Mocha Boba
on Mar 21, 2024
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This rich and chocolatey boba coffee drink is the best of both worlds. You get to enjoy a delicious iced mocha with the added chewiness of boba.
Mocha Boba
This Mocha Boba combines the classic mocha mixture of chocolate and espresso with the delicious fun of boba. The mocha component of this recipe has the perfect balance of chocolate, milk, and espresso.
Boba pearls are made from tapioca starch, which comes from the starchy parts of the cassava plant. The boba gives this drink a delightful chewiness with a hint of sweetness.
Boba is typically used in bubble tea, like this Hong Kong Bubble Tea, but since this drink is made with tapioca balls, it can be called a boba drink.
Note from Jee
I aimed to get the perfect balance of chocolate, milk, and espresso for this Mocha Boba. I love how it turned out and hope you love it too!
If you don’t have a way to make espresso, I include instructions on how to make it with instant coffee although it won’t be as good as using espresso.
I always put boba (tapioca balls) into the iced drink when it’s very warm since that’s when they are perfectly chewy and soft.
Recipe Summary
- Mocha boba can be made at home using just 6 ingredients.
- The easiest way to make espresso for this drink is with a Nespresso machine. No Nespresso machine? You can use instant coffee.
- Store-bought tapioca balls are a shortcut to making boba at home. Dried tapioca balls are cooked in water for a few minutes.
- This recipe makes a 16 ounces (2 cups) drink.
RELATED: Brown Sugar Bubble Tea
Ingredient Notes
- Espresso: Make espresso using an espresso machine or a Nespresso. If you don’t have a way to make espresso, you can use instant coffee.
- Chocolate sauce: Store-bought chocolate sauce or syrup works perfectly well in this recipe, but you can also use homemade chocolate syrup.
- Tapioca balls: Dried, store-bought tapioca balls are an easy way to make bubble tea at home. Just cook them in water and they’ll plump up and soften.
- Milk: Any milk can be used for this recipe, including plant-based options, but whole milk makes a creamier drink.
- Water: For the better tasting drink, use filtered water.
- Ice: Make ice with filtered water if possible.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Boil tapioca balls in water. Strain.
Step 2: Put warm tapioca balls into a cup. Add chocolate sauce.
Step 3: Add ice then pour in milk.
Step 4: Top with the espresso. Stir before drinking and serve with an extra wide straw.
Recipe Notes
Tapioca balls should be very warm.
The trick to making the best bubble tea is to serve the tapioca balls while they’re still quite warm and have a soft, chewy texture. Just make sure they’re not too hot, since they can burn your mouth.
Make boba right before you prepare the drink.
Tapioca balls shouldn’t be made ahead since they start to harden as they cool.
Use instant coffee if you don’t have espresso.
Use 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and ¼ cup hot water to replace the 2 espresso shots in the drink.
Expert Tips
- Espresso tastes best when it’s just been made, so make the shots just before you’re ready to prepare this drink.
- To drink boba, use a wide straw to get a few tapioca balls and mocha with each sip. Chew the tapioca balls instead of swallowing them whole.
- Cooked boba will harden after about 4 hours and the texture won’t be soft with a nice chew.
- You can increase the amount of chocolate sauce if you like a sweeter drink with a stronger cocoa flavor.
Related
If you tried this Mocha Boba recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.
Mocha Boba
Equipment
Ingredients
Mocha
- 3 tablespoons chocolate sauce
- ¾ cup whole milk
- ¾ cup ice
- 2 shots espresso
Tapioca Balls
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup tapioca pearls
Instructions
- Boil water and add tapioca balls.Boil the water in a saucepan on the stovetop then add tapioca balls. Cook on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Tapioca balls should be soft all the way through. Turn off heat and cool slightly, until tapioca balls are quite warm, but aren't too hot to eat. (Follow directions on your tapioca ball packaging if you're using a different brand than the one I’m using.)
- Strain and put the warm tapioca balls into a cup. Add chocolate sauce, ice, milk, and espresso. Stir and serve. Serve immediately and stir before drinking. Use an extra wide straw to drink.
Notes
- The trick to making the best bubble tea is to serve the tapioca balls while they’re still quite warm and have a soft, chewy texture. Just make sure they’re not too hot, since they can burn your mouth.
- Use 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and ¼ cup hot water to replace the 2 espresso shots in the drink if you don’t have espresso.
- Whole milk makes a creamier drink, but you can also use plant-based options like oat milk or almond milk.
- Cook the tapioca balls right before you make the drink as boba quickly starts to harden as they cool.
- To drink boba, use a wide straw to get a few tapioca balls and mocha with each sip. Chew the tapioca balls instead of swallowing them whole.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
