Plant-Based Coffee Recipes
Date and Almond Coffee Frappé
Quick answer
Soft Medjool dates blend more easily than firm or dry dates. If yours feel tough, soak them briefly in warm water, drain well, and then follow the recipe. Remove every pit and check the blended drink for small pieces before serving.
Key takeaways
- Soft Medjool dates blend more easily than firm or dry dates.
- The method first blends dates with almond milk so they break down before the espresso and ice are added.
- Medjool dates bring concentrated sweetness, so taste the blended drink before adding anything else.
Ingredients
- 60 ml cooled espresso
- 150 ml almond milk
- 2 soft pitted Medjool dates, about 40 g
- 100 g ice.
Method
- Blend almond milk and dates thoroughly first.
- Add espresso and ice and blend again until smooth.
Blend in two stages
The method first blends dates with almond milk so they break down before the espresso and ice are added. This helps avoid chewy pieces in the finished frappé. Use short pulses at first, then blend until the ice is evenly broken down; stop if the blender needs a rest.
Cool the espresso before blending so it does not melt the ice too quickly. Almond milk and dates already add sweetness, so taste before adding anything extra. Pour into a chilled glass and serve immediately.
Make dates easier to blend
Soft dates blend more smoothly than dry ones. If they are firm, soak them briefly, drain them well, and then blend with the almond milk as written. Check for pits and tear the fruit into smaller pieces before blending so the machine does not leave sticky chunks.
Control sweetness and thickness
Medjool dates bring concentrated sweetness, so taste the blended drink before adding anything else. If it is too thick, add a small splash of almond milk; if it is too thin, use colder ingredients next time. Blend only until the ice is smooth to avoid warming the drink through friction.
Serve promptly in a chilled glass. Almond milk and dates already shape the flavor, so choose an espresso that works well with a naturally sweet profile.
Serve the frappé immediately
Blended ice begins to melt as soon as it is poured, so use a chilled glass and serve without delay. If you prepare two servings, blend them together only if your blender can move the ingredients freely; otherwise make separate batches rather than overfilling the container.
Dates provide sweetness and body, so taste before adding any extra syrup. Almond milk brands differ in thickness and sweetness, which can change the final texture.
A tip for serving
Remove the pits and blend the dates with the milk first. Then add coffee and ice to distribute sweetness and avoid coarse pieces.
Further reading
For background on espresso and almond milk, see Wikipedia.
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