Love the rich, chocolatey taste of a mocha latte but want to skip the coffee shop line?
This rich and creamy mocha latte recipe combines real espresso, warm milk, chocolate sauce, and a hint of sweetness for the perfect cozy pick-me-up, made at home in just 5 minutes.
I put a lot of effort into creating this recipe, testing it with different milk types, espresso methods, and chocolate blends so you can get café-quality flavor without the fuss.
Whether you use an espresso machine, AeroPress, or Moka pot, this guide has you covered with practical, step-by-step tips that work.
Why you will love this recipe:
- Easy & quick – Ready in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Customizable – Works with dairy-free milk & different chocolate options.
- Café-style flavor – Tastes just like Starbucks, but made your way.
- Budget-friendly – Save money while enjoying a coffeehouse favorite at home.
Let’s get started!
What is a mocha latte?
No matter what you’re craving, chances are there’s a way to make it at home without breaking the bank.
This mocha latte recipe is the perfect example, but what is a mocha latte?
A mocha latte is a creamy, indulgent hot drink that has become hugely popular in recent years. The coffee is made with chocolate sauce, milk, robust espresso coffee, and whipped cream!
I’ve added a touch of mocha syrup to this recipe to make it sweeter and more chocolaty.
Once you try this recipe at home, you won’t have to go to your favorite coffee bar, as it’s so easy to make.
Ingredients for a homemade mocha latte
The mocha latte is a delicious, sweet treat that’s both invigorating and delicious. It’s become one of the most popular espresso-based coffee drinks.
It is also very simple to make at home. A few special ingredients, such as chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, milk, and espresso, are all you need to create this delicious treat for yourself or to serve guests.
Have a look below for the full ingredient list, so you have an idea of what you need to get started with this recipe:
- Whole milk
- Espresso shot
- Mocha syrup
- Chocolate sauce
- Whipped cream
You can substitute the whole milk for a different dairy or dairy-free alternative. This depends on the milk you have at home and what you prefer.
I’ve made this recipe with soy milk before, and it tasted amazing. If you’re making this recipe with a different milk alternative, let me know in the comments so that I can give it a try as well!
You can use store-bought mocha syrup and chocolate sauce or make them at home. I’ve listed the recipe for them after the recipe card.
The whipped cream can also be homemade. You can check out the recipe for vanilla-flavored whipped cream here.
Adding whipped cream is optional in this recipe. It will add creaminess to the mocha latte but will also add additional calories that you might not want.
Best coffee for a mocha latte
Most lattes are made using espresso coffee. I recommend using a single or double espresso shot for this recipe.
You can use your espresso machine, Moka pot, or AeroPress to brew espresso-like coffee at home. My favorite coffee brewer to use for this recipe is the Moka pot.
A Moka pot makes the most delicious espresso-like coffee that comes close to an espresso made using an espresso machine, which is awesome!
Espresso coffee has a more robust flavor than regular brewed coffee, which works seamlessly with the sweeter flavors from the chocolate sauce and added milk.
According to the USDA, a single espresso shot contains around 63 mg of caffeine, making it ideal for cutting through sweetness in drinks like lattes and mochas.
You can, however, make this recipe with brewed coffee if you want to. I suggest double brewing the coffee to match the stronger flavors of espresso coffee.
If you’re interested in learning how to double brew your coffee, you can get more information here.
“Tried your mocha latte recipe this morning and wow—it’s better than what I usually get at the café. Super easy too. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly!”
How to make a mocha latte at home
Here’s the recipe!
Don’t forget to save this recipe for later so you can enjoy this homemade coffee anytime:
Mocha Latte
With this easy recipe, you can make mocha lattes at home in just 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (0.18 l) of whole milk
- Espresso shot
- 2 tbsp (30 grams) of chocolate sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 grams) of mocha syrup
- A serving of whipped cream
Instructions
To start with this recipe, prepare the mocha syrup and chocolate sauce ahead of time. This way, you can make this recipe within minutes. Follow the steps below to make the mocha latte:
- Brew the espresso shot with the coffee brewer of choice; I've prepared mine with the Moka pot.
- Meanwhile, steam and foam your milk. Make sure there's a nice layer of foam; this will create those signature layers in your coffee.
- To a tall glass, add the mocha syrup.
