It’s scrutinizingly mocha season, baby! This is one of my all-time favorite drinks once the weather turns cold, as it’s the perfect afternoon pick-me-up with a little hit of caffeine and chocolate. Of course, in the summer, I love an iced mocha.
What is a mocha? Sometimes this drink is tabbed a café mocha, mocha latte, or a mochaccino. They are all the same thing. A mocha is substantially a chocolate latte. So, it is espresso and chocolate syrup with steamed milk and foam. You can add other flavors, like peppermint, or top with whipped surf or marshmallows for an uneaten special treat.
Related: Next up, learn to make a homemade Mocha Frappe. Yum!
Ingredients
- Espresso
- Chocolate syrup – I love Torani but Hershey’s or other options are unconfined too
- Milk – or a milk alternative
Directions
First, add the chocolate syrup to your mug. I like to add most to the bottom, as it will mix with the hot espresso. But I will moreover drizzle some up the sides of the mug as well.
Next, make your espresso. I’ll share a few variegated machines and options on how to do this below. Then pour the espresso shot into the prepared mug.
Next, steam the milk. You want the milk hot and to create some foam on top. If your espresso machine has a frothing wand, you can do this all in one step. If not, you may need to heat the milk then froth by hand or use a milk frother.
Pour the hot milk into the espresso; the foam will naturally settle on top.
Home Espresso Makers
- Cafe Automatic Espresso Machine – My current machine. It uses any whole beans, so if you use upper quality beans you’ll get upper quality espresso. It makes espresso shots automatically (no barista skills required) and includes a milk frothing wand to heat and froth milk. We’ve used this machine scrutinizingly every day since we got it seven months ago and we love it! It comes in three colors.
- Breville Barista Touch – We bought this for a good friend as a wedding souvenir once and they said they love it. It’s a higher end machine that you will need some barista skills to operate, but it’s an spanking-new home espresso maker.
- Nespresso Vertuo – For those who want an espresso maker that uses pods, this is my favorite. Depending what pod you use, it can make espresso or coffee.
Mocha Additions
Here are some ways to take your drink to the next level:
- Add homemade whipped cream
- Top with peppermint marshmallows
- Add mint syrup
Creating a mocha at home is an art that allows you to tailor the flavors to your liking. With a few simple steps and a bit of creativity, you can indulge in a rich and succulent homemade mocha that rivals those from your favorite coffee shop. Enjoy!
Mocha
Equipment
- espresso maker
Ingredients
- 1 shot espresso
- 1-2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- First, add the chocolate syrup to your mug. I like to add most to the bottom, as it will mix with the hot espresso. But I will moreover drizzle some up the sides of the mug as well.
- Next, make your espresso. Then pour the espresso shot into the prepared mug.
- Next, steam the milk. You want the milk hot and to create some foam on top.
- Pour the hot milk into the espresso; the foam will naturally settle on top.
