For many coffee lovers with a sweet tooth, chocolate and coffee make the perfect marriage. Combine smooth, foamy milk with bold espresso and sweet, creamy chocolate, and you have a mocha. This has been a popular drink at many coffee shops for years, but paying your favorite barista to make them can add up quickly.
Luckily, mochas are easy to make at home, and you can add as many decadent toppings as you desire. Typically served with milk froth on top, mochas can be jazzed up with whipped cream, sprinkles, or cocoa powder.
Here, we will show you how to make a café mocha easily in your kitchen.
How to Make a Mocha:
- 1.5-2 ounces of espresso or strong coffee
- 8 ounces milk
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- Toppings (optional)
- Espresso-making device (Moka pot or espresso machine)
- Milk steaming device (milk steamer or microwave/stovetop and a whisk)
A Note on the Espresso
Use the espresso method you’re most comfortable with or have on hand. Remember that it’s always recommended to use finely ground coffee for making espresso, whether it is pre-ground or you are grinding your beans. If you have an espresso machine or portable espresso maker, pull a shot as normal. If not, don’t worry! You can also use strong coffee or a Moka pot.
1. Prepare your coffee.
Pull your shot, set up your Moka pot, or brew a concentrated cup of coffee using your favorite brewing method. With espresso, we prefer pulling short ristretto shots for mochas because the concentrated flavor holds up well to chocolate. This will yield about 1.5 ounces of liquid. With strong coffee, we recommend about 2 ounces.
RELATED READ: We used a Handpresso portable espresso maker to pull this shot. Read the full review here.
2. Heat your milk.
Add eight ounces of milk to a microwave-safe bowl or cup. Heat for 1 minute and remove from the microwave. Alternatively, you can heat milk in a pan on the stovetop. Keep the heat at medium and stir frequently, turning off the burner before the milk begins to boil.
We think the perfect temperature for a mocha is between 160-170° Fahrenheit. You can make it hotter or colder if you like, but don’t burn the milk, and we wouldn’t recommend going below 140°.
3. Froth your milk.
If you have a milk frother, this step will be easy. Otherwise, you can froth your milk using a whisk. Place it between your palms and roll it back and forth until you create enough foam.
4. Add chocolate syrup.
Pour 2 tablespoons of your favorite chocolate syrup into the bottom of a coffee mug. For an extra coffee shop look, drizzle syrup along the inner edges of the cup.
5. Add the espresso.
Pour your brewed espresso or strong coffee into the mug. Stir to dissolve the chocolate.
6. Add the hot milk and foam.
Holding back the foam, pour the steamed milk into the espresso. Top with foam and embellish with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or sprinkles. For an extra coffee flavor, sprinkle on some homemade espresso powder!
Too hot outside?
Make it an iced mocha! Follow all the steps listed above except Step 2, and when you add the milk to the cup, throw ice cubes in there first.
RELATED READ: Our In-Depth Guide to the Perfect Iced Mocha (With Pictures)
Extra-Chocolatey Mocha
Equipment
- Espresso-making device (Moka pot or espresso machine)
- Milk steaming device (milk steamer or microwave/stovetop and a whisk)
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 ounces espresso or strong coffee
- 8 ounces milk
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- Toppings optional
Instructions
- Pull your shot, set up your Moka pot, or brew a concentrated cup of coffee using your favorite brewing method. With espresso, we prefer pulling short ristretto shots for mochas because the concentrated flavor holds up well to chocolate.
- Add eight ounces of milk to a microwave-safe bowl or cup. Heat for 1 minute and remove from the microwave. Alternatively, you can heat milk in a pan on the stovetop. Keep the heat at medium and stir frequently, turning off the burner before the milk begins to boil.
- Time to froth your milk! If you have a milk frother, this step will be easy. Otherwise, you can froth your milk using a whisk. Place it between your palms and roll it back and forth until you create enough foam.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of your favorite chocolate syrup into the bottom of a coffee mug. For an extra coffee shop look, drizzle syrup along the inner edges of the cup.
- Pour your brewed espresso or strong coffee into the mug. Stir to dissolve the chocolate.
- Holding back the foam, pour the steamed milk into the espresso. Top with foam and embellish with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or sprinkles. For an extra coffee flavor, sprinkle on some homemade espresso powder!
Notes
Nutrition
Enjoy!
You’ll probably find that the drink you can make at home is every bit as good as the drink you can get in the coffee shop. You can also tweak the recipe to your liking to make it exactly how you want. We love making mochas and love teaching others how to make them. Have fun and happy sipping!
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