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    Home » Beverages

    Iced Mocha (32 cents/each!)

    Published: Feb 19, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    You’ve likely paid a pretty penny for a Starbucks Iced Mocha, but now you can make one at home for less! Enjoy a rich, chocolately coffee over ice with this easy recipe.

    With Homemade Chocolate Syrup and strong coffee or espresso, you can have a cool refreshing treat in just minutes! Making Iced Coffee at home was never easier.

    a pint glass filled with an iced mocha coffee with a blue paper straw. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs & Recipe Costs
    • More Starbucks Copycats
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Iced Mocha Coffee

    Love specialty coffee drinks, but can’t stand the price? I get you. It’s fun to stop by your favorite Starbucks or coffee place for a treat, but the costs can certainly add up.

    That’s why at Good Cheap Eats we love to cook from scratch so we can do more with our money. That includes the Iced Mocha.

    Take strong brewed coffee or espresso and add milk and chocolate syrup for a delicious iced drink for just pennies.

    Why Make This

    It’s super easy! You only need four ingredients to make an Iced Mocha at home, likely grocery staples you normally keep on hand.

    It’s delicious. No need to pay extra for an add shot or extra pump of syrup. You can make yours just the way you like it, free of charge!

    It’s super frugal. At just 32 cents each (a little more if you use a shot of espresso) you can enjoy all the Iced Mocha Coffees you like!

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need this at home:

    ingredients for iced mocha lined up on black table.

    strong coffee or espresso – The base flavor of this coffee drink is the coffee. You can use espresso or a very strongly brewed coffee. The latter will be a little less expensive and easier if you don’t have an espresso machine. Try Cold Brew Coffee if you like. In a pinch, you can use instant coffee mixed with water at a high concentrate. Whatever you use, allow it to cool so that it doesn’t melt the ice.

    chocolate syrup – You can use a commercial syrup or make your Homemade Chocolate Syrup. If you’d like to intensify the coffee flavor, use my Homemade Mocha Sauce Recipe.

    milk, half-and-half, or cream – Depending on how rich you want your coffee, you can use milk, half-and-half, or cream. This is a great recipe to use leftover evaporated milk. The higher the fat content, the richer tasting will be the beverage. You can also use a plant-based milk such as almond, coconut, oat, or soy.

    ice cubes – This drink is meant to be served very cold, so you’ll want ice. Again for extra coffee flavor and so as not to dilute your drink, you can use frozen coffee cubes. Just freeze cooled coffee in ice cube trays to use in your coffee drinks. You can also make frozen milk cubes or frozen almond cubes, depending on your milk preferences.

    Variations: For other flavored drinks, add a drop or two of extract, such as peppermint, vanilla, or almond when you add the syrup. You can also make a batch of Peppermint Syrup to add to taste.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    milk in glass pitcher.
    adding chocolate syrup to milk and coffee in pitcher.
    mocha coffee mixture in pitcher.
    pouring mocha coffee into frosty glass.

    Making your own couldn’t be easier.

    • In a small pitcher combine the milk, coffee, and chocolate syrup. Stir well for the syrup to dissolve.
    • Pour over ice in large mug or glass. Serve immediately.

    Want to take it one step further? Maybe top it with some Homemade Whipped Cream or sweet cream cold foam.

    FAQs & Recipe Costs

    What is an iced mocha?

    An iced mocha is basically a cold coffee drink, a latte, to be specific, flavored with chocolate. It can be made with coffee or espresso and can be topped with whipped cream. 

    What’s the difference between an iced latte and iced mocha? 

    An iced latte is coffee and milk, while an iced mocha is a latte with chocolate flavoring added. Although both are cold coffee beverages, it’s the addition of chocolate that sets the iced mocha apart from its other coffee cousins.

    Is there caffeine in an iced mocha?

    An iced mocha will have caffeine if you use regular coffee. If you’d like a decaf iced mocha, use decaf coffee or espresso.

    Can you make an iced mocha with instant coffee?

    You can use instant coffee in an iced mocha. Just mix it strong. If it is the kind that must dissolve in hot water, allow it to cool before adding to the milk.

    Recipe Costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • coffee – $0.10 or espresso – $0.58
    • chocolate syrup – $0.05
    • milk – $0.17

    While your costs may vary depending on where and how you shop, you can expect to pay about $0.32 for an Iced Mocha Coffee or 80 cents if using an espresso capsule.

    Compared to the five bucks you’ll spend at Starbucks, this is indeed a bargain!

    iced mocha in tall glass with blue striped straw.

    More Starbucks Copycats

    • glass mug of medicine ball tea with steam rising.
      Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea – Cheaper at Home
    • woman holding an ice blended mocha
      The Ice-Blended Mocha
    • iced coffee in milk bottle, surrounded by coffee beans.
      Homemade Iced Coffee
    • grapes next to protein bento box
      Protein Box (aka DIY Bistro Box)
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    overhead shot of hands clasping glass of iced mocha with ice cubes floating atop.

    Iced Mocha Coffee

    An iced mocha is a delightful cold beverage to enjoy as an afternoon pick-me-up. Give your wallet a boost as well by making it yourself at home.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 262kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $1

    Equipment

    • glass pitcher

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup milk
    • ½ cup strongly brewed coffee or espresso, cooled
    • 2 tablespoon chocolate syrup
    • ice cubes for serving
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • In a small pitcher combine the milk, coffee, and chocolate syrup. Stir until completely dissolved.
    • Pour over ice in large glass and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Nutritional information is approximate and will vary depending on the milk and type of chocolate syrup you use.
    If you ever have leftover coffee, freeze it in ice cube trays to use in cold coffee drinks. Click here for Tips for Making Iced Coffee Drinks.
    Variations: For other flavored drinks, add a drop or two of extract, such as peppermint, vanilla, or almond when you add the syrup.
    Take your drink over the top with some whipped cream or sweet cream cold foam.
    What coffee to use? You can use espresso, strong brewed coffee, cold brew coffee, or instant coffee.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 470mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published on June 10, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jess

      May 18, 2012 at 9:17 am

      have you tried making a simple syrup at home?
      boil water and sugar, add vanilla extract (if you like). Cool, put in bottle, keep in fridge. Cheaper than the flavored syrups, and make it easier to make iced coffee drinks. 🙂
      ( I don’t remember the exact ratios – but Martha Stewart has a good recipe.)

      Reply
      • Jessica

        May 19, 2012 at 7:38 am

        @jess, yes, I just started doing that. Love it for iced coffee.

        Reply
        • CarolSue

          September 09, 2022 at 3:17 pm

          5 stars
          Excellent! So easy and delicious!

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