By Category
- Diversifying Product Offerings (12)
- Specialty Coffee Industry Insights (22)
Search
By Author
- Kari Guddeck (5)
- Josh Taves (3)
- Tom Palm (2)
- Dan Olson (2)
- Bill Guddeck (2)
- Alexa Chausse (2)
- Steven McCoy (1)
- Eliot Jordan (1)
- Andrea Ramirez (1)
- Kate Schade (1)
- Ari Satinover (1)
- Matthew Moseley (1)
- Jared Umsted (1)
- Paul Maxwell (1)
- Jay Weller (1)
- Greg Fisher (1)
- Julia Leach (1)
- Greg Lefcourt (1)
- Annelies Zijderveld (1)
- Amy Gross (1)
Mocha to the Max - Sweet Ground Chocolate Powder vs. Sauce
Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator.
A large percentage of coffee consumption is now comprised of Mochas, Lattes and Cappuccinos. Considering that these specialty coffee drinks are made up of primarily milk and flavorings, its ironic that most café owners will take the time to choose a quality coffee, but will often not think about the quality of the other ingredients they're using to make that specialty coffee drink! In this article we will focus on what goes into making a Premium Mocha and the decision to use a Sweet Ground Chocolate Powder or Chocolate Sauce.
Let's start with what the basic ingredients are to make a 12 oz. mocha: 8 oz. Milk, 2 oz. Espresso, 1.5 oz Chocolate Sauce or 3 tablespoons of Chocolate powder. Of course some only like an ounce of Espresso and more milk/chocolate, and some want less additives and more Espresso, but any way you cut it the major ingredient in a Mocha isn't coffee, it's the other ingredients.
Assuming you've chosen quality Espresso Beans and Milk to create your Mocha you're now left with a key decision - what to use for your Chocolate ingredient? The first part is usually obvious and that's to use a quality, premium chocolate! So the next decision is what form of Chocolate to use - Powder or Sauce?
Sweet Ground Chocolate Powder vs. Sauce
| Benefits | Chocolate Powder | Chocolate Sauce |
| Quality | Equal | Equal |
| Cost | 20-25%/serving less than Sauce | |
| Easy of use | Equal | Equal |
| Shelf Life | Up to 2 years | Up to 1 year |
| Flexibility | Mochas, baking, make your own sauce, topping | Mochas, more topping appeal than a powder |
| Merchandising Appeal | Branded premium powders can be promoted on a menu and powder caddies | Branded Premium Sauces can be promoted on menus and in bottle racks |
Overall, using a Sweet Ground Chocolate powder seems to have an advantage over a Chocolate Sauce. However, both are great for mochas and many times it's simply a personal preference. If you go with a Premium Branded Chocolate you now have an added bonus of being able to merchandise the quality chocolate you're using in your mochas.
Barista Pro Shop can offer you a couple of great Branded Premium Chocolate options for your Mocha needs. Ghirardelli Chocolate Co. has Sweet Ground Chocolate Powders and Sauces in a variety of flavors. See below for great Mocha recipe ideas:
Sauce Recipes
.jpg "Retail and Wholesale Coffee Shop Supplies: www.BaristaProShop.com (3)")
Mocha
| 1 1/2 ounce | Chocolate Sauce |
| 2 ounces | Espresso |
| 8 ounces | Steamed milk |
Combine sauce and espresso in 12-oz. Mug. Stir until well combined. Pour steamed milk into mug; stir to combine sauce and espresso. Top with froth from steamed milk. Drizzle with Ghirardelli Chocolate Flavored Sauce.
Serving/Yield = 1 - 12oz.
.jpg "Retail and Wholesale Coffee Shop Supplies: www.BaristaProShop.com (4)")
White Mocha
| 1 1/2 ounce | White Chocolate Sauce |
| 2 ounces | Espresso |
| 8 ounces | Steamed milk |
Combine sauce and espresso in 12-oz. Mug. Stir until well combined. Pour steamed milk into mug; stir to combine sauce and espresso. Top with froth from steamed milk. Drizzle with Ghirardelli White Chocolate Flavored Sauce.
For a less sweet mocha use 1/2 ounce Sweet Ground or Chocolate Sauce and 1 ounce White Flavored Sauce.
Serving/Yield = 1 - 12oz.
Powder Recipes
Classic Mocha - Powder Recipe
| 3 Tbl. | Sweet Ground Chocolate Powder |
| 12 oz. | Steamed/Heated Milk |
| 1-2 ounces | Espresso |
Classic White Mocha - Powder Recipe
| 3 Tbl. | Sweet Ground White Chocolate Powder |
| 12 oz. | Steamed/Heated Milk |
| 1-2 oz. | Espresso |
Classic Hot Chocolate - Powder Recipe
| 3 Tbl. | Sweet Ground Chocolate Powder |
| 12 oz. | Steamed/Heated Milk |
Classic Hot White Chocolate - Powder Recipe
| 3 Tbl. | Sweet Ground White Chocolate Powder |
| 12 oz. | Steamed/Heated Milk |
Comments
can you use these powders in an iced drink, and if so, where would you add it in?
By Artisan Floral & Cafe
August 4, 2014
There are two ways you can make an iced drink, You can blend it, in which case you would add your liquid first, followed by powders, then ice on top.
If you are not blending, you would add your powder and espresso/hot water into the cup, followed by milk, then fill with ice as it would be difficult to mix the powder if you add ice first.
By Barista Pro Shop
August 4, 2014
Hello, do you have a white chocolate powder as well? We are a new start up opening Feb. 2016 and looking at options. Do you have any samples of chocolate powder (dark and white if available)? I have never heard of this but a friend recommended we try it. Thank you, Debbie Goodrich
Bear Creek Coffee Co.
UBI #603456744
By Debbie
January 10, 2016
Debbie, we do have a variety of white chocolate powders as well. We will have one of our staff contact you shortly and arrange some samples for you. Have a great day!
By BPS
January 11, 2016
Classic Mocha - powder recipe calls for 8 oz of espresso. Strong! ;)
By Rusty Compass Coffeehouse
March 22, 2018
Yikes, we may have needed some more espresso when reviewing that recipe description; good catch! Maybe just start with 1 or 2 shots of espresso. ;)
By BPS
March 23, 2018
