I have a weakness for specialty coffee drinks, especially mochas. My unhappy husband realized early on in our marriage that keeping me on the coffee-drinking bill was going to be an expensive endeavor. To his credit, he bought me an espresso maker for my first Christmas. Although I still go out and buy mochas from coffee shops because I enjoy the bistro ambiance, many days I fix it just by entering my kitchen. Through experimentation and occasional need, I found several ways to make my own mocha case. A while back, when my espresso maker found its way out of commission, I used them as a microwave. Sure, they don’t always taste exactly like what you’d buy at Starbucks, but the drinks are delicious and about a tenth of the price.
What’s in a mocha?
With all the different drink names out there (i.e. mocha, espresso, latte, Americano, etc.) it’s hard to determine exactly what’s in a given drink. A mocha has four main ingredients: espresso (simply, strong coffee), steamed milk, chocolate, and whipped cream . There are several combinations of these drugs that you can use to drink.
Option #1 Poor Man’s Mocha
I discovered this mix when my husband and I were going through a budget crunch. It includes cocoa powder, milk powder, sugar and instant coffee. Here is how to do it:
1/4 cup skimmed milk
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee
* Mix all the powders together and add 8oz of hot water. Get excited. Add whipping cream if you have it, or you can skip it.
Option #2 Mochas Without an 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 want a double shot or larger mochas).
Add 2 tablets of Hershey’s syrup to 6 ounces of 2% or whole milk mix and heat.
Pour the coffee into the bottom of your cup and add the hot mixture. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.
Option #3 Espresso Author Mochas
For those of you who have an espresso maker, (or have someone buy one for you) you’re ready to start making the perfect mocha at home. The key to making a great mocha is to use a commercial espresso instead of regular coffee. Compose an espresso machine coffee holder, you are sure enough to get to the front row for a shot. or the second line for a double shot. Read your device’s instructions, as all espresso makers vary in their designs and functions. While you are brewing your espresso, fill the milk jug with 2% or whole milk. Add either 2 tablespoons of Hershey’s syrup, or 1 tablespoon of cocoa and 3 tablespoons of sugar and stir. Use the smoker stick in the espresso maker to heat the milk. After adding the espresso to your mug, add steamed chocolate milk. Put the whipped cream on top, or if you prefer, reserve two ounces of milk in the pitcher, and use that foam for your drink.
If you enjoy movies, you know that enjoying them regularly is a very expensive habit to maintain. Try making your own and have mochas ready all the time for much less money.
