Starbuck's Salted Caramel Mocha

Every season, Starbucks drops their holiday-specific drinks, like the Salted Caramel Mocha (my fave), and they are so famous for a good reason. These are easy to recreate at home, so you can keep drinking it even when it's discontinued.

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Coffee is just one of those things I can't live without. I'd study at the local Starbucks almost every day when I was in college. Sadly, we don't have a trendy, modern cafe nearby, but there is a Starbucks on every corner. 

After college, I started making my coffee at home, posting those recipes here on this blog. When I first started this project, I used an inexpensive, budget-friendly espresso machine, similar to this one.

I used that machine until it broke and found myself wanting to upgrade. I decided on this machine, a Breville Barista Touch. It was the more expensive model, but the semi-automatic features fit my lifestyle much better than the manual versions. 

Don't worry, though. You can still make this with strongly brewed coffee if you don't have an espresso machine! Still, if you're thinking about it, read about why you should buy an espresso machine, here.

Ingredients

• espresso or strongly brewed coffee
• milk of choice
• toffee nut syrup
• mocha sauce
• caramel sauce
• flaky sea salt

See the recipe card for quantities.

With an espresso machine

If you have an espresso machine, pull a double shot, steam some milk, and add the syrups to taste. 

Without an espresso machine

If you don't have an espresso machine, here are a few options for brewing coffee. 

Single-use pod:  While I don't recommend single-use coffee machines, brewing espresso at home has drawbacks. Like my Breville Barista, an espresso maker comes with a learning curve. For that reason, brewers like the Nespresso are wildly popular on social media, not only for its looks but also its convenience.  

Espresso powder:  Concentrated, dark instant coffee is coffee crystals that dissolve in liquid. More ideal for use in baked goods, but using instant espresso or instant coffee is an option in a pinch. 

Manual brewing:  My favorite method of brewing is a french press. I think it makes exceptional coffee. However, a Moka pot is a good, inexpensive alternative for brewing espresso. You can read more about the Moka pot in this Serious Eats article.

Use double the grounds for those with traditional pots and try a darker roast. It may take some trial and error to get it just right. Start with two tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of water, then go from there. 

Options for milk foaming

mini electric whisk: A milk frothing whisk is a cost effective way to froth milk, but you'll have to heat the milk for hot coffees.

Milk frother: An electric milk frother is a device that heats the milk while automatically spinning it for you.

Mason jar: Using a mason jar, microwave your milk for 15 seconds at a time until it reaches temperature.Cap the mason jar and vigorously shake to create foam. This option will create more foam because it is not as controlled, but it will get the job done.

Approximate salted caramel mocha recipes

To make starbucks salted caramel latte, this chart gives approximate recipes for each drink size, but for 16 to 20 ounces, I use two double shots of espresso, a half pump of dark mocha sauce, two pumps of toffee nut, and a drizzle of caramel. 

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**Tablespoon/Ounce conversions are approximations. Sweetness levels vary per brand, and the amount of syrup you need will vary greatly depending on the brewing method and beans used, so always taste and adjust as you go.**

Syrup:  One pump = ¼ ounce = ½ tablespoon

Sauce:  One pump = ½ ounce = 1 tablespoon

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TALL

1 shot = 1 ounce

3 pumps mocha = 3 tablespoons

3 pumps toffee nut syrup = 1 ½ tbsp

4 oz milk

GRANDE

2 shots = 2 ounces

4 pumps mocha sauce = 4 tbsp

4 pumps toffee nut = 2 tbsp

6 oz milk

VENTI

2 shots = 2 ounces

5 pumps mocha sauce = 5 tbsp

5 pumps toffee nut = 2 ½ tbsp

Substitutions

• Plant-based milk - except for products like Califa Barista blend, plant-based milk doesn't foam as well as cow's milk. That said, oat milk tastes good in this salted caramel mocha. 
• Sugar-free options: 
  • Toffee nut syrup 
  • Mocha sauce

Variations

• Starbucks Iced salted caramel mocha - chill the espresso in the freezer to keep the ice from melting. 

Equipment

Sauces and syrups

• Starbuck's Toffee Nut Syrup 
• Monin Toffee Nut Syrup 
• Sugar-free Toffee 
• Starbuck's Mocha Sauce 
• Monin Mocha Sauce
• Caramel Sauce
• Sea salt toffee sauce

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Craving more?

Check out these recipes.

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