I wrote this in an email to someone tonight, but I figured it would make a good post here as well. I was asked, how to make a Frappuccino at home:
If you want a no muss, no fuss method, one that makes a pretty good drink, look into buying Torani Caffioco pre-mix, which is probably the best premix in the biz - add ice and milk to a blender, and walla. you can spot it here:
That's a big bottle, but it makes 32 16oz drinks, or about 78 cents per drink.
Also search for Torani Caffioco thru google, you might find better prices than $25 a bottle. I think www.coffeewholesalers.com sells it as well. I've also seen it last fall for as little as $18 at one or two online places.
Now, for my own homebrew (which blows away Starbies Frappuccinos, or even the Caffioco mentioned above), here's the mix:
2 cups ice 2 shots of espresso (or four if I'm feeling frisky) 2 squirts of a chocolate syrup, like the Torani, or my fave, DaVinci chocolate syrup you can add sugar, I don't 4oz milk Secret ingredient: Carrageenan (it's made with seaweed, and it is the same exact stuff that thickens chocolate milk you buy at the store - the stuff in cartons along with regular milk). Only 1/2 a teaspoon or less. It's POTENT. You can buy it from www.coffeewholesalers.com . I have 2lbs of it, and it will probably last a lifetime.
Blend the espresso, chocolate and milk on low speed, then add carrageenan gingerly, but quick. Then add all the ice right away, and blend on high for about 30 secs to a minute.
It tastes amazing. The cost of materials is probably 50 cents total, and it makes about a 20oz drink.
Also notice that I added the espresso to milk and chocolate first - this helps prevent the "shock" to an espresso, which can turn a well crafted shot into something too bitter.
You can substitute the chocolate syrup for white choco syrup, or no syrup at all (increase milk by an ounce or two, add sugar).
Special "pull one out of the hat" secret bonus to put it over the top - use 3oz of milk, one ounce of whipping cream (non whipped, poured from the carton).
Posted Sat Jul 19, 2003, 7:09am Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
Suggestion: use your throwaway shots as the base for your drink. I doubt that it makes any difference whether or not the espresso is shocked. I always refrigerate my throwaway shots for use at a later time - as in making a drink similar to the one that you have posted - you can make a "cold" Americano and refrigerate that for later in the use smoothie beverage. It is not difficult at all to improve on $tarbucks and at a bargain basement price.
rbh1515 Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 1,155 Location: Milwaukee Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: LM GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Vac Pot: have one Drip: no Roaster: never use it
Posted Sat Jul 19, 2003, 1:58pm Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
I went to the web site to order the Carrageenan but it was "on order"--damn. So I did a search, figuring someone else will obviously sell it and here's what I got: Click Here (www.enn.com) Essentially its an artical saying that carrageenan is not safe. OK, I'm a physician, and I always take these claims with a grain of salt. Medicine has its ups and downs. One day something is considered terrible for you and then someone does another study and its great for you or visa versa. I'll do a bit of research and see what else I can find. Rob
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,144 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sat Jul 19, 2003, 2:14pm Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
AFAIK, there are four types of commercially available carrageenan. Only one is meant for cold milk-based drinks (reacts with the milk). One is for cooking sauces (gravies), the other two are for medical / scientific purposes.
I've read that carrageenan is bad for you on a website or two as well, but I got the impression they were talking about the medical / scientific versions.
Posted Sat Jul 19, 2003, 5:01pm Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
I've heard the carrageenan horror stories for several years and have not taken the time to research it much. However, FWIW, it *is* listed on the GRAS list. (Generally Regarded As Safe.)
Posted Sat Jul 19, 2003, 6:53pm Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
Yeah.... every other year "they" seem to come up with research showing that coffee is bad for you. Fortunately it's usually countered in the alternate years with a story about how it's actually good for you.
The story dies differentate in a significant way between degraded and undegraded carageenan. It would appear that the process of adding a tiny amount of it to a coffee drink just before consuming would not allow the degradation to occur.
Many of us can remember when Cylcamates were the big scare even though they tasted way better than saccharine sweetened products. Those darn lab mice got sick.... I think if they test things long enough they can find something worrisome about almost anything. I think while they're doing that I'll just have another espresso.
Posted Sun Jul 20, 2003, 11:29am Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
I recently posted my version of the Frappuccino in the Recipes section, and it's not bad. As for the carrageenan, I blend it into the milk at least the day before, so it will have time to do its thing before I drink it, not after.
A local independent coffeeshop also recommmeded the mixes by Big Train, although I haven't tried them yet.
kleinekatze Senior Member Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 4 Expertise: Beginner
Posted Sat Aug 16, 2003, 8:10am Subject: Re: Summer "Frappuccinos" better than Frappuccinos.
About carageenan...I have also heard that it can be harmful, and that the high density stuff you buy for food usage can cause problems when it is broken down into low density by your body. But, considering that this was information on the internet, and rarely do more than a few sites agree on anything, there is no way of knowing if this is true or not. Also, in some of the clinical trials, they inject absurdly high dosages into the lab rats and then remark that they experience adverse affects. Anything will cause adverse affects if you inject the animal with 1/2 of its body mass worth if it. But, if you are still worried about carageenan, you can try using 1-2 teaspoons of instant pudding mix. I have been doing this forever, because I could never find a small amount of carageenan, and, being a college student, couldn't store a large amount. Depending on what flavor pudding you use, it can mean a small sacrifice in taste in non-coffee fraps, but you really can't tell if you have a strong coffee flavor. I usually blend pudding mix in with the milk a bit before adding the other stuff. Anyway, if you are really worried, it's worth a try.
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