When coffee meets cocoa : the delicious mocha coffee !

If you are looking for a drink, suitable both for winter mornings and cool autumn afternoons, combining coffee with chocolate, you have it : it is coffee mocha !

When talking about coffee, the word mocha may come to one’s mouth a lot, but with a different meaning every time: the same word reminds of the legendary seaside town of Yemen, which once controlled the coffee trade, the Italian coffee maker, it’s not rare to call Mocha any coffee flavored ice cream. But if we order mocha in a café, what will come to our table will be a beverage made up of coffee, milk and cocoa

It is a fact that there is no clear and definite recipe for Mocha, as each coffee shop and every barista tend to vary the proportions and ingredients, with slight differences in flavor. The recipe we will present is based on espresso, which brings it slightly closer to Italy, while proportions emphasize the taste of coffee over chocolate. But everything has to do with the mood we have for experimentation when we talk about Mocha!

Ingredients for a cup of Mocha Coffee:

• A 300 ml Cup
• One espresso lungo
• One tablespoon of unsweetened coccoa powder 
• 200 ml milk

How to prepare Mocha Coffee:

• Prepare an espresso lungo and pour it in the cup
• Add the cocoa powder and stir until it's completely dissolved
• Prepare hot steamed milk in a milk frother and add it gently to the cocoa infused espresso lungo
• Garnish with a pinch of cocoa powder

Tips for a delicious Mocha Coffee : 

• Mocha can be prepared with filter coffee instead of an espresso. Using espresso, the aroma of coffee is more intense and contrasts the aromas of cocoa, making the drink more interesting.

• It is good not to use lots of sugar: our recipe is completely sugar free, but if you are a sweet tooth you can add sugar , as long as you do not end in a beverage that tastes like a dessert.

• If you decide to add sugar, it is best to add it at the beginning, along with cocoa.

• Different coffee varieties will give different results: a sweet and aromatic 100% Arabica coffee such as New York may be more suited to chocolate flavors while on the other hand the strength and intensity of a blend of 100% Robusta, such as Qualita Rossa of Amigos, will create an interesting "contrast" with the notes of cocoa - experiment until you find the Mocha that suits you best.

• The garnishes you can use are really countless: whipped cream, chocolate chips, grated nuts, chocolate or caramel syrop, and even orange peel for the most daring. However, use the accompaniment sparingly if you really want to taste the combination of chocolate and coffee.

• If you want to try a iced mocha coffee, after the second step of the recipe hit the hot coffee with the cocoa with some ice cubes, as if you were preparing a freddo espresso, and then add cold milk foam.

• There are several ways to create a frothed milk, but it will never be as rich and fluffy as if you use a milk frother. You can find milk frother suitable for home use, which do not get a lot of space in the kitchen, are economical and additionally beautifully designed.

• Although it has milk and cocoa, the mocha coffee is basically a caffeine-rich drink - consume it in the quantity you would consume coffee, do not serve it to young children, and if you are caffeine-sensitive avoid it in the evening.