frape.htm

The national Greek coffee !!

Have you eve imagined to use and drink instant coffee with a different way ? Here is the idea on how Greek people for four decades made their own delicious kind coffee.

Background: though I am not an expert of the history of frappé a short search on the Greek web pages shown me several interesting info . It all become true on ca 1957 when a employee of the mother company of Nescafé, Nestlé during the International trade fair of Thessaloniki was by chance experimenting (?) shaking instant coffee into a plastic shaker with cold water. The results were very much approved by the public who tested it as a refreshment in a hot (I presume ) day of the start of September . As per info the mother company tried to promote this Greek invention internationally with very low success.

As per the info frappé is consumed in Balkan countries sligtly modifed and Thailand Malaysiain on a minor level. I remember when I was in Singapore on 2000 and asked for a frappé the barman was astounded tough afterwards he prepared it for me!!

Recent news: as of 2006 , the first natonal frappe competition has been held, during the Cofeebiz exhibition , held on 12.3.6 in the TIF's (Thessaloniki International Fair) facilities. Participants of the competition shown except the typical ice-cold cofee, their ideas by adding several typical bar refreshments as Kahlua and Bailey's and milk cream and adding syrups for design. The winner won a EU 1000 prize in cash the seciond a cash of Eu 500 and the third winner was woman! It is also said that frappe today is the greek trademark, as suvlaki and djadjiki was the other years...

How frappe is made

Ingredients

Instant coffee 1 spoon

Sugar 1 spoon

Cold Water

Ice cubes

(milk)

Instructions:

The original way: Put sugar and coffee together with 3 tablespoons of water into a covered can or anything that has lid and shake it very well until it becomes foam . Then add [ice]cold water , ice cubes and milk if you wish

The more modern way Nowadays we use very high-speed drillers modified with propeller in their end see the pictures ! (alternatively you can use hi speed drink stirrer or multi though the second can be used for multiple servings ).

Here is the way I do it. Very small quantity of water is put inside the glass of water (about 4-6 mm) then I add sugar and stir it very well until sugar is mostly dissolved. Then I add instant coffee and stir the mix thoroughly until it becomes as concrete foam (ie in just 10-15 seconds) I then add the ice cubes and put the straw. Many others add sugar and cofee together.

If more water is put in before stirring more foam will be produced. You may also experiment with it.

A handy frappe stirrer . See the propeller at the right end. This offers the best foam

In both cases the result is a black brownish coloured drink. The foam made the original way is not so concrete as using a stirrer /drink mixer

Versions:

Yu may experiment with the quantity of both coffee and sugar. More coffee means æheavier frappé Æ, less coffee means lighter frappé. More sugar means sweeter frappe, no sugar means æpureÆ

If you wish you may add some condensed milk. This is the way my wife drinks her coffee.

How is consumed : Frappé is consumed mostly with straw and slowly (supped) for about 20 minutes until the ice cubes are dissolved. Many Greeks drink it on their work mostly accompanied by smoking and in bars when they are 'calming' them reselves together with their frinds.For the history again , frappe especially for 80s was a synonym with laziness and calmness.

My versions/experiments:

1 . I also experimented with orange juice, presumably fresh or short duration, replacing the water in both stages( foam and content). It is my personal taste.

2. I added a pinch of instant coffee into a small glass of fresh orange juice and just mixed it.This gives a different taste.

Feel free to advise me at greekdx (at) otenet dot gr on how you enjoy this refreshment.

LINKS

Here is a link with some more info on

http://www.answers.com/topic/greek-frapp-coffee?method=6

and here several recipes

http://www.kadifeli.com/vasil/frappe.html

http://www.coffee-recipe.com/frappe-coffee/

http://greekfood.about.com/od/mezethesdrinks/ht/frappe.htm