Copycat Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

Chocolate, caramel, espresso, and a touch of sea salt come together in this easy Copycat Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha. It’s rich, creamy, sweet, salty, and exactly the kind of cozy coffee you want once fall arrives.

Made with espresso, chocolate sauce, caramel, steamed milk, whipped cream, and an easy homemade salted caramel topping, this coffee-shop-inspired drink takes only about 10 minutes to make at home.

And yes, you should absolutely add the extra caramel drizzle.

Why You’ll Love This Salted Caramel Mocha

If you can’t decide between a mocha and a caramel latte, this drink gives you both.

You’ll love it because it’s:

Ready in about 10 minutes
Rich and chocolatey
Filled with caramel flavor
Sweet with just a hint of salt
Easy to customize
Delicious hot or iced
Easy to make without an espresso machine
Less expensive than a coffee-shop drink

It’s basically dessert and coffee in the same mug.

Ingredients

For the Salted Caramel Mocha

2 shots espresso
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tablespoons chocolate sauce
1 tablespoon caramel sauce
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Salted Caramel Topping

1 tablespoon caramel sauce
1 teaspoon coarse sugar
Small pinch of flaky sea salt

For Topping

Whipped cream
Caramel sauce
Salted caramel topping

How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

Step 1: Make the Salted Caramel Topping

Combine the coarse sugar with a very small pinch of flaky sea salt.

Set aside.

You’ll sprinkle this over the finished mocha.

Remember that you only need a little salt. The goal is to balance the sweetness, not make your coffee taste salty.

Step 2: Brew the Espresso

Brew two shots of espresso.

Pour the hot espresso into a large coffee mug.

Step 3: Add the Chocolate

Add the chocolate sauce to the hot espresso.

Stir until completely combined.

The heat from the espresso will help the chocolate blend smoothly into the coffee.

Step 4: Add the Caramel

Add the caramel sauce and vanilla extract.

Stir again.

Step 5: Heat the Milk

Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot and steaming.

Don’t let the milk boil.

Step 6: Froth the Milk

Remove the milk from the heat.

Use a handheld milk frother to froth the milk until creamy and slightly foamy.

Step 7: Assemble the Mocha

Slowly pour the steamed milk over the chocolate-caramel espresso.

Stir gently.

Step 8: Add the Toppings

Top with a generous swirl of whipped cream.

Drizzle caramel sauce over the whipped cream.

Finish with a small sprinkle of the sugar and sea salt mixture.

Serve immediately.

What Does a Salted Caramel Mocha Taste Like?

Imagine combining a café mocha with a caramel latte.

The espresso provides a bold coffee flavor, chocolate makes the drink rich and decadent, and caramel adds buttery sweetness.

Then that tiny bit of salt cuts through the sweetness and makes the caramel and chocolate flavors stand out even more.

It’s sweet, creamy, chocolatey, and just a little salty.

Why Add Salt to Caramel?

Salt and caramel are one of those flavor combinations that just work.

Caramel is intensely sweet. A tiny amount of salt balances that sweetness and makes the caramel flavor taste even richer.

The key word is tiny.

You don’t want enough salt to actually make your mocha taste salty.

A small pinch is plenty.

What Chocolate Sauce Should I Use?

Use whichever chocolate sauce you already enjoy.

A traditional chocolate or mocha sauce works beautifully.

You can also use:

Dark chocolate sauce
Milk chocolate sauce
Homemade chocolate syrup
Hot fudge sauce that’s been slightly warmed

Dark chocolate is especially good if you prefer your mocha a little less sweet.

What Caramel Sauce Should I Use?

Any good-quality caramel dessert or coffee sauce will work.

A thicker caramel sauce is especially nice for drizzling over the whipped cream.

You can use store-bought or homemade caramel.

Do I Need an Espresso Machine?

No.

An espresso machine will give you the closest coffee-shop experience, but you can also use:

A Nespresso-style machine
A moka pot
Instant espresso
Strongly brewed coffee

If you’re using regular coffee, make it stronger than usual so the chocolate, caramel, and milk don’t overwhelm the coffee flavor.

What Milk Is Best?

Whole milk will make the mocha especially creamy.

However, you can use:

2% milk
Skim milk
Oat milk
Almond milk
Soy milk
Coconut milk

Choose whichever milk you enjoy in your coffee.

