Why you should always have iced coffee the Greek way

Greek cuisine, considered one of the best in the world, is prized for its fresh ingredients, quality herbs, and unique recipes, including spanakopita, souvlaki, and moussaka.

While authentic items such as creamy Greek yoghurt, thyme honey and crumbly feta cheese can be found in supermarkets here in the UK, it may not be as easy to grab a Greek-inspired iced coffee from your local café.

Speaking about why Greeks particularly love an iced coffee or three, Michalis Katsiavos, a former barista champion, told Perfect Daily Grind: “Greece is the country in which you can enjoy sunny days all year long. As a result, people prefer cold beverages. In this context… coffees on ice.”

If you’re a caffeine fiend who has travelled across the Aegean and Ionian seas, then you’ve probably already sampled the unique cold coffee known as a Greek Frappé (φραπές).

The caffeinated beverage can be made in a shaker or by using a hand whisk (Getty Stock Image)

The beverage, thought to be invented in the northern city of Thessaloniki, originated after Nestlé Company representative Yannis Dritsas created a child-friendly drink in a cocktail shaker.

His employee, known as Dimitris Vakondios, apparently used his boss’ method to make a shaker iced coffee. And the rest, as they say, is history.

But be warned: a Greek-style iced coffee isn’t exactly like the frappés you’ve probably picked up from Starbucks in the past.

It's traditionally made by shaking a concoction of instant Greek Nescafé coffee and cold water.

However, Greek bartenders and frappé lovers alike may prefer an electric milk frother to achieve a creamier froth.

To make, you need to spoon your coffee into a tall glass and add a few teaspoons of water.

You can also add sugar before you begin shaking or whipping.

According to MyGreekDish.com, Greek iced coffee can be ‘sketos’, ‘metrios’, ‘glykos’, or ‘me gala’ according to the proportions of the ingredients and personal preference.

• Sketos: Unsweetened with no added sugar
• Metrios: Contains one teaspoon of sugar
• Glykos: Contains two or more teaspoons of sugar
• Me gala: With milk, usually evaporated in variety

The Greek iced coffee can be made with sugar, ice and evaporated milk, if you fancy (Getty Stock Image)

Once you’ve whizzed the mixture and produced a creamy foam, you can add ice cubes and evaporated milk, if you fancy.

Fans of Greek iced coffee have been discussing how delicious the drink is for years.

“Yall gotta make a Greek frappe that s**t good asf,” one X user wrote.

A second said: “Today I learned of the Greek frappe and why did we make any other kind of coffee?”

Others have been discussing another favoured Greek coffee: the humble iced Freddo Espresso.

“I've said it many times before and I will say it again: the only three countries that do proper coffee are Greece, Italy & Croatia (and perhaps Albania, thanks to historic Italian links),” a social media fan typed.

Drinking a Freddo espresso on a Greek beach sounds like a good time to us (Getty Stock Image)

“Though in Greece I would opt for the iced version, the freddo espresso. King of all coffees!”

“Coffee is like a religion in Greece, and these iced espressos, called a freddo, seem particularly popular. Given the climate, the freddo just makes so much sense,” replied

The strong, caffeinated beverage is made by blending a double shot of hot espresso with ice to create a smoothy, foamy texture.

Once frothy enough, the coffee is poured over ice and served, preferably with a slice of sunshine.

If you prefer a creamier coffee, then you can create a Freddo cappuccino by shaking your milk until it is glossy and smooth, as per Perfect Daily Grind.

Once ready, pour it over the foamed espresso so that it forms a layer.