A Decade of Decadence

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Frappaccino Turns Ten!

Originally introduced in 1995, the Starbucks Frappuccino® blended beverage has become a beloved summer beverage for millions of Starbucks customers. Frappuccino® blended beverages originated in a Starbucks store in Santa Monica, CA, as local baristas began to blend cool, summer drinks for their customers. The drinks were a hit and in 1995, Starbucks officially introduced the Frappuccino® blended beverage nationally in two flavors -- Coffee and Mocha.

Since 1995, Starbucks has introduced more than 25 innovative Frappuccino® blended beverage flavors and three blended beverage families -- coffee, creme and light.

The following fun facts provide a lighthearted glimpse into the popularity of Frappuccino® blended beverages:
If all of the Frappuccino® blended beverages sold in 2004 were placed in a line, they would stretch for 14,000 miles, more than halfway around the world.
Starbucks store #8944 in Moreno Valley, California sells more Frappuccino® blended beverages than any other store in the United States and Canada.
Saturday is the busiest day of the week for Frappuccino® blended beverage sales.
Caramel Frappuccino® blended coffee is currently the number one selling Frappuccino® blended beverage flavor.
The record for the most Frappuccino® blended beverage sold on a single day in both the United States and Canada occurred on Saturday, July 17, 2004. (From the Starbuck's Press Release)

but...you better take it easy on the drinking of these things...

"God only knows how many calories are in here," Robin Lawless said on a recent hot afternoon in Government Center, eyeing the dollop of whipped cream and spiral of caramel sauce atop her caramel frappuccino. "I have no clue."

Here's a hint: A McDonald's double cheeseburger has 490 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat; Starbucks' Grande Caramel Frappuccino is close behind, at 430 calories and 10 grams of saturated fat -- half the recommended daily intake. - (boston.com)

TOP SECRET RECIPE'S STARBUCKS FRAPPACCINO

This is a clone for Starbuck's "Lowfat Creamy Blend of Coffee & Milk" that you can now find in the all-too-puny 9 1/2-ounce bottles in most stores. Those little bottles will set you back at least a buck, but this Top Secret Recipes version costs a mere fraction of that. Plus, the recipe actually makes enough that you can get a pretty major caffeine buzz.

1/2 cup fresh espresso
2 1/2 cups lowfat milk (2 percent)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon dry pectin*(This is a natural thickener found in fruits that is used for canning.)
Combine all of the ingredients in a pitcher or covered container. Stir or shake until sugar is dissolved. Chill and serve cold.
Makes 24 ounces.

Tidbits
To make the "Mocha" variety:
Add a pinch (1/16 teaspoon) of cocoa powder to the mixture before combining.

To fake espresso with a drip coffee maker and standard grind of coffee:
Use 1/3 cup ground coffee and 1 cup of water.Brew once then run coffee through machine again, same grounds.Makes about 1/2 cup fresh espresso to use in the above recipe.Run a pot of water through machine, without grounds, to clean.

Thanks to Starbucks Gossip for reminding us!

The closest Starbucks to me is 30 miles away, and I need one of these now after reading this post.
So this post is going to cost me about $25 in gas, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation, and the cost of the drink itself. Be back later!

Posted by Anonymous | Thu May 12, 06:19:00 AM

Oy, I had no idea on the sinfulness of a Starby's frappucino. But then again I hardly ever go there now, despite NY having nearly as many SBs per sq mi as Seattle.
Dunkin' Donuts actually does a better cup of ordinary black filter coffee. I know; I tried SB's Coffee of the Day in Chinatown, and its DD counterpart on the Upper East Side a few days later. No contest.
I shall have to try the Frappucino-homebrew recipe tho', as we do have an espresso machine...

Posted by Anonymous | Wed May 18, 06:41:00 AM