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As one of the most popular coffee drinks in the world, mochaccino has a reputation to uphold.
Luckily for us, it’s worth all the hype.
When you boil it down to its essence, mocha is nothing more than espresso and chocolate syrup with a few additions for flavor.
So with that tiny bit of insight, let’s jump into how this tasty drink got its start and what you need to make it yourself.
What Is A Mochaccino?
Simply put, a mochaccino is an espresso drink made with chocolate powder or syrup.
Typically, mochaccinos are made with espresso, chocolate syrup, steamed milk, and foam.
While it’s possible to drink one of these hot, today’s version is most often enjoyed as a cold beverage.
How To Order A Mochaccino
If you see this drink on a menu, simply asking for it by name works fine.
However, if you’re ordering at the counter or drive-thru you may have to explain yourself a bit more.
If your desired drink is listed under the “hot drinks” section just explain that you want it served cold or give them a few seconds of slack and they should be able to get the order straightened out for you.
A commonly asked question is how you drink one of these.
The barista should be able to help you out with this, but since it’s hot, I’ll give you the basics.
First off, the drink is typically served up in a coffee cup or mug with a drop of foam on top.
Then, start by topping it off with chocolate syrup (either hot or cold), iced water or milk, and espresso.
Finally, froth up the cup with espresso until you have an even layer of foam on top which will create a near-perfect mochaccino.
What Makes Mocha So Good?
The benefits of a mochaccino don’t stop there.
One of the most important things to know about this drink is that it’s made with pure espresso beans.
So, even before you get to the chocolate, you get a taste of what espresso tastes like.
And when you add chocolate, you get a sweet and creamy mouthfeel that adds both savory tones and some bit of sweetness to the drink.
The chocolate also plays an integral role in creating a delicious mochaccino because it thins out some of the bitterness found in espresso while adding a rich sweetness to it.
Chocolate Syrup Vs Chocolate Sauce
While it may seem like either chocolate syrup or chocolate sauce is enough, there’s actually a difference between the two.
The syrup is the clear liquid that you see in bottles and jars and it’s made by taking flavored sugar and boiling it to around 200F (93C).
Eventually, the color changes from clear to red as all of the sugar caramelizes.
Since syrup is made with brown or unsweetened chocolate, it adds an extra layer of flavor to everything you drink.
The taste is milder than chocolate sauce because there isn’t any added sugar or flavorings.
Chocolate sauce is a thicker drink that’s made by adding a lot of sugar and flavorings to melted chocolate, then allowing it to cool off.
The thickness of the sauce comes from the fact that it’s semi-solid, so you get to see all of the luscious layers of chocolate when you look at your cup.
The taste is much stronger than syrup because there is added sugar and flavor to it.
Mochaccino History – Hitting The Right Notes
The word mocha takes its source from the city of Mocha, Yemen.
That’s where the famous coffee tree grows and produces that signature mocha flavor.
Back in the day, Venice had a huge trade with Arabia and was able to get hold of Yemeni coffee beans (which were the best in the world at that time).
Instead of making a traditional espresso drink with them, they decided to mix them with chocolate – something they had access to – and make a drink like we enjoy today.
Apparently, this new drink went over well and caught on quickly.
But the story goes a bit deeper than that.
Coffee had been a popular drink in Venice for a while, but it wasn’t until the 16th century that it really became noticed and standardized.
With that said, coffee was used as a medicine by then, too.
In 1554, an Italian doctor named Francesco Procopio first brewed coffee as a medical treatment for many ailments.
If you’ve ever read the book “Arabian Nights” or watched one of those TV documentaries on coffee, you’ll know some pretty crazy stuff went on at the time.
Procopio’s use of coffee as medicine might be a little bizarre now, but at the time, it was respected. Don’t believe me?
Just think back to the 17th century when King Charles II’s personal physician suggested that he drink coffee because it “made its drinker witty and brave”.
Even Queen Victoria was well aware of the benefits of coffee through the publication of “Coffee: Its Use and Abuse” in 1887.
The next big milestone in mocha history came in around 1650 when the Dutch took control over Yemen via their East India Compan.
What followed was a huge supply of coffee beans that they shipped to their homeland for both commercial interest and personal consumption.
