Snapshots from Greece: Nescafe Frappe
Note: Our own Erin Zimmer just returned from ten days eating and drinking her way around Greece and will be sharing her adventures with us all week as Snapshots from Greece. —Ed.
As a foam supporter, I was pretty happy about the Nescafe Frappe all over Greece. It's about 35-percent foam, 55-percent super strong instant coffee, and 10-percent sludge sitting at the bottom (percentages may vary; all of that was guesstimated). But the foam is some of the best coffee foam around. The micro bubbles don't dissolve into the drink while you're drinking it—they just sit there until you find a proper scooping device. Talk about some long-lasting, high-definition foamage.
To make a frappe: In a tall glass, add a couple heaping spoons of the Nescafe Frappe spray-dried coffee bits, the optional sugar (but as a warning, that stuff is scary strong without it), then cold water. Use a hand-mixer, or hand with this nifty device, to foamerize it, then add some more water and milk to fill up the glass, topping it off with ice cubes.
Walking past cafes, virtually every customer is kicking back sipping a Frappe. Nescafe seems to own the Frappe market. According to Wikipedia, it all started in 1957 at the International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki. Nestle was showcasing products at a stand and one of the employees came up with the genius foam. Ever since then, Greece has stayed pretty caffeinated. After the jump, watch a vintage ad for Nescafe Frappe.
Bonus: Nescafe Frappe Commercial, 1984
Related
Snapshots from Greece: Assyrtiko Wine from Santorini
Snapshots from Greece: Koulouri, the Thessaloniki Street Food
Snapshots from Greece: The Modiano Market in Thessaloniki
Snapshots from Greece: Fage Yogurt
Snapshots from Greece: Souvlaki from O Thanasis in Athens
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9 Comments:
can you get that in the usa?
also, love the word: foamerize.
gastronomeg at 10:23AM on 07/18/09
Just use any instant coffee - you don't need anything special. Tupperware make shakers like this - called the 'quick shake' - google it.
You then just add water sugar (or splenda), a bit of ice, and if you like, a touch of milk or cream. Shake the heck out of it for 30 seconds, and pour into a glass (with ice if you want). There you go - instant Frappe.
mrbill1234 at 1:34PM on 07/18/09
When I was in Athens, this stuff was everywhere. We went to the Central Market, and the meat vendors had a clever in one hand, a Nescafe Frappe in another, and a cigarette in their mouth. Classic Greece
pastry262 at 2:04PM on 07/18/09
I worked in a Greek restaurant for a few years in college, and I was the only American in the place. I became addicted to Frappes there, and it hasn't stopped for 6 years. If you want the actual Nescafe Classic, check out Latin Markets. That's where I got it at first, but now they actually carry it at my ShopRite!
marianne215 at 7:20PM on 07/18/09
They serve these at Athens Cafe in Astoria, NY and they are quite delicious. Pretty much every table in the place is drinking them!
laurak at 9:10AM on 07/19/09
i used to drink these all the time when i lived in Thessaloniki. I just used an empty small water bottle as the shaker and it worked fine
LucaL at 10:58AM on 07/19/09
You can totally make them here in the States using nescafe in the store. Directions here: http://goinggranola.com/2009/04/29/frappe-lust/
goinggranola at 6:54AM on 07/20/09
Take the N out to Astoria and check out the sidewalk cafes. You are guaranteed to have frappe sightings! They are too strong for me, but my boyfriend loves them---light and very sweet. Try Lefkos Pyrgos (23rd Ave. and 31st St, right by the Ditmars stop on the N) for old Greek men drinking frappes and eating delicious pastries.
nosillak at 9:50AM on 07/20/09
I have to disagree with your love of Nescafe frappe foam! I was in Greece last August, and as much as I wanted to enjoy it as a nice cool beverage (in the 105 degree heat), I could not get past the instant coffee bitterness floating in the puffy bathtub foam. I contented myself with old-school Greek coffee (same as Turkish). Not refreshing, but still delicious and cafeinated!
jammin83 at 5:44PM on 07/30/09