The Cheap And Easy Creamer Swap For Sweet Chocolate Coffee

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The most recognizable example of a chocolate-flavored coffee drink is the classic caffè mocha. This coffeehouse staple combines espresso, chocolate syrup or powder, and steamed milk for a delectably drinkable experience. A mocha is great for getting that warm cocoa-coffee fix, but ordering one isn't really necessary if these are the flavors you're craving. Instead, try stirring some chocolate milk — a drink with a surprisingly long origin story — right into your brewed coffee. It's a cheaper option than buying a mocha at a coffee shop, and it's also often a better bargain than products marketed as "coffee creamer" too. For example, you can get an entire gallon of Great Value chocolate milk at Walmart for $2.72 (at the time of this writing, at my local, northern Alabama Walmart). On the other hand, a 32-oz bottle of International Delight Hershey's Chocolate Caramel coffee creamer is $3.77. 

Stir your desired amount of chocolate milk into hot or iced coffee, or even cold brew if you need a bigger caffeine fix, and you'll get a sweet, delicious treat. For the simplest cold version, simply mix chocolate milk with your cooled-down instant coffee. Depending on how sweet or chocolate-forward you prefer your drink, you can alter the amounts of each ingredient to suit your tastes. If you don't want cold chocolate milk cooling down your hot coffee, just warm it up first or steam it — this will give you a thicker, foamier result too. If you want to achieve the look of a coffeehouse mocha, you can add some whipped cream to the top, along with some chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder.

Creamy chocolate coffee can also serve as a great jumping off point for further experimentation. If chocolate milk masks the flavor of your coffee too much, try using less, or opt for espresso instead of brewed coffee, for a stronger coffee flavor. Of course, not all chocolate milk is created equal; some brands are definitely better than others, and you can even get chocolate-flavored plant-based milks these days too. When you stir caramel sauce and a pinch of sea salt into your chocolate coffee, you'll end up with an even tastier drink that resembles a salted caramel mocha, while adding in the tiniest bit of peppermint extract will give you peppermint mocha vibes. 

Likewise, many spices taste great with chocolate coffee, including cinnamon and nutmeg, or even cayenne pepper, which will make your drink taste like a Mexican hot chocolate. And, when you blitz chocolate coffee in a blender with ice, and maybe a touch of cream, you can create an icy frappé in an instant. Add a scoop of protein powder to this mixture and you'll get a tasty chocolate protein shake with a kick of caffeine to give you a pre- or post-workout boost.