Irish mocha latte is creamy, chocolatey and easy to make at home. Expect plenty of flavour, a buzz of alcohol and a pleasing sweetness to this playful Baileys mocha.
Try this homemade Baileys coffee drink with a slice of Irish coffee cake or coffee and walnut loaf cake.
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Why I Love This Baileys Coffee Drink
- Quick & easy: This drink is ready in less than 10 minutes and requires just 4 ingredients.
- Taste: This creamy Irish mocha has rich coffee flavour along with an unmistakable hint of chocolate whist the inclusion of Baileys Irish cream liqueur adds in a cosy buzz of boozy warmth.
- Perfect balance of sweetness: It's sweet, but not too sweet.
- Fun: It's a playful twist on the classic mocha drink and it's just for the grown-ups.
- Cosy vibes: Slightly bolder and less sweet than a Baileys hot chocolate but milder than a straight Irish coffee, this chocolate coffee drink with Baileys is great for snuggling up with on cold nights.
- Budget friendly: Making this coffee shop-style mocha at home is a much cheaper way of enjoying this winter coffee drink.
All-in-all, this Irish mocha coffee is perfect for when you're torn between coffee, hot chocolate or a drop of alcohol.
Jump to:
If you don't fancy chocolate then try my straight-up Irish latte. And if you're also looking for exciting non-alcoholic mocha recipes try my Aztec mocha, minty mocha, caramel mocha or my white chocolate mocha. They're all divine.
What is a Mocha Latte?
If you are sitting here thinking that you know what a mocha is and you know what a latte is but are wondering how the two combine to make a mocha latte, it's simple: mocha latte is another way of naming a mocha, but the use of the word latte emphasises the fact that this is a long milky drink rather than a shorter coffee drink.
There are three elements to a mocha latte:
- Espresso coffee
- Chocolate
- Steamed milk
Coffee houses, such as Starbucks and Costa will often use chocolate syrup to bring in the chocolate flavour. My Irish mocha latte uses real chocolate instead to create a truly authentic chocolate taste that is not ridiculously sweet (the curse of relying on syrup to flavour drinks). As such, the sweetness level of this Baileys and coffee drink is not overpowering.
And of course, unlike the Starbucks mocha latte, my hot chocolate based Irish mocha coffee contains a generous glug of Baileys Irish cream. This brings a decadent fourth element of flavour to this popular coffee house drink.
Ingredients Notes
Baileys Irish Cream: I recommend using the original original Baileys liqueur in this Irish cream mocha latte. Call me a snob if you like, but I've tried plenty of alternative brands over the years and have yet to find an Irish cream that matches up to Baileys.
Chocolate: Use semi-sweet chocolate with around 60% cocoa solids. It is not too sweet or too bitter and complements the robust coffee and slightly sweet nature of the Irish cream perfectly.
If you cannot get hold of chocolate with 60% cocoa solids try mixing ⅓ milk chocolate (with 30% cocoa solids) and ⅔ dark chocolate (with 70% cocoa solids).
Coffee: Ideally use coffee beans that have been freshly ground at home. If this is not an option for you, pick up some ground espresso coffee powder and run with that.
There's no need to get too caught up on premium quality coffee here. This is an easy-going coffee drink and the espresso flavour is somewhat diluted by the other ingredients, so save the expensive beans for a straight coffee.
Milk: The best option for this creamy Irish mocha coffee is whole (full-fat) milk. The higher fat content compared to semi-skimmed milk makes all the difference. Whole milk is also the best option for creating a wonderful microfoam top that could be used to create some beautiful latte art (a skill I'm yet to master but keen to acquire).
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Heat the milk in a pan to scalding but do not let it boil. Add the chocolate and stir until melted.
- Step 2: Brew the espresso coffee and add it to the pan along with the Baileys Irish cream.
- Step 3: Optional: use a milk frother or a handheld immersion blender to agitate the liquid until frothy
- Step 4: Pour the drink into a mug and, if desired, top with whipped cream and a few chocolate flakes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Warm your coffee mug or glass: Fill it with very hot water whilst you make the drink. Discard the hot water when you are ready to serve the mocha. This step helps ensure the drink is served at a great temperature.
- Add latte art: If you intend to create some latte art for your homemade Baileys coffee drink, reserve half of the milk before adding the chocolate. Steam the reserved portion using the wand on your coffee machine and pour it into the drink at the end to create a stylish cream-free top to your hot Baileys drink.
- Taste the drink before adding any sugar to it. This Baileys and coffee drink is sweet enough for my tastes, but feel free to add a little extra sweetness if you think otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. A coffee machine is a quick and easy way to brew espresso, but if you don't have one then feel free to brew your coffee using an Aeropress or cafetiere instead.
Yes! I'd always recommend using freshly brewed espresso coffee for the best taste, but if that is not an option for you feel free to use instant coffee granules. Try dissolving a rounded teaspoon of granules in 60ml of water that has recently boiled.
Although I have specified 40ml in the recipe listed below, this can be varied according to your taste preferences. Drop it down to 20ml for just a hint of alcohol or increase it slightly. Just beware of overpowering the chocolate and coffee with a more pronounced punch of boozy flavour.
Yes, you can. To do so you will need to use Irish cream flavoured syrup. This non-alcoholic version would be suitable for non-drinkers and offers a great way for them to enjoy this winter coffee recipe.
