We here at Roasty are MAD for mochas. If you love this sweet drink as much as we do, you’re in luck! Whether you’ve tried one or not, the mocha is well known amongst the coffee community, and we’ve got everything you need to know about what this drink is, and how to make it, right here!
What Is A Mocha?
So what is this drink, exactly? Simply put: the mocha is short for a “mocha latte” or a “caffe mocha,” which is just a regular latte with chocolate syrup added to it. One of the great reasons why many coffee fanatics love the latte is because they are customizable, and the mocha is a prime example of that.
As far as ingredients are concerned, as well as the size of the drink, there’s anywhere from 1-4 pumps of chocolate syrup, 2-4 shots of espresso, and steamed milk with a little bit of milk foam.
Making The Mocha: A History
The mocha has popped up and has grown in popularity all around the world. It has roots as an American beverage, emerging as a variant of the classic “caffe latte.” Although the caffe latte, known as a latte in American culture, began booming in Seattle in the 1980s, the mocha wasn’t far behind. The term “mocha” became popularized as the shortened version of “cafe mocha,” just as the name “latte” was popularized as the shortened title for “cafe latte.”
It was inspired by Bicerin, a Turin coffee beverage. The Bicerin is a native hot coffee beverage that originated in the early 1700s from a coffeehouse in Italy called Caffè al Bicerin.
The main characteristic that distinguishes the Bicerin from the mocha is that the espresso, milk, and chocolate are carefully layered on top of one another. Though the mocha involves the mixture of these three components, it’s very likely that it got its start from this drink.
How To Make A Mocha
If you’ve made a latte before, or know how to make a latte in general, the steps are extremely similar. If you have an espresso machine at home, it should be super simple and easy to brew. Before you begin brewing, it’s important to gather your ingredients, which we’ve made a list for you below. Obviously, if you have access to an espresso machine, you’ll have access to a milk pitcher, espresso glasses, and all of the necessary equipment.
- 16.5 grams of ground espresso
- 1/2 oz (14 ounces or 3 teaspoons)
- 10-12 oz latte cup
- 8 ounces of steamed milk
Step One: Gathering/Measuring Ingredients
Before you can begin brewing, you’ll need to gather your supplies and ingredients. Now is the time to grind your 16.5 grams of espresso into your machine’s portafilter, and you can pour your chocolate syrup directly into your latte cup.
Step Two: Extract Your Espresso
Extract two shots of espresso into the latte cup and onto the chocolate syrup. The heat of the espresso will warm up the chocolate, creating a delicious mixture. When the espresso is finished extracting, you should thoroughly stir the two together to adequately blend the flavors together.
Step Three: Steam Your Milk
While your espresso is brewing into your cup, you can begin steaming your 8 ounces of milk. When you steam your milk, you should hear the sounds like paper tearing that will signify air blending with the milk in order to create a decent amount of foam for your latte. You’ll be able to tell when steaming is complete when the milk pitcher is just a little too hot to the touch, around about 165°F.
Step Four: Pour
After you’ve steamed your milk, you can pour it into your cup on top of your chocolate/espresso mixture. There should be a thin layer of foam on the surface, providing you with a smooth, slightly velvety texture with each sip.
Step Five: Decorate Your Drink!
The great thing about mochas is that you can decorate them in a variety of ways. So if you choose to do so, you can add whipped cream, milk, dark or white chocolate syrup, sprinkles, nutmeg, cinnamon, and even chocolate sprinkles! After that, you can start to sip on your new creation!
Drink Modifications
As if the latte itself customizable, the custom mocha is also highly customizable as well. Depending on what ingredients you have or what coffee shop you order from, the mocha can be made in a variety of ways, and here are some of the most common alterations that you’ll encounter with the magical mocha latte.
White or Dark?
If you order your mocha from a coffee shop, chances are they’ll ask you if you’d prefer a “white mocha” or a “dark mocha.” Though this may cause a slight hesitation, have no fear! Usually, the standard mocha is made with milk chocolate syrup, and a white/dark mocha refers to two other kinds of chocolate syrup: white chocolate syrup and dark chocolate syrup.
When it comes to the primary differences between these syrups, the only one is your personal preference! If you’re wanting something more on the sweeter side, a white mocha may suit you best. Likewise, if your palate fits more for slightly bitter chocolate, the dark chocolate mocha is a worthy choice as well. And that’s not all, all three of these syrups can be mixed together to create a marble mocha! The mocha-making possibilities are endless.
Cocoa Powder
A simple way to add chocolate to a mocha, cocoa powder is a suitable method to control exactly how much chocolate you add to your coffee. Whether you have a can of cocoa powder or your own packets of leftover hot chocolate mix at home, there are many methods in which you can utilize it!
Coffee
If you don’t have espresso handy, you can easily supplement it for just a regular amount of some good ‘ole drip coffee! So instead, the combination would be black coffee, preferably with either a medium, dark, or French roast, chocolate syrup, and steamed milk.
Chocolate Milk
A slightly radical method to use when making a mocha, chocolate milk is another option that some mocha-lovers have utilized in order to cut out the syrup/powder middle man. If you’ve reached a point of desperation and need something chocolatey to get the job done, chocolate milk is always a quick and simple choice to use. So, instead of using syrup, you’d instead use espresso and chocolate milk.
Ice, Ice, Mocha!
The best part about the mocha? You can drink it iced! If you want to take your mocha outside with you on a warm spring day, all you need to do is extract your espresso regularly, mix it with chocolate syrup, pour in cold milk, and plop some in some ice. Voila!
Wrapping Up
There you have it! Now you can make a mocha in the comfort of your own home. This drink is a great option for those who need something with a kick of espresso, as well as a decent amount of milk. So if you have a strong sweet tooth and primarily enjoy your cup of coffee because you like to sip on it, then you should consider trying the mocha the next time you need a coffee fix.
Happy caffeinating!
How To Make A Mocha
Need a fix for your sweet tooth? A Cafe Mocha Latte is just like the classic latte but with a kick of chocolatey, sweet syrup added. This drink can easily become your new favorite coffee go-to, and now you can make it in the comfort of your own home!
Ingredients
- 16.5 grams of ground espresso
- 1/2 oz (14 ounces or 3 teaspoons)
- 10-12 oz latte cup
- 8 ounces of steamed milk
Instructions
1. Grind 16.5 grams of espresso. Pour chocolate syrup into the latte cup.
2. Extract the espresso over the chocolate syrup.
3. Steam 8 ounces of milk to about 165°F. Make sure to create s decent layer of foam.
4. Once the milk is done steaming, pour onto espresso.
5. Garnish your drink an optional garnish of whipped cream, sprinkles, cinnamon, etc. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 10-12ozAmount Per Serving: Calories: 230Total Fat: 7g
