What is a Mocha?
A marriage of two flavours made for one another, a mocha coffee combines the sweet creaminess of chocolate with the rich woodiness of roasted espresso. When blended correctly, it creates a balanced and luxurious coffee experience.
While it may be known for its sweetness there’s no one rule for how to make a mocha. Instead, the flavour profile in your home mocha can be customised for either full bodied chocolate or a subtler, darker taste. Ahead, we show you how to tailor the ingredients in a mocha using your choice ofNespressocapsule, for your own indulgent take on this iconic coffee.
What is in a Mocha?
There’s a few different choices to consider when deciding how to prepare mocha. The basic components of the coffee include espresso, steamed milk and chocolate, with your steamed milk and foam making up the majority. The sort of chocolate you add is up to you - typically chocolate powder or chocolate syrup are used in a mocha recipe, but you could use whatever drinking chocolate you like (including dark for a subtler, saltier taste). Some variations push mocha coffee further and add cream or chocolate shavings on top, but in typical New Zealandn cafes the drink is finished off with a dusting of cocoa powder.
The Best Coffee for a Mocha
The word ‘mocha’ is derived from ‘Al Moka’, a city in Yemen. The city itself was named after Arabian Mocha beans which were sold and shipped from its port after being harvested from the mountain regions of Yemen. Mocha beans are renowned for their natural chocolate flavour profile, but the drink can be made using a range of beans. For how to make a mocha for a classic taste, we recommend using a deep arabica coffee with cocoa notes likeArpeggio, orBianco Doppiofor a sweeter, caramel body. To make ahazelnut mocha, consider choosing Barista Creations Nocciola for a nutty profile. How you choose to pair your chocolate is really up to you, so explore different espresso notes in your mocha recipe.
How to Make a Mocha at Home
For enhanced creaminess, silky steamed milk is vital to a mocha coffee. Aside from the texture, properly steamed milk helps the chocolate to combine with the espresso. A milk frother like theAeroccino3 Black Milk Frotheror the automatic wand on theCreatista Procreates barista-style milk and froth for perfect pouring.
To combine the ingredients in a mocha, first pour out either a single or double shot of your selected espresso blend into a medium-sized cup and then add your chosen chocolate mix, using a teaspoon to combine. You can use a drop of your steamed milk or hot water to help incorporate your chocolate. Then, pour your milk over, ending with a medium sized head of foam and toppings of your choice.
