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A lot of people assume Starbucks' blended coffee drinks start with hot espresso, but that's not how they're made.
I always thought that Starbucks frappuccinos were made using espresso. However they are, in fact, used with a coffee powder called the Frappuccino roast .
If you've ever wondered what Frappuccino roast actually is, the short answer is that it's the coffee base Starbucks uses in its blended drinks.
The base matters because once you add syrup, milk, ice, and toppings, a weak coffee flavor gets buried fast.
What is frappuccino roast? (New coffee on the block)
Starbucks knows all too well that their famous Frappuccinos are some of the company’s best sellers.
I used to assume the coffee in a blended drink came from hot espresso, the same way it does in a cappuccino or latte.
That isn't the case. Starbucks uses a special Frappuccino roast to keep the drink tasting right and blending smoothly.
The Frappuccino roast is a unique powdered blend of Italian and Espresso roasts that is specially designed to dissolve instantly in cold water.
Once you add syrup, milk, ice, and toppings, a weak coffee base disappears quickly.
How is it different from other drinks?
Hot coffee in a cold drink usually tastes flat to me, so the Frappuccino setup makes sense.
That’s why the Frapp roast is designed differently to dissolve in cold water, keeping true to the creamy consistency of all Starbucks frappuccinos.
To be honest, this blend isn't something I'd sip for pleasure. It comes as a powder and tastes sharply bitter, with a raw coffee edge.
There’s a reason for that, though. The strong taste and bitterness help balance out the overpowering sweetness Frappuccinos are known for.
I would not taste it straight unless you want to see how the base behaves before it gets blended.
Is frappuccino roast a powder or pump?
Frappuccino roast is manufactured as powder.
In stores, the powder is mixed with cold water so it can be made in larger batches. Once it dissolves, the mixture goes into pump bottles so it can be added quickly to blended drinks.
The number of pumps depends on the cup size and on how strong the customer wants the coffee flavor. The pump system makes it easy to change the strength without rebuilding the whole drink.
A standard tall Frappuccino gets two pumps, and people often ask for more when they want the coffee note to come through.
I usually leave the default amount alone, though I add one more pump if the drink is leaning too sweet or I want the coffee to show up a little more.
Pros & cons of the frappuccino roast
Frappuccino roast is meant for specific drinks, so it works best in creme Frappuccinos and other cold blends. Straight sipping is another story.
A few details explain why it works so differently in Frappuccinos:
Pros
Cons
What’s the difference between frappuccino roast & espresso?
The Starbucks Frappuccino roast was designed for Frappuccinos, and the difference from espresso shows up quickly once you taste them side by side.
The most significant difference between espresso and Frappuccino roast has to do with temperature.
Espresso is built to work with hot water. Frappuccino roast is made for cold preparation, which is why the two behave so differently.
In cold drinks, that cleaner dissolution helps the mixture blend more smoothly and can leave the foam looking lighter.
BaristaHQ Tip: If you choose to substitute espresso to a Frappuccino, the drink will lack a Frappuccino's signature creaminess. I also find that it tastes too sweet because espresso is not nearly as bitter as Frapp roast.
How to make a frappuccino using frappuccino roast?
One of the better things about Frappuccino roast is that you can buy it for home use. That makes it possible to build a Starbucks-style coffee Frappuccino without leaving the kitchen.
Ingredients required
Making it at home also gives you more control over the sweetness, coffee strength, and milk.
I've tried mocha versions, vanilla bean blends, strawberry creme Frappuccinos, and the basic coffee syrup version, and each one changes the balance more than I expected.
There are plenty of ways to tweak a DIY Frapp, but the base ingredients stay pretty simple.
Procedure to make a perfect frappuccino
Before you start, you'll need a blender. Starbucks uses high-powered commercial blenders, but a regular one can still get the job done if you don't overload it.
- 1Once you have all your ingredients, the first step is to create the Frappuccino base. To do this, mix 2 tablespoons of water with 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. This ingredient is traditionally used as a thickening agent, so it will enhance the creaminess of the drink.
- 2Add the thickening mixture to the blender, followed by 2 pumps of Frappuccino roast (or more, depending on preference), sugar (or a sugar-free alternative), milk, and ice.
- 3Blend until the drink is thick and creamy. Don't be afraid to give it a taste test as you go to see if another Frappuccino roast pump or more sugar is needed.
- 4Add any optional additives, like flavored syrup, caramel, Frappuccino chips, chocolate sauce, etc.
There isn't one correct way to make a Frappuccino. I treat the recipe more like a starting point and adjust it until it tastes right to me.
If that means swapping whole milk for coconut milk, that's exactly the kind of change worth trying.
Usage measurements
Figuring out how much Frappuccino roast to add at home can take a little trial and error.
The amount you use depends on two things: how much caffeine you want and how strong you like the coffee flavor.
Here's a quick measurement guide to use as a starting point:
This is just the recommended amount based on the Starbucks menu. You can add more Frappuccino roast if that’s what you prefer, or even do just 1 Frappuccino roast pump for a less potent coffee flavor.
How much caffeine is in a frappuccino drink?
A lot of people assume Frappuccino drinks barely contain any caffeine, but that has not always matched what I notice from one cup.
To put things into perspective, 2 pumps of Frappuccino roast is equivalent to 1 shot of espresso.
Depending on how much Frapp roast you use, you could get a nice little energy kick from sipping on a cold Frappuccino.
So if you order a standard tall Frappuccino, you’ll be getting the same caffeine content as a single espresso shot.
If that's not enough, I usually change the coffee strength first:
If you want a decaf version, there’s, unfortunately, no decaf Frapp roast available as of right now. However, you can still order a decaf Frappuccino by asking your barista to use decaf espresso instead.
How to easily store frappuccino roast for longevity
Frappuccino roast was designed to have a fairly long shelf life in powder form.
Once you mix it with water, I wouldn't keep the batch around for long, so it makes sense to prepare only what you'll use.
Starbucks recommends mixing one pack of the roast blend with 1 liter of water.
Once it’s dissolved, store it in an airtight bottle, and keep it in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
FAQs
Do all Frappuccinos contain Frapp roast?
If you're ordering a coffee Frappuccino, it will always contain Frapp roast.
You can also ask for an espresso Frappuccino, or ask the barista to use coffee Frappuccino syrup instead of Frapp roast pumps.
Does frappuccino roast have caffeine?
Espresso shots are more concentrated than Frapp roast pumps.
That means a traditional tall Frappuccino, which has 2 pumps of Frapp roast, doesn't feel as strong as an espresso drink, even though it still has a noticeable coffee kick.
How many pumps of Frappuccino roast should I use in my Frappuccino?
I usually only ask for extra pumps when the drink tastes too soft or when I want the coffee to show up more clearly.
The usual starting point is 2 pumps in a tall, 3 in a grande, and 4 in a venti.
How many calories are there in a Frappuccino roast?
The roast itself doesn't add many calories.
Frappuccinos can climb quickly in calories depending on the milk, skim, whole, or heavy cream, and any extras.
How many times can I reuse the coffee grounds from a Frappuccino roast?
Because the grounds are meant to dissolve in cold water, you generally can't reuse Starbucks Frappuccino roast the way you would regular coffee grounds.
Conclusion
That clean dissolution helps create the thick, creamy texture Frappuccinos are known for.
And because it tastes fairly bitter on its own, it helps keep the sweetness from taking over the whole drink.
