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    Home » Recipes » Beverages

    Homemade Mocha Coffee Recipe (Easy Cafe Mocha)

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    Modified: May 7, 2026 · Published: Nov 11, 2018 by Mindy Boyd · 9 Comments
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    ⏲ 10 minutes minutes
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    This homemade mocha coffee recipe combines coffee, cocoa powder, milk, and sugar for a rich and cozy cafe-style drink. It’s easy to make at home and perfect hot or iced.

    Two glass coffee mugs full of chocolate coffee and a can of reddiwip in the background.
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    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Mocha Coffee Recipe
    • Can You Mix Chocolate Into Coffee?
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make Mocha Coffee
    • How to Make Iced Chocolate Coffee
    • Garnish Ideas
    • Instant Coffee Variation
    • More Coffee Drinks You’ll Love
    • Mocha Coffee Recipe

    Why You’ll Love This Mocha Coffee Recipe

    • It’s the perfect cozy drink for cool mornings or chilly nights.
    • 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. 

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

    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. 

    How to Make Mocha Coffee

    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.

    Garnish Ideas

    We like to garnish our mocha coffee a few different ways. Below are our favorites.

    • 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. 

    Instant Coffee 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. 

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

    More Coffee Drinks You’ll Love

    • Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee
    • Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
    • Homemade Vanilla Coffee
    • Mocha Madness Smoothie
    • Maple Syrup Coffee
    • Homemade Caramel Coffee

    Love this recipe?

    Leave a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!

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

    Mocha Coffee Recipe

    Author 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
    Servings 10 cups
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients
      

    For five 16 ounce servings

    • 6 cups strong coffee
    • 4 cups milk
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder
    • ¼ cup sugar

    For one 16 ounce serving

    • 1 ¼ cups strong coffee
    • ¾ cup milk
    • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
    • 2 teaspoons sugar

    Garnish

    • whipped topping
    • cocoa powder or other garnish
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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.

    Video

    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

    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
    Did you like this recipe?Please leave a comment!

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    About Mindy

    Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.

    Comments

    1. Carol H says

      December 11, 2025 at 8:31 pm

      Made the version for 16 oz tonight. Very good quick and easy recipe. Unfortunately didn’t have whipped cream but I’llhave to stock up. Definitely a keeper recipe. Thanks

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        December 12, 2025 at 8:55 am

        You’re welcome! I’m so glad you like it, thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. 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
    5. 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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