What Is Starbucks Frappuccino Roast? How To Use It & More

What Is Frappuccino Roast?

Frappuccino Roast is a key component of Starbucks' beloved Frappuccino beverages. Originally introduced in the late 1990s, it is a specially crafted dark roast coffee blend of Italian and Espresso roasts. It starts as a coffee powder specifically formulated to dissolve in cold water.

As you can imagine, drinking this by itself will taste similar to instant coffee with strong bitterness and a heavy body. However, that’s exactly what Starbucks wants in order to balance out the intense sweetness of their Frappuccinos.

This powder is later transformed into a sweet syrup at Starbucks stores that baristas use to add measured “pumps” into different drinks.

Despite its name, Frappuccino Roast isn't something your local roaster can do, and it's not your typical bag of freshly roasted coffee beans…The powdery substance is mixed with water once it arrives at Starbucks stores, making it a concentrated syrup. This Frappuccino roast syrup is the "strong roasted coffee" flavor used in creating the signature flavor in Frappuccino drinks.

Confusing? Yes. But Starbucks is famous for creating its own vocabulary in the coffee world. Might as well learn the lingo and get on board, right?

This unique syrup, combined with other ingredients like milk, ice, and flavorings, results in the delectable Frappuccino beverages enjoyed by millions around the world.

Note: don’t be confused if you see people call this “frap roast” or “frapp roast.” They are simply two nicknames for this ingredient that I will also use throughout this post for simplicity’s sake.

Frappuccino Roast - The Pros and Cons

Frappuccino roast is a unique ingredient that has advantages and disadvantages. It goes well with sweet ingredients but not so much by itself…

Let’s go over some pros and cons!

The Pros

• Convenience: Frapp Roast is easy to prepare as it dissolves quickly in cold water, making it a convenient option for creating Frappuccino beverages. Baristas need to be quick, especially at Starbucks (which is always crowded, right?).
  
  
• Consistent Measurements: Once in liquid form, it allows for precise measurement, enabling baristas to consistently craft the perfect Frappuccino drinks all around the world. If you try a Frappuccino in some small town in the United States, it should taste the same as the one you order in Dubai.
  
  
• Versatility: Its syrup form allows for various flavor combinations and customization, catering to a wide range of taste preferences and different styles of drinks.

The Cons

• Freshness: Frapp Roast is similar to instant coffee, which we all know isn’t as fresh or tasty as freshly ground coffee beans.
  
  
• Bitterness: Some people find the taste of Frapp Roast to be slightly bitter, especially when compared to traditional brewed coffee. You won’t want to drink this stuff on its own.
  
  
• Additives: The syrup contains certain additives, preservatives, and gums to maintain its shelf life, which could be a concern for those seeking more natural coffee options. Frappuccinos also tend to come with at least one flavored syrup.

Why Does Starbucks Use Frappuccino Roast Instead of Freshly Brewed Coffee?

The quick answer is that Frapp Roast is specifically designed for use in cold beverages. Since it’s made to be mixed with cold water, it works perfectly with Frappuccinos and other cold drinks, making sure to keep the texture and help create a creamier foam.

Freshly brewed coffee is not nearly as bitter as the Frapp Roast, so opting for normal espresso might create a drink that’s just too sweet. Frappuccinos are already crazy sweet!

Plus, using the Frapp Roast saves time over espresso and helps standardize the recipes, making sure each drink tastes the same, regardless of when or where it was made.

How Much Caffeine Does Frappuccino Roast Have?

Starbucks doesn’t list an exact figure for how much caffeine each pump of Frapp Roast contains. However, we can take individual Starbucks drinks and look at their caffeine content.

The grande (16 oz) Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino contains 95 mg of caffeine (1). It contains three pumps of Frappuccino Roast and some coffee. If the other coffee listed as an ingredient adds at least 20 mg of caffeine, it would make sense that each Frappuccino Roast pump has around 25 mg of caffeine.

Here is the caffeine content of some Frappuccino Blended drinks based on their size:

Where Can I Buy Frappuccino Roast?

Disclaimer: You can’t buy Frapp Roast powder from Starbucks. It isn’t for sale. That being said, I did find some packets for sale on eBay… but Starbucks does not actively sell these for personal use. Keep that in mind if you happen to discover some for sale online.

If you want to make your own Frappuccino at home, you can create something pretty similar using Italian or dark espresso coffee roast instant coffee. Simply mix with cold water and sugar to create your own “pumps” of Frapp Roast to be added to your drink.

How Do You Make Frappuccino Syrup from Frappuccino Roast?

Starbucks makes their famous Frappuccino coffee syrup from dissolving Frap Roast powder in water. Then, they add sugar, xanthan gum, natural flavors, and other preservatives in order to create a thick syrup with a stable shelf life. Making a thicker syrup helps keep the texture of the Frappuccino nice and creamy.