By the end of the 17th century, coffee had become a massive industry in Europe.
Of course, this was thanks to the fact that coffee was now grown in colonies like Martinique and Guadeloupe. It wasn’t long before it caught on in North America as well.
In fact, the first coffee shop opened on New York City’s Wall Street in 1696.
Since then, coffee has been a huge industry, and for good reason.
This unique drink energizes you and helps you perform at a higher level.
So, we really can’t blame anyone for wanting to add chocolate, syrup, and iced coffee to the mix. It makes sense to put the best of today’s flavors together in one delicious beverage.
To learn more about coffee, history or science or science in general, be sure to check out the World Coffee Research Group.
They have some really interesting facts to share with you.
Mochaccino vs Macchiato
Before we start this section, let’s make one thing clear. It is a common misconception that a mochaccino is a macchiato on steroids.
The latter refers to the latter being “painted up” with a lot of foam and crema (a rich, dairy-based foam that you normally get in Italian coffee houses).
If that’s all you know about it, then you wouldn’t be wrong at all.
Mocha is essentially a macchiato on steroids – meaning it has more espresso and less milk than it does chocolate and cream.
However, if you were to cut out the espresso shots and use more milk, you’d end up with a caffè macchiato which, again, is close to the mochaccino.
The difference between the two drinks though is that a macchiato has less milk than it does coffee. And that’s not all.
A mochaccino would have less milk than it does chocolate and espresso combined.
The other big difference between the two is their taste.
This one takes its name from the Spanish word “macchiar” which means “to stain or tinge” because of its darker color compared to traditional coffee drinks.
While we know it’s a popular drink at coffee houses, we don’t expect many people to make it at home because it’s a bit complicated.
That’s why we like to go the extra mile and give you as much information as possible about this refreshing beverage.
How To Make A Mochaccino at Home?
Now that you know what the different ingredient variations mean, let’s talk about how to make one yourself.
What You Need:
Instructions:
If you want to make this recipe at home, then you’ll need an espresso machine because the traditional equipment won’t cut it for serious coffee lovers like us.
There are many types of machines out there for every budget.
Most will cost around $100 or less but they can go up to thousands depending on what features they have and how advanced they are.
You should use a high-quality machine, though. If you go for something less expensive, then you should consider using the manual brewing method.
The beans will end up tasting bitter and burnt. You don’t want to mess up your coffee like that.
So make sure to find out where the coffee is made and source the beans from there. If you’ve got a fresh grinder in the kitchen, then use it.
It’ll give you an authentic taste.
Pour the coffee into your favorite glass and add the cream to the top.
Top with ice cubes or just leave it plain. You can also add syrup if that’s your thing.
Mochaccino Coffee Machine – Do You Need One?
You might be wondering if you need a special coffee machine to make a mochaccino.
The answer is no.
You can just use any regular coffee maker that fits the glass you use, but it must be wide enough to accommodate the foam.
If not, then you’ll have to reduce the amount of milk to make it fit.
You should also know that if your coffee maker only allows for one cup, then it won’t make a mochaccino at all.
This is because you’ll need to fill up four cups of milk to make one cup of mochaccino!
Iced Mochaccino Recipe
Making an iced mochaccino is just as simple as making it hot.
Just switch over to ice cubes instead of hot water, and you’re good to go.
You can also use frozen coffee grounds if you want to give the drink a sweeter taste.
To make an iced mochaccino at home, just follow these steps:
Additional Variation
You can add a few drops of vanilla to your mochaccino if you want a different taste in your beverage.
It’s a common addition because vanilla can enhance the taste of chocolate and other flavors.
Mocha Frappuccino Recipe
There are many kinds of frappuccinos out there, but one of the most popular ones is the mocha frappuccino.
To make it at home, you’ll need to follow this recipe:
You can also make fresh coffee grounds from scratch by using an espresso maker. If you want to do that, then check out our detailed guide on how to make espresso at home here.
And here are the ingredients you’ll need:
Instructions
Final Thoughts on Mochaccino
So, that’s it! Now you know a bit more about mochaccino, how to make one at home and how to order one at your local coffee shop.
As usual, make sure that your coffee beans or grounds are always fresh if you plan to make your mocha at home.
This will give you the best results and a superior Mocha experience.
