This Quick and Easy Iced Mocha Latte is made with instant espresso and is ready to enjoy in 5 minutes or less…no espresso machine required!
Hot summer days call for cold, refreshing beverages. This delicious chocolaty homemade iced mocha latte is every bit as good as what you can get from your local coffee shop, and it’ll probably save you quite a few pennies too!
Not only will it cost you less, but you won’t have to drive to the shop or wait in any lines, which will save you time as well.
You need just 5 ingredients to make this yummy iced coffee at home: water, instant espresso, milk, chocolate syrup, and ice cubes…and 6 if you want to get all fancy and top it off with some whipped cream and extra chocolate syrup.
So you can make one any time you want right in your own kitchen!
And listen, it you’re a little iffy about cold coffee, I totally get it. When the hot coffee in my mug gets cold, I immediately toss it (I think it’s an association thing between the mug and a hot drink).
BUT if I put cold coffee in a tall glass with ice cubes and chocolate, I absolutely love it and can’t get enough. I say you’ve just gotta try it.
One sip, and I bet you’ll be drinking these all summer long!
What is a Latte?
A latte (pronounced like lah-tay) is short for the Italian caffè latte and is a hot drink made with espresso and steamed milk.
An iced latte is espresso, cold milk and ice.
What is a Mocha (or Mocha Latte)?
A mocha (or mocha latte) is a latte that is flavored with chocolate…usually chocolate syrup or chocolate sauce, but it could also be cocoa powder or even melted chocolate chips.
Why I Use Instant Espresso
One word, my friends: Easy!
Plus, my kitchen is small and there is no room for an espresso machine.
Instant espresso blends quickly with cold water, so you don’t have to brew hot coffee and then wait for it to cool down. And if you want a stronger flavor, all you have to do is stir some more into your drink.
The flavor is actually quite good and it makes a great iced latte!
Ingredients You Need
- Cold water
- Instant espresso (regular or decaf)
- Chocolate syrup (I use homemade chocolate syrup, but your favorite store-bought syrup is fine too)
- Milk (I use whole milk)
- Ice cubes
Note: Ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Make a Quick and Easy Iced Mocha Latte
- Place the cold water and instant espresso in a tall 16-ounce glass (a mason jar would also work); stir until the espresso is completely dissolved.
- Add the chocolate syrup.
- Add the milk.
- Stir until well-combined.
- Add ice cubes.
- Enjoy as is or top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of chocolate syrup!
Note: This is just a brief overview of the steps. Scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post for the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
Recipe Tips & Tidbits
- Depending on how fast you drink your iced latte, those ice cubes will eventually melt and water it down. For this reason, I use a strong espresso and try to use as few ice cubes as possible. And actually, since the coffee and milk are already cold, you could even skip the ice if you want.
- Since different brands of instant espresso and chocolate syrup will taste different, feel free to adjust the amount of either (as well as the milk) to suit your own personal tastes.
- A great alternative to regular ice cubes is to use frozen coffee cubes instead. They’ll keep your drink cold without diluting the flavor.
- To make frozen coffee cubes, just make up some extra instant espresso or use cooled regular brewed coffee, pour it into ice cube trays, and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag (they should last up to 2 weeks). Highly recommended!
Substitutions and Variations
- Top with whipped cream and extra chocolate syrup for a more indulgent treat!
- Regular instant coffee can be used instead of instant espresso. I would suggest at least doubling the recommended amount of coffee to use so you get a very strong flavor.
- If you have an espresso machine, by all means, go ahead and use it. You could also use extra-strong or double-brewed regular coffee. Just let it cool down before making your latte.
- Any kind of milk can replace the whole milk (2%, skim, lactose-free, etc.), including non-dairy milk like almond, oat, cashew, soy, or coconut milk…whatever you like.
- For a creamier iced latte, you can use half-and-half (half milk and half heavy cream) or heavy cream instead of milk.
- If you’re a fan of caramel, add a little caramel syrup or sauce along with the chocolate syrup. Yum!
Although I have used store-bought chocolate syrups to make these lattes, and they were very good, I will say that nothing beats using homemade chocolate syrup (I’ve got a recipe for that coming up next, so stay tuned!).
I hope you try this Quick and Easy Iced Mocha Latte recipe and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
More Cold Summer Drink Recipes To Try
- Caramel Whipped Coffee
- Cold Brew Iced Tea
- Easy Homemade Lime Lemonade
- Homemade Pineapple Julius
- Creamy Strawberry Watermelon Smoothies
If you make this recipe, I’d love to know how it went! Please leave a star rating and comment below. Thanks!
Quick and Easy Iced Mocha Latte
Ingredients
- ¾ cup cold water
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso, regular or decaf (or to taste)
- 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup, homemade or store-bought (or to taste)
- ½ cup milk, I use whole milk
- ice cubes, I use 3 to 4 regular-sized cubes
Optional Toppings:
- whipped cream
- additional chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Place the cold water and instant espresso in a tall 16-ounce glass (a mason jar would also work); stir until the espresso is completely dissolved.
- Add the chocolate syrup and milk; stir until well-combined.
- Add the ice cubes.
- Serve immediately as-is or, if desired, top with whipped cream and a drizzle of additional chocolate syrup.
Notes
- I like a stronger coffee flavor that will stand up to the melting ice cubes, so I use twice the amount of instant espresso recommended on the jar (which is 1 teaspoon to 6 ounces of water, so I use 2 teaspoons). If you prefer, you can start with 1 teaspoon and adjust the amount if needed.
- Also feel free to adjust the amount of chocolate syrup or milk to suit your own personal tastes.
- A great alternative to regular ice cubes are frozen coffee or espresso cubes. They’ll keep your drink cold without diluting the flavor.
- To make frozen coffee cubes, just make up some extra instant espresso or use cooled regular brewed coffee, pour it into ice cube trays, and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag (they should last up to 2 weeks). Highly recommended!
- The estimated calories shown are for the latte only and do not include any additional chocolate syrup or whipped cream used for topping.
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