Bring the vibrant energy of a Greek café directly to your kitchen with this incredibly quick and easy Freddo Espresso recipe. In just 5 minutes, you can create a perfectly chilled, frothy, and intensely flavorful iced coffee that’s robust, refreshing, and completely customizable to your taste.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Recipe
My obsession with this recipe began after a trip to Greece, where the Freddo Espresso is a way of life. I was determined to recreate that same invigorating, frothy delight back home without any fancy equipment. This method using a simple cocktail shaker delivers an authentic taste of the Mediterranean, making every sip a mini-vacation.
Ingredients
- 2 shots freshly brewed espresso
- sugar, to taste (optional)
- ice, as needed
Step-by-step instructions for making the recipe
- Brew two shots of fresh espresso and let it cool for a minute.
- Pour the freshly brewed espresso and your desired amount of sugar into a cocktail shaker.
- Add 4 ice cubes to the shaker.
- Secure the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds, until the coffee is frothy, cold, and the ice has mostly melted.
- Fill a tall glass with fresh ice.
- Strain the shaken, frothy espresso mixture over the fresh ice in the glass. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Freddo Espresso
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Brew two shots of fresh espresso and let it cool for a minute.2 shots freshly brewed espresso
- Pour the freshly brewed espresso and your desired amount of sugar into a cocktail shaker.2 shots freshly brewed espresso, to taste sugar
- Add 4 ice cubes to the shaker.as needed ice
- Secure the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds, until the coffee is frothy, cold, and the ice has mostly melted.
- Fill a tall glass with fresh ice.as needed ice
- Strain the shaken, frothy espresso mixture over the fresh ice in the glass. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
FAQ
I don’t have an espresso machine. What can I use?
You can use 1/2 cup of very strong brewed coffee as a substitute. The key is to have a concentrated coffee flavor that won’t become watered down when shaken with ice.
Why shake the espresso with ice?
Shaking the hot espresso with ice and sugar does two things: it chills the coffee instantly, and, most importantly, it creates the characteristic thick, frothy foam (called kaimaki) that is essential to an authentic Freddo Espresso.
Can I add milk to this?
Absolutely! While a classic Freddo Espresso is just coffee, a Freddo Cappuccino is the popular version with milk. To make one, prepare the espresso as directed, then top the finished drink with a layer of cold frothed milk or cold foam.
How much sugar is traditional?
In Greece, it’s common to add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar to the shaker. However, you can adjust this to your liking or skip it entirely for a pure, bold coffee experience.