How Many Frappuccino Roast Pumps Go Into Your Drink?

Short, tall, Grande, Vent, or Trenta? These are Starbucks’ famous drink size names. Each Frappuccino blended beverage comes standard with:

• 2 pumps of Frappuccino Roast for a Tall (12 oz), 
• 3 pumps for a Grande (16 oz), or 
• 4 pumps for a Venti (24 oz).

You can, of course, add or subtract pumps depending on your personal preference and how wired you want to be on caffeine and sugar for the next few hours.

Popular Starbucks Drinks with Frappuccino Roast

Curious to see what these drinks taste like? Here’s a list of some crowd favorites that come loaded with Frap Roast pumps.

Note that all info provided is for the Grande size (16 oz) of each drink.

Coffee Frappuccino® Blended Beverage

Starbucks describes this drink as when “coffee meets milk and ice in a blender for a rumble-and-tumble togetherness to create one of [its] most-beloved original Frappuccino® blended beverages.” (2)

• Frappuccino Ingredients: Ice, Milk, Coffee Frappuccino Syrup, Coffee
• Nutritional Info: 230 calories, 45 g sugar, 3 g fat
• Caffeine Content: 95 mg
• No. Frappuccino Pumps: 3

Espresso Frappuccino® Blended Beverage

Want something with a little more caffeine? The Espresso Frappuccino combines coffee with a shot of hot espresso and milk, which is then “blended with ice to give you a nice little jolt and lots of sipping joy.” (3)

This is my go-to when I enter a Starbucks, as I personally love the combination of espresso and Frappuccino Roast (and I maaay be slightly addicted to caffeine).

• Frappuccino Ingredients: Ice, Milk, Coffee Frappuccino Syrup, Coffee, Brewed Espresso
• Nutritional Info: 210 calories, 42 g sugar, 2.5 g fat
• Caffeine Content: 155 mg
• No. Frappuccino Pumps: 3

Related Read:

Psssst...do you know what are the strongest drinks at Starbucks? Check our article to find out!

White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino® Blended Beverage

Craving something a little more decadent?  Starbucks claims that this mixture of white chocolate, coffee, milk, and ice might be the “best thing that happens to you all day.” (4) Spoil yourself with the added cream on top.

• Frappuccino Ingredients: Ice, Milk, Coffee Frappuccino Syrup, Coffee, Whipped Cream, White Chocolate Mocha Sauce 
• Nutritional Info: 420 calories, 61 g sugar, 17 g fat
• Caffeine Content: 95 mg
• No. Frappuccino Pumps: 3

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

If the White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino doesn’t do it for you, maybe this Frappuccino will satisfy your sweet tooth.

“Frappuccino Roast coffee, mocha sauce, and Frappuccino chips blended with milk and ice, layered on top of chocolate cookie crumble and topped with vanilla whipped cream, mocha drizzle, and even more chocolate cookie crumble.” (5)

My mouth is watering as I write this. If you ever order this meal-in-a-drink concoction, please write me and let me know how it tastes.

• Frappuccino Ingredients: Ice, Milk, Coffee Frappuccino Syrup, Coffee, Whipped Cream, Mocha Sauce, Frappuccino Chips
• Nutritional Info: 480 calories, 55 g sugar, 24 g fat
• Caffeine Content: 95 mg
• No. Frappuccino Pumps: 3

Related Read:

The Best Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Recipe for Home

Java Chip Frappuccino® Blended Beverage

Last but not least is the Java Chip Frappuccino. Starbucks claims this drink will bring you “endless java joy” in the form of mocha sauce, Frappuccino chips, and rich cream (6). I’m sold - what about you?

• Frappuccino Ingredients: Ice, Milk, Coffee Frappuccino Syrup, Coffee, Whipped Cream, Mocha Sauce, Frappuccino Chips, Chocolate Cookie Grind Topping
• Nutritional Info: 440 calories, 59 g sugar, 19 g fat
• Caffeine Content: 105 mg
• No. Frappuccino Pumps: 3

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Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

So, what is Frappuccino Roast? Now you know.

The Starbucks Frappuccino Roast is a specially crafted blend of Italian and espresso-roasted coffee beans, transformed into a concentrated syrup designed for icy beverages like a cold Frappuccino.

While it may not be suitable for standalone consumption due to its intense bitterness, it serves as the perfect base to balance the sweetness in Frappuccino drinks and other drinks with added sugary flavored syrup.

With its convenience, consistency, and versatility, Frappuccino Roast continues to be an essential component in creating the delectable Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino beverages enjoyed by customers worldwide.

If it’s time to swap your usual hot coffee for a colder option, you can’t go wrong with a Frappuccino! And tell us which is your favorite Frappuccino drink!