Monthly Archives: May 2026

Fancy an ice-cold coffee like the ones you drink on a sunny terrace in Greece? Then a Greek frappé is exactly what you’re looking for. This refreshing coffee is airy, frothy and surprisingly simple to make yourself.

Still, it often goes wrong: the foam collapses, the flavour is too bitter or too sweet. Such a shame, because with the right proportions and a simple technique you can have a delicious frappé ready at home in just a few minutes.

In this recipe, you’ll learn step by step how to make a Greek frappé, what to watch out for and how to adjust it perfectly to your taste.

What is a Greek frappé?

A Greek frappé is an ice-cold coffee drink with a thick foam layer, made from instant coffee, water and often ice cubes. You’ll see it everywhere in Greece: on terraces, at the beach or just at home as a cooling coffee moment.

What makes this coffee so distinctive is the airy foam on top. This is created by shaking or whisking the instant coffee with water (and optionally sugar) vigorously.

The difference is that freshly ground coffee retains more flavour and aroma, while pre-ground coffee loses its freshness faster. This is because coffee beans protect their aromas as long as they remain whole. Once you grind them, those aromas are released… but they also disappear quickly. With pre-ground coffee, this happens before you even make your cup.

That’s why freshly ground coffee often tastes fuller, richer and fresher. Pre-ground coffee, on the other hand, is mainly convenient: you don’t have to do anything and can quickly brew a cup.

Why does freshly ground coffee taste better?

It mainly comes down to aroma and oxidation. Coffee beans hold on to their scent and flavour compounds better as long as they stay whole. Only when you grind them are these released.

From that moment on, it goes fast. Ground coffee immediately comes into contact with oxygen, causing the aroma and flavour to diminish. The longer the coffee sits after grinding, the flatter the taste becomes. With pre-ground

You brew a jug of cold brew, patiently wait hours… and then it tastes weak or just bitter. Such a waste of your coffee and patience.

Many people think cold brew is just "coffee with cold water". But without the right ratio, grind and steeping time, you miss exactly that smooth, fresh flavour cold brew is known for.

The good news: if you know what to watch out for, you can make a surprisingly full and smooth cold brew at home. With a few simple steps and the right coffee, you brew an ice-cold favourite you can pour straight from the fridge.

What is cold brew coffee?

Cold brew is coffee brewed with cold water instead of hot water. Instead of quick extraction (like with filter coffee or espresso), you let the coffee steep slowly, usually between 12 and 24 hours.

The result? A completely different taste experience.

Cold brew is:

• smoother
• less acidic
• often a bit sweeter in flavour

This is because cold extraction pulls different compounds from the coffee than hot water. Bitter and acidic notes