REVIEW: McDonald’s Frappe (Mocha & Caramel)

McDonald's Frappe

I’m waiting for Starbucks to snap their fingers and say, “Oh, no you didn’t,” in response to the McDonald’s Frappe, which is McDonald’s take on Starbucks’ Frappuccino.

After that point, I hope they get into a shouting match that involves verbal jabs that use their menu items as replacement terms for the violent acts they’re going to do to each other, like “I’m going to go all Grande Espresso on yo’ ass!” or “I’m going to Big Mac yo’ McNuggets!”

The McDonald’s Frappe is the company’s latest product to entice Gap/Banana Republic/J. Crew-wearing Starbucks drinkers into their restaurants. With this new addition to the McCafe menu, you and I will no longer need to wait in long lines, while smelling coffee beans being ground, at Starbucks for our ice blended coffee drink fix.

Instead, we can now wait in the long lines at McDonald’s and smell strips of potatoes being deep fried.

I like my coffee the same way I like my ice cream sundaes, made with ample amounts of cream, sugar, chocolate, caramel and whipped cream, and both the Mocha and Caramel Frappe provides all of that to mask the bitterness of coffee for me. Each Frappe is blended with ice and either a mocha coffee or caramel coffee base, then it’s topped with whipped cream and drizzled with either a chocolate or caramel syrup.

With the Frappe, McDonald’s does an excellent job at combining the flavor of their coffee with the nutrition facts of their burgers. While the Starbucks Frappuccino has more of a coffee flavor, the Frappe has a very strong cream taste. Both flavors were delicious, although I felt they were a bit too sweet. The Caramel one had a flavor that reminded me of coffee ice cream. While not slush-like, both blended beverages contained enough ice granules to provide me the opportunity to crush them between my teeth, which is a simple pleasure of mine, like watching the sunset or plucking the hair to separate my unibrow.

Another difference between the Frappuccino and Frappe are their nutritional values, which in some cases are quite significant. For example, a small Mocha Frappe has 170 more calories, twice the saturated fat, contains trans fat and 20 grams more sugar than a small (Tall) Mocha Frappuccino. Although to be fair, despite being “healthier” than a Frappe, a regular Frappuccino would not help you if you’re trying to fit into your wedding dress or win The Biggest Loser.

The McDonald’s Frappe are a good addition to the McCafe menu. They may have the same amount of calories and fat as a McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger, but I guess that’s to be expected since a Frappe is considered a dessert-type of beverage…and because it’s from the Golden Arches. Both flavors are delicious and I’d probably wait in a line at McDonald’s, with the smell of french fries in the air, to purchase another while wearing a Banana Republic outfit.

(Nutrition Facts – 12 ounces (small) – Mocha – 450 calories, 20 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 62 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 56 grams of sugar, 7 grams of protein, 15% vitamin A, 20% calcium and 2% iron. Caramel – 450 calories, 20 grams of fat, 13 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 55 milligrams of cholesterol, 120 milligrams of sodium, 62 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 57 grams of sugar, 6 grams of protein, 15% vitamin A, 20% calcium and 2% iron.)

Item: McDonald’s Frappe (Mocha & Caramel)
Price: $2.79
Size: Small (12 ounces)
Purchased at: McDonald’s
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Delicious. Reasonably priced. If you enjoy a Frappuccino, you’ll probably enjoy this. Caramel Frappe tastes like coffee ice cream. Using fast food menu items as replacement terms for the violent acts. Plucking eyebrows. Banana Republic Outlets.
Cons: Might be a bit too sweet for some. Worse nutrition facts than Starbucks Frappuccinos. Contains trans fats. Buying clothes at full price at Banana Republic. Waiting in long lines.

34 thoughts to “REVIEW: McDonald’s Frappe (Mocha & Caramel)”

    1. Starbucks is BETTER. I almost died laughing when i read the part about mcdonalds and starbucks fighting

    2. Now that McDonalds price went up on Frappe’s, a large is $4.59 with tax–
      Starbucks large is $5.58 so for a $1 more for Starbucks but you also get more in there large than McDonalds Frappe.

    3. You get a the Venti size at Starbucks which is larger than McDonalds which is a large with less. Starbucks 20oz is $5.59 & McDonalds is 16oz for $4.59

  1. I still go to Starbucks for my frappes. I know they are more expensive but I always get the light ones and they are not sicken sweet. Bonus have minimal calories for a tasty treat.

  2. I love the sound of the mocha one. I absolutely adore coffee flavoured ice cream (we don’t get enough of the stuff here in the UK), though I can’t say I would probably be digging in to one of these at the moment given it is snowing really heavily outside at the moment. I must be so sweet living where the sun shines all year round 😛

  3. They need to quit making their fancy coffee drinks and start focusing on bringing back the McRib (I don’t care what you think – it’s delicious!). Plus, their coffee has a funny taste now – not quite burned like Starbucks, but not as good as it used to be. Maybe that’s because I’m a coffee lightweight.

    By the way, I’m sad that TIB no longer thinks I’m awesome, but I’m appreciative of the New Year’s wishes.

  4. No matter what The Arches does to try to establish a more “chic” personality, they forever will be known for their borderline pedophile mascot and the unique smell that can only come from a McD’s. I’ve traveled a lot, and I’ve been to some pretty outrageous McDonald’s, but you know…they all smell the same. It’s that weird combo of fries and Grade Q meat sizzling on a grill; almost like music, it’s a universal language. Wal-Mart is another place that has a unique scent (I know you people out there know what I’m talking about when I say Wal-Mart Smell), but not in a good way at all. Then you have the McDonald’s INSIDE of a Wal-Mart, that’s just bound to fuck up your olfactory system.