Both of these homemade Baileys coffee drinks contain espresso coffee, milk and Irish cream. However, the Irish latte does not contain chocolate wehreas the Irish mcha does.
Serving Suggestions
Drinks such as this Baileys mocha coffee are light-hearted and fun. They don't take the coffee element too seriously. And that means that we are at liberty to introduce a little frivolity when it comes to the presentation. And by frivolity, I do, of course, mean embellishments.
My favourite way to serve this Baileys and coffee drink is to pour it into a heatproof coffee glass, top it with whipped cream and then sprinkle liberally with flaked chocolate and marshmallows. It's utterly indulgent and totally blissful.
If you are looking for more ways to round this drink off in style then consider some of the following ideas:
- Baileys truffles - A couple of these served on the side ensures the ultimate in Irish Cream indulgence.
- Sieved cocoa powder or drinking chocolate: A dusting on top of the whipped cream is simple and stylish.
- Shattered chocolate-covered coffee beans: Hit them briefly using a pestle and mortar and scatter over the whipped cream.
- Chocolate sauce: Use it to rip the glass and/ or drizzled on top of the cream.
- Baileys whipped cream: Add a splash of the good stuff to the cream before whipping. Go for 15ml Irish cream per 50ml cream.
Variations
- White Chocolate Irish Mocha: Adding Baileys to white chocolate mocha latte with Baileys creates a sweeter version of Irish cream mocha, but it does work.
- Milk Chocolate Baileys Mocha: Similarly, using milk chocolate in place of the darker chocolate is also an option. It will also result in a sweeter Baileys mocha drink than this version.
- Vegan Irish mocha: Use Baileys Almande rather than classic Baileys Irish Cream, replace the milk with either almond milk or oat milk (look for the barista edition) and use vegan chocolate.
- Baileys Chocolate Orange Mocha: Get fruity by using orange truffle Baileys Irish Cream or use orange infused dark chocolate.
- Salted caramel mocha latte: Replace the original Baileys Irish cream with salted caramel Baileys.
- Double chocolate Baileys Mocha: Opt for a luxuriously rich and chocolatey hot Baileys drink by using Baileys Chocolat Lux in place of regular Baileys Irish Cream.
- Boozy peppermint mocha: Add a small dash of peppermint extract to turn it into a boozy peppermint mocha latte. As extracts can vary in strength, I suggest adding ⅛ teaspoon of extract at a time and tasting until you are happy with the level of mint flavour.
Have you made this Irish mocha latte featuring real chocolate and Baileys with coffee? I hope you enjoyed it - please leave a comment and/ or rating below if you did. I do value hearing how readers get along with my recipes.
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Irish Mocha Latte (A Baileys and Coffee Drink)
Ingredients
- 15 g Ground espresso coffee
- 30 g Dark chocolate 60% cocoa solids
- 140 ml Whole (full-fat) milk
- 40 ml Baileys Irish cream liqueur
Instructions
- Brew the ground coffee, ideally using a coffee machine to make 60ml espresso coffee. If you do not have a coffee machine use an Aeropress or a cafetiere instead.
- Gently heat the milk in a pan with the chocolate and stir until melted.
- Add the Baileys Irish cream and the coffee.
- Optional: blend using a milk frother or an immersion blender to create froth.
- Pour the drink into a warmed mug or heatproof glass.
- Optional: top with whipped cream and a few chocolate flakes.
Notes
- Warm your coffee mug or glass: Fill it with very hot water whilst you make the drink. Discard the hot water when you are ready to serve the mocha. This step helps ensure the drink is served at a great temperature.
- Add latte art: If you intend to create some latte art for your homemade Baileys coffee drink, reserve half of the milk before adding the chocolate. Steam the reserved portion using the wand on your coffee machine and pour it into the drink at the end to create a stylish cream-free top to your hot Baileys drink.
- Taste the drink before adding any sugar to it. This Baileys and coffee drink is sweet enough for my tastes, but feel free to add a little extra sweetness if you think otherwise.
Variations
- White Chocolate Irish Mocha: Adding Baileys to white chocolate mocha latte with Baileys creates a sweeter version of Irish cream mocha, but it does work.
- Milk Chocolate Baileys Mocha: Similarly, using milk chocolate in place of the darker chocolate is also an option. It will also result in a sweeter Irish mocha drink than this version.
- Vegan Irish mocha: Use Baileys Almande rather than classic Baileys Irish Cream, replace the milk with either almond milk or oat milk (look for the barista edition) and use vegan chocolate.
- Baileys Chocolate Orange Mocha: Get fruity by using orange truffle Baileys Irish Cream or use orange infused dark chocolate.
- Salted caramel mocha latte: Replace the original Baileys Irish cream with salted caramel Baileys.
- Double chocolate Baileys Mocha: Opt for a luxuriously rich and chocolatey hot Baileys drink by using Baileys Chocolat Lux in place of regular Baileys Irish Cream.
- Boozy peppermint mocha: Add a small dash of peppermint extract to turn it into a boozy peppermint mocha latte. As extracts can vary in strength, I suggest adding ⅛ teaspoon of extract at a time and tasting until you are happy with the level of mint flavour.
Jane Coupland says
This is a great recipe for cosy winter nights.