Iced Mocha Recipe: The Easiest Summer Drink?

Making a classic mocha latte at home can feel intimidating. You need an espresso machine and the skills to use it. On the other hand, an iced mocha latte couldn’t be easier! No milk frothing, no pulling shots. 

Just shake a few ingredients together, and you’ll enjoy a refreshing treat in no time! We’ll show you how to get your chocolate fix in this easy iced mocha recipe.

Extra notes:

• You can buy prepared cold brew coffee, buy cold brew concentrate, make your own cold brew, or brew strong coffee and chill it as you would for iced coffee.
• If you’re using cold brew concentrate, dilute it 1:1 with cold water (ie: ½ Cup concentrate plus ½ Cup water).
• We suggest medium or dark roast coffee beans if you’re brewing your coffee, either cold brew or iced coffee. The natural bittersweet flavors of these beans pair well with the sweetness of this drink. If you need some ideas, there are some great options in our list of coffee beans for espresso.
• 2% dairy milk is the traditional choice for this drink, and what you’d likely get at Starbucks or your local coffee shop. But because this drink doesn’t require frothed or steamed milk, you can easily substitute any dairy or unsweetened non-dairy milk you prefer, like almond or coconut milk.
• You can also use brown sugar if you want a darker, more molasses-like flavor or even try maple syrup for a natural sweetener.
• You can either use store-bought chocolate syrup or make your own.

Materials:

• 12-ounce mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, chilled in the freezer
• Small saucepan

A Step-by-Step Delicious Iced Mocha Recipe

What is an iced mocha? Also known as an iced mocha latte, an iced mocha is a chilled drink that blends chocolate, brewed coffee, and milk. Because iced mochas rely on cold coffee rather than espresso, it is effortless to make an iced mocha at home – much easier than an iced latte. You don’t even have to have a good home espresso machine. Odds are you already have everything you need!

Not sure the iced mocha is the right summer drink for you? Check out this list of other iced coffee recipes or try the crowd-favorite Starbucks Peppermint Mocha.

1. Prepare the chocolate sauce

Put the milk, sugar, and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk until everything has combined, and the sugar dissolves, thickening slightly to a sauce consistency. Let it cool to at least room temperature, then add the 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream.

You can also make this sauce in the microwave. Just put the three ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and nuke it in 30-second increments until it has the right consistency. Then add the heavy cream.

2. Assemble the mocha

Take the mason jar out of the freezer and fill it with ice cubes. Then, add the cold brew or cooled coffee and the chocolate sauce. Put the lid on the jar and shake everything together. This will blend the strong coffee with the chocolate and help chill the drink to an appropriately refreshing temperature. There is nothing worse than a lukewarm iced coffee.

You can also make this a mocha frappuccino rather than an iced mocha. Add all the ingredients from this step into a blender, then blend to a slushy consistency before pouring it into the mason jar. We suggest pre-chilling the blender in the freezer to keep everything icy if you're doing this.

3. Add toppings

Toppings aren't necessary, but we think festive coffee drinks like this always benefit from a bit of decoration. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup for a traditional finishing touch. Other great options for iced mochas are a dusting of cocoa powder, some chocolate shavings, chocolate sprinkles, or even a shower of finely chopped nuts.

Final Thoughts

That's all there is to it! Iced mochas might be the simplest specialty drinks you can make at home, especially if you opt for store-bought cold brew and chocolate sauce. The combination of coffee and chocolate is so good that it needs very little help from you to become the perfect treat for summer. 

So go ahead and use this recipe to impress the coffee lovers in your life. There’s no need to tell them how easy it was.