Mocha Talk

Make Your Own Cheap Mochas at Home!

Depending on the area of the country that you live in, and the size that you usually order, mochas can get quite expensive! You could easily be paying $4.00 for your beloved mocha drink. It’s a fun indulgence to go and pick up your perfectly crafted mocha drink. It’s fine to still get them but if you can skip the coffee shop once or twice a week, it is possible to make them at home!

Start by putting one part warm water and one part sweetened cocoa powder and stir them together. Take the mixture and pour it into a coffee cup. Brew the espresso on the espresso machine. Grind approximately three tbsp. espresso and add the appropriate amount of water into the machine. The exact specifics depend on the espresso maker. Wait patiently for it to brew!

Once it’s done, pour the espresso into the cup. Use the steamer on your machine to heat up and froth the milk. Pour the milk into the coffee cup. Stir everything together to blend it. Add a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!

The type of milk that you choose is ultimately up to you. Skim or one percent milk is ideal if you want to not only cut calories and fat but also to have an extra frothy mocha. Skim milk froths much better than full fat milk. It’s also possible to use soy or rice milk.

Making your own mochas at home can really save some cash and can save you time on busy mornings!

Iced Mochas – Perfect Even in Freezing Weather!

The prevailing wisdom, and common sense, tends to state that you should drink cold espresso drinks when it’s hot outside and warm ones if it’s cold outside. Well, being the little rule breaker that I am, I tend to go for ice mochas whenever possible. Of course, if it’s morning and chilly outside, you won’t catch me milling around with cold iced mocha in my hand!

I pretty much prefer all of my espresso drinks cold, from caramel macchiatos to Americanos. One thing that I notice is that I drink them a lot faster. For some reason, it takes me forever to sip on a regular, hot grande espresso drink. That is my preferred size.

This is where I get into trouble when I make my own drinks at home. I know that there are ways to make your own ice espresso drinks at home but I haven’t yet done it myself. I don’t know why it seems daunting, especially when I already know how to make mochas at home myself! Either way, I drink hot drinks when I make them myself but most of the time, I order iced drinks when I buy espresso drinks.

While I don’t drink them a lot, I do enjoy the Starbucks Frappuccino. The coconut mocha Frappuccino is absolutely to die for. The only issue for me is that they only contain coffee, and I need espresso! I love to grab a Frappuccino, such as the coconut mocha and add one or two shots of espresso (I’m a bit hardcore), and go along my way! I say that iced mochas are a hit every single day, in all types of weather!

Lactose Intolerant? Consider a Soy Mocha

I’m personally sensitive to milk in general, lactose intolerant if you will. But, it’s not very serious as I’m able to consume dairy products occasionally, without too many issues. I couldn’t drink a mocha every day but I am able to drink one once or twice a week if I so desire. For those that love mochas but can’t handle the stomach issues that come along with the milk, consider a soy mocha!

I don’t drink any milk regularly, not a fan of any of it. I simply tolerate it as part of my mochas! Soy milk is said to be estrogenic and not the best option for those with thyroid or endocrine issues. For most of us, it is a healthy and lower calorie substitute for cow’s milk.

In a tall mocha, substituting soy milk for dairy milk can save about 60 calories and three to four grams of fat. The amount of protein in them is comparable. The soy milk can temper the sweetness of the chocolate a bit and make it a bit more palatable for those that find it too sweet.

While soymilk does have less fat in comparison to full fat dairy milk, it is comparable with 2% milk. You won’t save a lot of fat but the type of fat is important. Soy milk does not have any of the cholesterol that is contained in cow’s milk.

Even if you aren’t lactose intolerant, maybe try a soy mocha. I was honestly surprised at how tasty they are. It’s creamy and even a bit decadent tasting.

Cut Calories While Still Enjoying Your Mocha!

Drinking a delicious regular or iced mocha is a lovely addition to the morning, or afternoon for that matter. Those that love their mochas on a regular basis may have concerns about calories and fat. The fact is that drinking standard full-fat mocha can pack close to 400 calories. It does contain calcium and about 13 grams of protein, so it isn’t all bad. However, for those looking to cut back on calories and want to still drink mochas, there are a few ways to do so.

Use 2% or Non-Fat Milk

This is one of the easiest ways to cut calories, and fat.Using non-fat milk, even with whipped cream, will cut it down to a bit less than 300 calories. With 2% milk, you still save about 50 calories.

No Whipped Cream

You can reduce calories around 60 to 70 calories by omitting whipped cream! I have to admit, this is a tough one for me. I’m okay with the non-fat milk, as I don’t really like milk and full-fat makes it pretty heavy, but if I’m going to get a mocha, I want the whipped cream. As I don’t get them daily, the calories are worth it for me.

Sugar-Free Syrup

If you are a fan of some of the mocha variations, such as peppermint mochas, an option is to go with one of the sugar free-syrups. If you drink a tall peppermint mocha with sugar-free syrup and non-fat milk, it will only be 100 calories! I can’t really drink any of the sugar free products but for those that can tolerate them, this is a great option.

