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    Home » Recipes » Beverages

    Chocolate Coffee (Hot Cafe Mocha)

    by Mindy Boyd · Published: Nov 11, 2018 · Updated: Oct 16, 2024

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    ⏲️ 10 minutes mins
    Jump to Recipe

    Are you a coffee lover? Us too! There is nothing better than a hot coffee on a crisp fall morning or an iced coffee on a hot summer day. What’s even better is adding chocolate to your coffee! 

    We drink regular coffee with just milk (that’s right, no sugar) every morning. But occasionally we like to indulge and make our own specialty coffee drinks at home. We also love coffeehouse style coffee drinks during the holiday season.

    One cup of Easy Chocolate Coffee (Hot Cafe Mocha) in a glass coffee mug topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

    We don’t get them out because they are too strong for my liking. Plus, making them at home is easy peasy and takes just a little time. If you plan ahead you can probably make your own in less time than it takes to wait in the long line at the coffee shop. The little drive thru coffee shop I pass by on my way to work every morning has a pretty long line every day and it’s even worse on Friday. 

    The top half of one cup of chocolate coffee is visible, it is topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
    Jump to:
    • Why you’ll love this hot chocolate coffee recipe
    • Can you mix chocolate into coffee?
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to make this simple recipe
    • How to make iced chocolate coffee
    • Garnish ideas
    • Variation
    • More delicious coffee drinks you might like
    • Chocolate Coffee Recipe
    Close up of a glass coffee mug with chocolate coffee in it that is topped with whipped cream and unsweetened cocoa powder.

    Why you’ll love this hot chocolate coffee recipe

    • It is the perfect hot drink to cozy up with on a cool night. 
    • You can make this chocolate coffee recipe as strong and as sweet as you like.
    • Skipping high end coffee shops and making this at-home version will save you money. 
    • It’s an easy recipe that only requires a handful of simple ingredients. 
    • You can use decaf coffee if you want to enjoy a delicious cafe mocha drink later in the day. 

    Can you mix chocolate into coffee?

    Absolutely, coffee and chocolate go perfectly together. Not only can you mix chocolate into coffee drinks, you can also use coffee in chocolate desserts to enhance the flavor. 

    Two cups of Easy Chocolate Coffee (Hot Cafe Mocha) sitting on a wooden cutting board.

    Ingredients

    See recipe card for exact amounts to make a large batch or one cup.

    The black coffee, milk, sugar and cocoa powder needed to make the chocolate coffee recipe measured out.

    Ingredient Notes

    Coffee – I use regular coffee and brew it about twice as strong as we do our morning coffee. 

    Milk – we use whole milk most of the time. You can use any type you like, 1% milk, 2% milk or skim milk will be fine. Non-dairy milk such as coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, or cashew milk can be used. 

    Cocoa – unsweetened cocoa powder is what we like to use. It can be found on the baking aisle of the grocery store.

    Sugar – we use regular granulated sugar. You can use your favorite sugar substitute. 

    Whipped Topping – I like Reddi Wip because it is so convenient. You can use heavy cream or whipping cream to make homemade whipped cream. Alton Brown has an easy recipe over at Food Network if you want to make it yourself. 

    Overhead close up of the whipped topping and cocoa powder on the top of a cup of chocolate coffee.

    How to make this simple recipe

    1.  Pour coffee, milk, cocoa powder and sugar into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. 
    2. Heat over medium heat stirring occasionally until it is hot. 
    3. Pour into coffee mugs and top with whipped cream.  

    Recipe Notes – warm over medium heat so you don’t scorch the milk, also because milk tends to boil over quickly. We like the bittersweet chocolate flavor so this is a relatively small amount of sugar, add more if you want it a little (or a lot) sweeter.

    A collage of two images of the ingredients for chocolate coffee recipe in a large pot, before being mixed on the top and after being mixed on the bottom.

