Frappe

The coffee frappe, the classic Greek summer drink, was born by chance in 1957 at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) by Dimitris Vakondios, who mixed instant coffee with cold water in a shaker due to a lack of hot water. It is a Greek patent that is now found in other parts of the world.

Dimitris Vakondios’ spontaneous inspiration was the key to the creation of the frappe. Without access to hot water during the Thessaloniki International Fair, Vakondios thought of using cold water and ice to make his coffee. He mixed the ingredients in a shaker and, to his surprise, created a cool and frothy drink. This invention was not just a solution to a need, but the beginning of a new trend in the way coffee is consumed in Greece.

The discovery of the coffee frappe in Thessaloniki cannot be a coincidence, as Thessalonians have a love affair with coffee. National Geographic was impressed by Thessaloniki, the city “with the most coffee shops, per capita, of any other European city”!

In Thessaloniki, the culture dictates that you enjoy your coffee leisurely and not hurriedly, with good company, in one of the city’s numerous cafes, often accompanied by the traditional koulouri or other delicacies. This process is an integral part of everyday life, offering moments of relaxation, either on the city’s waterfront, or in beautiful squares or hidden courtyards.