How to Make a Homemade Mocha

I have a weakness for specialty coffee drinks, especially mochas. My poor husband realized early in our marriage that keeping me in the gourmet coffee drinks was going to be an expensive endeavor. To his credit, he bought me an espresso maker for our first Christmas. Though I still go out and buy mochas from coffee shops because I enjoy the bistro ambiance, many days I get my fix simply by entering my own kitchen. Through experimentation and sometimes necessity, I have discovered several different ways to make my own cafe mocha. For a time, when my espresso maker was out of commission, I even found a way to make them using a microwave. Sure, they don't always taste precisely like what you would buy at Starbucks, but the drinks are tasty and about a tenth of the price.

What is in a mocha?
With all of the different drink names out there, (i.e. mocha, espresso, latte, Americano, etc.) it can be difficult to determine exactly what is in a given drink. A mocha has four main ingredients: espresso (simply put, strong coffee), steamed milk, chocolate, and whipped cream. There are several different combinations of these ingredients which you can use to make your drink.

Option #1 Poor Man's Mocha
I discovered this mix when my husband and I were going through a budget crunch. It includes powdered cocoa, powdered milk, sugar and instant coffee. Here's how to do it:
1/4 cup powdered milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee
*Mix all of the powders together and add 8oz of very hot water. Stir. You can add whipped cream if you have it, or you can skip it.

Option #2 Mochas Without the Espresso Maker
If you don't have your own espresso maker, but want a drink that tastes a little more professional, try the following recipe:
Make 2 oz of strong coffee or espresso in your coffee maker (4oz if you like double-shot, or larger mochas).
Add 2 tablespoons Hershey's syrup to 6 ounces of 2% or whole milk, mix and heat.
Pour the coffee into the bottom of your mug, and add the hot cocoa mixture. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Option #3 Espresso Maker Mochas
For those of you who have an espresso maker, (or can con someone into buying one for you) you are ready to begin enjoying perfect mochas at home. The key to making a great mocha is to purchase gourmet espresso instead of regular coffee. Pack the espresso into the machine's coffee holder, making sure you add enough to get to the first line for a single shot, or the second line for a double shot. Read your manufacturer's instructions, as all espresso makers vary in their designs and functions. While you are brewing your espresso, fill the milk pitcher with 2% or whole milk. Add either 2 tablespoons of Hershey's syrup, or 1 tablespoon cocoa and 3 tablespoons sugar and stir. Use the steaming wand on the espresso maker to heat the milk. After you have added the espresso to your mug, add the steamed chocolate milk. You may top with whipped cream, or if you prefer, reserve two ounces of milk in the pitcher, froth it and use it to top your drink.

If you enjoy gourmet coffees, you know that enjoying them regularly is an expensive habit to maintain. Try your hand at making your own and enjoy having mochas constantly available for much less money.