How to Make Caffè Mocha – Easy Recipe for a Tasty Chocolate and Coffee Combo
Looking for a perfect blend of chocolate and coffee without having to step foot into a fancy café or Starbucks 😉 ?
This recipe is exactly what you’re looking for.
In this article, I’ll share an easy recipe for a delicious caffè mocha. With few ingredients and some basic equipment, you can indulge in the velvety richness that this drink offers you in every cup.
What is a Caffè Mocha?
Caffè mocha or café mocha, also called a mochaccino, is a popular coffee-based beverage that adds chocolate syrup to a café latte. It combines the bold and smooth taste of espresso with the rich, chocolatey flavor of cocoa, made silky by steamed milk.
The café mocha we know today originated from the United States and was said to be inspired by the Italian 18th-century drink bicerin, which has layers composed of espresso, drinking chocolate, and milk. Meanwhile, the name is believed to have evolved from the mocha beans, which were exported from Mokha City, Yemen, and are known for having chocolatey tones.

What I love about this recipe is how simple yet delectable it is – all you need are a few ingredients. Plus, it requires only a few minutes of preparation time for a rich drink with your much-needed caffeine kick.
Equipment & Ingredients Used to Make a Mocha
Here are the things that you will need to make cafe mocha:
- Espresso machine – Used to produce the shot of espresso for the recipe. If you don’t have an espresso machine, click here for more ways to brew espresso at home.
- Spoon or stirrer – Used to stir the chocolate syrup and mix it well with hot water and espresso shot.
- Milk frothing pitcher – Used for steaming milk and pouring it into the mug.
- 2 tablespoons (28.3g) of cocoa powder – Used to make the chocolate syrup that goes into your drink.
- ½ teaspoon (2.84g) of sugar – To be added along with cocoa powder.
- 1 tablespoon (0.5oz) of hot water – Used to make a quick syrup by mixing with cocoa powder.
- 16 grams of ground coffee – Dark roast coffee that is finely ground is the best option to make an espresso shot for café mocha.
- 4 ounces of whole milk – Steamed milk is added to the espresso shot in order to create a creamy texture and taste in the café mocha.
Now that you have what you need, it’s time to jump into this easy homemade café mocha recipe.
Step-by-Step Simple Mocha Recipe
Whether you’re looking to start your day off right or take a relaxing break from work or study time, this homemade Cafe Mocha recipe is worth trying today. Here are the steps to making your own Café mocha at home:
1. Make the chocolate syrup.
- In your coffee mug, whisk 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder with ½ teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of hot water.
- Stir it well until it forms a smooth, thick paste-like consistency.
- This is a single serving sauce amount, but if you drink lots of caffé mocha, you could prepare a larger batch and store it in the fridge.
2. Pull your espresso shot.
- Add 16 grams of espresso into the portafilter and put it into the espresso machine.
- Pull an espresso shot directly over the prepared chocolate syrup in your coffee mug.
3. Mix your chocolate syrup and espresso.
- Use your spoon or stirrer to mix the brewed coffee and chocolate syrup until they are fully combined.
4. Steam your milk.
- Pour whole milk into the milk pitcher, making sure that it does not fill more than halfway up its spout.
- Heat and steam the milk until it reaches around 160 degrees Fahrenheit while gently aerating it by keeping the tip of the wand just below the surface of the milk. If you don’t have an espresso machine that froths milk, you can use a milk frother like the Breville Milk Cafe, or any other milk frothing method here.
5. Combine milk with mocha coffee.
- Pour the steamed milk over the mixture, filling up the rest of your mug to create a latte or cappuccino-like drink.
- If you want to get fancy, add some beautiful latte art on top. If you really want to take the sweetness up a notch, you can also add a heap of whipped cream over your drink. You can also swap your espresso shot with cold coffee and add ice for a refreshing iced mocha.
6. Top off with whipped cream and cocoa or syrup
- If you are craving sweetness, you can add whipped cream to the top of your drink.
- You can optionally sprinkle it with cocoa powder, or even drizzle some mocha sauce on the whipped cream.
- Check out our Starbucks mocha copycat recipe to try an even more indulgent version of the mocha.
What kind of cup should you serve a cafe mocha in?
Your homemade mocha can be served in any ceramic or glass cup or mug with a handle that can hold about 10 to 12 ounces of liquid.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use other milk for caffé mocha?
You can use dairy or other types of milk such as almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk for caffé mocha.
What is the best chocolate for caffé mocha?
The best chocolate for café mocha is high-quality cocoa powder that’s not too sweet and blends well with the espresso shot.
What is the difference between chocolate powder and syrup for café mocha?
Chocolate powder typically contains more sugar than syrup and may disrupt the perfect balance between bitterness and sweetness in the drink. This is why I recommend that you make your syrup as you can control the mixture of cocoa powder, sugar, and hot water plus it dissolves better into your coffee base without affecting its texture.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it – an easy recipe for a café mocha that will delight your taste buds. You don’t need to spend money at coffee shops to enjoy this decadent drink anymore.
With just a few ingredients and some basic equipment, you can make your own delicious version of the classic cafè mocha in just minutes. So go ahead and try it yourself today, and let me know in the comments how it went.