If you like to get creative with your morning cup of coffee, you might find yourself looking through your pantry for things to add. Your eyes land on a tin of cocoa powder, and you wonder: can you add that to your morning coffee?
Cocoa powder in coffee is a great way to add a bit of sweetness to the flavor profile without it getting excessive. Read on to learn everything you need to know about cocoa in coffee.
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Can You Add Cocoa Powder to Coffee?
The shorter answer is — yes, you absolutely can add cocoa powder to coffee! There are tons of ways to do this. Some people enjoy adding cocoa for a tiny bit of sweetness that isn’t overwhelming.
Just because you are adding chocolate to your morning cup of joe doesn’t mean it’s now an over-the-top unhealthy dessert drink, either. You can either add it on its own for a subtle flavor or use it as a base for other add-ins.
In other words, there is no wrong way to add a teaspoon of cocoa powder to your coffee.
What Is Cocoa Powder?
It is important to note that when we say “cocoa powder,” we are referring to unsweetened cocoa powder. This is not chocolate powder like Nesquik or other hot cocoa mixes with high sugar content.
Cocoa powder is usually used for baking. On its own, it tastes slightly bitter, like dark chocolate or baking chocolate. If you want a sweet chocolatey drink, you will have to use a combination of cocoa and a pinch of sugar or another sweetener.
What Is Cocoa Powder In Coffee?
Chocolate-based coffee drinks are called mochas or caffé mochas. They can take many forms, from a simple tablespoon of dark cocoa powder mixed with coffee and milk to dessert drinks with sweet syrup, whipped cream, and many other add-ons.
Types of Chocolate Coffee Drinks
There are many ways to make a cocoa-based coffee drink. Here are some of the top beverages made with cocoa powder and coffee.
Caffe Mocha
A caffé mocha is the most basic form of chocolate-based coffee drink. This is usually made by combining a shot of espresso with steamed milk, teaspoons of cocoa powder, and sweeteners such as sugar or syrup. You can also use chocolate syrup.
Other forms of caffé mocha are made by adding a shot of espresso to a regular cup of hot chocolate.
Like a basic latte, a caffé mocha usually has a layer of foamed milk on the top.
Mochaccino
As the name implies, a mochaccino is a variation of the cappuccino. It is made by combining a double shot of espresso with steamed milk, then mixing in cocoa powder or chocolate milk.
Mochaccinos typically have lots of add-ons and extra flavorings, such as chocolate syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon, sprinkles, or other spices.
White Caffe Mocha
A white caffé mocha is the same basic idea as a standard caffé mocha. The difference lies in using white chocolate rather than milk chocolate. This is usually done using white chocolate syrup and makes for a much sweeter type of drink.
There are also variations of caffé mocha that combine white and milk chocolate syrup. You might find this called a zebra mocha, tuxedo mocha, or tan mocha.
Mocha Frappe
Many chains, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, have now introduced a drink called a mocha frappe. This frozen coffee drink combines milk, espresso, cocoa powder, sweetener, and ice.
These ingredients are blended and served like a milkshake. Many people enjoy adding whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or other sweet add-ins to make it a more dessert-like drink. You can also make it with regular coffee if you want to reduce the cafféine content.
Coffee Vs. Espresso
While most variations of the caffé mocha use shots of espresso, you can also use regular coffee as a base. This gives you the taste of coffee while reducing the cafféine content. Both variations are popular and can be found in coffee shops worldwide.
What You Should Know About Adding Cocoa Powder to Coffee
When you add cocoa powder to coffee, you might be surprised to find that it does not fully dissolve because cocoa powder is made of a mix of ingredients, only some of which are soluble.
To increase the extent to which the cocoa dissolves, make sure you add it when the water is still very hot. You will still find a certain amount of cocoa solids at the bottom of your cup.
Deepen the Flavor
Adding cocoa powder to coffee is a simple and delicious way to add an extra layer of flavor to your regular afternoon drink. If you want some additional sweetness in your coffee without a huge amount of natural sugar, cocoa is the way to go.
Happy Caffeinating!
