To truly know what it means to be Greek is to experience Greek coffee culture. Everywhere you look – city, village, beach, mountains – and anytime of day – morning, afternoon, night – you will see Greek people drinking their coffee. We will get into all the classic Greek coffees, but I want to start with the heart of Greek coffee culture: human connection.
Greeks drink coffee so they can be with and connect with their friends and family or get to know someone new. Going for a coffee with someone is time to sit, talk and connect for sometimes hours on end. Greeks know how to make their coffee last a long time. They don’t rush through their coffee or the conversation – they savor it and make it last as long as possible.
Good news for our non-coffee drinkers: you don’t actually have to drink coffee to be a part of Greek coffee culture. If someone asks you to meet for a coffee, you don’t need to tell them you don’t drink coffee, just say yes! They are inviting you for a connection and conversation. Open yourself to the Greek way of socializing. You can always drink something else.
Now onto four different classic Greek coffees:
Greek Coffee (Ellinkos Kafes)
Greek coffee is a strong, bitter and aromatic coffee made by boiling extremely fine-ground coffee beans in a special pot called a briki. The coffee is slowly heated until a layer of foam (kaimaki) forms on the surface, then it is removed from the heat. You can customize the amount of sugar added while the coffee is boiling: sketos for no sugar, metrios for medium sugar (two teaspoons) and glykos for sweet (four teaspoons). The coffee is served in a small cup with a cup of water on the side. The grounds to settle at the bottom of the coffee cup are not supposed to be drunk.
Greek Frappe
The Greek frappe has been called the national coffee of Greece. It was created in 1957 at the International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki and is now available at virtually every cafe. The Greek frappe is a foam-covered iced coffee drink made from instant coffee. The coffee can be made with either a cocktail shaker or a hand mixer. Add one or two teaspoons of coffee, sugar to taste (sketos, metrios or glykos) and a little water. Blend to form a foam and pour into a tall glass. Add cold water and ice and optionally milk – typically evaporated milk. Serve with a straw and a glass of water!
Freddo Espresso
The freddo espresso is a modern Greek creation. It is made by blending a double shot of espresso with ice and your preferred sugar amount (sketos, metrios or glykos) in a drink mixer until it forms a creamy, frothy texture. You must vigorously mix the coffee to create a smooth, chilled coffee that retains its bold flavor. The coffee is then strained and served over more ice in a glass. Only high-quality espresso beans are used for a freddo espresso, ensuring a deep and complex flavor. You can also order a classic, hot espresso instead of a freddo espresso if you prefer.
Freddo Cappuccino
The freddo cappuccino is an iconic Greek coffee and a quintessential part of Greek summer, perfect for a refreshing break from the heat. It is made from a double shot of espresso, shaken with ice and then topped with a thick layer of cold, frothed milk called afrogala. It is the afrogala on top that differentiates the freddo cappuccino from the freddo espresso. The freddo cappuccino offers a refreshing contrast of strong coffee and creamy foam and is enjoyed all around Greece. Like the espresso, if you prefer, you can also order a hot cappuccino instead of a freddo cappuccino.
Which Greek coffee would you order?
Do you want to experience Greek coffee culture in Greece? Contact us at Eyia Retreats to help plan your perfect trip to Greece!
Recent Comments