2 Primary Differences Between A Frappe And A Macchiato

Written by Coffee Beans in Blog

There are so many variations of a simple cup of coffee that it’s not always easy to keep up, especially those made by high street coffee shops.

A frappe is usually made from milk, ice cream, and flavored syrup. It can also contain coffee flavoring. The Frappe is also an iced mocha with chocolate. On the other hand, a macchiato is an espresso with a little steamed milk on the top. The Espresso is brewed by forcing hot water to finely ground coffee. 

Besides revealing the difference between Frappe and macchiato, we will also discuss other important topics for your coffee needs.

How to make a macchiato

Making a macchiato is simple. You will need equipment including a milk jug, thermometer, and coffee machine with steam wand/ arm. The key ingredients are foamed milk and Espresso. 

The making process 

  1. Foam a small milk amount in your milk jug. You need milk foam.
  2. Next, you can brew double or single Espresso into a small espresso glass of espresso cup.
  3. Swirl the milk gently to release big air bubbles. You can tap the milk jug against the counter to eliminate stubborn bubbles.
  4. Lastly, pour a few dollops of the milk foam on your Espresso’s top.

There we go, so you can now enjoy your macchiato. 

What Impacts The Taste of Macchiato?

The milk’s foaming has a significant impact on the taste, flavor, and texture of macchiato. The ideal macchiato is called ‘velvet micro-foam.’ It means tiny air bubbles in the milk, which creates a smooth and velvety texture. 

Macchiato comes with a stronger flavor since it’s a shot or two of Espresso with a milky foam layer on the top. If you’re curious about the taste of this beverage, well, macchiato tastes like coffee with milk that makes it thick and creamy. If you want a strong flavor with creaminess, macchiato can be the right drink for you. 

The espresso shots can affect the caffeine content and taste of macchiato. A shot of Espresso is around 1 to 1.5 ounces which contain 58 to 185 mg of caffeine. It is an average of 100 mg for each shot. 

The secret to making a perfect macchiato is getting the proper quantities. It has an intense and smooth flavor. 

How Does Cappuccino And A Macchiato Differ?

Usually, coffee drinks contain a mixture of steamed milk, milk foam, and Espresso. Do you want to know the difference between a cappuccino and a macchiato? Read more. 

Cappuccino comes with equal ratios of steamed milk, milk foam, and Espresso. Meanwhile, the macchiato only contains Espresso and steamed milk. It has more Espresso and a thin layer of milk on the top. 

When it comes to the taste, cappuccino has more steamed milk. It has a softer and milkier taste compared to a macchiato.

It can be enjoyed by those who don’t like the macchiato’s bolder taste. However, macchiato tastes more bitter even it has the same caffeine content as cappuccino. Both beverages come with a single shot of Espresso, which is the source of caffeine. 

Macchiato comes with a splash of milk. With this, it has lower fat, calories, and protein. On the other hand, the cappuccino contains less amount of milk. It can provide a good amount of protein, calories, and fat for every serving. 

Where did Frappuccinos Originate?

Frappe is among the favorite drinks of coffee lovers today. The drink was developed way back in the 19th century, when there’s a selection of cold coffee drinks known as ‘cafe frappe’ stimulated the consumption of coffee during hot days. 

Just like the iced coffees and slushies, the Frappe was also the first-ever cold coffee drink during its time. Then, variations of the drink were developed. That’s how Frappe became famous all over the world. 

How The First Frappe Was Made 

In the 1957 Thessaloniki International Fair in Greece, Giannis Dritsas, a Nestle representative, had successfully created a new beverage for kids.

He used a shaker to combine the cold milk with chocolate powder. Dritsas creatively made an instant chocolate milk drink that can be enjoyed in summer.

It has chocolate, a sweet taste, and has a foamy texture that children loved. Later, it became the most famous cold beverage in Greece. 

Then, the adult version of the drink was made by accident. It was created by using the instant coffee mix of Nestle rather than the chocolate powder.

