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Homemade Mocha (Café Mocha)

Hot · Coffee

Homemade Mocha (Café Mocha)

A coffee-shop mocha at home: espresso, real chocolate and steamed milk, richer than any syrup version.

Prep
5 min
Total
5 min
Serves
1
Calories
305

HotCoffeeCaffeinated

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Melting real chocolate into the hot espresso gives a café mocha a much deeper flavor than chocolate syrup.

Ingredients

1 serving

You’ll need: Small saucepan, Whisk

Method

  1. Pull the espresso (or brew strong coffee) into a mug.

  2. Immediately stir in the cocoa, chopped chocolate and sugar until melted and smooth.

  3. Steam or heat the milk until frothy (or shake it in a jar and microwave 30 seconds).

  4. Pour the milk into the mug, holding back the foam, then spoon the foam on top.

Tips

  • No espresso machine? Use ½ cup strong coffee or 2 tsp instant espresso in 2 oz hot water.

Nutrition per serving, approximate

Calories
305
Protein
8g
Carbs
38g
Sugar
31g
Fiber
4g
Fat
17g
Caffeine
156mg

Estimated from standard USDA values for the ingredients listed; brands vary.

Variations

Nutrition at a glance

One serving has about 305 calories, 31 g sugar, 8 g protein and about 156 mg caffeine. Values are estimates from USDA data for the exact amounts listed; your chocolate brand and milk change them: check your version with our chocolate drink calorie calculator.

Storing and reheating

Leftover hot chocolate keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, whisking well: the chocolate settles as it cools. A skin on top is normal; whisk it back in.

Choosing your chocolate

For drinks made with cocoa powder, Dutch-process gives a darker, smoother, mellower cup and natural cocoa a brighter, fruitier one. For melted chocolate, use a bar you’d enjoy eating: chips contain stabilizers that resist melting. See our cocoa and hot chocolate mix reviews and cocoa powder guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in a mocha?

A double shot of espresso has about 125 mg, plus a little from the chocolate.

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Gear for this recipe

Ghirardelli 100% Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 · Best for the best all-purpose cocoa for scratch hot chocolate

A top pick in America’s Test Kitchen’s cocoa tasting for complex, layered chocolate flavor. Comes in natural and Dutch-process versions.

Type
Cocoa powder
Size
8 oz
Cost
about $1 per oz
Make with
Make from scratch
From $8Check price Full review

Guittard Cocoa Rouge (Dutch-Process)

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for dark, smooth, reddish Dutch-process cocoa for rich drinking chocolate

A higher-fat Dutch-process cocoa that gives hot chocolate a dark color, smooth flavor and fuller body.

Type
Cocoa powder
Size
8 oz
Cost
about $1.60 per oz
Make with
Make from scratch
From $13Check price Full review

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