Make It Dairy-Free

Use your favorite plant-based milk along with dairy-free chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, and whipped topping.

Oat milk is particularly good in mochas because it creates a creamy texture.

Be sure to check your caramel sauce because traditional caramel may contain butter or cream.

How to Froth Milk Without a Frother

No fancy equipment required.

Heat the milk and carefully pour it into a heat-safe jar, leaving plenty of room at the top.

Secure the lid and shake until foamy.

You can also briefly blend the warm milk.

Make an Iced Salted Caramel Mocha

September weather isn’t always ready for hot coffee.

To make this drink iced, brew your espresso and stir in the chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, and vanilla.

Let it cool for a minute.

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour the espresso mixture over the ice.

Add cold milk and stir.

Top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and the salted sugar mixture.

Now you’ve got all the cozy fall flavors without the hot drink.

Make a Salted Caramel Mocha Cold Brew

You can also use these flavors with cold brew.

Fill a glass with ice.

Add:

1 cup cold brew
1 tablespoon chocolate sauce
1 tablespoon caramel sauce

Stir well.

Add a splash of milk or cream.

Finish with sweet cream cold foam, caramel drizzle, and a tiny pinch of sea salt.

Make It Extra Chocolatey

Chocolate lovers can increase the chocolate sauce to 2 tablespoons.

You can also add chocolate shavings over the whipped cream.

For an even richer drink, use dark chocolate sauce.

Make It Extra Caramel

Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of your mug before adding the espresso.

Add caramel to the coffee as directed.

Then top everything with whipped cream and another generous caramel drizzle.

Make It Less Sweet

Reduce both the chocolate and caramel sauces.

Try 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce and 1/2 tablespoon caramel.

You can also skip the whipped cream.

Make It Sweeter

Add extra caramel or chocolate sauce.

You can also add a teaspoon of brown sugar or vanilla syrup.

Taste first—the toppings add additional sweetness too.

Make a Salted Caramel White Mocha

Replace the regular chocolate sauce with white chocolate sauce.

Combine it with espresso, caramel, and steamed milk.

Finish with whipped cream, caramel, and the salted sugar topping.

It’s an especially rich variation.

Make a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Want a coffee-free version?

Leave out the espresso.

Increase the milk slightly and combine it with chocolate sauce and caramel.

Top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and the salted sugar mixture.

It’s a great fall drink for kids or anyone avoiding coffee.

What to Serve With Salted Caramel Mocha

This rich drink pairs especially well with:

Chocolate chip cookies
Brownies
Cinnamon rolls
Coffee cake
Chocolate muffins
Apple cider donuts
Pumpkin bread
Caramel apples
Snickerdoodle cookies
Chocolate croissants
Maple donuts

Because this mocha is already pretty decadent, even a simple butter croissant is delicious alongside it.

Turn It Into a Dessert Coffee

Want to go all out?

Drizzle chocolate and caramel around the inside of your mug.

Make the mocha as directed.

Top with whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, chocolate shavings, and a tiny pinch of sea salt.

Definitely not an everyday coffee.

Definitely worth making at least once.

Tips for the Best Salted Caramel Mocha

Use fresh espresso. Strong coffee balances the chocolate and caramel.

Add sauces to hot espresso. They’ll dissolve and combine much more easily.

Don’t boil your milk. Heat it just until steaming.

Use very little salt. You can always add another tiny pinch.

Use flaky sea salt if possible. You only need a few flakes.

Taste before adding more sweetness. Chocolate and caramel sauces vary considerably between brands.

Don’t skip the whipped cream. If you’re making a coffee-shop copycat, you might as well commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Salted Caramel Mocha Coffee?

Yes. This recipe uses two shots of espresso.

Does It Have Caffeine?

Yes, when made with regular espresso and chocolate.

The amount will depend on the specific ingredients you use.

Can I Make It Decaf?

Absolutely.

Use decaffeinated espresso.

Can I Make It Without Coffee?

Yes. Leave out the espresso to make a salted caramel hot chocolate.

Can I Make It Iced?

Yes! Combine the espresso, chocolate, and caramel before pouring over ice and adding cold milk.

Can I Use Regular Coffee Instead of Espresso?

Yes.

Use approximately 1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee.

Can I Leave Out the Salt?

Absolutely. You’ll simply have a delicious caramel mocha.