Want to make a cold cappuccino at home? This iced cappuccino coffee, known as freddo cappuccino in Greece, is the best caffeinated summer drink! Don't miss my expert tips from a Greek barista to nail it every time!
Has anyone ever visited Greece without noticing people sipping iced coffee at cafés? In a country full of coffee lovers, freddo cappuccino and freddo espresso are the stars of the coffee scene.
These iconic drinks blend the rich heritage of traditional Greek frappe (an iced coffee made with instant coffee granules and cold water) with a refreshing twist, delivering a healthy dose of caffeine and the coolness of ice.
📋 Ingredient notes
To make an iced cappuccino coffee you'll need the following simple ingredients:
A double shot espresso: Use a strong, flavorful espresso.
Ice cubes: The larger the better.
Cold skimmed milk (nonfat milk): For the best results use 0% - 2% fat.
Optionals:
Sweetener of choice such as sugar or stevia.
Powdered chocolate or cocoa powder, for garnish.
Ground cinnamon, for garnish
Instructions
Follow this easy step by step guide for how to make an iced cappuccino:
Step 1:
Brew two shots of strong espresso using your preferred espresso machine. Add the sweetener of your choice (optional) and stir with a spoon. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Step 2:
Fill a glass with ice cubes or crushed ice and pour the espresso over the ice.
At this step you can optionally froth the coffee with a milk frother (or you can shake it in a cocktail shaker or jar until frothy). Some baristas do that, while others leave it as is, because the frothed milk sits better on the surface of the coffee.
Step 3:
Pour very cold skimmed milk into a glass and froth it using a milk frother or frappe mixer until it’s nice and foamy. Gently pour the frothed milk over the coffee and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or chocolate powder. Serve with a drinking straw.
Before taking your first sip, let the frothy milk mingle with the chilled espresso by lazily stirring it with the straw. This simple step makes the texture creamier and the taste sweeter, revealing subtle caramel and buttery notes.
Serving glass
In many cafes, freddo cappuccino is served in tall glass while in others a shorter wide glass is used.
In any case, any large enough tumbler with capacity more than 10 oz (300 ml) will do.
👨🍳 Expert Tips
The barista from the Greek cafe It's a Village in Kipseli, Athens was kind enough to share the most important tips for how to make the best cold cappuccino (freddo) at home:
✅ Never try to shake, blend or froth the coffee when milk is already added. It will never froth. For the best results, first froth the coffee (optional) and then add the frothed milk.
✅ Very cold skimmed milk froths very well. Whole milk will give you a very weak foam and it's not suggested.
✅ Iced cappuccino is NOT made with steamed milk. It's made with cold milk, that has been frothed with a frother.
👉 My Tip: make ice cubes with coffee. Pour freshly brewed espresso coffee into an ice cube tray and allow it to cool completely. Once frozen, these espresso ice cubes will prevent dilution, ensuring your Freddo retains its bold flavor.
🎥 Video
🎵 Music on Video: Paradise, Musician: @iksomusic
📖 Recipe
Iced Capuccino Recipe (Freddo Cappuccino)
Equipment
- 1 frother
Ingredients
- 2 shots (60 ml) espresso (freshly brewed)
- 6 ice cubes
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) skimmed milk (very cold)
Optional
- Sweetener of choice, optional
- Chocolate powder or ground cinnamon (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Brew two espresso shots, add the sweetener of your choice (optional) and stir with a spoon. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking.Add 2 ice cubed and froth the coffee with a frother (or shake it in a jar). This is optional, some baristas do it while others omit this step.
- Fill a glass with the remaining ice cubes and pour the espresso over them.
- Pour the milk in a glass and froth up with a handheld frother until you get a thick cold foam. If you don't have a frother, shake it very vigorously in a jar. Gently pour the foamed milk over the coffee.You can garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or chocolate powder. Serve with a drinking straw.
Notes
Nutrition
Variations
With whipped cream:
Instead of milk, you can whip ¼ of a cup heavy cream until light and fluffy and soft peaks form. Pour it gently over your coffee to make this rich and creamy variation. You can also add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract and some confectioners sugar to the heavy cream for more flavor.
With ice cream:
For those who appreciate a creamier twist, a dollop of ice cream can be added to the beverage. This indulgent addition not only enhances the flavor but also imparts a luscious creaminess that complements the boldness of the espresso.
For extra coffee flavor use this one-step, no-churn coffee ice cream, Alternatively, follow this recipe for coffee ice cream frappe (frappuccino) for an utterly delicious frozen summer drink.
With instant coffee
If you don't have an espresso machine at home you can use a Moka pot. Alternatively, you can also use instant espresso powder to make the espresso coffee. I don't suggest using instant coffee granules because you'll make a frappe, not a cappuccino.
FAQ
The traditional cappuccino is made by brewing 2 ounces (60 ml) of espresso and then adding approximately the same quantity of steamed, foamy milk. Optionally, you can add the sweetener of your choice.
For more details, you can watch this YouTube video for how to make a cappuccino.
Iced Cappuccino or freddo cappuccino is a type of cold coffee beverage that originated in Greece. It is a popular variation of the traditional cappuccino, which is served hot. The name "freddo" comes from the Italian word for "cold."
Freddo Cappuccino is made by combining iced espresso with frothed cold milk and (optionally) a sweetener. It is often served in a tall glass and can be topped with a dollop of whipped cream, cinnamon or chocolate powder.
The result is a refreshing and creamy coffee drink with a strong coffee flavor and a foamy texture.
Frappuccino is a line of blended iced coffee drinks sold by Starbucks. It may consist of coffee or crème base, blended with ice and ingredients such as flavored syrups and usually topped with whipped cream and or spices.
In that sense, iced cappuccino is a type of frappuccino.
When you order a freddo cappuccino in Greece, you'll be asked about the sweetness level. This is because the sweetener is added by the barista when the coffee is still warm in order to dissolve better.
The most common level of sweetness are:
"Sketo" which means plain and it doesn't include any sweetener.
"Metrio" which means medium. Usually you add 2 teaspoons sugar or the equivalent sweetener.
"Gliko" which means sweet. This refers to a freddo cappuccino with 4 teaspoons sugar or the equivalent sweetener.
No, an iced cappuccino is not the same as a latte, although they may share some similarities. While both beverages contain espresso and milk, there are key differences in their preparation and ratios of ingredients.
An iced cappuccino follows the same principles as a regular cappuccino but is served cold. It is made by brewing espresso, allowing it to cool, and then pouring it over ice. The espresso is then topped with equal parts cold milk and foam. This creates a refreshing and frothy drink with the distinct layers of espresso, cold milk, and foam.
In contrast, an iced latte follows a similar process as a regular latte. It involves pouring espresso over ice and then adding cold milk with minimal foam. This results in a smoother and less frothy beverage compared to an iced cappuccino.
If you tried this iced cappuccino recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Maria says
I made it with cold condensed milk (that was what I had at the moment) and it was very good. First time I made an iced cappuccino at home 🙂
Makos says
That's great!