Make yourself a cafe mocha drink quickly and frugally at home with this instant mocha mix recipe.

Perfect for any coffee lover, this easy recipe is great for gifting and traveling.

Fill a big jar full of coffee and cocoa mix for a delightful hot or cold drink at home (or on the road).

Simple Ingredients

There’s only 4 ingredients in our mix recipe but they can be customized just slightly to make it fit your taste buds a bit more, if desired.

Because the ingredients are so very simply and few, do use the very best you can afford. Each ingredient ends up balancing the final cup of coffee and if just one is off or less-than-flavorful it simply won’t be so great.

And because it is so easy it’s worth keeping this as part of your usual homemade pantry mixes for busy morning!

Dry Milk Powder

You can buy dry milk powder in the baking aisle of most grocery stores and this is likely the easiest of choices.

However, if you don’t drink dairy or would prefer something else, there are a wide variety of plant-based milk products on the market – simply choose your favorite.

If you want an extra creamy coffee, you could use powdered nondairy creamer instead.

Sugar

The recipe was tested with regular granulated sugar. 

I do believe that a sugar substitute could be used but can only safely say something that measures cup-for-cup.

You could definitely add more or less sugar to taste. As written the recipe is medium sweet and could definitely be increased for the person with a sweet tooth and lessened for the person who likes a strong coffee.

Instant Coffee

Use your favorite instant coffee powder or granules. 

I suppose an instant espresso could also work but you want to add less to account for the strength of the coffee.

Again, add more or less coffee to taste.

Cocoa Powder

Unsweetened cocoa from the baking aisle works just fine in the recipe.

You could use a fancier cocoa or even something sweetened, if desired.

Optional Additions

Like a bit of spice? Add up to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or truly any of your favorite dried spices – nutmeg, cardamom, etc.

Add some cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a mexican coffee inspired drink.

A little bit of powdered vanilla can also be quite tasty.

How to Make and Serve

Making this mocha drink truly only requires a mug, some hot water, and a spoon.

Add the mix to your favorite coffee cup, stir in the hot water and enjoy.

You could add some chocolate syrup to make extra sweet or even top with whipped cream, if desired.

To make it iced, stir just a bit of hot water into the mix to get it dissolved and then pour over ice with cold water and enjoy.

Use some hot milk instead of water for an even creamier treat. 

Got a milk frother? Use it here with some whipped cream and a sprinkle of shaved chocolate for a treat like they serve at high end coffee shops.

How to Gift

This a great gift for folks who like travel, students in living in dorms, co-workers, and more. Because it can be made with just some hot water, an electric teapot or microwave is all someone needs to whip up a comforting cup of homemade mocha.

Make a large batch and divide it up amongst several recipients for a quick gift making session.

Package the dry mix in a mason jar or other pretty airtight container and add a label with instructions to make it.

If you want to make it even lighter for shipping or say your backpacking friends, just put it into some plastic bags and tape the instructions to the outside.

Tuck the mix into a gift basket full of other edible gifts and easy mixes for a lovely present most anyone would love.

How to Store

The unmade mix should last for up to about 6 months if kept in an airtight container and in a dry place, away from moisture.

Do keep it at room temperature – freezing and/or refrigerating may introduce some moisture.

Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. We always appreciate your feedback. You can also save the recipe for later by pinning it or clicking on the heart in the lower right hand corner.

Thanks for sharing!