DIY Starbucks Mocha

I like coffee.

Okay, that's a lie. I hate coffee. I like grande non-fat no-whip extra-hot mochas from Starbucks. They are equal parts delicious and expensive.

But a Starbucks mocha is nothing but milk, espresso, and cocoa. And Starbucks sells the very cocoa they use to make their mochas. (They sell the powder that the baristas mix with water in the store to make syrup.)

Let's do a quick cost-benefit analysis.

If you work somewhere with free milk and an espresso machine like I do, then it's a no brainer. Each grande mocha at Starbucks costs $4. One package of Starbucks Mocha Powder costs about $7 and makes 20 16-ounce beverages. So the purchase pays for itself after 2 drinks.

But let's say you don't work somewhere with ridiculous amounts of free food and drink. Let's say you have to pay for everything yourself. You pay $7 for the mocha powder, $40 for a cheap but well-reviewed espresso machine from Target, and $13 for quality espresso beans (which I'll assume last as long as the mocha powder). Plus we'll factor in $10 for milk. That's 20 grande mochas for $70.

By the time you reach 20 mochas, you've basically gotten 10 bucks and an espresso machine for free. And every mocha after that only costs you $1.50. You've just brought your CPMM (cost per marginal mocha) down by 62.5%.

Free tip: subtract the espresso and you have a Starbucks hot chocolate.




Starbucks Mocha Powder

Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso Machine

Illy Espresso Whole Bean Dark Roast