Homemade Mocha Latte (Copycat Starbucks Recipe)
Today we are making a Homemade Mocha Latte (Copycat Starbucks Recipe)! This is one in a list of classic espresso drinks, and also goes by cafe mocha or caffè mocha, and is a coffeehouse favorite! Did you know that the mocha actually originates from Yemen? It’s made with coffee, chocolate and frothy milk. The variations of chocolate can range from chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, hot chocolate mix or other options.
At Starbucks, they describe it as “Our rich, full-bodied espresso combined with bittersweet mocha sauce and steamed milk, then topped with sweetened whipped cream.” They make this drink using four pumps of their mocha syrup, their signature espresso dark roast, steamed hot milk, milk foam and whipped cream. Normally, a mocha is made with shots of espresso. But since Starbucks uses brewed coffee instead, that was the way I made it at home. (This makes it easier if you don’t have an espresso maker too).
With a few simple ingredients, including espresso or strong coffee, cocoa powder or chocolate sauce, and milk, you can achieve a café-quality delicious latte in the comfort of your own kitchen. Whether you prefer a sweeter or more intense chocolate flavor, you can adjust this homemade recipe to match your personal preferences. The best part of making coffee drinks at home is the satisfaction of recreating your favorites. Knowing exactly what goes into your drink and being able to make it at any time you want is awesome!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Starbucks Copycat Mocha Latte Recipe
Simple Ingredients, Café Quality: No need to hunt down specialty items. The best thing is that this easy recipe uses everyday kitchen staples to recreate the gourmet taste of the Starbucks version. With just a few common ingredients, you can transform basic ingredients into a luxurious drink that rivals your favorite cafe! This decadent coffee drink captures the essence of your favorite café, offering you a gourmet experience without stepping out the door. When you need that comforting, well-balanced flavor you crave from a store-bought coffee, this is when you need to recreate that magic in your own home!
Comfort in Every Sip: This easy mocha latte recipe brings the cozy, comforting vibes of Starbucks straight to your home. The creamy, velvety texture combined with the rich, warm flavors makes it the perfect drink for those chilly mornings, relaxing afternoons, or even a soothing evening treat (maybe use decaf for that)! It’s like getting a warm hug in a cup, offering you the same comforting experience you love from your local coffee shop, whenever you need it.
Substitutions: Milk
Oat Milk: Oat milk works the best because of its already slightly sweet flavor. To keep this recipe refined sugar-free, look for the unsweetened version. Oat milks containing sugar will also work great, but the you may need to reduce the maple syrup a little to maintain the same sweetness. Adjust the level of sweetness as desired.
On the texture – some oat milks can be very watery, but Silk brand, or a barista-style oat milk, will work best. Another kind of milk like cashew milk, soy milk, almond milk or another non dairy milk may be a substitute to oat. However, it will change the underlying flavor (such as coconut milk, with a strong coconut aftertaste).
Substitutions: Cacao & Coffee
Cacao Powder: Cacao and cocoa powder can be interchangeable here. They are both powders that come from the cacao bean, with a rich chocolate flavor. Cacao is the raw, unprocessed counterpart to cocoa powder. Unsweetened cocoa powder is easier to find, as this is the type of powder commonly used when baking brownies. Cacao powder can be usually found in common grocery stores, health food stores or online.
Black Coffee: This is not the same as espresso, which is stronger. Starbucks uses dark roast brewed coffee, which will work the best in this recipe. It doesn’t necessarily have to be beans bought from Starbucks, but dark roast will provide a deeper flavor for this drink. The next best substitute is a medium roast coffee. You can make hot coffee using your preferred method, such as instant coffee granules, a french press or other.
Substitutions: Sweetener & Vanilla
Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup (which is fake maple syrup). The only ingredient on the label should be maple syrup (just one ingredient). Substitute this with another sweetener without a strong aftertaste, such as agave nectar (which is not refined sugar-free though).
Monkfruit sweetener may work as a keto sweetener, but it may not integrate as well into the drink due to being a dry sweetener versus liquid.
Note that the flavor of the drink will change slightly depending on the sweetener used.
Vanilla Extract: For best results, use pure vanilla extract. This does not contain added artificial colors and dyes. You can use artificial vanilla flavor as well, but it may come off as more bitter.
Where To Find Vegan Whipped Cream
You can usually find vegan whipped cream at the grocery store next to the dairy whipped creams. Gay Lea brand makes a coconut milk based whip that comes from an aerosol can. This works perfectly for creating a whip you’ll love on top of drinks! You can also find almond or soy based whip, but the brands available will depend on your area. Note that using whip will not make this drink refined sugar-free.
Homemade Mocha Latte Recipe Notes
- Using the whipped cream and dark chocolate will not make the recipe refined sugar-free.
- The type of whipped cream chosen may contain soy. See the section above for more information on where to find vegan whip.
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes You’ll Love
If you make this Copycat Starbucks Homemade Mocha Latte Recipe, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Homemade Mocha Latte (Copycat Starbucks Recipe)
Equipment
- Small Saucepan
- Espresso Machine
- Milk Frother or Whisk
Ingredients
For the Mocha
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- ¾ cup brewed black coffee dark roast
- 1½ cups oat milk unsweetened
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ⅛ tsp pink salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
For the Toppings
- vegan dark chocolate bar
- vegan whipped cream
Instructions
- Place a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Once heated, add in all the ingredients except the vanilla extract.
- Use a milk frother or whisk to blend them together until no clumps remain.
- Let the mixture come to a boil after a few minutes.
- Once boiling, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the mocha into a mug. Top with optional whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
- If the drink is still clumpy, pour it through a strainer into the mug to remove cacao powder clumps. Press down the mixture with a spoon to break apart the cacao clumps.
- Note: If making chocolate shavings, use a handheld grater with the chocolate bar to grate over top of the whipped cream. Enjoy!
