A Frappuccino is a blended, iced drink from Starbucks, made by blending ice, milk, syrup and either coffee or a non-coffee creme base until smooth and topping it with whipped cream. The name is a Starbucks trademark, so strictly only Starbucks sells Frappuccinos, although “blended coffee” and “frappe” describe the same idea at other chains.
This guide covers what goes into one, where the drink came from, how it differs from iced coffee and a frappe, and whether it counts as coffee at all. If you want to make one yourself, our full how to make a Frappuccino recipe has the method, and the cappuccino vs Frappuccino guide clears up the mix-up between the two names.
The short answer: what is a Frappuccino?
- Base: coffee, or a creme base with no coffee at all.
- Texture: blended with ice into a thick, slushy drink.
- Milk: cold milk, blended in.
- Flavor: syrups and sauces, sometimes with chips or crumbles.
- Topping: whipped cream and a drizzle.
- Served: cold, in a clear cup with a wide straw.
It is closer to a milkshake made with coffee than to an iced coffee, which is why it tastes like a dessert.
What is in a Frappuccino
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Coffee or creme base | Sets the flavor. Coffee versions use an instant-style coffee that dissolves in cold liquid, and creme versions have no coffee. |
| Ice | Blended in to make the thick, slushy texture. |
| Milk | Thins the blend and adds creaminess. |
| Syrup or sauce | Adds the sweetness and the flavor. |
| Emulsifier | A thickener such as xanthan gum keeps the drink from separating into ice and liquid. |
| Whipped cream and drizzle | The topping. |
Published descriptions of the recipe list an instant coffee mix, ice, an emulsifier such as xanthan gum, and additions such as milk, sugar, flavored syrups and whipped cream. Starbucks calls the coffee it uses Frappuccino roast. If you want to copy the idea at home, an instant coffee works well, and our roundup of the best instant coffee covers the ones that dissolve cleanly.
Where the Frappuccino came from
The drink did not start at Starbucks. It was developed and trademarked by the Coffee Connection, a coffee chain in eastern Massachusetts run by George Howell, and named by its marketing director, Andrew Frank. Starbucks bought the Coffee Connection in 1994, which gave it the rights to the drink, and introduced the Frappuccino under its own name in 1995. A bottled version followed in 1996.
Frappuccino vs frappe, iced coffee and a milkshake
| Drink | What it is | Has coffee? | Texture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frappuccino | A blended Starbucks drink with a coffee or creme base | Some do, some do not | Thick and slushy |
| Greek frappe | Instant coffee, sugar and cold water shaken or whisked into foam | Yes | Foamy and thin |
| Iced coffee | Brewed coffee chilled and poured over ice | Yes | Thin |
| Milkshake | Ice cream blended with milk | No | Thick and creamy |
The nearest coffee drink to a Frappuccino is iced coffee, but they are not close in taste. Our iced coffee guide explains how a plain iced coffee is made, and the guide to coffee drink types shows where blended drinks sit next to espresso drinks.
Is a Frappuccino coffee?
Some are and some are not. The coffee flavors, such as the Coffee Frappuccino, contain coffee. The creme flavors, such as vanilla bean or strawberry, are made without any. The name only tells you it is blended and cold, so check the menu name. If it says creme, there is no coffee base.
Even the coffee versions are mostly ice, milk and sugar, and they carry less caffeine than a brewed coffee of the same size. If caffeine matters to you, check the chain’s nutrition information for the exact drink, because it varies by flavor and size.
Popular Frappuccino flavors, decoded
| Flavor | Base | What it tastes like |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Coffee | Sweet, milky iced coffee |
| Mocha | Coffee plus chocolate sauce | Like a blended mocha |
| Caramel | Coffee plus caramel | Sweet, buttery and light on coffee |
| Java chip | Coffee plus mocha sauce and chocolate chips | Chocolate first, with a crunch |
| Vanilla bean creme | Creme, no coffee | A vanilla milkshake, no coffee |
| Strawberry creme | Creme, no coffee | Strawberry milk, no coffee |
Bottled Frappuccino vs the cafe drink
The bottled Frappuccino sold in supermarkets is a ready-to-drink milk coffee. It is not blended with ice, so it has a thinner, smoother texture than the cafe version, and it is sold chilled. If you want a store-bought option that is closer to plain coffee, a cold brew is a better fit, and our guide to what cold brew coffee is explains the difference.
How to make a Frappuccino-style drink at home
You do not need the branded base. A blender, strong coffee and ice get you most of the way.
- Brew strong coffee and let it cool fully, or dissolve 2 teaspoons of instant coffee in a little hot water.
- Add to a blender: 1 cup of the cold coffee, 1/2 cup of milk, 2 cups of ice and 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar or syrup.
- Blend for 30 to 45 seconds until thick and smooth.
- Pour into a tall glass and top with whipped cream and a drizzle of syrup.
A tiny pinch of xanthan gum (about 1/8 teaspoon) stops the drink separating if you like the smooth cafe texture. The full method, with flavor variations, is in our Frappuccino recipe.
Blender-free alternatives at home
- Iced latte with syrup: the closest simple swap. See our iced latte guide.
- Dalgona-style: whipped instant coffee over cold milk gives you the foam without the blender. See dalgona coffee.
- Iced coffee with cold foam: a sweet cold foam cap adds the dessert feel. See how to make cold foam.
- Cold brew and milk: smooth and lightly sweet without the sugar. See what cold brew is.
Lighter ways to order one
- Ask for fewer pumps of syrup. Most of the sugar comes from the syrup.
- Skip the whipped cream and drizzle. The toppings add fat and sugar quickly.
- Go smaller. A short or tall is a lot less than a venti.
- Choose a coffee base over a creme base if you want the coffee flavor for the same sugar.
The bottom line
A Frappuccino is a blended, iced dessert drink with a coffee or creme base, and the name belongs to Starbucks. It tastes more like a milkshake than an iced coffee. If you want the coffee without the sugar, an iced coffee or cold brew is closer to what you are after. There are more drinks to explore in our coffee drinks section.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frappuccinos
A Frappuccino is a blended iced Starbucks drink made with ice, milk, syrup and a coffee or creme base, usually topped with whipped cream.
The coffee flavors do, but the creme Frappuccinos do not. Check the menu name: a drink called creme has no coffee base.
No. Iced coffee is chilled brewed coffee served over ice. A Frappuccino is blended with ice into a thick, slushy drink and is usually much sweeter.
It was created at the Coffee Connection, a coffee chain in eastern Massachusetts, and named by its marketing director Andrew Frank. Starbucks bought the chain in 1994 and introduced the drink under its own name in 1995.
It is the coffee used in the coffee-based Frappuccino. It is described as an instant-style coffee that dissolves in cold liquid, so the drink blends smoothly.
It depends on the flavor and size. Coffee versions contain some caffeine, usually less than a brewed coffee of the same size, and creme versions contain none apart from a trace in chocolate flavors. Check the chain’s nutrition information for exact numbers.
Megan Cunningham
Contributor
Tests everything in an ordinary kitchen on affordable gear.