How to make a Mocha

It’s almost 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 called a café mocha, mocha latte, or a mochaccino. They are all the same thing. A mocha is essentially 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 cream or marshmallows for an extra 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 great 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 also drizzle some up the sides of the mug as well.

Next, make your espresso. I’ll share a few different 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 high quality beans you’ll get high 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 almost 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 gift 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 excellent 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:

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 delicious homemade mocha that rivals those from your favorite coffee shop. Enjoy!