The cafe frappe was translated to whisked coffee, which became the frozen delight you can enjoy today. 

The Science in Frappe 

The traditional Greek frappe contains four ingredients: ice cubes, instant coffee, water, and sugar. It also has its signature foam. How does it make its signature foam?

Well, it is due to the dehydration procedure that makes the instant coffee goes through. A small water amount is only required to create the Frappe’s characteristic foam. 

If dissolved, the spray-dried coffee creates a stable and simpler colloid relative to the brewed coffee. It forms the foam, and the absence of oil makes it long-lasting.

Additionally, sugar also contributes to maintaining the texture of the foam and boosts its viscosity. 

So, that is how Frappe gets started. These days, other parts of the world have their version of Frappe. Some of the frappe variations are savory blends mixed with clam juice, fruit-flavored desserts with frozen teas, and shaved ice. 

How to make a Frappe? 

Frappe is a cold blended drink that is easy to prepare. You can make it using a milkshake machine, electric milk frother, or a cocktail shaker.

First, you can shake or blend sugar, instant coffee, and a small amount of water to make a thick foam. Then, you can pour it into the glass, cold water, and ice cubes. You can also add milk like evaporated milk if you want. 

It is then ready to serve with a thick foam on the top and a drinking straw. 

Drinks that are similar to frappuccino

Frappuccino is a trademark of the Starbucks Corporation for its iced, blended coffee drinks. It is similar to a milkshake with coffee, wherein the vanilla ice cream, milk, and hot coffee are mixed to create a frothy beverage and has cream on the top. The following are some drinks that may be similar to a frappuccino. 

Frappe 

Usually, a frappe is mistaken as a frappuccino. A frappe is made with water and instant coffee. However, it comes with different variations. It may include cream, milk, brewed coffee instead of instant coffee and ice cubes.

Iced coffee drink 

If you want a more practical alternative drink to frappuccino, you can make an iced coffee drink. You can have a choice for the coffee. For example, you can use the espresso roast. 

Caramel macchiato

Caramel macchiato is also among the favorite beverages of coffee lovers. This flavor of macchiato was made just like a latte but in reversed steps. 

Is Frappuccino Hot Or Cold?

Frappuccino is served cold. It has a thick foam texture that is achieved through blending the beverage with ice. If you use hot water, it can melt the ice, losing texture and consistency.

That’s why frappuccino is always cold. If you want a hot version of frappuccino, you can opt for a cappuccino. It is made by adding foamed milk and steamed milk to Espresso; it has a strong taste of coffee and a slightly sweet and creamy taste. 

Does Frappuccino Have Caffeine? 

Unlike Frappe, which always has caffeine, frappuccino sometimes doesn’t contain caffeine. 

FAQs

Q: Is Frappe And Frappuccino The Same Thing?

A: The Frappuccino and Frappe are not the same things. The difference is that frappuccino is a Starbucks trademark, making them the only one allowed to sell it.

On the other hand, the Frappe is a general term for a blended foamy iced coffee drink. The original Frappe was blended with instant coffee, ice, water, and a splash of milk that creates foam on the top. 

Q: Do Starbucks Frappuccinos Contain Coffee?

A: Most of the frappuccino of Starbucks doesn’t contain caffeine. Thus, it doesn’t contain coffee. So, if you’re sensitive to caffeine but want a coffee-flavored drink, the frappuccino is for you. You can also choose the drink based on its caffeine content. 

Q: How Does The McDonald’s Frappe Compare To Starbucks? 

A: Compared to Starbucks, McDonald’s Frappe tastes artificial and sweet. On the other hand, Starbucks frappuccino can be sweet but has a balance between the bitterness and sweetness of the coffee. However, it still depends on your taste and coffee needs. 

Conclusion

Generally, the difference between a frappe and a macchiato can be easily determined by the ingredients used. If you want a strong flavor with milky foam on the top, you can prefer macchiato. If you want a blended foamy iced coffee drink, you can choose the Frappe. 

Both these beverages can provide you with a tasty and smooth flavor that you will love.

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