Some people like their Coffee hot, while others want it served as frappe, smoothie, or Iced. If you’re a fan of coffee take-outs, but you’re well aware that it’s hurting your budget, know that you can make Iced Mocha at home. It’s simple and doesn’t require barista-level skills and knowledge. All you need to have is a perfect recipe, a nice-looking mason jar, and your will to make the tastiest homemade mocha.

If you want to take your iced mocha coffee higher, you can even grind and brew your coffee beans. If you have an espresso machine, you can use your steam wand and enjoy the ease of use of milk frothers as you create milk foam. When you make your own coffee, there’s no limit on your creativity.

You can practice your frothing skills by making steam milk without a wand. You can use darkly roasted Vietnamese coffee or try the premium Costa Rican coffee. You can even go as far as trying coffee brewing using the pour-over or french press method. Plus, it’s all up to you to have a cold brew or iced coffee to start your day. 

Among the countless varieties of coffee available in different coffee chains, it’s challenging to choose which one is worthy of your effort creating. If you like the balance in taste and strength brought by espresso, milk, and chocolate, then you might as well give iced mocha a try. It’s easy to make, and it’s also fun to mix all these ingredients.

When you make it at home, you have more freedom to choose what coffee beans to use, whether or not you use an espresso machine, or how strong you want the espresso component. So, if you’re ready to have a taste of this seamless to make coffee, read away!

What Is Iced Mocha

The best way to describe iced mocha is iced coffee with a hint of chocolate. Ordinary mocha coffee has steamed milk, chocolate, and espresso. To complete its presentation and taste, most add whipped cream on top of the beverage.

Compared to latte and cappuccino, this is the sweetest of all three. If you want to turn your ordinary mocha coffee into an iced drink, it’s not as simple as adding ice to it. First, you must decide whether or not you’ll be using foam or steamed milk for the mixture. If you aren’t using steamed milk, you can replace it with cold milk.

Instead of the foam, use ice instead. Just make sure that the ratio of coffee to milk is the same. Most iced mocha recipes still include chocolate syrup and whipped cream on top. 

Benefits of Drinking Iced Mocha

Aside from enjoying a great-tasting drink, there are many other benefits to drinking an iced mocha. In fact, there’s a recent study published by BMC Nutrition, an online portfolio of peer-reviewed journals of esteemed researchers and academies, that revealed how well caffeine and chocolate promote mental alertness. Individually, they promote these benefits very well.

When mixed, they even heightened the levels of attentiveness one experiences. On top of that, it also doubles these substances’ ability to lower anxiety. Imagine being alert yet relaxed at the same time. That’s how beneficial this combination is. 

The said study also specified that caffeine alone could make one anxious. However, if mixed with cocoa — chocolate’s main ingredient, caffeine-elicited anxiety will be tempered by chocolates’ relaxing effects. Since the latter can improve one’s mood, the drinker would also feel less stress. And since it also increases one’s cerebral blood flow, it can also improve attention and cognition. 

Another benefit is the fact that iced coffee is less acidic compared to its hot counterpart. As such, iced coffee is calmer to one’s digestive system. This means it’s less likely that you experience an upset stomach after having a cup of cold coffee. Aside from this, less acidity also means it’s good for your teeth. Say goodbye to brittle and discolored teeth with a cup of iced coffee every day.

Finally, iced coffee, especially iced mocha, is exceptionally helpful in protecting one from heart attacks. Iced mocha contains compounds like phenolic, trigonelline, magnesium, and caffeine compounds that can stabilize one’s blood pressure while also increasing insulin sensitivity.

In fact, a study from the University of Colorado specified that drinking iced coffee every week can significantly reduce one’s chances of experiencing a heart attack by 7%. 

How Does Iced Mocha Work

Your iced mocha drink can be enjoyed in a lot of ways. If you need to keep your focus because you’re working on a tight deadline, a refreshing iced mocha drink can lighten up the mood while keeping you attentive and focused. You see, a coffee cocktail increases your energy levels. The same is true for a drink as exciting as iced mocha.

It can help you manage your stress levels while also allowing you to enjoy the drink and the busyness of your schedule. It’s like feeling secure that you have work while also getting all good ideas to finish what you’re doing within the deadline. 

