a thick, airy foam, with no milk added, that concentrates the flavours of the quickly cooled coffee.

Freddo Cappuccino

Freddo Cappuccino uses the same base, with a layer of cold milk foam added on top. The milk softens the coffee's intensity and adds a creamy texture, without changing how the base is made.

Which Coffee to Choose for Freddo Espresso

The bean you choose directly shapes the result in the cup, since cold preparation highlights the coffee's notes rather than softening them with heat. An espresso coffee with a balanced profile, chocolatey or fruity notes, keeps its complexity once blended with ice. To get an espresso shot that holds up in this recipe, the guide on how to make good coffee covers the basics of extraction.

Freddo Espresso Recipe at Home

Ingredients (for 1 glass)

2 shots of freshly pulled espresso
6 to 8 ice cubes
Sugar, to taste (optional)

Steps

Pull a double espresso from freshly ground beans.
Pour the hot espresso and ice cubes into a blender or a shaker.
Blend or shake until a thick foam forms.
Pour into a glass filled with ice and serve immediately.

For a Freddo Cappuccino

Add 100 ml of cold milk (or a plant-based alternative) whipped into a light foam, then pour it over the Freddo Espresso base.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Freddo and Greek frappe?

Traditional frappe uses instant coffee shaken with cold water. Freddo Espresso uses a real pulled espresso shot, which gives a bolder drink and a denser foam. Freddo Espresso was created in 1991, more than 30 years after frappe.

Can you make a Freddo without a blender?

Yes, a cocktail shaker or even a vigorous manual whisk can produce foam, though less dense than with a blender. The key is generating enough turbulence to emulsify the espresso with the ice.

What coffee should I use for Freddo Espresso?

A medium-roast espresso coffee with a balanced profile gives the best results. For a caffeine-free version, a decaf coffee works with the same method.

How long does a Freddo keep its foam?

Just a few minutes. The foam starts settling quickly after preparation, so Freddo is served and drunk right away, like most blended cold drinks.

Does Freddo have more caffeine than a regular espresso?

No. A Freddo Espresso contains the same amount of caffeine as the double espresso used to make it. Only the perception changes, due to dilution from the ice.

Looking for another iced coffee to make at home? The Boris Long Iced Coffee recipe offers another way to serve cold coffee, this time built around cold brew. To keep fresh beans on hand between recipes, the Expé Club delivers a curated selection every month.