Often relegated by many to the backwater world of “fancy coffee drinks,” the café mocha is one coffee beverage that surprises even the most skeptical newcomer to espresso beverages.

Blended and hot café mocha

What is the café mocha? It’s a café latté that’s gone to college, gotten a good job and upped its wardrobe considerably. Its core ingredients are simple: espresso, steamed milk and chocolate. Often, however, it dresses for a night on the town. Add whipped cream (the real stuff, not hydrogenated corn oil!) and perhaps a sprinkling of cocoa powder or chocolate shavings.

 
And like the café latté there are variations: decaf, non-fat, soy, sugar-free. But the big story here is the chocolate sauce that fuses with the hot espresso before the steamed milk is added. The end result is rich, creamy, chocolaty, caffeinated goodness.