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Is it still snowy and cold out? If you didn’t know, in Canada, the snow just never ends! You’re pretty much not guaranteed to go without a snowstorm till May hits!
That being said, it’s never a bad time hot drinks, especially when you’ve got the combination of chocolate and coffee, right? How about you switch up your morning routine with this chocolate cappuccino?
With prices rising, coffee shops are really getting expensive. Of course I encourage you to support local, or to even just go get a coffee outside if you’re looking for some new drink inspiration. As I discuss in my top 5 tips to explore your potential in the kitchen, Make Cooking Fun!, going out and trying to replicate what you enjoyed from outside - either a main dish, a snack, or a drink! - can spark creativity and motivate you! However, as someone who’s really enjoyed going to the coffee shop in the crazy cold winter we’ve had, I knew I had to put the brakes on it when I saw how fast the cost accumulates!
Not only is making your favourite coffee beverage at home monetarily economical, but it allows you to stay in your PJs and not leave the house in a snowstorm! It’s also a thoughtful gesture to be able to surprise a coffee lover with a homemade drink in the morning! If you want to put your heart in a cup for a coffee and chocolate lover in your life, then be sure to make this cappuccino as part of my Live to Cook one-month challenge! You can get started on your cooking journey for free by signing up to my newsletter to get these motivational resources sent right to your inbox, plus you’ll get all of my new recipes delivered directly to you!
To see how to brew your new favourite cappuccino with cocoa powder recipe, then check out the video! If you’re not already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel, and hit the bell button so you’re notified when my recipe videos go live! I love to share videos along with the written recipes so you’ve got all the tools you need! Let’s get brewing!
What Is a Cocoa Cappuccino?
This cappuccino with chocolate is exactly how it sounds - a cappuccino that’s loaded with cocoa goodness!
If you didn’t know, a cappuccino consists of three parts:
- The coffee base
- Steamed milk
- Milk foam
Unlike a latte (where I have plenty of latte recipes on the blog!), a cappuccino is different because the three elements are evenly distributed. Furthermore, a cappuccino differs from a latte because the milk is not blended in with the coffee base. Finally, the milk foam on top of a cappuccino is much thicker than with a latte, because it is spooned out from your espresso machine or your pot.
A regular cappuccino is simply made with espresso and milk. While a simple cappuccino is absolutely delicious, if you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I just love chocolate! I had visited Starbucks once and I tried ordering my own custom cappuccino. I added in a mocha drizzle with a cocoa powder topping. It was so amazing that I thought of making my very own at home!
On my first attempt, I only tasted the cocoa on top. I wanted every sip of the drink to have a rich and warm cocoa experience, so in this recipe, I’ll show you exactly how to do this! Your typical coffee shop has nothing on this awesome cappuccino recipe, and it’s super quick and easy to make with only a few ingredients! You can honestly make this whenever you’re craving some chocolate and it’ll give you a nice caffeine boost too!
Do I need Espresso To make a Cappuccino at Home?▼
No, you don’t. I don’t have an espresso machine, but that hasn’t stopped me from making my favourite coffee beverages!
A French press will help you get a strong brewed coffee that has a comparable taste to espresso, richer than the results from a coffee machine. This is because the coffee has time to have its flavours really develop and give a strong brew. Don’t have a French press either? No worries! Simply make coffee using your countertop coffee machine with a dark roast coffee.
What milk Do I use For This Cappuccino with Cocoa?▼
I’m using full fat milk. A cappuccino from a coffee shop will make your drink with either 2% or whole (3.25%) milk. The fattier milk will allow for a richer and creamier foam and a more wholesome taste. If you don’t drink dairy milk, then feel free to substitute with your favourite plant-based milk. Coconut milk and soy milk are excellent options because they are richer and will give similar results to dairy milk. However, if you want, you really could use almond milk or oat milk, but the reduced fat content may make your drink thinner. Additionally, I personally dislike oat milk because I find the “oatyness” of the milk takes away from the actual flavours of the drink.
How To Froth Milk Without a Steam Wand▼
Even though your favourite coffee spot may use a fancy automatic steam wand to prepare your caffeinated beverages, you can get away with some nifty alternatives to get a very similar result. Check out some other ways to froth milk:
- French Press: Add steamed milk to a french pressed and simply pump the plunger up and down a couple of times to froth up the milk. You can pick one up for as little $10.
- Electric Frother or Handheld Frother:Handheld frothers, the kind I have can go for as cheap as $10 while electric frothers can go up to $100.
- Whisk: Some elbow grease and a good whisk can really be all you need to make great frothed milk. The cheapest alternative, you can find one for as little as $5.
- Steam Wand: This is the ultimate investment if you are really serious about your coffee. These can range from $100 to $1000 depending on the features of the model.
Tools Required
Tips for the Richest Cappuccino with Cocoa
- For a richer tasting cappuccino, you can substitute the steamed milk and milk foam with half and half cream instead.
- Instead of preparing the cocoa coffee in a saucepan, you can instead choose to use prepare a strong shot of coffee using a french press by brewing freshly ground coffee beans and cocoa powder.
- Letting the steamed milk sit for a few minutes allows the froth to rise and collect at the top, makes it easier to portion out the milk and foam for the cappuccino.
- You can make a sweeter cappuccino by adding a sweetener of choice and adjust the amounts to match your preferences.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD or press the “Jump to Recipe” button to see all ingredient quantities and to save the recipe for later. You can also scale the recipe based on how many cups of this cappuccino you want to make. By default, the recipe will serve two 16 ounce cups. All ingredient quantities will automatically be adjusted for you, so no need to do any mental math!
For the Cocoa Cappuccino Base
For the Milk Foam
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
How to Make a Comforting Cappuccino with Cocoa
In a saucepan, add the ground coffee, milk, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and chocolate chips.
Mix well until combined and bring the milk up to a simmer.
Then transfer it to a French press to steep for 3-4 minutes or keep warm. Set aside.
On another saucepan or in the microwave, heat up the rest of the milk mixed with vanilla extract.
Once the milk is steaming, use a handheld frother and froth up the milk.
Pour the coffee to your cups, filling it 1/3 of the way followed by the steamed milk 1/3rd of the way, making sure to reserve the foam. Top with the milk foam to fill the rest of the cup and garnish with cocoa powder. Serve right away.
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