The frappé is one of the most popular café offerings among customers due to the wide variety of flavor options, rich texture, indulgent toppings like whipped cream or caramel, and the opportunity for a kick of caffeine at the right time of day.

Frappé aficionados know that the beverage typically consists of coffee mixed with milk and sugar to taste, blended or shaken over ice until a rich, foamy texture is achieved. Alternative milks, such as almond milk or oat milk may be subbed in for non-dairy friendliness, and sugar may be swapped out for flavored syrups of choice (i.e. vanilla, hazelnut, mocha – the possibilities are virtually limitless).

A frappé is often topped with whipped cream for an additional decadent boost of sweetness and picture-perfect presentation.

While many frappés do include coffee as a basic ingredient, coffee-free varieties are also available on menus across the country. Offerings made with spiced chai and other types of tea are gaining popularity, and it is common to see caffeine-free fruit-based frappés which contain no coffee or tea, as well.

Frappés vs. Smoothies vs. Shakes

Is a fruit-based frappé the same thing as a smoothie?

While the differences between frappés, smoothies, and even milkshakes may be nebulous, there are some key factors that distinguish these types of beverages.

While the most common indicator of a frappé is the inclusion of coffee, even coffee-free frappés can be identified by their prominent foam. Frappés are often blended for a longer duration than smoothies or shakes, and the result is the rich froth so many customers enjoy.

Smoothies are typically made by blending fresh or frozen fruits & vegetables and a liquid component (i.e. fruit juice or smoothie concentrate) with ice, or often yogurt, for a thick and – smooth – consistency. It’s not as common to find smoothies that incorporate coffee or whipped toppings.

A milkshake’s most identifiable characteristic is the use of ice cream. A shake is usually made by mixing milk, ice cream, and flavoring ingredients of choice (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc.) into a very thick texture – so thick that a spoon typically accompanies the straw. As with frappés, a whipped cream topping is a common finishing touch for milkshakes.

Ever Heard of a Cabinet?

The definitions of frappé and milkshake get even muddier in the New England region.

Ask a person from Massachusetts for a milkshake, and you’ll get just that. Milk literally shaken over ice, vigorously, with your chosen flavor. No ice cream. If ice cream is added to the mix, that concoction is called a frappe. Note there’s no accent mark over the “e,” in this case, and the pronunciation is definitively “frap,” not “frap-pay.”

Furthermore, in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, if coffee or coffee-flavored syrup is blended in, the resulting beverage is known as a “cabinet.” As the story goes, when this creation was first developed, the blender was kept in the cabinet, thus the name.

Trademark Branding 

The wide variety of frappé recipes lends itself to opportunities for cafés and franchises to brand their own signature beverages. For example, “Frappuccino” is a registered trademark of Starbucks for a sweetened, blended coffee drink. Dunkin’ Donuts has their line of “Frozen Coffees” and Black Rock markets their frappé offerings as “Chillers,” including a chai tea option. The Human Bean refers to their blended espresso drinks as “Granitas” and Oregon-based Dutch Bros markets a line of coffee frappés called “Dutch Freeze,” as well as a selection of milkshakes called “Dutch Frost.”

Something for Every Customer

Though there are regional recipe differences and murky nuances between frappés and other beverages, it seems the popularity of the beverage won’t be dying down any time soon. With limitless flavor options, and flexibility for any type of specialized diet and tastes, the world of frappés is sure to contain something for every customer.