On Becoming a Person

Everyone who reads this blog knows how much I love mochas. I figured out a fairly simple way to make them (in bulk quantity, if desired) at relatively low cost. And the great news is that they taste almost EXACTLY like the ones you can get at places like Starbucks and Sheetz. Behold, the glory:

Homemade Mocha Recipe

Note: This works the best if you use a french press, like the one pictured here. With a french press, you need coarse ground coffee. (I got mine at Groves Coffee; select coarse when it asks you what type). If you don’t have a french press, you can brew your coffee in a regular drip coffee maker, but it will not taste as great. Another option is to use a tea infuser and the same coarse ground coffee. A last resort can also be just a pitcher of boiling water and the coffee inside a small strainer at the top.

Ingredients for approximately 2 large mug servings:

–2 cups brewed coffee (using method outlined below)
–1 1/2 cups milk (more or less to taste)
–2 Tablespoons Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
–2 Tablespoons sugar (more or less to taste; you can use either granulated or confectioners)
–Choice of flavoring: vanilla, peppermint extract, etc.; approx. 1 tsp
–Whipped cream
–Chocolate syrup

Brewing the coffee:

1.) Measure 1 Tablespoon of coarse ground coffee per cup of water that you put in. For my French press, I typically end up using about 4 Tablespoons of coffee. Put it directly into the bottom of the glass container (see photo above).
2.) Add hot (not quite boiling but close) water.

3.) You should mix it up with a spoon before putting the lid on, but likely the coffee granules will just rise back to the top. Put the lid on and let it sit like this for 4 minutes.

4.) Gently plunge down the handle to press all of the coffee grounds to the bottom of the container. The strainer feature will block them from being poured out when you pour the coffee. Measure out 2 cups.

Making the mocha:

1.) Pour the coffee into a 2-quart saucepan (or any size pan that will hold at least 4 cups of liquid). Add the milk and stir.

2.) Begin heating the mixture over low to medium heat. Add the cocoa powder [it HAS to be Hershey's, there is nothing better], the sugar, and any flavoring you would like (optional). Stir with a wire whisk.

3.) Continue slowly heating and stirring until heated through. You might want to taste test it to see if you want to add more of anything. Once it is heated as you like, ladle it into your mug.

4.) Add whipped cream and chocolate syrup topping! Again, Hershey’s. Only the best.

5.) Put the lid on and consume the most delicious beverage you have ever tasted. You can even save leftovers in the fridge and re-heat it later.

You’re welcome

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