Your morning coffee is many things. Satisfying. Energizing. Comforting. With the addition of one simple flavor, we can add another adjective to that list. Refreshing!
The peppermint mocha could be the next best addition to your diet. It's a delicious, decadent and creamy treat for all of your senses. A true life luxury with a fresh mint flavor. The other bonus of the peppermint flavor? It doesn't matter if you forget to brush your teeth in the morning!* Ready to find out more?
*This is a joke. Your dentist will not be impressed if you replace toothpaste with coffee!
Peppermint + Coffee = The Perfect Match?
Peppermint is loved for its cool, invigorating taste. You'll mostly find it in toothpaste, mints, and mouthwash to help battle bad breath. But there are many other uses and benefits of peppermint that might not have crossed your mind. Here are just a few of them:
- If you have muscle pain, I advise using peppermint essential oil. It has a soothing, cooling effect on the body and can ease tension away. It's a natural pain killer and muscle relaxant to calm aching muscles and joints.
- It's great for your sinuses. It clears and unclogs your respiratory tract when you're feeling under the weather. You can use it for coughs, colds, asthma and more.
- Peppermint oil can actually reduce hunger cravings and stop you over-eating.
- It's a natural energizer. The oil can help to improve focus and concentration. Just one sniff of the fresh fragrance is a great way to perk up.
Peppermint is an ancient European herb. For years, the Europeans, Chinese, and Japanese have appreciated its healing properties. It has been used in ancient medicinal practices and is still used for this purpose today. These uses date back to 1000 BC. Peppermint oil was even found in many Egyptian pyramids!
Peppermint is actually a feature in a well-known Greek mythology tale. According to the tale, Pluto fell in love with a nymph named Mentha. He wanted people to forever appreciate Mentha, so decided to transform her into a herb! How romantic!
When peppermint met coffee, it brought a whole new sensation to the table. The minty coffee smell, along with the caffeine gives you an energy boost like no other. The experts use 100% Arabica beans and roast them to perfection. Then, the peppermint flavor is added.
How to Make a Peppermint Mocha
To keep things simple, you can make a peppermint coffee. Simply buy the readily infused beans and brew with hot water. Often, the peppermint flavor is a seasonal drink, consumed during the festive season. For this reason, I want to take the drink to the next level.
Introducing the luxurious peppermint mocha recipe to warm up the cold wintery nights.
You will need:
- Peppermint coffee beans (2 tsp)
- Cocoa powder (1-2 tsp)
- Full-fat milk (1 cup)
- Water
- Espresso machine, with grinder and espresso wand
- Coffee cup or glass
- Espresso cup
- Jug
- Spoon
- Optional extras: whipped cream, chocolate shavings, liquor
| The Method |
|---|---|
1. | Grind the beans. Prepare your espresso by grinding the whole coffee beans. Coffee has a short shelf life of around 2 weeks, so ensure the beans are fresh! Only grind what you need and store the rest in a cool, dry, dark container. |
2. | Pull the espresso. Follow the instructions on your espresso machine to pull your espresso. The machine will probably heat the water for you at just the right temperature. If done properly, the espresso should take around 30 seconds to pour. |
3. | Prepare the chocolate. To make the peppermint mocha as creamy as possible, I advise making a hot chocolate drink separately. Tip the cocoa powder into your jug and add the milk. Use the steaming wand to heat up and mix the milk and powder. Angle the wand to create a thick foam. |
4. | Assemble the drink. Pour the espresso into your cup and follow it with the milky chocolate mixture. The chocolate mixture should be 2/3 hot milk and 1/3 foam. You can use a spoon to keep the foam on top. |
5. | Jazz it up. Add any extras you choose to your peppermint drink. Whipped cream works well as it holds chocolate decorations safely. For best results, go with dark or mint chocolate! Drink and enjoy. |
Variations on the Peppermint Mocha
Skinny peppermint mocha
If you're trying to maintain a healthy diet, the recipe above might fill you with dread. As tasty as it sounds, is it worth all those calories? Luckily, you don't have to miss out. The skinny peppermint mocha could be just what you're looking for!
With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy a lower fat version of this drink, and it's still delicious. Replace full-fat milk with skinny milk or almond milk. You should also avoid the whipped cream and any extra chocolate toppings.
The skinny peppermint mocha calories comes to around 100.
Peppermint mocha frappuccino
If you prefer a cooler version of the peppermint mocha latte, that's easy too. The resulting drink is one that you may have seen in many large coffee chains. We call it the peppermint mocha frappuccino, and all you need to add is ice and a blender.
Simply make your espresso with the peppermint coffee beans. You can then choose to add chocolate syrup or cocoa powder, and then milk. Mix it all up and store it in a freezable container. Leave it in a fridge until it's cool enough and you're ready to drink it.
When you're ready, take it out and combine the mixture with ice at a 1:1 ratio. Blend until smooth and pour into glasses.
Nutritional Notes
As I mentioned before, you can choose your peppermint mocha calories with a few adjustments. However, here's a guideline of the nutritional values of your peppermint creation. The details below are for a Starbucks peppermint mocha (12 oz.)
| |
|---|---|
Calories | 350 |
Total fat | 13g |
Cholesterol | 40mg |
Sodium | 115mg |
Total carbohydrate | 48g |
Protein | 10g |
The Bottom Line
For this fresh festive drinks, purchase some high-quality peppermint coffee beans today! There are so many variations you can try, from a cup of coffee to one adorned with chocolate and cream.
We can combine the benefits of peppermint with the benefits of coffee for one magical drink. Can you think of a more energizing combination?