Your iced mocha drink can also keep you feel refreshed and pleasant on a hot day. When you think a smoothie is too sweet or that a glass of juice is not enough to shake off the feeling of dullness in your body, an iced mocha drink is a good alternative. The caffeine in the beverage is enough to restart your body and give it the kick it needs to feel fully awake.

The mixture of milk and chocolate will also give you a relaxed feeling that would make you enjoy the day. And lastly, the added ice on the drink can help you feel fully refreshed.

If you want to enjoy a good book by yourself, an iced mocha drink is a good companion. It has the right caffeine level to keep you alert as you travel in good places with your book. The chocolate and milk in the drink also give a pleasant feeling, helping you genuinely nurture and enjoy your quiet time. If you’re in the company of good friends, your conversation will even be sweeter and happier with an iced mocha drink beside you. 

Your iced mocha drink is also so flexible that you can enjoy it early in the morning, in the middle of the day, or late at night. When you don’t feel that good, it could also be the go-to drink that can uplift your mood and change your perception of your circumstance. 

Pros and Cons of Iced Mocha

Pros 

Healthy

As mentioned above, iced caffeinated drinks like iced mocha can lessen one’s risk of experiencing a heart attack by 7%. So, even if you drink it regularly, for as long as you control the amount of sugar you put in it, you will be healthier and more physically fit.

Plus, it’s also less acidic. This means you won’t have to suffer from an upset stomach every time you drink your coffee. You can enjoy its benefits without the physical repercussions. 

Can Promote Mental Alertness

Caffeine is a compound known for its ability to keep one alert and awake. So, if you need to finish something, a cup of cold iced mocha can help you with what needs to be done.

Helps in Relaxation

As mentioned above, an iced mocha beverage is a mixture of espresso, milk, chocolate, and whipped cream. The chocolate and milk components of the drink can help one feel relaxed and comfortable.

Cons

Addictive

As you already know, caffeine is highly addictive. The high and rush you feel when you drink coffee is something that your body and mind might crave, especially if you’re continually beating a deadline or struggling to focus. In the long run, it can either increase your caffeine tolerance or mess with your sleeping patterns.

If you experience the former, there is a high chance that you would want to increase your caffeine dosage to go through the same effects you previously experienced. As you grow your dosage, your body might have difficulty coping, causing it to manifest symptoms like anxiety, irritability, palpitations, and even difficulty keeping still.

The latter can alter your mood and mess with your body clock to lead to long-term, more severe side effects. 

Can Lead to Diabetes

This is especially true if you add too much sugar or artificial sweeteners to your coffee. 

Can Make One Overweight

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) researched the leading coffee chains worldwide. They found out that if you drink too much commercialized iced coffee, you will end up being overweight because of too many calories in each cup.

They advised that if you want to keep your daily calorie level regular, you can still drink iced coffee but use semi-skimmed or skimmed milk. Also, it would do you good if you stay away from sweetened fruit syrups and heavy cream. 

Types of Iced Mocha

Iced Mocha Classic

As its name suggests, this is the classic blend of 1:1 cup milk to brewed cold coffee ration with a squirt of chocolate syrup on top. 

Iced White Chocolate Mocha

This is another variation of iced mocha coffee, and they vary in ingredients. This type comprises white chocolate sauce, white chocolate syrup, milk, two espresso shots, and ice. All these ingredients are simple added together in a cup or mason jar before topping with whipped cream or white chocolate sauce.

Iced Mocha Latte

This is just iced mocha, except that it’s made smoother and is added with milk foam before garnished by chocolate syrup. Since it’s a latte, it means it has more milk than regular iced mocha. 

Starbucks Hershey’s Mocha

This is one of Starbucks ’ original coffee recipes, and it contains Hershey’s chocolate syrup as a base, topped with two shots of espresso and frothed milk. It’s garnished with whipped cream and some extra chocolate syrup. 

3-Ingredient Iced Mocha

You only need cold brew coffee, milk, and chocolate syrup for this coffee. You need to mix all these three ingredients before adding ice. 

Keto-Friendly Ice Mocha

This is just like the iced mocha classic, except that it’s low carb and uses cold brew coffee, dairy-free creamer or almond milk, and cacao powder. Mix all three ingredients and add ice. 

