Summer has already arrived in Greece; the sun is shining, the days are growing longer, the beaches are full of people looking for some fun and relaxation, and the cafes offer some of the most praised beverages against the hot weather. Cold variations of coffee are a must for everyone in Greece this time of the year. Enjoy your frappe while playing backgammon or chatting with your friends at a sea front cafe, try a cappuccino freddo after work and relax in the summer breeze or taste a strong espresso freddo before work and feel the energy flow within you.
The war of different coffee variations has begun. The traditional fans of frappe will not give up on the national cold coffee beverage for any other Italian-style coffee type, no matter what. The strong flavor and texture of frappe is unique and it symbolizes the summer, light spirit, good company and easy-going life. Dimitris Vakondios invented it by chance in 1957 during the International Thessaloniki Fair and ever since the frappe is typical of Greek contemporary culture. Add some milk and sugar to two or three tablespoons of Nescafe, stir very well in a shaker, pour some water and lots of ice cubes and there you go, your summer frappe is ready.
There are of course other alternatives to try. Cappuccino freddo is especially favored by Greeks. The Venetian monks version of cappuccino was established in the 17th century when they added milk and honey to Greek coffee. A milk foam called “afrogala” in Greek, lots of ice and some syrup depending on how sweet you like your coffee, create the biggest rival of frappe during the summer.
For something more of a booster during the day, and especially helpful in the mornings, go for an Espresso freddo served in a medium glass with lots of ice as well and as much sugar as you like. The strong flavor of the coffee will leave you totally satisfied and ready to go on with the rest of your day.
If you are more daring, try to put some vanilla ice or liquor in your frappe or espresso freddo. It takes the coffee to a whole new level of tastiness.
And last but not least, for those who are not particular fans of coffee or simply avoid it for various reasons, you can always choose the fredochino, which is a coffee, chocolate, milk and sugar beverage and reminds a bit of a milkshake. The original taste and cool temperature make it an absolute delight for those who have already had too many coffees during the day.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