- Coat the sides of the glass with a tablespoon of chocolate sauce.
- Add your freshly steamed and foamed milk to the glass.
- Wait 30 seconds, so the layers in your milk will set.
- Slowly pour the espresso coffee into the glass.
- Top the coffee with whipped cream.
- Drizzle the remaining chocolate sauce over the whipped cream.
Your mocha latte is now ready to be enjoyed! You can serve it with a straw so you can combine all the ingredients before drinking it!
Notes
You can make your mocha latte sweeter by adding some more mocha syrup or chocolate sauce.
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Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 219Total Fat: 11.55gSaturated Fat: 6.8gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 79mgCarbohydrates: 18.7gSugar: 23.6gProtein: 5.2g
The nutritional information is based on the recipe. If you plan to add more sweeteners, the number of calories may change.
Calories in a mocha latte
A mocha latte contains a total of 219 calories, which is quite a lot.
Most calories come from the added sweeteners. Have a look below for the calorie breakdown:
| Ingredient | Calories |
| Whole Milk (¾ cup) | 110 |
| Whipped Cream (1 serving) | 52 |
| Chocolate Sauce (2 tbsp) | 38 |
| Mocha Syrup (1 tbsp) | 19 |
| Total (approx) | 219 |
If you want to lower the number of calories, you can leave out the whipped cream or reduce the sweeteners used.
You can also choose to use lower-fat milk, as whole milk contains more calories. Dairy-free alternatives also tend to have fewer calories.
How to make mocha-flavored syrup
Coffee syrups are the easiest sweeteners to make at home. You can add any flavoring to them, which makes them perfect.
As this is a mocha latte, the best way to sweeten it will be by using mocha-flavored syrup.
You can easily make mocha-flavored syrup at home using equal parts white granulated sugar, water, and cocoa powder. It will look like this when finished:
You can read the full step-by-step recipe right here.
It’ll bring you to the recipe for the iced mocha latte, so if you want to make this into an iced version, you can also check it out right there!
How to make homemade chocolate sauce
Chocolate sauce is the perfect sauce for most coffees. I found myself adding a bit to each morning coffee, as I always make too much, and it’s just so delicious.
The homemade chocolate sauce is made with the same ingredients as the mocha-flavored syrup, but with a different ratio to emphasize the chocolate flavor. It looks like this:
You can easily make this in a big batch so that you can make multiple mocha lattes in the coming days. The full recipe is here!
FAQs about mocha lattes
Before I close off this article, here are a few questions people often ask when learning to make mocha lattes at home.
Who knows, maybe this will answer one of the questions you had as well!
Can I make a mocha latte without an espresso machine?
Yes! A Moka pot, AeroPress, or strong brewed coffee (double brewed) works well too.
What’s the difference between a mocha and a latte?
A latte has espresso + milk. A mocha adds chocolate syrup or sauce for a richer, sweeter flavor.
Can I make a mocha latte dairy-free?
Definitely. Use oat, almond, or soy milk—and skip the whipped cream or use a dairy-free version.
Conclusion
The mocha latte is one of those drinks that never goes out of style—smooth, chocolatey, and super customizable.
With this homemade recipe, you can skip the café and still enjoy that perfect balance of espresso and chocolate in every sip.
Want it stronger? Add an extra shot. Want it sweeter? Add more mocha syrup; it’s totally up to you.
Got your own twist on the mocha latte? I’d love to hear it—drop your favorite variations in the comments below!
More coffee recipes
Ready to try different kinds of coffee? Check out my other recipes below:
4 Comments
Moka pot and Aeropress can NOT make espresso. Espresso is a very specific brew method involving high water pressure (9 bars of pressure is standard, higher can cause excessive bitterness) passing through a puck of coffee. While both Moka pot and Aeropress make very delicious, very strong coffee; it is not espresso and we need to stop pretending it is.
Hey A.C,
Thanks for leaving a comment!
You’re right about espresso coffee. It cannot be made using an AeroPress or Moka pot. That’s why I clearly stated that they could make delicious espresso-like coffee that comes close to espresso made with an espresso machine.
-Jeffrey
Microwave one cup milk. Stir in one teaspoon cocoa, one teaspoon instant coffee and two teaspoons sugar.
Hey Franny,
That sounds like a delicious and easy-to-make recipe. Thanks for sharing!
-Jeffrey