Mocha at Home ~ Move Over Big Buck Coffee Shops

Coffee is a guilty pleasure of mine.  Chris is forever telling me I drink too much, I say I don't drink enough.  I'm one of those people who cannot drink coffee after a certain time or I will be awake most of the night regretting my coffee habit.  However, I can never say no to a nice mocha.  In a fancy coffee shop (you know the ones) it will cost over $5 for a medium mocha.  Plus, it is about a million calories give or take a few.  Even Timmy's charges over $3!  That is crazy and I cringe every time I pay but I LOVE them so much.  So when I need that hit of sugar and caffeine I try to indulge at home.  I'm lucky enough to have an automatic espresso machine at home.  This is part of what makes this drink really special but you can use regular fresh coffee (or instant) instead.  I actually think it is mostly the frothy milk that kicks it over into the divine territory.  It is killer in a regular hot chocolate and I highly recommend it.

Get yourself some really great hot chocolate.  You can also use equal parts cocoa powder and sugar for a more pure version.  Dump that into a nice cozy mug.

Get your espresso machine going.  This is pretty much my favourite machine in the kitchen, I'm going to be sad when it dies.

Look how cute they are together.  Like best friends.

There is my mug, ready and waiting.  C'mon coffee maker... let's get this show on the road!

Finally, the coffee maker was ready.  Get a double shot of espresso.

And dump that right in on the hot chocolate.

Froth the milk.  This machine does it in that little black thinger there.  It happens by magic and you can't tell me any different.

Oh isn't that lovely?  This is what we do for our coffees every morn, heavenly!

Now dump that in on the espresso and hot chocolate mix.  Mix it up!  If you find this too sweet you can add hot water on top but this was just perfect.  It depends on the hot chocolate mix that you use.  The coffee shops will tempt you with whipped cream but as you can see this drink provides it's own bubbly topping with no extra calories.

This is a bit of a set up since the machine run on 220V but we use 110V here in Canada.  That black box is the power transformer that we have to use just to make coffee. We are that committed to our coffee folks.  My kiwi has completely ruined me for drinking regular coffee any more. Cappuccinos all the way for me!

This drink is like a hug in a cup.  For a special treat, serve this with a peppermint candy cane and you have a peppermint mocha.  Very festive and so easy!