A coffee shop mocha is espresso, steamed milk and a pump of chocolate sauce. You do not need the pump. Midnight Mocha carries the cocoa and the coffee in the sugar itself, so one spoon does what a bottle of chocolate syrup does. No syrup pump. No queue. No machine either.
What you need
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of Midnight Mocha, depending on how sweet you like it
- 1 shot of espresso, or 60ml of strong coffee from a moka pot or AeroPress, or 1 teaspoon of instant coffee in 60ml of hot water
- 200ml of milk
Method
- Put the Midnight Mocha in your mug and pour the hot coffee over it. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Heat the milk until steaming but not boiling.
- Froth the milk with a handheld frother, or shake it hard in a sealed jar for 20 seconds.
- Pour the milk into the mug, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.
- Finish with a small pinch of Midnight Mocha over the foam if you want a proper cafe look.
Why dissolve the sugar in the coffee first
Sugar dissolves best in hot liquid. Stirring it into the hot coffee before the milk goes in means the cocoa and espresso disperse evenly, and nothing sinks to the bottom of the mug. The same rule applies to iced versions, which we cover in how to sweeten iced coffee.
What makes Midnight Mocha work for this
The base is light muscovado, with real espresso crystals and Dutch processed black cocoa, finished with sea salt flakes. The espresso crystals add coffee flavour rather than just sweetness, and the salt sharpens the sweetness so it does not taste flat. You can read more about what goes into it in our Midnight Mocha guide.
Variations
- Iced mocha: dissolve the sugar in the hot shot, then add cold milk and ice.
- Extra chocolatey: add half a teaspoon of cocoa powder to the mug with the sugar.
- Vanilla mocha: use half Midnight Mocha and half Dirty Vanilla.
- Mocha without coffee: skip the coffee and make a hot chocolate. See the best sugar for hot chocolate.
Troubleshooting
- Too sweet: use one teaspoon and taste before adding more.
- Grainy at the bottom: the coffee was not hot enough to dissolve it. Stir longer, or use hotter coffee.
- Not chocolatey enough: add the cocoa powder or a second teaspoon.
Mocha at home FAQ
Do I need an espresso machine?
No. A moka pot, an AeroPress or even strong instant coffee works. Midnight Mocha carries espresso crystals of its own, which helps.
Can I make it with oat or another plant milk?
Yes. Any milk you can froth or heat will work. Check the label of any plant milk for what suits your diet.
Not sure how much to use? Our teaspoon guide by drink has starting amounts for every kind of coffee. Grab Midnight Mocha for £4.99 a pouch.
