Iced Mocha – A Beautiful Mess

Summer is on her way and the warmer temperatures have me craving cold drinks. So, today I thought I’d share how to make the best iced mocha at home.

A mocha (chocolate latte) is one of my favorite hot coffee drinks in the winter, but this iced version is perfect for a summer treat.

I make homemade mochas or any homemade lattes with espresso. This is how it’s made at a coffee shop, and I personally like the density and flavor of espresso drinks like these.

That being said, I will also offer tips for using cold brew coffee instead if you don’t like espresso or don’t have a way to make it at home.

Related: Looking for more sippable treats? Check out whipped (dalgona) coffee and our drinks archive for more coffee and lots of other drink recipes.

Ingredients

• Espresso – or cold brew coffee
• Milk – any kind you prefer: dairy, oat, almond, soy, etc.
• Chocolate syrup – my favorite, but Hershey’s or any chocolate syrup you like is great
• Whipped cream – optional

In case you are curious, here are my bubble edge drinking glasses which are the perfect size for a homemade iced mocha IMO.

How to make an Iced Mocha

Brew a shot of espresso. I use my Cafe Automatic Espresso Machine at home. Other options include stovetop espresso or you can get a fancy espresso machine.

If you aren’t using espresso, you can use strong cold brew coffee instead.

Combine the milk and chocolate syrup and whisk or froth until well combined.

Fill a small glass with ice. Then, pour in the espresso (or coffee) and pour the chocolate milk over the top. Give this a stir. Top with whipped cream if using.

Tips & Substitutions

• If you want to use leftover coffee, just allow it to cool before using. You will want very strong coffee since you won’t use very much to replace the espresso in this recipe.
• Any store-bought or homemade chocolate sauce can work for this mocha.
• I love homemade whipped cream but store-bought is great, too.

Home Espresso Makers

We’ve tried many espresso machines over the years, and here are our reviews:

• 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 six months ago and we love it! It comes in three colors.

• Stovetop Espresso – This is the cheapest way to make espresso at home. It’s more labor intensive and you will also need a way to grind your beans for best results. But, this is a classic method that works great when done well.
• 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.

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