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How to Make a Mocha

A mocha is made by combining espresso, chocolate, and steamed milk to create a coffee drink that is both rich and sweet. It is often built like a latte, but with cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, or drinking chocolate added to the espresso before the milk is poured.

Basic ingredients

  • 1 to 2 shots of espresso, or strong coffee
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, drinking chocolate, chocolate syrup, or melted chocolate
  • About 6 to 8 ounces of milk
  • Optional whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or cocoa dusting

Method with an espresso machine

  1. Brew the espresso. Pull a single or double espresso into your cup. See BBC Good Food's mocha recipe, Caffe Society, and Starbucks At Home.
  2. Add the chocolate. Stir cocoa powder, drinking chocolate, syrup, or melted chocolate into the espresso until fully dissolved and smooth. See BBC Good Food's mocha recipe, Seven Miles, and Home Cafe by Charlie.
  3. Steam the milk. Steam the milk until it is hot and silky, with a light foam similar to a latte. See BBC Good Food's mocha recipe, Caffe Society, and this mocha video recipe.
  4. Pour and finish. Pour the milk into the chocolate espresso mixture and top with whipped cream or chocolate if you like. See Caffe Society, Starbucks At Home, and Seven Miles.

Method without an espresso machine

  1. Make strong coffee. Brew a concentrated coffee using a moka pot, AeroPress, instant espresso, or another strong brew method. See Allrecipes, Baking Mischief, and Moms of The Future.
  2. Build the chocolate base. Mix cocoa powder or chocolate syrup with a little hot water, milk, or the coffee itself so the chocolate dissolves smoothly. See Delicious Meets Healthy, Baking Mischief, and Allrecipes.
  3. Heat and froth the milk. Warm the milk until hot but not boiling, then froth it with a whisk, frother, French press, or jar method. See Fork in the Kitchen, Homemade & Yummy, and Thrifty Foods.
  4. Assemble the drink. Combine the coffee and chocolate base, add the hot milk, then spoon any foam on top. See Fork in the Kitchen, Baking Mischief, and Homemade & Yummy.

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