Mocha Coffee Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/26/23
Tested by
Megan O. Steintrager
Megan O. Steintrager, portrait
Tested by Megan O. Steintrager
Megan O. Steintrager is a an editor and author who's worked in the food media for more than 20 years.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Mocha coffee

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 2 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 1/4 cup

Fans of coffeehouse mocha drinks will be happy to know that it's super easy—and less expensive—to make the beloved chocolate-coffee beverage at home. You only need a few ingredients and it's not much more effort than brewing a regular cup of coffee.

Simply combine your hot coffee with some cocoa powder, milk, cream, and sugar, top with some store-bought or homemade whipped cream, then get to sipping. Your wallet and your taste buds will thank you.

What Exactly Is a Mocha?

When it comes to coffee, the term "mocha" is a little confusing because it has a couple of meanings. One meaning of mocha is a type of coffee bean, as well as the coffee brewed from this bean. But in coffeeshop parlance, a mocha—also called a caffè mocha or mochaccino—is a coffee drink flavored with chocolate.

Mochas can be made either with brewed coffee or with a shot of espresso. They can also use either chocolate syrup, chopped chocolate pieces, or cocoa powder, as I do in my version here. Mix in milk, top with whipped cream, and you have a mocha!

Iced Mocha

Mochas can also be served cold. To make an iced mocha, dissolve the cocoa powder and sugar in the hot coffee, then refrigerate until the mixture has cooled. Stir in chilled milk and serve over ice.

Tips for the Very Best Mocha

  • Use good coffee and cocoa powder: Your mocha will only be as good as the ingredients that go into it, so use freshly brewed coffee (a dark chocolaty roast is nice) and high quality cocoa powder. You can also substitute quality dark chocolate shavings or chocolate syrup for the unsweetened cocoa—just cut down on the added sugar in the drink if you use sweetened chocolate.
  • Combine the ingredients well: To mix up your mocha, you can shake the ingredients together in a well-sealed jar or use an electric milk frother. Either way, be sure to shake or froth until the sugar has dissolved completely and the cocoa powder is well distributed.
  • Make it your own: Experiment and dial in the amounts of all of the ingredients, using more or less sugar, cocoa powder, coffee, milk, cream, and vanilla.
  • Make it for a crowd: This recipe makes one large cup of mocha, but you can easily double or triple the recipe based on how many people you are serving.

"This mocha was super-easy to make and was delicious both hot and chilled. I used my milk frother to make a tiny batch of whipped cream to top the drink and added some dark chocolate shavings for the perfect treat." — Megan O. Steintrager

Mocha Coffee Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (8 fl oz) coffee

  • 1/4 cup whole milk

  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 to 3 teaspoons sugar

  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Whipped cream, to taste, for garnish

  • Chocolate shavings, to taste, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make mocha coffee

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. While the coffee is brewing, combine the milk and heavy cream and microwave or heat on the stove until hot but not boiling.

    A pot of milk and cream

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. In a mason jar that has a tightly fitting lid, combine the hot coffee, hot milk and cream, cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla extract. Screw the lid on tightly and cover the top with a kitchen towel in case of leaks. Shake the jar until the sugar has dissolved, the cocoa powder is well combined, and the mixture is frothy. (You can also use a milk frother instead of shaking.)

    A closed jar with hot coffee, hot milk and cream, cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla extract

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Pour the drink into a mug (if it has cooled down, pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to one minute or heat on the stove until steaming). If desired, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy!

    Mocha coffee topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Recipe Variations

  • Iced Mocha: Simply dissolve the cocoa powder and sugar in the hot coffee, then refrigerate until cool. Combine with chilled milk and pour over ice.
  • White Chocolate Mocha: Prepare with white chocolate chips instead of the cocoa powder.
  • Peppermint Mocha: Add 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract along with the other ingredients before shaking for a delicious chocolate peppermint flavor that’s perfect for winter.
  • Spiked Mocha: Make it an adult beverage by adding a 1/4 cup of Irish cream.
  • Vegan Mocha: Swap the cow's milk and cream for your favorite nondairy option. Oat milk is a good choice, or use coconut milk for a coconut-chocolate version!
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
218 Calories
11g Fat
24g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 218
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 29mg 10%
Sodium 41mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 103mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 249mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)