How The Traditional Greek Frappe Was Invented Purely By Accident
The lucky foodies who have been to Greece may crave authentic gyros, moussakas, and tasteful seafood once in a while. And those who have experienced long summer days there may be familiar with the joys of having a refreshing Greek frappe. Coffee is praised in this European country, and its version of a frappe is famous for its frothiness and simplicity. According to the Greek Reporter, a Greek frappe is an iced coffee made from instant coffee, sugar, ice cubes, and cold water. Once you mix everything in a shaker, add more water or milk, and serve it in a glass with a straw.
Greeks serve this frappe in many versions depending on how much sugar you want in your drink. For example, "skétos" means the drink follows the original recipe, but drinks called "métrios" or "glykós" have even more sugar (via Perfect Daily Grind). It's not only an attraction for tourists, but a tradition for locals that enjoy this cold treat by themselves or with friends. A frappe is a reason to meet, to take a break, or to refresh.
But, as the emblematic beer and corn flakes, the frappe is one of those foods invented purely by accident. This story takes us back to the World Fair in 1957, and a Nestlé employee who couldn't find hot water for his coffee.
The frappe's inventor originally wanted hot coffee
As reported by Vice, during the 1957 World Fair exhibition in Thessaloniki, Nestlé sales representative Dimitrios Vakondios wanted to have a cup of coffee, so he decided on using Nescafé, the brand's instant coffee. Just around that time, Nestlé was promoting a new cocoa drink, Nesquik, that needed a shaker.
When Vakondios wasn't able to find hot water for his instant coffee, he reportedly used a Nesquik shaker to mix his instant coffee together with sugar and cold water (via Greek Reporter). Vakondios' impromptu creation soon became a comforting and refreshing tradition in Greece, later advertised by Nestlé.
You may look at a Greek frappe and mistake it for a Dalgona coffee, but the latter uses hot water and has milk. Adding milk to a Greek frappe is highly recommended, but optional. Also, a frappe doesn't require a hand foamer and can be easily made with a cocktail shaker.
The popularity of cold coffee drinks in Greece grew after the delicious accident, sparking new creations like the Freddo, a similar preparation that has a double espresso shot, instead of instant coffee (via Perfect Daily Grind). What matters is to enjoy that bitter taste, with a sweet touch, and a cozy foam to get you through a sunny day — especially in Greece!