The iced McDonald’s Frappe Drinks are a tasty and cheap alternative to similar cold drinks from Starbucks. A frappe is a blended, sweetened iced coffee drink, with instant coffee or espresso almost always added. A small mocha frappe and a medium caramel frappe from McDonald’s each contain about a cup of coffee. But do McDonald’s frappes have caffeine?
The amount of caffeine in your McDonald’s frappe will differ depending on the size and quantity you order. A small McDonald’s mocha frappe may have as little as 75 mg of caffeine, while a large may have as much as 180 mg. A typical cup of coffee contains approximately 100 mg of caffeine.
Do McDonald’s Frappes Have Caffeine?
Yes, McDonald’s frappés include caffeine. Depending on the frappé you have ordered, your drink will have a different level of caffeine.
Caffeine levels in a large mocha frappé can reach 180 mg, while those in a small can be as low as 75 mg. We have an article where you can learn more about the different McDonald’s coffee sizes.
McDonald’s frappes are sweet, delicious, and made from high-quality coffee beans. All McDonald’s coffees are made from 100% Arabica coffee beans that come from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.
You can enjoy a McDonald’s frappe in a variety of flavors while scrolling through the funniest McCafé memes. Additionally, the frappe drink is great if you don’t like coffee because it has a combination of tastes that cover up the taste of coffee.
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Do McDonald’s Frappes Have Coffee?

Is there coffee in McDonald’s Frappes, or are they just a sweetened milkshake that tastes like coffee? Almost all frappes contain coffee because a regular smoothie is made in a blender with ice cubes, milk, strong instant coffee or espresso, a little water, and flavoring.
The amount of coffee in a frappe can be adjusted depending on how much instant coffee or espresso the manufacturer wants to use versus the ice cubes and milk. But most won’t use much coffee, as frappes are more like a smoothie than a purely coffee-based drink.
READ MORE: Can You Buy Starbucks Syrups?
What is a Frappe?
A frappe is an iced coffee-based Greek drink made by mixing, stirring, or beating instant coffee, sugar, and water into a frothy consistency. Frappes are served cold, often flavored with sugar and syrup, and topped with a layer of whipped cream.
In French, the word frappe means ice, and it is used to refer to all partially frozen drinks. It wasn’t until the 20th century that someone tried to create a frappe with instant coffee, making the first edition of the coffee drink that is so popular today.
The world’s largest coffee shop chain, Starbucks, has created its own trademarked version of the frappe called the Frappuccino. Our personal favorite is the Starbucks Caramel Oatmilk Frappuccino. Outside of Starbucks, Mcdonald’s is a great place to get a traditional frappe such as a Caramel Frappe or a Mocha Frappe.
You may be glad to find out that Mcdonald’s also sells bottled frappes in its stores, available in mocha, caramel, and vanilla flavors.
What Types of Frappes Does McDonald’s Serve?
McDonald’s serves Caramel Frappe and Mocha Frappe in small, medium, and large.
Caramel Frappe
For the joy of caramel flavor fans, the Caramel Frappe is available at McDonald’s. It’s made with coffee, caramel flavoring, and ice. On top, there is a caramel drizzle and whipped topping. You can find Torani caramel syrup on Amazon here.
Mocha Frappe
This popular McDonald’s Frappe is made with coffee, chocolate flavoring, and crushed ice. You’ll also get whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle to make it even sweeter.
How Much Coffee is in a Frappe?
Mcdonald’s states that the amount of coffee in its shakes is a touch of coffee.
A small mocha frappé may have as little as 75 mg of caffeine, while a large may have as much as 180 mg.
A typical cup of coffee contains approximately 100 mg of caffeine.
Coffee in McDonald’s Frappes
Mocha Frappe
- Small: 1 cup of coffee
- Medium: 1.3 cups of coffee
- Large: 2 cups of coffee
Other Frappe Flavors
- Small: 0.8 cup of coffee
- Medium: 1 cup of coffee
- Large: 1.4 cups of coffee
How Much Caffeine is in a Frappe
The caffeine content of a frappe is highly dependent on the amount of coffee used to make it. But since we know the caffeine content of Mcdonald’s frappes, we can assume that the frappes from other coffee shops or restaurants are similar. For comparison, the average cup of coffee has 95 mg of caffeine.
Caffeine in McDonald’s Frappes
Here is the caffeine content of the Frappes at McDonald’s:
Mocha Frappe
- Small: 100mg
- Medium: 125mg
- Large: 180mg
Other Flavours
- Small: 75mg
- Medium: 90mg
- Large: 130mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Get Decaf Frappe In McDonald’s?
McDonald’s does not sell a decaf frappe. It has been stated that they have no plans to introduce it into the market, either now or in the future.
Furthermore, the espresso used in McDonald’s frappes can be found in the McCafe, which is available worldwide.
Are McDonald’s Frappes Found In Stores?
Yes, you can find them in most grocery shops and retail establishments in the US. The most popular store where you can’t miss the frappes is Walmart.
However, they are not restricted to that because there are other stores all around the world. The beverage is now more widely available because of the partnership with Coca-Cola.
The drink was introduced in 2018 and made available in a number of nations, the US being one of them. You will find the most popular flavors, like caramel, mocha, and vanilla, packaged in bottles.
Takeaway
Do McDonald’s frappes have caffeine? While McDonald’s frappes are primarily made of ice, sugar, and milk, they usually contain some coffee. A large frappe at McDonald’s may have as much as 180 mg of caffeine.
The caffeine content in McDonald’s Frappes varies depending on the cup you choose and whether the beverage is prepared differently than on the menu.
Are you ready for more? Now you can learn how to make a Starbucks Frappuccino at home with our simple recipe: How to Make a Starbucks Frappuccino at Home.
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Contents
- 1 Do McDonald’s Frappes Have Caffeine?
- 2 Do McDonald’s Frappes Have Coffee?
- 3 What is a Frappe?
- 4 What Types of Frappes Does McDonald’s Serve?
- 5 How Much Coffee is in a Frappe?
- 6 Coffee in McDonald’s Frappes
- 7 How Much Caffeine is in a Frappe
- 8 Caffeine in McDonald’s Frappes
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions
- 10 Takeaway