Make a Starbucks Frappuccino for 32 Cents
I wanted one. Badly. The intoxicating sip of caffeine and the sweet taste of sugar, all blended together into a mixture of iced creamy goodness and designed to melt in your mouth. Yep, there’s nothing quite like the seductive taste of a Starbucks Frappuccino on a hot summer’s day.
With my resolve kicked to the curb in favor of a self-indulgent caffeine hit, I walked into the nearest Starbucks with my wallet in hand. It had been years since I’d ordered a Frapp, so I was fairly shocked by the variety of flavors available, but I was mostly appalled by the price — 3.45 (plus tax) for a tasty Tall! WTF? (Yeah, what the Frapp?)
Take a guess: One is real. The other is cheaper, but just as tasty.
Now I’m not a complete cheapo (cough) and I do enjoy an indulgent treat every now and then, but shelling out nearly $4 for a chilled coffee beverage seemed a bit steep. What’s in a classic Starbucks Frappuccino anyways? Coffee, milk, ice, and sugar? For 4? How’s that for a brain freeze?
Frapp Price Attack: You’re saving around 92%
Talk about a steep latte factor — a copycat classic coffee Starbucks Frappuccino (using my recipe) can save you 91.7% on a 12 oz (354 mL) Tall sized beverage. Can you really see the difference?
Homemade Frappuccino Recipe
Make a copycat Starbucks Frappuccino for a fraction of the cost in three easy steps.
STEP ONE: Gather your ingredients.
Frappuccino ingredients: makes 2.5 cups (590 mL)
1 cup double-strength Starbucks coffee OR 3/4 cup fresh espresso (cold)
3/4 cup milk (low fat, 2%, whole or whatever)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar (or to taste)
2 cups ice
Secret ingredient: Pinch of xanthan gum OR 1 teaspoon dry pectin (keeps Frapp from separating)
Since I don’t own an espresso machine, I went to Costco and bought a bag of Starbucks Pike Place roast to best mimic the Frappuccino recipe. Brewed strongly, I think these beans did the trick.
STEP TWO: Toss your Frapptastic ingredients into a mixer and blend. Some of my friends swear by the Magic Bullet blender, but I’ve been happy with my simple Cuisinart for years
Depending on the strength of your blender, it may take a few stirs to get the ice moving.
STEP THREE: Pour Frapp in a cup. Use an authentic Starbucks cup to fool your friends. Sneaky, I know.
Warning: Photographing a Frappuccino for hours may cause coffee separation. Grumble.
Admire your handy work. Add toppings at the will of your waistline. Oh it’s summer so friggits — full whip with chocolate syrup, please!