    I love how the McRib has such a huge following still, you never hear a fast foodie saying, “Damn, I wish they bring back the Arch Deluxe or the McLean.”

  5. The yuppy who starred in Super Size Me can keep his hypocritical diet of MCd’s.

    Pretty much everything mcdonalds tastes like cheap ass sugar clots.

  6. In this day and age, they can’t figure out how to make a *coffee* drink without trans fats? I weep.

  7. I’m a coffee whore. I love almost all of it… Burger King, Sonic, Starbucks, gas station cappuccino… it’s all good to me.

    But not McDonalds. I have not had one single coffee drink from there that was even acceptable, much less enjoyable.

    McDonalds, you fail at life.

  8. hola: el sabor de los nuevos FRAPPES es exelente y sobre todo delicioso gracias a mis jefes por darme la oportunidad de ser parte de ellos viva … me encanta…

  9. I’m a huge Starbucks fan so I thought I’d give McDonalds a shot and try their Frappe. I get off work at 12 am and cannot find a 24-hour Starbucks to save my life…so naturally, I was thrilled to see the local 24 hour McDonalds came out with Frappes. I’m not horribly picky but this was entirely too sweet for my tastebuds. I couldn’t even taste the coffee. It basically tastes like an over-sweetened chocolate shake and didn’t even give me an extra energy boost. Not horrible, but I wouldn’t purchase it again. Starbucks wins this one, sorry.

  10. The carmel and mocha frappe are both SO good. they taste amazing, and the large size at mcdonalds is about the same price as one tall at starbucks. However I wish there were more choices of lowfat or skinny at mcdonalds. However, they are quick and right in town, i have to drive 30 miles to get the starbucks, when MD’s is right down the road. Honestly, it says in the ads it has a hint of coffee flavor, so it’s not really made to be a huge caffine coffee drink. But you can always add coffee to it. But not MD’s coffee their coffee is the worst kind of discusting. haha so it’s a pro can kinda deal here. I like the cheap price, and I never had a ice chunk in my carmel frappe from md’s but always have some in my starbucks…

  11. Large mocha frappe and fresh large fries (no kechup) is the heaven of sweet and salty and doing a tango to the beat of an EKG in the fast track lane to heart attack land!!!!!!! I love me some French Fries and and a mocha frappe. 🙁 but horribly unhealthy!!!!!!!!)

  12. Now I know why I had a headache yesterday afternoon, it was right after I had the McDonalds Frappe. If I seen the nutritional content, I would have purchased the regular iced coffee w/artificial creamer.

  13. I love Mac,s Caramel Frappe with Xtra caramel. They don’t put much extra. I find it just as good as the Starbucks that I have gotten for years. Not as strong with coffee, at a better price! Go McDonald’s! Strabucks is over the edge on price!

  14. I love the Frappe, I get one every morning. My day would be a big blur where nothing goes right if I don’t have one. Frappe is like a part of me now, if it dies I don’t know what I’ll do.

  15. K so I am a huge Starbucks fan. Literally, this summer I’ve probably drank over 70 frappuccinos from Starbucks. But it’s so expensive. McDonald’s is right down the road so I stopped by l order. First off, I asked before and the girl told me they can make me a vanilla frappe…well when I got there tonight, she said only caramel or mocha..?? SO I went ahead and ordered the caramel. Omg it was so sweet and sugary, I could t even drink half of it. 🙁 and I couldn’t taste any coffee. So, to me, it’s worth it to drive to starbucks And pay a little more $!

  16. I’ve drank the McDonald’s Frappé for a long time. I prefer the caramel one over the mocha one since I don’t really like the strong taste of coffee. If you guys like coffee, I recommend that you guys drink the mocha one since it definitely has a strong taste of coffee (in my opinion). The caramel one is very sweet to some people, but perfectly sweet to me. I personally really like the caramel amount that McDonald’s puts in their drink. Unless you guys try it, you can decide which one is better. After drinking the McDonald’s one, I haven’t been back to Starbucks in a very long time. I hope this helped you!

  17. I love Mcdonalds moca frappes, Their ten times better than burger king. I feel Micky D’s has more coffee flavor that BK but it must be just me

  18. Really AWESOME.!!!!!!!!! . Makes me anxious though.
    Makes me want to.poop 😀

  19. i was really ick for 3 days wth migraine dizzinesnd irritable and feverish I’m allergic ad had no idea of the rubbish in it I couldn’t hardy leave bed

  20. My 90 year old mom loves the Mocha frappes. Since she doesn’t eat enough as it is, I bring her a small one about every other day to supplement her calories. It is one of the few things that makes her smile. She had a stroke recently and is nearly blind, so seeing her smile is a huge treat for me!

  21. Most Macdonalds employees in chicago dont. Know how to make a iced mocha (which is what i like) they make a iced mocha out of the same liquids that they make frappe mocha out of..therefore they taste the same (which the two do not)! I try to tell them this is not a iced mocha. Somebody needs to be retrained!!

  22. When I go to Mcdonalds for a frappe, I expect the cup to be full. Don’t like paying for a large and only getting the cup 3/4 of the way full. The Mcdonald’s on the 16601 area code does this all the time.

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