Make a Caffe Mocha

Coffee and chocolate are a match made in heaven. A caffe mocha combines these two flavors with steamed milk to create a decadent drink that will also give you a little energy. Unfortunately, getting your daily mocha from a coffee shop can become an expensive habit. Instead, try making your own rich coffee drink at home using your espresso machine or drip coffee maker.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Using an Espresso Machine

• 3 tablespoons (22 g) sweetened cocoa powder or 2 tablespoons of syrup
• 10 to 12 ounces (295 to 355 ml) of milk
• 15 grams of espresso grounds
• whipped cream or chocolate shavings for garnish

Ingredients for Using a Coffee Maker

• 2 tablespoons (10.6 g) of drip coffee grounds for every 6 ounces (177 ml) of water
• 1 1/2 ounces (44.5 ml) chocolate syrup or 3 tablespoons (22 g) of sweetened cocoa powder
• 10 to 12 ounces (295 to 355 ml) of milk
• whipped cream or chocolate shavings for garnish

Steps

Using an Espresso Machine

1. Measure your chocolate and milk. You'll need about 3 tablespoons (22 g) of sweetened cocoa powder or 2 tablespoons of syrup to make an 8 ounce (236 ml) mocha. You can either place the chocolate into the mug you'll be serving the mocha in or put it into a metal steaming pitcher with your milk. Measure about 10 to 12 (295 to 355 ml) ounces of milk into the pitcher if you're going to make an 8 ounce (236 ml) mocha.
   • You can also put the chocolate into a tiny metal pitcher. This way, you can pull the espresso shot directly into the chocolate which will help it dissolve. This is useful if you'll be making an iced mocha and can't steam the chocolate with the milk.
2. Pull the espresso. To make a double shot, place 15 grams of espresso grounds in a clean portafilter. Tamp it down so that it packs the grounds evenly. This will ensure that water passes through it evenly. Lock the group handle into the espresso machine and place a small metal pitcher underneath. Turn on the espresso machine to pull the shot. It should take about 20 to 25 seconds for the shot to pull through.
   • It's important to weigh out your espresso grounds. If you don't have enough grounds, your espresso will filter through too quickly and taste weak.
   • Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your espresso machine. Adding too many grounds to the portafilter could damage the machine.
3. Steam the milk. Turn on the steam wand on your espresso machine for a few seconds to clean it out before you steam the milk. Insert the steam wand into the metal pitcher of milk and turn on the steam wand. Keep the wand towards the bottom of the jug and only bring it near the surface of the milk a few times to make foam. Heat your milk between 140 and 160 degrees F (60 to 71 degrees Celsius). Clean the steam wand with a wet cloth and turn it on for a few seconds to clear any milk out of the tube.
   • You can either insert a thermometer into the milk while you're steaming or hold you hand on the side of the pitcher as you steam. Once the pitcher becomes too hot to touch, move your hand away and continue to steam the milk for a few more seconds.
4. Combine the espresso and milk. If you steamed the milk with chocolate in the pitcher, you'll simply need to pour the hot chocolate over your espresso shots in your mug. If you placed the chocolate in the mug or a small silver pitcher, you'll need to stir the chocolate with the espresso to dissolve it. Slowly pour the hot milk over your coffee and chocolate mixture.
   • You can thoroughly stir the mixture or practice pouring an intricate design. To pour a design, place the espresso in your mug and carefully pour your hot chocolate over it so that it doesn't break the surface of the espresso. Wiggle your your wrist back and forth to create a rosetta pattern.
5. Garnish and serve. Most coffee shops top caffe mochas with whipped cream. This is an easy way to add extra creaminess and style to your drink. You can also sprinkle sweetened cocoa powder over the top or drizzle chocolate syrup over it. Or, you could top it with mini marshmallows.
   • If you garnish with whipped cream, don't forget to leave about an inch of space at the top of your mug. Otherwise, your mug may overflow as the whipped cream melts.