Let’s Talk About White Chocolate Mochas

So, are you a fan? There is always chatter about how white chocolate is not real chocolate. Well, that is technically true! White chocolate is not officially chocolate as true chocolate has chocolate liquor in it. Instead, white chocolate contains cocoa butter and sometimes vegetable fat. It’s commonly used in baking. Just as with anything else, white chocolate mochas have a distinctive taste from typical mochas.

White chocolate mochas tend to be creamy, when made right. If made with full fat milk, it can be a bit overpowering. Drinking a white chocolate mocha can feel decadent. Add some whipped cream and it’s a full-fledged dessert! The exact taste of white chocolate mochas varies depending on where you get them from. Those can’t handle a bold chocolate flavor instead typically choose white chocolate mochas.

Choose from full fat, low fat or nonfat milk for your mochas. You can choose soy or rice milk but I wouldn’t recommend it. The flavors do not work well with the white chocolate flavor. The full fat version can pack a calorie punch. A 16 oz. white chocolate mocha made with full fat milk is approximately 500 calories with around 20 grams of fat. If you choose nonfat milk, it goes down to 420 calories, not a huge reduction.

I have an enormous sweet tooth. Yet, white chocolate mochas are typically too sweet for me. I think that I need the depth of actual chocolate in it. Every now and then I sample one just to see what I think and every time, I tell myself that I don’t want to order it again. It does seem popular as many people that I know drink them regularly. But, I’ll continue to pass them by.

Peppermint mochas: Holidays in a Cup

Tis the season, for the peppermint mocha! It is exciting when Starbucks starts bringing out their red cups and filling them with yummy holiday drinks. My personal favorite holiday espresso drink is the gingerbread latte. As this drink emerges it signifies the beginning of the holiday season. The peppermint mocha is a delicious treat to that I like to sip on from time to time.

Peppermint mochas are just that, mochas with a bit of peppermint. They are made up of milk, espresso, peppermint, whipped cream and shaved chocolate. If you are calorie conscious, you can get it made with non-fat milk and whipped cream or non-fat milk with no whipped cream. I personally think that whipped cream is a requirement!

The full fat peppermint mocha is around 400 calories. If you choose nonfat milk it saves you close to 50 calories. If you choose nonfat without whipped cream, it goes down to 290 calories. It still is one of the more calorie-rific drinks from Starbucks. However, it’s tasty!

For me, a peppermint mocha is a sweet treat to have every so often. I personally can’t have it too much as I find it a touch heavy. When I do have it, I opt for nonfat milk but with whipped cream as the combination of the heavy milk, rich chocolate and touch of peppermint can sometimes feel too overpowering to my stomach.

Before we embark on 2012, and the holiday season comes to an end, run out and grab yourself a peppermint mocha to celebrate the holidays in cup!

McDonalds Mochas: Don’t Believe the Hype

"McDonalds and quality do not exactly go hand in hand."

I’ve heard and read people raving about McDonald’s mochas, how they are better than ones found at Starbucks or other coffee shops. That is just wrong, ALL WRONG. Perhaps my opinion is because I’m from Seattle, aka coffee-land and I’m used to high quality espresso drinks at most locations. It’s rare that I get a mocha that I don’t enjoy. That was, until I tried a McDonalds mocha.

Keep in mind; I’ve tried them more than once. There have been times that I’ve needed my espresso “fix” and have been out of the way and without access to other coffee locations. A quickie run through McDs seemed like an alright idea.

My experience with the mocha drinks at McDonalds, both full and nonfat, is that the strength is weak, the chocolate is chalky and there seems to be an additional artificial sweetener type of flavor. In all, it’s no bueno.

Sure, McDonalds and quality do not exactly go hand in hand. But, I just wanted to dispute the rumors that the mochas are high quality. I don’t want some other poor soul to feel hopeful and then come away disgusted and have to then get a mocha from somewhere else!

All in all, keep on driving past McDonalds next time you need to perk yourself up.

Mocha with a Side of Wine? Yes Please!

I wandered into my local Starbucks to sit and do some work and sip on a peppermint mocha. I was startled to see that they suddenly served wine and beer. Um, WHAT!? As an espresso connoisseur and lover of red wine, I was frozen in place and my head was spinning. I considered setting up shop and never going home. It’s an interesting concept and seems as though it could be a profitable one.

Now, I don’t love Starbucks, but I like it just fine. I try to hit up local establishments instead but for when I’m doing some writing work or whatnot, Starbucks is the spot. The one near me is filled with young professionals. They even hold meetings for craft groups and the like.

This Starbucks has a cozy atmosphere with a fireplace and a new bar with stools running across the middle. After 2 pm, they start serving a variety of wine and beer. The average price for wine is $7 and beer is a little less. The exact options available likely depend on location.

Along with the new menu, they offer an artisan menu similar to that found in bars and pubs alike. They offer bruschetta, wine and cheese plates, and they are relatively affordable. There is even live music playing on weekend nights.

I admit that it seemed a bit odd. Mostly, I was just excited to have both options. I still tend to drink more mochas or Americanos at Starbucks. But, it’s super fun to have that mocha and later sip on a lovely glass of red. As I’m in Seattle, it makes sense that this is tested here as we worship at the altar of coffee. There are several stores that are trying out this experiment.

I don’t know what the future holds but at least at the Starbucks near me, things got hopping in the afternoon. It was busier than I’ve ever seen it!