Easy Mocha Recipe

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This delicious homemade mocha is made with strong coffee from a coffee machine, Nespresso, or Keurig, and chocolate syrup. Make it even better with a topping of quick and easy whipped cream that’s made in seconds.

Mocha drink in a cup with whipped cream and drizzle of chocolate syrup.

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Recipe Highlights

  • Mocha, also known as caffè mocha, is a chocolate version of a latte. It’s made with espresso, chocolate, and milk. Don’t have an espresso machine? This recipe shows you how to make mocha at home using strong coffee instead of espresso.
  • Homemade chocolate syrup is recommended but you can also use store-bought syrup or cocoa powder and sugar. Ingredient amounts for different chocolate options are included in the recipe.
  • The drink is topped off with a decadent whipped cream topping that’s incredibly quick and easy to make at home.

Want more mocha recipes? Make Iced Mocha, Salted Caramel Mocha Latte, Peppermint Mocha Latte, Whipped Mocha, and Mocha Frappuccino at home!

Ingredient Notes

Mocha drink ingredients.
  • Strong coffee: Coffee made in a coffee machine, Nespresso, or Keurig will all work. Nespresso will best recreate mocha made in coffee shops since its espresso-style coffee is a lot like espresso you would get from an espresso machine.
  • Chocolate syrup: The recipe uses homemade chocolate syrup since it’s simply delicious but you can use store-bought syrup. If you have cocoa powder and sugar, you can use that instead of the syrup.
  • Milk: Any kind of milk will work for this recipe.
  • Heavy cream: This is to make the whipped cream topping.
  • Sugar: White, granulated sugar is used to sweeten the whipped cream. The finer the sugar, the easier it will be to whip into the heavy cream so white sugar is a better option than raw or brown sugar.
  • Salt: My favorite sea salt that I use for all my recipes. It’s adds a little something to the whipped cream topping, balancing it out from being too cloyingly sweet.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cream being frothed in a measuring cup.

Step 1: Make cream topping.


Sugar, salt, and heavy cream are whipped together using a handheld milk frother. It should take seconds to get nice and fluffy.

Cream in a measuring cup.

Step 2: Froth milk. Heat milk on the stovetop or microwave then use a French press to froth. Or use an electric milk frother that will heat and froth at the same time. If you have an espresso machine, use the steam wand to froth the milk.

Barista’s Tip: Frothing or steaming milk texturizes the milk with tiny air bubbles which makes the drink a little sweeter and creamier than just using heated milk.

Coffee being poured into a cup.

Step 3: Assemble drink. Pour hot coffee into a mug.

Milk poured onto coffee in a mup.

Step 4: Add frothed milk.

Mocha in a cup with whipped cream.

Step 5: Stir in chocolate syrup.

Mocha in a cup with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

Step 6: Top with whipped cream. Stir before drinking. Optional garnish: drizzle with chocolate syrup.

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Expert Tips

  • Mocha that’s made in coffee shops are made with espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate syrup. To get homemade mocha tasting as good as the ones in cafes, prepare the ingredients the same way baristas do by making espresso-style coffee, and steaming or frothing the milk.
  • Homemade chocolate syrup is a cost-saver but store-bought is a time-saver.
  • To make mocha super quick, stir in a bit of a milk chocolate bar or milk chocolate chips to your coffee! It will take a little longer to melt into your coffee than syrup though.

Questions You May Have

How many espresso shots go into mocha?

1 or 2 shots go into mocha. At Starbucks, 1 shot of espresso goes into a short and tall drink size and 2 shots are in a grande and venti, just like all their other espresso-based drinks. At most coffee shops, 2 shots of espresso is standard in an espresso drink like mocha.

What’s in Starbucks’ mocha?

2% steamed milk with a some foam, espresso, mocha sauce, and whipped cream (with vanilla syrup) are in a Starbucks’ mocha. The mocha sauce is made with water, sugar, cocoa processed with alkali, and natural flavor. There are 2 pumps of mocha sauce in a short, 3 pumps in a tall, 4 pumps in grande, and 5 in a venti.

What’s the difference between a latte and mocha?

Mocha is essentially a latte with chocolate added. Take out the chocolate and the drink is a latte. Add the chocolate and it’s a mocha.

Can I add cocoa powder to make mocha instead of chocolate syrup?

Yes! I recommend using this high quality cocoa powder, which is key to making my delicious homemade chocolate syrup recipe. See the recipe below for how much to use.

How can I make mocha at home using a Nespresso or Keurig?

Use a pod or capsule to make a strong cup of coffee.

Mocha drink in a glass mug with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.

Related

Did you make this? I want to hear from you! Please leave a star rating below or leave a review in the comments section.

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Easy Homemade Mocha

Author: Jee Choe
Delicious mocha is made with strong coffee from a coffee machine, Nespresso, or Keurig, and chocolate syrup.
4.9 from 8 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Yield1 serving

INGREDIENTS
 

Mocha

Whipped Cream Topping

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Make whipped cream topping.
    Sugar, salt, and heavy cream are whipped together using a handheld milk frother. It should take seconds to get nice and fluffy.
  • Froth milk.
    Bring milk to a simmer on the stovetop, making sure it doesn't come to a boil since it can easily burn, or microwave it for 30 seconds. Pour heated milk into a French press, put the lid on, and move the plunger up and down, making sure to hold down the lid. Or, heat and froth milk at the same time using an electric milk frother. If you have an espresso machine, froth milk using the steam wand.
  • Assemble drink.
    Hot coffee, frothed milk, and chocolate syrup go into a cup. Stir. Top with whipped cream. Optional garnish: drizzle chocolate syrup on top of the whipped cream.

NOTES

TO MAKE STRONG COFFEE: Use 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee and 1 cup of water to brew a strong coffee in a coffee machine. If using a Nespresso or Keurig machine, use 1 pod or capsule to make 1 cup of coffee.
TO MAKE WITH ESPRESSO: Use 1-2 shots of espresso and 3/4 cup warm milk instead of 1/4 cup milk.
TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE SYRUP:  Get recipe

Tips:

  • Instead of chocolate syrup, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and 2 teaspoons of sugar. 
  • Mocha that’s made in coffee shops are made with espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate syrup. To get homemade mocha tasting as good as the ones in cafes, prepare the ingredients the same way baristas do by making espresso from a Nespresso or espresso machine, and steaming or frothing the milk.
  • Homemade chocolate syrup is a cost-saver but store-bought is a time-saver.
  • To make mocha super quick, stir in a bit of a milk chocolate bar or milk chocolate chips to your coffee instead of chocolate syrup. It will take a little longer to melt into your coffee than syrup though.

NUTRITION

Calories: 387 | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 973IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 1mg

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