Whether you’re inspired by a beautiful-looking, perfectly iced cup of frappuccino posted on social media, or you have seen your friends swoon over the beverage’s chocolatey goodness, you are going to be tempted to try it. But if you don’t want to get addicted to caffeine, you may be wary of the drink’s coffee content.
You can order frappuccino without coffee and with decaf espresso if you want to try the drink while avoiding the risk of caffeine addiction. To get a coffee-free frappuccino, you should tell your barista that you want the drink “without the espresso.” It costs the same as a regular frappuccino.
This article will go over the specifics of frappuccino consumption and cover things you didn’t know about the drink. Among what you will learn is what makes the drink expensive, why we gravitate towards it, and how we can make the beverage healthier. But first, let’s return to the initial query regarding coffee-free frappuccino and discuss if the drink tastes different without coffee.
Does frappuccino without coffee taste different?
If you ask your barista to hold the espresso, then you’re ordering a milkshake with crushed ice, chocolate chips, and whipped cream. The beverage might cost the same as a standard frappe, but it doesn’t taste the same.
Frappuccino without coffee has the same texture as a standard frappuccino but doesn’t taste the same. To get the same taste as the regular beverage without consuming significant amounts of caffeine, you can ask the barista to add half an espresso shot.
Coffee-free frappuccino alternative: decaf frappuccino
Decaf frappuccino features a shot of decaf espresso. Decaf coffee is made from beans that have been artificially destabilized to release their caffeine before they are packaged for use. Depending on the cafe, the beverage might cost more if you order decaf.
The advantage of ordering decaf frappuccino, though, is that it tastes the same as a regular frappuccino. That kick of bitterness goes away completely if the espresso is subtracted from the recipe.
Why is frappuccino expensive?
Frappuccino is expensive because of its demand, not ingredients. The drink is made with standard espresso, carton milk, chocolate chips, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, and crushed ice, none of which are too expensive. With an economy of scale, a frappuccino costs less than 1 dollar to make and is sold for three to four times the kitchen cost, mainly because people are willing to pay that much for a cup.
The Frappuccino psychology
The drink has been trendy for a long time because it checks a few boxes that guide our decision-making. Here are a few things about this beverage that make us want to buy it over and over.
Mere exposure bias
This is a cognitive glitch that makes humans want to get what they see most often. The celebrities who are the most visible are also assumed to be the most valuable. The same applies to this beverage, which has now become the drink-equivalent of a globally recognized celebrity.
Social proof
Because there’s an unspoken understanding about the drink being overpriced, taking pictures of it and posting them on social media can signal affluence. It shows that you’re getting an overpriced item because you can afford it. In other words, it is a lower-cost version of posting a Louis Vuitton item.
Addictive experience
Coffee isn’t the only addictive element of a frappuccino. The drink is designed to give us a pleasant experience we want to return to. It starts with transparent packaging that exposes us to the visually appealing structure of the frappuccino. Then, you get the thick straw that you can use to locate and consume individually crushed chocolate chips.
This rewards the “seek and find” center of the brain. Finally, the mix of sugar and caffeine is addictive, and the texture of the drink is unique enough for the addiction to be anchored to it. If you get introduced to coffee with a frappuccino, you’ll never be as satisfied with a different coffee beverage.
Can you make a healthy frappuccino?
Frappuccino is a trademarked title for a unique spin on the classic frappe. You can make a similar drink at home though it will not be much healthier. Unfortunately, the drink has to be too sweet to be healthy. Here are a few things you can do to make your frappe healthier.
- Switch sugar with stevia – Stevia is sweeter than sugar and contains significantly fewer calories. This can help reduce the weight gain effect of frappes.
- Opt for low-fat milk – Low-fat milk or a milk alternative with fewer calories can help reduce the number of carbs and fat you consume via your frappe.
- Drink less often – One of the best ways to make your frappuccino healthier is to make it an occasional pleasure instead of drinking it every day.
- Use sugar-free chocolate syrup – Even if you switch sugar to stevia, the frappe will have loads of sugar thanks to the chocolate syrup used in crafting the beverage. Fortunately, sugar-free chocolate syrup is available from brands like Hershey’s.
How to make a frappuccino at home
If the health risks of daily frappe consumption do not deter you from consuming frappuccino, your wallet might make you hesitant to get the drink daily. An alternative is to make a frappuccino at home.
You can make a frappuccino at home by putting vanilla ice cream sandwiches and ice cubes in a grinder and adding chocolate syrup to the concoction. Adding a shot of espresso or instant coffee is, of course, optional.
The beverage will not have the same contents as a frappuccino but will have similar chemical composition, which is why it will taste close enough to the kind of frappe you would get at a cafe.
Final Thoughts
Frappuccino is a delicious drink that sells millions of cups every day. People not too keen on getting addicted to coffee might want to try it without getting introduced to coffee. In that case, asking the barista to make the drink “espresso-free” will ensure that the frappuccino doesn’t have coffee.
