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This post is sponsored by Javy Coffee. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
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When I go to Starbucks, my favorite order is a Cafe Mocha, and it has been my favorite order for as long as I can remember. If you follow my Instagram stories, then you’ve certainly seen me post a handful of cafe mochas when I’m in the mood for a coffee shop trip!
However, I’ve been having a ton of fun expanding my horizons at Starbucks lately! I’ve had the Sugar Cookie Oat Latte (not available anymore!), a caramel macchiato, white hot chocolate, and of course this white mocha… I’ve tried both the hot and iced versions!
Wow, why have I never had this drink before? Seriously underrated! I suppose when I love something I just want to keep having it again and again but never take the time to appreciate what else is out there. New favorite alongside the classic mocha for sure! I loved the White Mocha so much that of course I just had to make it myself! I really love the coffee flavor that’s in the mocha, and combined with white chocolate goodness, it’s just a match made in heaven!
For a full picture of how to recreate this timeless Starbucks drink then don’t forget to watch the video! If you’re not already, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel! Don’t forget to hit the bell button on YouTube so you receive the notifications when the video recipes are premiering! I love to record the recipes to give you a full picture of what’s going on! Let’s get cooking!
Tips for the Ultimate White Mocha
- Make sure to stir the milk occasionally to ensure it does not burn while coming up to a simmer.
- Keep a close eye once the milk is simmering to ensure it does not boil over, lower the heat once simmering.
- Be careful not to overheat the chocolate or milk, the chocolate may turn split if too hot.
- The type and flavor of chocolate you use will change this drink - experiment!
- Don’t add sweeteners until the very end, in most cases, the sweetness from the chocolate will be more than enough.
Equipment for Starbucks White Mocha
You won’t need a coffee machine to make this delicious hot drink! The coffee magic comes from using instant coffee. We’ll be using espresso powder to get the strong coffee flavor in addition to Javy liquid coffee concentrate. You can certainly use a coffee machine to brew the coffee and even steam the milk if you have a fancy machine like that, but I do not and no worries if you don’t either!
- Saucepan: We’ll be warming up our milk and creating our base with the white chocolate in here.
- Whisk: We need a whisk to vigorously mix together the chocolate, vanilla and milk.
- Frother: I’m using a handheld blender to froth the milk. You could also use a blender or use a coffee machine that steams and froths milk if you have it!
- Peeler: I’ll be using a vegetable peeler to make white chocolate shavings on top of the whipped cream for garnish.
- Coffee mug: Definitely use your favorite mug, but the coffee mugs I have are awesome because not only are they clear so you can truly appreciate your pretty Starbucks at home drink, but it retains the heat so well without the outside of the mug being hot! So don’t be afraid to hold your drink tightly - it won’t burn you and you can enjoy it piping hot!
Ingredients Required
You won’t need too many ingredients to make this awesome coffee beverage! This won’t be an exact replica of the actual drink, since if you check the ingredients when you place a mobile order, you’ll see the standard recipe contains steamed milk, a white chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. I won’t be adding a syrup here, but instead adding real white chocolate. To be honest, I find that much more special!
Remember, the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD with all ingredient quantities is at the bottom of this post! The recipe card is awesome because it will help you scale the ingredients based on how many cups of mocha you’re looking to make, so you can make either a single portion or make mochas for a crowd! Who wouldn’t wanna come to a party with a big batch of mochas on a chilly day?
- Milk: Use your favorite kind of milk. If you check the ingredients when you order a Starbucks drink, the standard recipe uses 2% milk, and that’s what I’ll be doing here.
- Chocolate: Use your favorite high-quality white chocolate bar. I’m using Lindt white chocolate. We will melt some white chocolate into the milk and reserve some for garnish.
- Whipped cream: When you order a mocha of any kind at Starbucks the barista asks you “Do you want whipped cream?” Uh, yeah!!! You could make your own Homemade Whipped Cream recipe to garnish the Cafe Mocha, and I totally recommend it! You can make a large batch and it’s so easy, plus you have complete control of how sweet you want it to be. However, I’m actually going to use whipped cream from an aerosol can
- Instant Coffee or Liquid Coffee Concentrate: For this recipe, I’m using a liquid coffee concentrate (psst! Click that link for a 15% off discount!) that was sent to me by Javy Coffee. No Javy? No problem! Simply substitute with instant coffee or espresso powder. For this recipe, I’m using half espresso powder and half Javy liquid coffee concentrate.
- Vanilla extract: A little bit will go a long way! I’m actually using the French vanilla Javy flavor, so that had a wonderful aroma, but I really want to go for a vanilla flavor that pairs so well with white chocolate, so a little bit of vanilla extract will further enhance our drink!
- Cinnamon sugar: We will be adding some on top of our whipped cream for garnish. The cinnamon sugar is equal parts cinnamon and granulated white sugar.
You may notice that there is no cream or sugar in the actual milk mixture. For the cream, because we’re topping our recipe with whipped cream, we don’t need extra cream in the actual drink! The whipped cream will add amazing richness. As for the lack of sugar, I’ve found it’s not needed because the white chocolate is sweet enough on its own! You could add your favorite sweetener if you really want a sweet drink, that’s up to you! Taste after you’ve melted your chocolate to decide if you want your drink sweeter or not. Keep in mind that whipped cream is also sweet, and there will be sugar used for our cinnamon sugar, so be sure to account for that.
How to Make White Mocha
- Add milk to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir/whisk occasionally to ensure the milk doesn't burn at the bottom.
- Add instant coffee/espresso powder, Javy French Vanilla coffee if using. Mix well using a whisk until combined.
- Taste for flavor and add sweetener of choice to adjust as needed. Leave the pot on the stove on low heat while you prepare the cinnamon sugar.
4. Combine equal parts cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
4. Once the mocha is warmed through use a frother to froth the mocha and then pour into serving cups.
5. Top with shaved white chocolate, whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Enjoy!
Don’t Want the Coffee?▼
No problem! If you’re still looking for the white chocolate goodness of this drink, then I totally recommend you check out my Decadent White Hot Chocolate recipe! That white hot chocolate is also inspired by the Starbucks drink! It’s basically a hot chocolate made with white chocolate, topped with marshmallows and grated pecans. I’m sure you’ll really enjoy it!
Other Amazing Hot Drink Recipes!
- Starbucks Cafe Mocha
- Decadent White Hot Chocolate
- S’mores Hot Chocolate
- Tim Horton’s French Vanilla Cappuccino
The White Chocolate, the Milk, and Dairy Alternatives
Worth being clear about what actually goes in, because most versions of this drink are built differently. There is no bottled white chocolate sauce here. The sweetness and the body come from 7 good-quality white chocolate squares melting into hot milk, which is why it tastes like real chocolate instead of flavored syrup, and it is also why the brand matters: cheap white chocolate is mostly sugar and palm fat, and you will taste that. On the milk, it is 2 2/3 cup milk for two drinks, brought to a gentle simmer and whisked as it heats, never boiled, or it catches on the bottom of the pan. The coffee is 1 tablespoon of instant coffee or espresso powder, plus 2 tbsp of Javy French Vanilla concentrate if you have it; a shot of strong espresso with 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract does the same job. And if you want a dairy alternative, oat milk froths best and its natural sweetness suits this drink particularly well. Do note, though, that white chocolate itself contains milk solids, so swapping the milk gets you lower-dairy rather than dairy free. For a genuinely dairy free version you would need a vegan white chocolate as well, and coconut whipped cream in place of the cream on top.
If you liked this recipe please let me know in the comments. Tag your post on social media using #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cooking.with.anadi. If you’ve tried out Javy coffee concentrate for this syrup, be sure to tag #drinkjavy in your posts too! Thank you!
Recipe by Anadi Misra
Make a rich, creamy White Chocolate Mocha at home in minutes. This easy coffeehouse-style drink is indulgent, velvety smooth, and perfect for cozy mornings or an afternoon treat.
Stovetop
Rate this recipe ✦
5 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
2
drinks
easy
Level
Ingredients
Ingredients
Tap any quantity to scale
Instructions
- 1
Add milk to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir/whisk occasionally to ensure the milk doesn't burn at the bottom.
Add milk to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir/whisk occasionally to ensure the milk doesn't burn at the bottom.
- 2
Add instant coffee/espresso powder, Javy French Vanilla coffee if using. Mix well using a whisk until combined.
Add instant coffee/espresso powder, Javy French Vanilla coffee if using. Mix well using a whisk until combined.
- 3
Taste for flavor and add sweetener of choice to adjust as needed. Leave the pot on the stove on low heat while you prepare the cinnamon sugar.
Taste for flavor and add sweetener of choice to adjust as needed. Leave the pot on the stove on low heat while you prepare the cinnamon sugar.
- 4
Combine equal parts cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
Combine equal parts cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
- 5
Once the mocha is warmed through, use a frother to froth the mocha and then pour into serving cups.
Once the mocha is warmed through, use a frother to froth the mocha and then pour into serving cups.
- 6
Top with shaved white chocolate, whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Top with shaved white chocolate, whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Notes
- •If you don't have Javy coffee concentrate, simply substitute by using entirely instant coffee or espresso powder.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @cooking.with.anadi on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingwithanadi
Tested & written in Anadi’s kitchen
Recipe history
- April 16, 2026 — Reworked and refreshed for the 2026 relaunch — new photography, restructured and standardized ingredients & instructions.
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