What Is the Difference Between a Frappe and a Milkshake?
Coffee shops across the country offer cold, creamy frappes, while the local ice cream parlor serves up old-fashioned milkshakes. Both treats are milk based and served with a straw. Milkshakes typically come in classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Frappes are typically coffee or tea flavored.
Coffee shops across the country offer cold, creamy frappes, while the local ice cream parlor serves up old-fashioned milkshakes. Both treats are milk based and served with a straw. Milkshakes typically come in classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Frappes are typically coffee or tea flavored. Like many foods, regional differences may affect the definition of a shake or a frappe.
Smooth Shakes
A thick, rich shake requires ice cream, milk and flavorings. You can add a bit of sugar for additional sweetness. Achieve the right texture by using twice as much ice cream as you do milk, allowing at least 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup of ice cream per shake. Add 1/2 tsp. of vanilla per cup of ice cream, or 1 tbsp. of strawberry or chocolate syrup. Intensify the flavor of a chocolate or strawberry shake by using chocolate or strawberry ice cream in place of vanilla. You won't add any other liquids or ice to a shake.
Frigid Frappes
The simplest frappe contains coffee, milk, sugar and ice. These ingredients are blended together to form a frothy, light drink. Commercial frappes may include thickeners to help bind together the ice chips and liquid ingredients. Most frappes do not contain ice cream, and many rely upon coffee shop-style flavoring syrups in place of ice cream toppings.
Questions and Confusion
While the difference between a coffee or tea based frappe and an ice cream-based milkshake holds true in most of the country, it's not true everywhere. In and around Boston, a frappe is a milkshake, rather than a coffee drink. In Greece, a cafe frappe doesn't involve ice or fancy flavorings, and may not even include milk. The Greek frappe is a mixture of instant coffee and sugar, shaken to form a froth and served over ice.
Signficance
While either a shake or a frappe can refresh you on a hot day, you may want to remember the difference. You can cut the fat in calories in a frappe, but it's not so easy with a shake. Order your frappe sugar-free and nonfat for a diet-friendly treat. Most frappes do contain caffeine, so keep this in mind if you're looking for a late-night sweet. Shakes can be lightened up at home with light ice cream and skim milk, but if you're out, expect them to come with a high calorie count.