    How to make iced chocolate coffee

    1. Make the recipe as directed, allow to cool and then refrigerate for a couple of hours, serve over ice. 
    2. Garnish just like you would hot chocolate coffee.
    Two glass coffee mugs full of chocolate coffee and a can of reddiwip in the background.

    Garnish ideas

    We like to garnish our chocolate coffee a few different ways, below are our favorite.

    • A dusting of cocoa powder – just put a little in a mesh strainer and shake it as you hold it over the cup.
    • Chocolate syrup –  just drizzle a little on the whipped cream, right out of the bottle.
    • Chocolate sauce – to make this really easy you can buy store bought in white chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate. There are usually a couple of different brands on the aisle with the coffee. 
    • Chocolate shavings – just use a knife or potato peeler to shave some off of your favorite chocolate bar.
    • Chocolate chips – mini chips work great or chop up the regular size if that’s what you have. 
    • Peppermint candy – Starlite mints or a candy cane work great, just put some in a zip top bag and use a meat mallet to gently crush them. 

    Variation

    We use ground coffee but you could use regular instant coffee or decaf instant coffee if that is what you prefer. Just add the amount of instant coffee granules and water to the pot instead of brewed coffee, then proceed with the recipe. I would still make it stronger than I would if I was going to drink it with milk only. 

    A cup of chocolate coffee topped with whipped cream, the recipe title is in text at the top of the image.

    More delicious coffee drinks you might like

    Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee

    Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

    Homemade Vanilla Coffee

    Mocha Madness Smoothie

    Maple Syrup Coffee

    Homemade Caramel Coffee

    A glass coffee mug full of Easy Chocolate Coffee (Hot Cafe Mocha).

    Chocolate Coffee Recipe

    Mindy Boyd
    Easy Chocolate Coffee Recipe (Hot Cafe Mocha) – Skip the lines at high end coffee shops and make easy peasy specialty coffee drinks at home!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print – Email Required Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 cups

    Ingredients
      

    For five 16 ounce servings

    • 6 cups strong coffee
    • 4 cups milk
    • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
    • 1/4 cup sugar

    For one 16 ounce serving

    • 1 1/4 cups strong coffee
    • 3/4 cup milk
    • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
    • 2 teaspoons sugar

    Garnish

    • whipped topping
    • cocoa powder or other garnish
    Get Recipe Ingredients

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    Instructions
     

    • In a large sauce pan combine coffee, milk, cocoa, and sugar and stir until combined (I use a whisk). Heat over medium-high heat until hot, stirring often.
    • Served topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder or other garnish, if desired.

    Notes

    Warm over medium heat so you don’t scorch the milk, also because milk tends to boil over quickly. We like the bittersweet chocolate flavor so this is a relatively small amount of sugar, add more if you want it a little (or a lot) sweeter.
    Nutritional information does not include garnish and is approximate.
    See tips, notes, and suggestions in the post above. 

    Bookmark this page to find it quickly when you are ready to make this recipe!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was with a comment below.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ishita says

      May 08, 2025 at 2:26 pm

      This totally resonates—coffee is such a comforting ritual, and adding chocolate sounds like the perfect treat! I love the idea of making cozy, café-style drinks at home, especially during the holidays.

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        May 08, 2025 at 4:31 pm

        Thanks Ishita!

        Reply
    2. Siya kapoor says

      March 11, 2024 at 12:26 pm

      Great coffee recipe, Thank you sharing it.

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        March 11, 2024 at 6:19 pm

        You are welcome, I am glad you like it!

        Reply
    3. Brinda says

      March 23, 2019 at 5:09 am

      Wow! This coffee recipe is sound refreshing. Will try to make it. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.

      Reply
    4. angiesrecipes says

      November 11, 2018 at 9:52 pm

      Coffee and chocolate are a great team! Wish I was holding one of the glasses now 🙂

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        December 17, 2018 at 10:15 pm

        I agree. Thanks, Angie!

        Reply
    5 from 11 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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