When you think of a Starbucks mocha, you probably picture something chocolatey and creamy. There’s so much more to their mocha drinks than that, though! These drinks are some of the most popular beverages at Starbucks and for good reason. Their mocha drinks can be as simple or as complex as you like them.
You can get them with or without whipped cream, any one of their unique flavors, and even additional ingredients like caramel or vanilla syrup. The best thing about mocha at Starbucks is that it’s yours to experiment with however you want. Let’s take a look at a few popular mocha drinks at the popular cafe chain.
The 8 Best Mocha Drinks at Starbucks:
1. Double Chocolatey-ness
| Chocolate Source: | Syrup, cocoa powder |
| Seasonal Drink: | No |
This mocha drink has the most chocolatey flavor out of all the mocha drinks on this list. It’s made with a strong dark mocha sauce, so there’s very little in the way of coffee flavor here. This drink is great if you like it when chocolate is the main source of flavor. If you are a fan of a strong coffee taste, you should probably stay away from this one, as there’s not much else to it.
This drink is made with hot espresso, steamed whole milk, a dark mocha sauce, and a sprinkle of cocoa powder. If you like your mocha extra chocolatey but with a little extra coffee flavor, this is an excellent choice. The cocoa powder sprinkled on top is a nice touch!
2. Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha
| Chocolate Source: | Syrup, cocoa powder |
| Seasonal Drink: | No |
Dessert mochas are a pretty fantastic invention, and this white chocolate mocha is no exception. It’s very creamy and has a light vanilla flavor with just a hint of chocolate. This is definitely a drink you can sip slowly, enjoying the flavor throughout the entire experience. If you’re a chocolate lover who’s looking for something a little less rich, this is an excellent choice.
It may not be as chocolatey as other drinks on this list, but it’s still an amazing mocha experience. This drink is made with steamed whole milk, a white chocolate mocha sauce, and a pinch of cocoa powder.
If you’re someone who likes a bit more sweetness in their mocha drinks, this is a great choice. It’s also great if you’re looking for something a little less bold in flavor. The white chocolate mocha sauce gives it a hint of sweetness, but it’s not overwhelming.
3. Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
| Chocolate Source: | Syrup |
| Seasonal Drink: | No |
This drink is made with a peppermint mocha sauce and a peppermint syrup. Unlike some other mocha drinks, it doesn’t have the same bold chocolatey flavor. Instead, it has a very distinct peppermint flavor, like a peppermint patty in a drink! If you like the idea of a peppermint mocha but are worried about the flavor being too strong, this drink is a great choice.
This drink is made with steamed whole milk, a peppermint mocha sauce, and a peppermint syrup. If you like peppermint but are looking for something a little less sweet, this is a perfect choice. It’s made with peppermint sauce, which gives it a more intense peppermint flavor than simple syrup.
4. Sumatra Coffee Dark Mocha
| Chocolate Source: | Syrup |
| Seasonal Drink: | No, but may not be available at all locations |
This drink is a sophisticated blend of coffee and mocha. It has a rich flavor with just a hint of chocolate. If you’re a fan of strong, bold coffee drinks, this one’s for you. This drink is made with hot espresso, steamed whole milk, and a dark mocha sauce. If you like strong mocha drinks but are worried about getting a super-rich flavor, you can ask for this drink to be made with skim milk.
5. Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Cream
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeUy7AonDp_/
| Chocolate Source: | Syrup |
| Seasonal Drink: | No |
This is the perfect drink to enjoy on a chilly day. It’s sweet, creamy, and comes with a delicious salted caramel drizzle that pairs perfectly with the mocha syrup. It’s served cold and is made with vanilla sweet cream and salted caramel cream. It comes with two pumps of rich mocha sauce for the extra chocolate flavor that you’re looking for.
6. Cocoa Cloud Macchiato
https://www.instagram.com/p/CabC3XyJi3o/
| Chocolate Source: | Syrup |
| Seasonal Drink: | No, but may not be available at all locations |
Float on a cloud with this tasty macchiato Starbucks beverage. This drink is fluffy and light and is lower in calories than many of the other drinks on this list. It’s made with a toffee nut syrup, espresso, 2% milk, and a light layer of mocha drizzle. So, while it’s not too chocolatey, it’s just enough to give you a bit of mocha flavor if you want something on the lighter side. Also, it’s only 300 calories and has about 150 mg of caffeine.
7. Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
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| Chocolate Source: | Syrup |
| Seasonal Drink: | No |
This is a very unique mocha syrup-based drink, made with a hint of iced tea (typically chai) in addition to espresso and steamed whole milk. It has a strong coffee flavor and plenty of sweetness, but you can also taste the hint of chai iced tea in the background.
If you like strong coffee flavors but also want a bit of something extra, this drink is a perfect choice. It’s bolder than tea, but lighter than traditional coffee beverages. So, if you want something with coffee flavors and aren’t too fussy about a little extra flavor, this drink is for you.
8. Java Chip Frappuccino
| Chocolate Source: | Mocha syrup, java chips, mocha drizzle |
| Seasonal Drink: | No |
Many Starbucks customers say that this drink almost tastes like a double chocolate chip cookie, except it’s frozen. It’s a delicious drink that contains Frappuccino coffee and mocha syrup, java Frappuccino chips, mocha drizzle, milk, and whipped cream to top it off.
The Grande will cost you about 440 calories, and it’s one of the richest beverages on the list. If you need something filling with a good amount of chocolatey flavor, here is one to consider.
Amazing Coffee Alternatives to Consider
Are you a coffee lover who is trying to reduce your intake of caffeine? Or perhaps you’re someone who just isn’t a fan of the bitter taste of coffee? Either way, reducing or cutting out your coffee consumption can be challenging.
Luckily, there are plenty of great alternatives that not only taste amazing but also have health benefits. From black tea to herbal teas, there are many fantastic drinks that are just as delicious and, in some cases, healthier than caffeine-rich coffee, although they may not all be available at Starbucks.
Decaffeinated Coffee
Decaffeinated coffee undergoes a chemical process to remove most (but not all) of the caffeine from the beans. It is great for people who are reducing their caffeine intake but can be less flavorful than regular coffee as it has no flavor notes.
Herbal Coffee
Herbal coffee is a caffeine-free blend of herbs and spices, such as ginger, cardamom, and turmeric. These provide a unique flavor to your coffee, making it a great alternative for people who don’t like regular black coffee.
Flavored Instant Teas
If you’re a fan of black tea, there are many flavored teas on the market that are caffeine-free. These include black tea, chai, lemon tea, and peppermint tea.
Turmeric Milk (aka Golden Milk)
Turmeric has been used in India for its health benefits for centuries as a natural immune booster and antidepressant. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial and helps to brighten your skin, fight acne, and generally clear your skin.
Dandelion Tea
Dandelion tea is readily available and it’s also a gentle diuretic. Dandelion tea is rich in minerals, vitamins, and fiber. It can also be substituted for coffee because of its strong flavor. Folk medicine has long considered dandelion root a liver cleanse and tonic.
Chicory Tea
Chicory tea is a great alternative to coffee. It’s woody, nutty, and earthy. Chicory tea is rich in prebiotics, manganese, fiber, and vitamin B6, which are important nutrients for brain health. It naturally reduces inflammation and increases collagen production.
Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate, another vitamin- and mineral-rich coffee replacement, is rich in antioxidants that protect and repair skin damage from free radicals. This drink is high in caffeine and can help to reduce fatigue, suppress appetite, and rehabilitate a weak immune system.
Chai Tea
Chai tea, a fall favorite, has many health benefits. It improves blood circulation, which stimulates collagen production. The spices may also help to reduce inflammation. Chai also has antibacterial and neutralizing free radicals, which can accelerate the signs of aging.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos Tea, another antioxidant powerhouse that is caffeine-free and free of caffeine, is a great choice for soothing your skin. It can reduce the signs of aging and also contains zinc which can help protect your skin from damaging UV rays.
Green Tea (aka Matcha tea)
Green tea, which is high in polyphenols and antioxidants such as zinc, vitamin C, EGCG, selenium, and magnesium, can be a great choice. It not only gives you the energy boost you need to get through the day, but also has many additional benefits for overall health.
Conclusion
Mocha drinks are some of the most popular drinks at Starbucks. There are plenty of different variations available, so you can customize your drink to your liking. You can always choose to add more or less syrup to increase the richness of the drink. And if you ever decide that you want to give your caffeine habit a break or just take a break from the coffee flavor, consider a few coffee alternatives such as green tea, turmeric milk, decaf coffee, or chicory tea.
Featured Image Credit: Kadarius Seegars, Unsplash
