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Home » Recipes » Hot Cocoa

Hot Chocolate Espresso

By Laura Fuentes Updated Nov 21, 2025

5 from 8 votes

Recipe

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Sweeten up your favorite pick-me-up with this easy recipe for espresso and hot chocolate

Coffee or hot cocoa? No need to choose between your favorites with this easy and cozy espresso hot chocolate you can make in only 5 minutes!

a glass with espresso hot chocolate surronded by coffee grains

Espresso Hot Chocolate

Aside from the classic hot cocoa my family loves, the holidays are that time of the year when I test new flavors and make the most of the cold days that don’t abound in New Orleans all year round. As the coffee lover I am, making espresso hot chocolate was a no-brainer!

While my kids have a thing for strawberry hot cocoa, my husband and I often make this hot chocolate by brewing espresso or using espresso powder. Both ways, this recipe yields sweet and delicious mugs of chocolate goodness. So good!

Ingredients 

This drink is made with cocoa powder, water to dissolve it, and sugar to sweeten. You’ll also need any regular or non-dairy milk, vanilla, and the star of the show: espresso! You can brew the espresso shots or use espresso powder instead.

How to Make a Hot Chocolate Espresso

Here's what you'll have to do to enjoy this warm drink at home:

  1. Prep hot cocoa by whisking water, sugar, and cocoa powder over medium heat. Once combined, add the milk.
  2. Brew the espresso while the cocoa heaps up. Pour each shot into a mug, or place the espresso powder in the mugs if that's what you're using.
  3. Combine the hot cocoa with vanilla, then pour the mixture over the espresso shots. Serve with whipped cream or your favorite toppings for hot chocolate.

More Hot Cocoa Recipes

Craving rich and complex flavors? Try my pumpkin spice hot chocolate or this delicious salted caramel hot chocolate. To turn your mugs pinkish, go for this raspberry hot chocolate that tastes and looks amazing! Adding nutrition is also possible with my Protein Hot Chocolate Recipe!

Easy Espresso Hot Chocolate

a glass of espresso hot chocolate topped with coffee grains
Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 5 minutes mins
Sweeten up your favorite pick-me-up with this easy recipe for espresso and hot chocolate
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 cups milk, any
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 shots of espresso
  • Whipped cream, for topping

Instructions

Prep:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the water, sugar, and cocoa powder. With a whisk, stir to combine into a chocolate mixture. Add the milk and heat it up.
  • While the hot chocolate heats up, brew the espresso. Pour each espresso shot inside a mug. If using espresso powder, add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons of espresso powder into each cup.

Combine:

  • Once the hot chocolate is warm, add the vanilla and stir.
  • Pour the hot chocolate over the espresso shots.

Serve:

  • Top the espresso hot chocolate with whipped cream.

Equipment

small yeti mug
Hot cocoa for hours!
Clean Treats
Clean Treats Cookbook

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 463IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 306mg | Iron: 1mg

More Hot Cocoa

  • a mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings
    Hot Cocoa for a Crowd
  • a mug of ginger hot cocoa with cinnamon sticks
    Ginger Hot Cocoa
  • two mugs of hot chocolate mocha surrounded by cinnamon sticks and coffee beans
    Hot Chocolate Mocha 
  • cups of coffee hot cocoa topped with whipped cream
    Hot Cocoa and Coffee

Comments

    5 from 8 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Maddie says

    January 09, 2026 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    I don’t usually love coffee, but this combination made crave it again!

    Reply
  2. Lily says

    January 08, 2026 at 10:34 pm

    5 stars
    I made this after dinner as a little nightcap style drink, and it was a total win. And it felt so comforting but not boring, which is exactly what I wanted.

    Reply
  3. Beth says

    January 08, 2026 at 1:53 pm

    5 stars
    This is so yummy! I love that kick of caffeine with the chocolate flavor. What a great way to start the day.

    Reply
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Laura fuentes holding a skillet of food standing in front of a blue door

Hi! I'm Laura.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

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