A classic, a mocha is espresso, chocolate drink and milk in one tasty drink. See how easy it is to make this coffee drink at home, the same way Starbucks does.
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Recipe Highlights
- Starbucks Caffè Mocha is a hot drink made with espresso, steamed milk, chocolate sauce, and it’s topped with whipped cream.
- A mocha is espresso, chocolate sauce, and milk combined. A mocha can only be called a mocha if it’s made with espresso. If it’s made with regular brewed coffee, it’s not a mocha.
- Use a Nespresso or an espresso machine to make espresso for this recipe.
- Store-bought or homemade chocolate syrup can be used to make this drink.
- This recipe recreates a grande size (16 ounces) Starbucks Mocha.
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Mocha at Starbucks
The mocha (officially called Caffè Mocha) is one of the most popular drinks at Starbucks since it was first served in 1987.
The mocha at Starbucks is made with their signature espresso, 2% milk, mocha sauce (what Starbucks calls their chocolate sauce), and whipped cream.
To make things a little confusing, Starbucks has a mocha sauce, which is their chocolate sauce, which doesn’t have any espresso or coffee in it.
Caffè Mocha is available in 4 sizes: short, tall, grande, and venti.
A common customization is adding white mocha sauce to make the drink sweeter since mocha sauce is bittersweet.
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Ingredient Notes
- Espresso: A mocha must be made with espresso. Use a Nespresso or an espresso machine.
- Chocolate syrup/sauce: Use store-bought or homemade chocolate syrup.
- 2% Milk: All mochas and lattes at Starbucks are made with 2% milk, but you can use any milk you like.
- Heavy cream: This is to make the whipped cream.
- Vanilla syrup: Starbucks sweetens and flavors their whipped cream with vanilla syrup. Use store-bought or homemade.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.
Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds. Whip until soft peaks form.
Step 2: Put chocolate syrup and espresso into a cup. Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 2 shots from an espresso machine.
Step 3: Add frothed milk. Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother or with the steam wand from an espresso machine. Another method is to simmer milk on the stovetop, pour it into a French press, then pump the filter a few times to create froth.
Step 4: Top drink with whipped cream.
Nespresso Machine notes
The easiest way to make espresso at home is with a Nespresso machine.
1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
To make a 16 ounce (grande size at Starbucks) drink for this recipe, you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso capsules. You can also use 2 ristretto capsules or 1 double espresso capsules.
Just a note that you should not use coffee capsules for the Vertuo machine which will make a cup of coffee instead of espresso.
You can use your favorite Nespresso pod but to get the drink to taste most like the one at Starbucks, use their capsules.
I recommend using the Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast pods which are more popular than the regular Espresso Roast.
Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast
Nespresso Vertuo capsules
Nespresso Original capsules
Starbucks Espresso Roast
Nespresso Vertuo capsules
Nespresso Original capsules
RELATED: 15 Best Nespresso Vertuo Pods
Expert Tips
- Milk will increase in volume when frothed, so to get 1 ⅓ cups of frothed milk for this recipe, use 1 cup of cold milk.
- Because it’s thick, chocolate syrup may sink to the bottom of the cup, so be sure to stir it well.
- Instead of chocolate syrup, you can make a mocha the way it’s done at Dutch Bros by using chocolate milk. Steam chocolate milk and combine it with the espresso.
- If you don’t have a way to make espresso, use instant coffee. Combine 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and 1/4 cup hot water to replace the espresso in the recipe.
- Vanilla syrup can be purchased at Starbucks by asking the barista if they have any extra in stock. It should cost around $14. They’ll only sell you the vanilla syrup if they have extras to sell.
Questions You May Have
A grande size Caffè Mocha has 2 shots of espresso, 2% milk, 4 pumps of mocha sauce. It’s then topped with vanilla-flavored whipped cream.
Yes. There’s caffeine in the espresso and a little bit in the chocolate syrup.
A latte is espresso and steamed milk and a mocha is espresso, chocolate, and steamed milk. Basically, mocha is a chocolate latte.
Related
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- TikTok Starbucks Iced White Mocha Copycat
- Mocha Protein Shake
- 23 Starbucks Chocolate Drinks (Including Secret Menu)
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Starbucks Mocha Copycat
INGREDIENTS
Mocha
- ¼ cup chocolate syrup
- 2 capsules Nespresso Starbucks espresso (or 2 espresso shots)
- 1 ⅓ cups frothed 2% milk
Whipped Cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
- Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds. Whip until soft peaks form.
- Put espresso and chocolate syrup into a cup. Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 2 shots from an espresso machine.
- Add frothed milk.Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother or with the steam wand from an espresso machine. Another method is to simmer milk on the stovetop, pour it into a French press, then pump the plunger a few times to create froth.
- Top drink with whipped cream.
NOTES
- Milk will increase in volume when frothed, so to get 1 ⅓ cups of frothed milk for this recipe, use 1 cup of cold milk.
- Use store-bought or homemade chocolate syrup.
- All mochas and lattes at Starbucks are made with 2% milk, but you can use any milk you like.
- Starbucks sweetens and flavors their whipped cream with vanilla syrup. Use store-bought or homemade.
- Vanilla syrup can be purchased at Starbucks by asking the barista if they have any extra in stock. It should cost around $14. They’ll only sell you the vanilla syrup if they have extras to sell.
- Instead of chocolate syrup, you can make a mocha the way it’s done at Dutch Bros by using chocolate milk. Steam chocolate milk and combine it with the espresso.
- If you don’t have a way to make espresso, use instant coffee. Combine 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and 1/4 cup hot water to replace the espresso in the recipe.
Using A Nespresso Machine
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
- To make a 16 ounce (grande) Starbucks drink, you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso or ristretto capsules. You can also use 1 Vertuo double espresso.
- With the Vertuo machine capsules, only use espresso capsules and not the coffee capsules that make 7.77 ounces.
- Recommended Nespresso capsules to make Starbucks drinks at home: