Copycat Starbucks White Mocha

This Copycat Starbucks White Mocha tastes just like the real thing! A sweet treat with three simple ingredients, this espresso drink makes a great pick-me-up or dessert.

I love Starbucks drinks, don't you? But even better than buying one is making it yourself. You can customize it just the way you like and it costs a fraction of the price. As someone who used to work at Starbucks, I have some personal knowledge of how the drinks are made, and this White Mocha I'm going to show you how to make is just like the original.

This Copycat Starbucks White Mocha is not hard to make and uses only three easy ingredients. I'll break it down so you can enjoy this drink anytime and serve it up to your guests. There are lots of ways you can customize it, too, so it can fit your coffee preferences. Remember that there are quite a few calories in a rich drink like this, so I like to think of it as a dessert. Now let's talk about what goes into it.

Video Tutorial

Main Ingredients

To make this Copycat White Mocha, you'll need three ingredients: espresso, white chocolate, and milk. Optionally, you can add whipped cream on top, if desired. Starbucks does put whipped cream on their White Mocha, but that is totally up to you. Below, I will explain each ingredient in great detail.

Espresso

If you don't have an espresso maker at home, fear not, you still have two great and inexpensive options to make great espresso at home:

1) Instant Espresso. You can buy this Medaglia D'Oro Instant Espresso Coffee. Just mix one tablespoon of this coffee with two tablespoons of hot water and your espresso is ready. It actually tastes great!

2) Using a Moka Maker. In Italy, espresso is prepared in a “macchinetta” or “moka,” just like in the video below. A macchinetta is made up of 3 major parts: the bottom chamber (where you add water), the middle chamber (where you add coffee) and the top chamber (where your finished espresso will travel).

In my opinion, a macchinetta is an amazing machine that makes a REAL espresso without taking up a lot of space on your kitchen counter and making your wallet thinner. If you are an espresso lover, this is something that will make you happy! Here is a useful video on how to use a macchinetta:

You are probably wondering what kind of coffee is used to make espresso. Here is something you might not know: “espresso” is defined by the process, not by the type of bean. Unlike brewing drip coffee, making espresso means forcing hot water through finely ground beans with a high degree of pressure. So, basically, any coffee bean can make espresso as long as it’s prepared this way.

You may choose to buy Starbucks Espresso Coffee Beans or use the coffee beans you have at home. Test a few kinds of coffee to see which one works best for you. I personally enjoy Lavazza Crema E Gusto. By the way, if you own an espresso machine, feel free to use that instead.  

Milk

By default, Starbucks uses 2% milk. You can use any milk your heart desires. I LOVE using oat milk for my espresso-based drinks, and if you haven't tried it, you are missing out. Oat milk has a very similar taste and feel to dairy milk and it makes luxurious foam, if you are looking to make a cappuccino. I've tried this drink with soy milk, coconut milk, and cashew milk and loved them all.

White Chocolate

You can use white chocolate sauce or white chocolate chips. They sell original Starbucks white chocolate sauce on Amazon, so you can definitely buy that. You can also buy this Ghiraldelli White Chocolate Sauce, although I suggest using white chocolate chips if you are not buying the Starbucks version of the sauce.

The good news is that you can now buy white chocolate chips at almost any grocery store or online. I have tried several brands, and they all worked well. I have also tried using regular white chocolate bars, and it worked out beautifully.

Now that you have all of the ingredients handy, let's make this Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha!

How to Make it

1. In a small pot, combine the milk and white chocolate chips (or sauce) and heat over low heat, whisking nicely, until it's just about to start boiling and the chips (or sauce) are fully dissolved.

2. Prepare the espresso by using your preferred method (explained above).

3. Pour the hot espresso into a serving mug and then pour the sweet milk on top.

4. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

Variations of a White Mocha

• Extra shot. For a little more oomph in your white mocha, add an extra shot of espresso to the drink.
• Change up the milk. I mentioned that I love oat milk in mine, but some other great options besides dairy are cashew, soy, and coconut milk.
• Make a lighter version. For a "skinny" version of this Copycat Starbucks White Mocha, skip the whipped cream and use a lower-fat, or low-calorie milk, such as skim milk. Keep in mind that this may thin out the drink a bit.
• Enjoy it with no caffeine. If you'd like to drink this at night and even decaf espresso is too much, read on for a healthier, caffeine-free variation below.

Something to Try

If you ever wanted to enjoy espresso-based beverages, but you'd like to skip the caffeine and the extra steps of espresso-making, and make it even healthier, I've got something you might want to try... Chickory Root Powder! It has a lot of health benefits, no caffeine, tastes very similar to espresso, and most of my guests can't even notice the difference.

I personally buy this Instant Chicory Powder, but this Leroux Chicory is also great! Whether you are trying to ease off on the coffee consumption or just try this as a quick and easy espresso alternative, I have a feeling you won't be disappointed. To make espresso, simply mix 1 tablespoon of instant chicory with 2 tablespoons of hot water. You'll even see the crema on top! Here is more info about chicory: 5 Emerging Benefits and Uses of Chicory Root Fiber.

Can I make it ahead?

Yes, you can prepare this the night before if you like. Just keep the White Mocha in the refrigerator and then heat it up on the stove or in the microwave in the morning. Quick and easy for grabbing on your way out the door!

This Copycat Starbucks White Mocha is simple, sweet, delicious fun. You can make it different ways, or follow this recipe for a very close equivalent of what they sell at the Starbucks counter. Enjoy this treat anytime you like now!

More Starbucks Copycat Recipes:

• Caramel Macchiato
• Starbucks Caramel Latte
• Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
• Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte