Product Review: Mr. Coffee Cafe Frappe

Frappes are a delicious coffee drink that is perfect for the summer since they are icy and cold. Mr. Coffee has created a frappe maker called Café Frappe so you can make these treats for yourself at home. The machine costs $80 (although it can be purchased from amazon.com for $66) but it will pay for itself shortly if you often purchase frappes at Starbucks. Consider it this way: at McDonald's, frappes cost $2.29. If you purchase one before work every day that will add up to $10 per week or $80 in two months. Therefore, the Café Frappe will be saving you money after two months. It also saves time as you do not need to wait in line.

The machine doesn't do anything that you couldn't do with a coffee maker and a blender, but it combines those two steps to make for a faster and more convenient frappe. To use it, all you need to do its fill it with ground coffee, water, and ice. As the coffee brews, it drips over the ice and then the blades will crush and blend it all together. You can add other ingredients in with the ice such as milk, whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate-milk powder, and flavored syrups to create your favorite frappe.

I was impressed by how fast the machine works. It takes a few seconds to get it set up and within three minutes your drink will be ready. The container can go in the dish washer so clean up is easy as well. It can make up to 20 ounces at a time which seems to be enough for two people.

The Café Frappe comes with its own recipe book with some great recipes in it. I really like that I can make my frappes healthier than what I get at the coffee shop because I control the ingredients that go inside. You can even use tea instead of coffee for a different kind of treat.

My favorite recipe is the Banana Split Mocha Frappe which combines banana, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge topping, and coffee. Many recipes include milk which is a great way to get in some extra calcium.

As I mentioned before, the machine does not do anything that a coffee maker and blender cannot do. However, it is a convenient device to have around if you enjoy frappes and other frozen drinks.