Using Drip Coffee

1. Brew the coffee. Fill your coffee maker with cool filtered water and place coffee grounds in the filter basket. Don't forget to put a filter in the basket if your machine doesn't use a metal mesh filter. Turn the machine on to brew your coffee.
   • While you can brew as much coffee as you like, try to use the following coffee to water ratio: 2 tablespoons (10.6 g) of ground coffee for every 6 ounces (177 ml) of water.
2. Prepare the chocolate. If you're using chocolate syrup, pour about 1 1/2 ounces (45 ml) of chocolate syrup into the mug you'll be serving the mocha in. If you're using a sweetened cocoa powder, place about 3 tablespoons (22 g) of the powder into the mug you'll be using for the mocha.
   • If you're unsure how sweet you like your mocha, prepare the mocha using less chocolate. If you find that you'd like it sweeter, you can drizzle chocolate syrup or sprinkle chocolate powder over the top.
3. Heat the milk. Pour a cup of milk into a small saucepan and heat it over medium heat on the stove. You should see small bubbles start to line the sides of the pan when the milk is hot enough. Avoid boiling or scalding the milk. This would make your mocha taste bitter.
   • You can also heat the milk in the microwave. Pour your milk into the mug that contains the chocolate and microwave for at least a minute. Fill the mug only 2/3 full so that you have room to add your drip coffee.
4. Combine the mocha. Pour hot drip coffee over the chocolate syrup or powder in your mug. You can add as much coffee as you like, keeping in mind that if you add mostly coffee, you won't have much room for the hot milk. Stir this mixture to dissolve the chocolate and slowly pour in the milk.
   • If you like a creamier mocha, only fill your mug about 1/3 of the way with coffee before filling it the rest of the way with hot milk.
5. Froth extra milk. If you'd like foam on top of your mocha, use a battery powdered milk frother. Pour additional hot milk into a separate mug that has high sides. The milk should only come about 1/3 of the way up the side. Insert the foamer and steam the milk until it becomes a thick foam. Scoop this foam on top of your mocha.
   • You can also foam milk using a jar and the microwave. Pour milk in a mason jar so that it fills it halfway. Tightly screw on the lid and shake the jar hard for up to 1 minute so that the milk doubles in volume. Remove the lid and microwave the milk for 30 seconds. Take the jar out of the microwave and scoop off the foam for use on your mocha.
6. Garnish and serve. If you'd like to add an extra creamy flavor to your mocha, top it with whipped cream. For a more stylish presentation, sprinkle sweetened cocoa powder over the top. Some coffee shops will place a stencil over the top and sprinkle the powder over it to create a design. You could also drizzle chocolate syrup over your mocha. Or, you could top it with mini marshmallows.
   • If you garnish with whipped cream, don't forget to leave about an inch of space at the top of your mug. This will prevent your mocha from overflowing as the whipped cream melts.

Personalizing Your Caffe Mocha

1. Include a spice or herb. Experiment with flavors by adding spices you enjoy to your mocha. Mexican mochas are popular flavored mochas that include cinnamon and a bit of chili powder. You can also try adding a dash of:
   • Ground cardamom
   • Ground lavender
   • Cayenne powder
2. Add a scoop of ice cream. While whipped cream is a common topping, you could top your mocha with something more fun. Add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Not only will this cool your mocha so you can drink it faster, but it will also make the drink richer and creamier.
   • Consider sprinkling chocolate shavings over the ice cream or whipped cream.
   • Use coffee ice cream if you really want to taste the espresso or coffee flavor in your mocha.
3. Ice your mocha. If you're not in the mood for a hot beverage, prepare an iced caffe mocha. To do this with an espresso machine, combine your espresso and chocolate syrup. Stir it into cold milk and pour the mixture into a cup filled with ice. Play around with the ratio of milk to coffee and chocolate until you find a combination you enjoy.
   • If you're using drip coffee, combine the chocolate powder or syrup with brewed coffee and refrigerate the mixture until it's very cold. Pour it into a cup filled with ice and add milk or cream if you like.
4. Use a different chocolate. Most mochas use either a cocoa powder or a syrup made from cocoa powder. This creates a dark-colored and rich tasting mocha. You could try using a milk or white chocolate syrup, especially if you like a sweeter mocha. Choose a chocolate syrup that lists chocolate (or cocoa butter, if buying white chocolate) as one of the first ingredients.
   • If you want to add additional cream, use a ganache. Chocolate ganache is a mixture of chocolate and cream that can be thinned into a syrup or scooped and heated with coffee or milk.
5. Add a different flavor. The chocolate flavor in a caffe mocha pairs well with many other flavors. Play around with adding other flavors to see what flavor combinations you like. Just keep in mind that you may want to reduce the amount of chocolate syrup or powder you're using since you'll be adding another sugary syrup. Syrup flavors that go well with chocolate include:
   • Caramel
   • Mint
   • Hazelnut
   • Orange
   • Almond
6. Change the milk you use. Most coffee shops automatically use milk when preparing mochas. But, if you're lactose-intolerant or just looking for a unique flavor, make your caffe mocha using a dairy alternative like coconut, hemp, soy, or almond milk. Just be aware that they may steam or foam differently than cow's milk.
   • If you want to use cow's milk, realize that skim or low-fat milks won't be as creamy as a full-fat milk. It's easier to use a full-fat milk if you're steaming it for foam.

Things You'll Need

• Coffee maker or espresso machine
• Coffee mugs
• Measuring spoons
• Small pitchers for steaming or heating milk
• Tiny pitchers for pulling espresso
• Milk frother if using a coffee maker

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Sources and Citations

See also

• Make a Corretto (Espresso Corretto)
• Make a Doppio (Espresso Coffee)
• Make Espresso Freddo
• Make an Espresso (Espresso Machine Coffee)
• Make a Ristretto (Espresso Coffee)
• Make a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino
• Make a Cappuccino
• Make Latte Art
• Make Chai Latte
• Drink Espresso

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