The variety of coffee drinks is so huge that it, more than often, confuses people. When you visit a specialty coffee shop, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed with all the words on the menu – latte, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, and so on and so forth.
You will never know how different they are from one another unless you try all of them! So, let’s shed some light on two of those caffeinated beverages and compare Latte vs Frappe!
Everyone has different taste preferences when it comes to coffee, which is why these cafes have so many options to offer. Have you ever been in a situation where you ordered a new type of coffee and ended up disliking it?
It’s okay because you’re not the only one. A lot of people have experienced such a situation because they don’t know what each type of coffee is and how they’re different from each other.
This blog post focuses on two of many types of coffee drinks; a frappe and a latte. You must have seen these two names on coffee menus everywhere, but if you’re wondering what exactly they are, you have come to the right place.
What Is In A Frappe?
A frappe is an iced beverage that is made by shaking, beating, or blending the ingredients together to form a foamy, tasty, and super refreshing drink. It is made with instant coffee as its base resulting in a delicious iced coffee beverage.
A frappe is served cold, topped with whipped cream and other toppings. Some even add ice cream into it to make it creamer and add different flavors.
You can add ice at your convenience, either before or after beating the coffee and other ingredients like milk, sugar, sweet sauces, vanilla, etc. Mixing the iced coffee with some ice cream can provide you with a delicious dessert beverage!
How Is A Latte Made?
The word latte has been derived from an Italian word, caffé latte, which means “milk coffee.” The latte is one of the most popular coffee drinks all around the world. Its preparation process and composition are what set it apart. At its base, a Latte is made with espresso and steamed milk.
A latte is typically made using 6 to 8 ounces of steamed milk and a single shot of espresso. Larger latte servings are made using double shots of espresso and more steamed milk, up to 15 ounces. The base for making an espresso is to use finely ground coffee that is then prepared in an espresso maker to extract the full aroma of the coffee beans and result in a shot of espresso to use for your latte.
The typical composition of a latte is 1/6 espresso, 1/6 milk foam, and 4/6 steamed milk. It is often topped with milk foam to enhance the presentation and the flavor.
A latte is quite similar to a cappuccino (Dry vs Wet vs Bone Dry Cappuccino – What are the Differences?) as it consists of a shot of espresso with steamed and foamed milk. The difference, however, is that a latte contains more steamed milk and less foamed milk.
Can You Make A Hot Frappe?
Frappe drinks are known for their rich flavor and thick consistency. The creamy consistency is achieved by blending all the ingredients together with ice. It is not possible to make a hot frappe because if you make it hot, it will melt the ice.
With the melted ice, the consistency will become thinner, and the drink will lose its frappe-specific thickness. So, the answer to this question is no, you cannot make a hot frappe.
If you want a hot coffee drink that has a consistency similar to that of a frappe, you can try upside-down mocha. Upside-down mocha has a layer of whipped cream on the bottom and espresso on top with steamed hot chocolate in between.
The cream mixes with the rest of the drink’s contents and produces a thick and creamy hot drink that is similar to a frappe in its consistency and feel.
How Is Iced Coffee Made? – How to make iced coffee from hot coffee!
Do You Have To Use Instant Coffee For A Frappe?
The traditional recipe of a frappe uses freeze-dried instant coffee. Instant coffee is mixed with cold water vigorously and is then poured over ice to make a classic frappe.
However, the modern recipe of a frappe, as used by many coffee shops outside Greece, uses espresso instead of instant coffee.
A frappe is supposed to be a light and refreshing cold beverage. Instant coffee consists of soluble coffee powder/particles. When instant powder coffee is added to hot or cold water, it results in a very mild coffee drink.
However, brewed coffee, on the other hand, is much stronger than instant coffee, which results in a fairly strong coffee drink.
You don’t necessarily have to use instant coffee to make a frappe. However, if you want to enjoy the fresh and light taste of a traditional frappe, instant coffee is what you must use!
Can You Use Instant Coffee for A Latte?
If you love latte but often find yourself short on time to make a special latte for yourself in the morning, you can try making a latte with instant coffee. Yes, you read that right. You can use instant coffee to make a latte.
A typical latte is made using espresso shots together with steamed milk. Preparing espresso in the morning is an extra step that can take some of your time, which you’re already short on before going to work.
To make a latte with instant espresso or coffee, all you need is a teaspoon full of instant espresso or coffee powder. Simply mix the instant espresso or coffee powder in warm milk so thoroughly that all the coffee crystals are dissolved completely. If you like your latte to have lots of froth, you can use any milk frother to enjoy a quick latte made using instant coffee!
Does A Frappe Have More Caffeine Than A Latte?
If you feel that a latte has a more dominant flavor as compared to a frappe, it is probably because the caffeine level of a latte is slightly higher than that of a frappe.
A latte usually has 70 to 150mg of caffeine, whereas a frappe contains about 65 to 125mg of caffeine. The caffeine content varies with the size of the latte or frappe serving that you’re taking.
Is There A Standard Recipe For A Frappe?
A frappe is basically a blended cold beverage. If you are looking for a standard recipe for a frappe, you won’t find any. You can make frappes in numerous ways, depending on what flavors you prefer.
Apart from instant coffee, water, and ice, you can play around with ingredients when making a frappe. You can add vanilla, caramel, chocolate chips, and anything else that you like.
Topping a frappe with sweet syrup is a cherry on top! The variety of flavors that you can enjoy with a frappe is what makes it so popular. Whether you prefer a combination of coffee and caramel or coffee and chocolate, you can have it all – you can also test how you like your coffee with cinnamon!
Does An Iced Latte And A Frappe Taste The Same?
The coffee base of a latte and frappe is different, so one cannot possibly expect them to taste the same. Just because you’ve added ice to your latte doesn’t mean you’ve managed to turn it into a frappe.
A latte, whether hot or iced, uses espresso shots in the steamed milk, whereas a frappe is made using instant coffee and sugar blended in water and chilled with ice. Espresso shots make a latte stronger in flavor, while instant coffee keeps frappe extremely mild and refreshing.
With so many differences in ingredients and the method of preparation, an iced latte and frappe cannot taste the same – Difference between iced coffee and iced latte
Final Thoughts
The aroma of coffee is so overwhelmingly tempting that you can’t stop yourself from craving it. However, having a hot cup of coffee when the sun is shining bright does not seem like a very good idea.
This is where frappe kicks in. A frappe makes it possible to satisfy your coffee cravings in the middle of a hot afternoon. This drink is just what you need to refresh your mind and body – cold, light, and infused with the goodness of coffee!
A Caffe Latte also has a refreshing element to it, namely caffeine. It is made with hot espresso and steamed and frothed milk. A latte can be a little much on a hot summer afternoon but just the right drink to warm you from the inside when it’s colder outside!
Now that you know the key differences between these coffee drinks that you so often see on menus of all coffee shops, you can now decide which one suits your taste buds and mood more accurately.
