The short answer: a frappe is a generic name whose meaning changes by region, while a Frappuccino® is Starbucks’ branded line of blended drinks. A Greek frappé is usually foamed instant coffee served over ice. A Starbucks Frappuccino is blended with ice and may use either a coffee base or a crème base.
| Feature | Frappe | Frappuccino® |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A regional, generic chilled drink | A Starbucks-branded blended beverage |
| Coffee | Often instant coffee in the Greek version, but not always coffee in every region | Coffee-based and crème-based versions are available |
| Texture | Foamy, shaken or sometimes blended; varies by recipe | Thick and icy because the drink is blended |
| Typical ingredients | Greek style: instant coffee, water, ice, optional sugar and milk | Ice, milk, flavored ingredients and either a coffee or crème base |
| Where you order it | Cafés and restaurants; the meaning depends on location | Starbucks |
What Is a Frappe?
“Frappe” or “frappé” is not one universal recipe. The word broadly describes something chilled or served over ice, but the drink you receive depends on where you order it.
In Greece, a classic coffee frappé is made by shaking or frothing instant coffee with a little water until it creates a dense foam. It is poured over ice and diluted with cold water; sugar and milk are optional. The result is lighter and more coffee-forward than a typical blended dessert drink.
In parts of New England, however, a “frappe” can mean a milkshake made with ice cream. Elsewhere, cafés may use the word for almost any blended iced drink. That regional variation is why two menus can use the same name for very different beverages.
What Is a Frappuccino?
A Frappuccino® is a Starbucks blended beverage. Starbucks launched the drink nationally in 1995 after acquiring The Coffee Connection, where the name had already been used. According to Starbucks’ history of the drink, the name combines the idea of a cold “frappe” with “cappuccino.”
Current Frappuccino recipes vary by flavor, but the drinks are blended with ice and commonly include milk, syrups or sauces, and either a coffee or crème base. Toppings such as whipped cream and drizzle depend on the recipe. For example, Starbucks lists its Coffee Frappuccino as a blend of ice, milk, coffee and Coffee Frappuccino Syrup.
The important distinction is that not every Frappuccino contains coffee. Coffee Frappuccinos use a coffee base, while Crème Frappuccinos do not use the same coffee base. A crème drink can still contain caffeine from ingredients such as matcha or chocolate, so check the specific menu listing if you are avoiding caffeine.
Frappe vs. Frappuccino: The Key Differences
1. The name
Frappe is a generic and regional term. Frappuccino® identifies Starbucks’ branded blended beverage line. A café can make its own frappe, but a drink called Frappuccino is associated with Starbucks.
2. The recipe
A traditional Greek frappé is a short ingredient list: instant coffee, water and ice, plus optional milk and sugar. A Frappuccino is built as a blended beverage and its ingredients change substantially by flavor. It may include coffee, milk, a flavored sauce or syrup, a blending base, whipped cream and toppings.
3. The texture
A Greek frappé has a liquid body topped by a thick coffee foam. The ice usually remains as cubes. A Frappuccino has ice blended throughout, giving it a more uniform, slushy texture.
4. Coffee and caffeine
A Greek coffee frappé normally contains instant coffee and therefore caffeine. A Frappuccino may or may not contain coffee. Starbucks’ current grande Coffee Frappuccino lists 95 mg of caffeine, but the amount differs by drink, size and customization. Check the current nutrition panel for the exact order.
5. Sweetness and nutrition
Either drink can be sweet or relatively simple. An unsweetened Greek frappé with little or no milk is very different from a frappe made with ice cream. Frappuccino nutrition also varies widely with the flavor, size, milk, sauces and toppings. Comparing the actual recipes is more useful than assuming one name is always healthier.
Is a Frappe Coffee?
Sometimes. A Greek frappé is a coffee drink made with instant coffee. But “frappe” may mean a milkshake or another blended beverage in other places. If a menu is unclear, ask whether the drink contains coffee or espresso.
Does a Frappuccino Have Coffee?
Some do and some do not. Coffee-based Frappuccinos contain a coffee ingredient; crème-based Frappuccinos skip the coffee base. Learn more about the concentrated coffee ingredient Starbucks uses in our guide to Frappuccino roast.
Frappe vs. Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is brewed coffee cooled and served over ice. It usually stays liquid rather than being whipped or blended. A Greek frappé starts with instant coffee and is aerated to make foam, while other regional frappes may be blended. If you are comparing milk-based cold drinks, see our guide to iced latte vs. iced coffee.
Frappuccino vs. Cappuccino
A cappuccino is traditionally a hot espresso drink made with steamed milk and milk foam. A Frappuccino is cold, blended with ice and can be coffee-based or crème-based. Despite the similar names, a Frappuccino is not simply an iced cappuccino.
Which Should You Order?
Choose a Greek-style frappé if you want a foamy, refreshing instant-coffee drink that can be made with little sugar or milk. Choose a Frappuccino if you want a thick blended drink and a wide choice of coffee, crème and flavored versions. Outside Greece or Starbucks, read the menu description—“frappe” alone does not tell you the recipe.
