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How to make an Espresso Freddo
Everything you need to know about this delicious Greek coffee drink.
Published November 12, 2021
Vasileia Fanarioti
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
The Espresso Freddo is a delicious treat that is perfect for the summer! It's like an iced latte, but better. You can make an espresso freddo at home with just a handful of ingredients and some time in the freezer. This cool coffee recipe doesn't get much easier than this!
Read on to learn how to make your own Espresso Freddo.
What is Espresso Freddo?
I don't know how you feel about espresso, but I love it. There's something about that bold taste that gives me a little boost of energy when I need it most. But sometimes, I want to enjoy an iced coffee without the hassle of waiting for my drink to cool down after making a hot cup. So what do you do? You make your own version at home!
But first...do you know what the Espresso Freddo really is? It is a coffee drink invented by the Greeks some 20 years ago. It is basically the Greek version of an iced coffee. It is not uncommon to see Greeks drink Espresso Freddo on the street even during a cold winter’s day.
It consists of a double shot of espresso, blended in a mixer with ice cubes and poured over ice. Sugar is also optional and is added in the cup where the hot espresso is poured so that it melts.
How to make espresso freddo at home
Making an Espresso Freddo at home is actually easy—you just need some basic equipment, good coffee and to follow a few steps!
Equipment:
A mixer or a handheld milk frother
Espresso maker
Ingredients:
A double shot of espresso
Ice cubes
Sugar (optional)
Guide:
- Make a double shot of espresso (If you want sugar make sure to add it during this step so that it dissolves in the hot espresso)
- Grab a shaker and add 2-3 ice cubes
- Pour the double shot of espresso in it and start mixing it with handheld milk frother or with your mixer, whichever you have
- Soon you’ll notice that it starts to rise in volume and becoming creamy
- Grab a tall glass and fill it up with ice cubes
- Pour your espresso in, grab a straw and enjoy
- As an optional step you can add some cold water in case you are going for a milder coffee flavour
Extra tip: If you don’t own an espresso maker, you can use a Moka pot or capsules to brew your espresso instead!
Espresso freddo vs. Iced Americano
Some people might confuse Espresso Freddo with an iced Americano and for a good reason! Both drinks are espresso-based, meaning you need a single or a double shot of espresso to make them!
However, there is a significant difference between them! An iced Americano is a shot of espresso over ice topped with cold water, while Espresso Freddo is a drink that is mixed with the help of a frother or a mixer, giving it a very different consistency to an iced Americano. It’s essentially creamier. Also, the addition of cold water to the iced Americano dilutes the coffee flavour making it milder to taste, while the Freddo espresso can be very bold in flavour.
Espresso Freddo vs. Cappuccino Freddo
And of course the Greeks couldn’t invent a summer drink without milk! Cappuccino Freddo is essentially an Espresso Freddo with the addition of cold frothed milk on top.
This, of course, changes the flavour and consistency of the drink completely, as the creamy froth gives the coffee a sweet flavour and a velvety mouthfeel. This is definitely the perfect alternative for those who prefer a milky coffee drink during the hot summer months!
F.A.Q.s
Does Espresso Freddo have more caffeine than an espresso?
Actually no, because an Espresso Freddo is made with an espresso shot, so it contains the same amount of caffeine as an espresso. There's a lot of misinformation out there about iced coffee and caffeine.
People believe that the melting ice in an iced beverage will extract more caffeine from the ground coffee beans, when in fact it does not. The cold temperature merely slows down the rate at which your body can absorb caffeine, so yes, you would generally need to drink far more iced coffee for it to have the same effect as a hot cup of java.
If true, this would mean that an Espresso Freddo would most likely contain more caffeine than an espresso, but it doesn't. There's no difference in the amount of caffeine found in either beverage because both are made with one shot of espresso, so this question really just boils down to: "Does an iced beverage have more ice than a regular hot beverage?" and the answer is: "Yes."
Is Espresso Freddo healthy?
In a world where it seems that everything has to be either healthy or low-fat, the Espresso Freddo is a welcome relief.
After all, what's wrong with drinking a moment of pleasure? It's not like you drink 200 of them a day! You don't have to feel guilty about ordering an Espresso Freddo - after all, it only has 65 calories per serving.
Just make sure you are drinking the caffeine quantity your metabolism is most comfortable with.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a refreshing drink to cool down on those hot summer days, look no further than the Espresso Freddo. This cold coffee beverage is easy to prepare at home and really packs in the flavor with just three ingredients.
The best part? It takes less time than it would take you to drive to your favorite coffee shop! Check out another one of our recipes on how to make a Cappuccino Freddo - it will have you cooling off in minutes!
About the author
Vasileia Fanarioti
My name is Vasileia and I’m here because i decided to combine my two favourite things: writing and coffee. I love travelling around the world and visiting coffee shops but my biggest goal is to visit a coffee farm, to see where it all starts! You can follow my coffee adventures via my blog: thewanderingbean.net
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