Frappuccino is a portmanteau of "frappe", the New England name from the french "lait frappé" a milkshake with ice cream, and cappuccino, an espresso coffee with frothed milk. The word was coined and trademarked in Boston, Massachusetts. In the Boston area, a "" is a thick milkshake with ice cream, derived from the French word frappé. The original Frappuccino drink was developed, named, trademarked and sold by George Howell's Eastern Massachusetts coffee shop chain, The Coffee Connection and created by then employee, Andrew Frank. When Starbucks purchased The Coffee Connection in 1994, they also gained the rights to use, make, market, and sell the Frappuccino drink. The drink, with a different recipe, was introduced under the Starbucks name in 1995 and as of 2012, Starbucks had annual Frappuccino sales of over $2 billion. The recipe is derived from a fusion of various cold drinks, including the coffee frap and the frappe, with the Italian cappuccino. The recipe today consists of brewed coffee, ice, and other additives such as milk, sugar, flavored syrups, and whipped cream.
Versions
Currently available
The following is a list of the typical versions available of each type of Frappuccino.
Decaffeinated
Upon consumer request, Starbucks baristas can create Frappuccinos with decaffeinated shots of espresso, rather than using caffeinated Frappuccino Roast instant coffee.
Crème
A coffee-free base was created to make a drink called a Frappuccino Blended Crème. Menu examples include the Mocha Crème, Caramel Crème, Vanilla Bean Crème, and Serious Strawberry Frappuccino. There is also a Chocolate Frappucchino. Any syrup or sauce can be used to make a custom Frappuccino Blended Crème. Crème Frappuccinos contain very little or no caffeine.
Non-dairy alternatives
Frappuccinos made with soy milk became available in stores in the United States and Canada in 2010. In January 2011 Starbucks introduced this option to Australian stores, and the option has since been made available in other countries. Starbucks has also introduced coconut and almond milk options.
Modifications
Frappuccinos may include additional ingredients, which can include espresso shots, flavored syrups, chocolate chips, and flavored powders. Consumers may also customize the consistency of Frappuccinos by ordering light or extra ice. Any Frappuccino can have additional syrups, shots of espresso, or various other modifications at a possible surcharge.
Former
Juice blends
In the summer of 2006, Starbucks introduced the , which were described as being "real fruit juices combined with Tazo Tea, blended with ice". Juice Blends were gradually discontinued throughout 2007 and 2008 and are no longer offered by Starbucks.
Unicorn Frappuccino
Bottled "Frappuccino"
A bottled Frappuccino is sold in retail stores and vending machines. The U.S. 9.5-oz. bottled version was originally manufactured in 1996.
In 1994, PepsiCo and Starbucks formed an entity called the North American Coffee Partnership. The joint venture was created so that ready-to-drink products using the Starbucks name could be distributed using Pepsi's global network. The Frappuccino was the joint venture's first product. Since 1996, the NACP has expanded to include a diverse portfolio of Starbucks branded coffee and energy drinks. The NACP has approximately 97% market share in RTD coffee and has grown to more than a $1.5 billion retail business.
