Tired of trekking to Starbucks for your caffeine fix? Whether you're trying to save some money or simply want to master the art of the perfect frappuccino, our guide will help you learn how to make a Starbucks-style frappuccino from the comfort of your own home.

With these frosty drinks waxing at four bucks a pop at most coffee chains, it makes sense to learn how to duplicate them in your own kitchen. Not only will you save some cash, you'll have the option of cutting down on the calories, too, depending on your choice of ingredients. Replace cream with milk and skip the whipped cream altogether to make your frappucino a bit healthier. Keep reading to learn the few ingredients and the short amount of time you'll need in order to mix up some fresh frappuccinos in your own blender.

You will need the following ingredients to make one 16 oz. frappuccino. You can double or cut the recipe in half as needed, or repeat the process several times if you want to make a large number of frappuccinos for several guests:

• 1-2 cups of ice
• ½ cup of double-strength coffee, preferrably dark-roast.http://frappuccinocoffee.com/
• ½ cup of lowfat milk or half-and-half
• 1-2 tablespoons of sugar, depending on the intensity of your sweet tooth
• 1-2 tablespoons of chocolate or other flavored syrup. If you want, you can substitute caramel.
• Optional: whipped cream for garnishing; extra chocolate syrup to drizzle over garnish

The only pieces of equipment you'll need to buy or get ready are a coffee maker or espresso machine and a blender. 

Before you can start on any of the other steps, the first thing you will need to do is brew the coffee. Here are some details on how to make the ideal coffee for your frappuccino.

1. Brew a pot of fresh, double-strength dark roast coffee.http://www.recipezaar.com/128292
2. You can make your coffee double-strength by using twice the recommended amount of coffee per pot, or 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per cup.http://www.recipelink.com/ch/2002/december/topsecretdrinkrecipes2.html
3. You could also try making fresh espresso for an extra-strong coffee base.
4. Chill your coffee before mixing up the frappuccinos.http://www.recipezaar.com/128292
5. If you don't want to wait for your coffee to cool in your fridge or freezer, you can also try pouring the fresh coffee into ice trays to make "coffee cubes" which you can then simply blend together later to make your frappuccino.http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Starbucks-Mocha-Frappuccino
6. Or, mix a third of your ice into the coffee before adding it to your blender.http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Recipes/story?id=1892553

• It's time to take out your blender. After you complete this step, your frappuccino will be ready to taste.

1. Blend all ingredients except ice on high speed for 20+ seconds, until the sugar has dissolved.http://www.recipezaar.com/180464
2. Add ice and blend another 20+ seconds, until the mixture is smooth or slushy in its consistency.http://www.timmatheson.com/2006/05/how-to-make-homemade-frappuccino/
3. Pour into a cup and, If desired, top with whipped cream and drizzled syrup.

The information above is all you need in order to make a basic frappuccino. However, there are several different options and variations that can be explored to make a more customized or complex drink:

1. If you don't have a blender, stir in any sugar and syrup while your coffee is still warm. Chill your coffee, then use a mallet to crush your ice cubes and stir all ingredients together.http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Starbucks-Mocha-Frappuccino
2. For a tasty, low-fat version, use fat-free or half-and-half.http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Recipes/story?id=1892553
3. Replace sugar and milk with sweetened condensed milk.http://southernfood.about.com/od/beveragerecipes/r/blbb312.htm
4. Try different syrups: Add vanilla, hazelnut or raspberry to flavor your frappuccino. And remember, a few tablespoons of caramel can add terrific flavor to a traditional frappuccino.http://www.timmatheson.com/2006/05/how-to-make-homemade-frappuccino/
5. Use sweetened cocoa powder in place of sugar and chocolate syrup.http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Starbucks-Mocha-Frappuccino
6. Try adding chocolate chips and chocolate syrup to match the popular Java Chip Frappuccino.http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Starbucks-Java-Chip-Frappuccino

Check out these other helpful How Tos to learn more about coffee.

1. How to Make a Frappuccino
2. How to Make an Espresso
3. How to Make a Cafe Latte
4. How to Make a Chai Latte
5. How to Make a Cafe Americano
6. How to Make a Cafe Macchiato
7. How to Make a Caramel Macchiato
8. How to Make a Mocha
9. How to Make a Breve Latte
10. How to Make a Cafe Au Lait
11. How to Make an Espresso Con Panna
12. How to Make Good Coffee
13. How to Make A Ristretto
14. How to Make A Lungo
15. How to Make French Press Coffee
16. How to Make A Pumpkin Spice Latte
17. How to Make Iced Coffee
18. How to Cold Brew Coffee