How to make a mocha

I like my coffee fuss free. That usually means no sugar, no flavorings and definitely no whipped cream. But as with every rule there are always exceptions. Sometimes a regular old coffee just won't cut it! Nothing less than a treat will do and I find myself craving a smooth, luxurious mocha.

A delicious note of chocolate coupled with a definitive caffeine kick makes the mocha a perfect balance of indulgence and necessity. Did you know it is super easy to whip this treat up at home? Just a few basic ingredients and ten minutes are all you need to make this coffee shop staple.

While I have stuck to the basic formula of strong coffee, dark chocolate and steamed milk you can go ahead and customize it to your taste. You could add spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. You could switch from dark chocolate to milk chocolate or even white. You could even add a pinch of cayenne - this recipe really is versatile!

Cafe Mocha

You could even use the same recipe to make an Iced Mocha, for those warm summer days when you absolutely must have coffee but cannot stomach anything warm. The instructions for both versions are detailed below.

Mocha Recipe - Yield 2 cups

Ingredients

  • Brewed coffee* - ½ cup or 50 ml
  • Dark chocolate** (at least 72%) - 30 grams
  • Milk (2%) - ½ cup or 50 ml
  • Granulated sugar - 1 tsp
  • Vanilla extract - ½ tsp
  • Optional toppings - whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cinnamon powder, marshmallows

*I use a pretty strong brew - 4 tbsp of medium-dark roast coffee to 1 cup of water. If you use a lighter brew adjust your milk and sugar quantities according to taste

** If you choose to use milk chocolate or white chocolate then cut down or eliminate sugar from the recipe to balance the sweetness

Cafe Mocha Recipe

  • Add the brewed coffee, chocolate, sugar and vanilla extract to a small saucepan and place it on very low heat until the chocolate melts. Stir continuously and make sure the mixture does not cook or simmer
  • Steam milk in the microwave or on the stovetop. Froth the milk using a frother. If you don’t have one, use this simple method to froth it using a jar and a microwave.
  • Divide the coffee - chocolate mixture into two cups. Top with the steamed milk and froth. You can either leave it layered or stir through gently to combine
  • Top with your favorite toppings, sit back and enjoy the cafe experience!
Delicious Mocha

Iced Mocha Recipe

  • Freeze brewed coffee in ice cube trays overnight
  • Melt chocolate in a microwave and allow it to cool slightly
  • Blend coffee ice cubes, milk, sugar, chocolate and vanilla extract in a blender
  • Divide between two cups, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings
Iced Mocha