How to Brew Iced Mocha at Home

Step 1 – Prepare your ingredients

For an iced mocha coffee, you need to prepare the following ingredients: 

• Two squirts of chocolate syrup
• ½ cup fresh-brewed cold coffee
• ½ cup milk
• Whipped cream

Step 2 – Start with a base

After lining up all your ingredients, the first thing to do is to squirt a generous part of chocolate sauce into your coffee mug or container of choice. Make sure to spread it evenly so that it also distributes evenly when the other ingredients are mixed. 

Step 3 – Cool your base

After that, you need to fill half of your container with ice. This can be lesser or more, depending on your preference. Putting the ice immediately after the chocolate sauce makes it easy for the sauce to mix with the other ingredients placed on top of it.

Step 4 – Pour in the liquid

After that, pour the coffee and milk on top of the ice. Seal the lid before shaking your container to mix all the ingredients thoroughly. 

Step 5 – Garnish and enjoy

You can choose to garnish your iced mocha coffee with whipped cream and chocolate syrup for added luxury and fun. After that, you can put on a straw and enjoy your refreshing iced drink. 

Do’s and Don’ts With an Iced Mocha 

Do’s

• Always enjoy the taste of homemade coffee creamer.
• Be careful of the calorie and sugar content of your drink.
• Be careful when you add syrup to your coffee to make it sweeter. 
• Brew homemade latte in an espresso machine
• Check if you’re allergic to milk, chocolate, and other ingredients of the coffee you’re drinking. 
• Choose a good coffee bean in grinding the espresso for your iced mocha drink. 
• Drink sweetened iced coffee minimally. 
• Make sure that your body can tolerate caffeine before drinking any caffeinated beverage. 
• Take note of your caffeine tolerance. 
• Use only the world’s best cappuccino maker in making coffee. 

Don’ts

• Drink sweetened and heavily-creamed coffee every day. 
• Overdose in caffeine to stay alert and focused. 
• Refuse to accept your allergies and wait for your condition to be severe before acting. 
• Overdose on a small cup of cortado because of its benefits. 
• Forget to enjoy every coffee cup. 

FAQ About Iced Mocha

How many calories are there in iced mocha?

It depends on the ingredients and sweeteners you add to your coffee. But by default, and without using cream, whole milk, and natural sweeteners, your basic iced mocha drink could only amount to 103 calories. However, if you add whole milk, whipped cream, sugar, other fruity flavorings, and sweeteners, it could go as high as over 500 calories per cup. 

Is iced mocha sweet?

It depends if you want to use sweetened chocolate or if you’re going to add sweetened milk and more sugar, then your iced mocha drink can be sweet. However, you can stick to the basics by using unsweetened chocolate, skim milk, and brewed coffee only. 

What is the difference between an iced latte and an iced mocha?

As mentioned above, an iced latte is a just iced mocha, except that it’s made smoother and is added with milk foam before garnished by chocolate syrup. Since it’s a latte, it means it has more milk than regular iced mocha. 

Is iced coffee good for losing weight?

It could be because caffeine is known as an appetite suppressant. If you drink black coffee or cold brewed coffee with zero or less sugar than ordinary ones, you can keep your weight to a minimum level. However, it can lead it obesity and being overweight if you add more sweetened ingredients, cream, and heavy artificial flavorings. 

Does an iced mocha taste like coffee?

Of course, it does because aside from milk, chocolate, and whipped cream, it has two shots of espresso as its main ingredients. As its name suggests, this is the classic blend of 1:1 cup milk to brewed cold coffee ration with a squirt of chocolate syrup on top. So, no matter what you add, you won’t be able to get rid of its coffee taste. 

Conclusion

It’s incredible to think how a simple coffee bean can be processed to make thousands of other coffee drink varieties. From these ground beans, excellent tools like espresso machines, brewers, Frech presses, siphon pots, and percolators were also born. The only inspiration of these machines’ makers is how they can improve the coffee derived from these beans. 

On the downside, with so many options out there, people often feel the urge to add more. As a result, they often miss the beauty of what’s essential. Through this guide, we hope we made you realize once again how a combination as simple as espresso, milk, and chocolate can bring so much joy and pleasantries in a single cup. 

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