Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Recipe, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content & more information)

If you are fed up with your regular cup of cappuccino from Starbucks, try leveling things up with a flavored cappuccino; Cocoa cappuccino. The Starbucks cocoa cappuccino is a whole different experience on its own.

Starbucks cocoa cappuccino has been a staple at Starbucks since 2011 when it was introduced at the coffee house. This drink has a unique and slightly sweet chocolate flavor, which you cannot get bored of. It is simply a variation of the regular cappuccino, made with bittersweet mocha sauce and topped with thick foam, which has been dusted by cocoa powder.

I discovered this drink through a friend when I hosted a sleepover. We were playing a game where you were supposed to guess a drink someone else loved and order it for them to taste. Lucky for him, this is my type of beverage. Not too sweet or flavorful, but with enough caffeine to keep me awake. My curiosity led me to research more about this drink, and I learned how to make it at home. Read on to get more information about the Starbucks cocoa cappuccino.

A brief history of the drink

The Starbucks cocoa cappuccino was first launched at the coffee house in 2011. This drink was unique as it was offered in cold or hot form (you can rarely find a cold cup of cappuccino). The cocoa cappuccino is different from a chocolate-flavored cappuccino, as it is made with a bittersweet mocha sauce and some unsweetened cocoa powder added to its topping. This drink is relatively healthy and is a staple on Starbucks’ menu.

Is Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino still available at Starbucks?

Oh, yes! If you already have eyes on this cappuccino, you can enjoy it at any Starbucks location with the bittersweet mocha sauce. To order this drink, simply order a cappuccino made with bittersweet mocha sauce and topped with thick foam that has been dusted with some cocoa powder and mocha sauce drizzles added to it.

Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content)

What’s in a Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino? – (Ingredients)

Starbucks’ cocoa cappuccino is made of milk (either cold or steamed), freshly brewed espresso, and some bittersweet mocha sauce added to it. What sets this drink apart is its toppings; Starbucks tops the cocoa cappuccino with thick foam dusted with cocoa powder and some chocolate drizzles to give its finish a velvety foam.

  • Milk – Starbucks uses 2% milk mixed with regular foam to make the cocoa cappuccino a dense velvety texture.
  • Espresso – a cappuccino is not complete without some espresso shots. The cocoa cappuccino is made with freshly brewed espresso for optimum flavor.
  • Ice – you can either have this drink warm or cold. If you are ordering it on a hot afternoon, ask your barista to serve it over fresh ice for a maximum refreshing experience.
  • Bittersweet mocha sauce – contrary to what many people think, Starbucks does not use its sweetened mocha sauce to make the cocoa cappuccino. Instead, it uses the bittersweet mocha sauce, which gives this drink a distinct, chocolatey flavor.
  • Thick foam – instead of whipped cream, Starbucks tops its cocoa cappuccino with a thick foam so that its finish can be dense. It is not just thick foam, as it is dusted with some chocolate drizzles and cocoa powder to enhance the taste of the cappuccino.

Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino: Sizes, nutrition, caffeine, dairy content & Calories

Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino Ingredients

What sizes are available?

Starbucks serves the cocoa cappuccino in four sizes; short, tall, Grande, and venti. This drink has fewer calories, and consuming even a Venti size should harm your health. Therefore, if you want more caffeine and are afraid because of the nutritional content of this cappuccino, you have my go-ahead.

Nutritional facts

As mentioned above, the cocoa cappuccino is a healthy drink with low calories and carbs. The sugar content in this drink is also low; hence, someone with diabetes can have it as a once-in-a-while drink.

Calories 140 
Nutritional Value (Grande Serving)% Daily Value
Total fat 5 grams

 

Saturated fat 3 grams

6%

 

15%

Total carbs 14 grams

 

Sugars 12 grams

5%
Sodium 120 mg5%
Cholesterol 20 mg7%
Protein 9 grams 

Caffeine information

Starbucks cocoa cappuccino is made with freshly brewed espresso shots, hence has high caffeine content. A 16-ounce serving of the cocoa cappuccino is made with two espresso shots and has 150 mg of caffeine. Therefore, if you love a drink with high caffeine content, you might have added another favorite to your list. However, if you love this drink but prefer a beverage with less caffeine, ask the barista to make it with one shot of espresso instead of two.

Dairy content

Starbucks uses 2% milk to make the cocoa cappuccino. If you are having this drink hot, the milk is steamed hot and mixed with regular foam to give it a velvety, dense texture. However, there are other milk options that you can use instead of this. The options range from non-fat milk, whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla, sweet cream, and breve milk to all the plant-based milk options that Starbucks offers.

So, what does Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino taste like?

The flavor of this drink is quite hard to point out, as it is not that sweet, nor is the chocolate flavor that rich and deep. However, when having this drink, you can feel the chocolate flavor; it tastes more like cocoa powder because of the extra toppings. It is slightly sweet, with hints of bitterness and a dense foamy texture.

Ways to customize a Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino at Starbucks – Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino Variations

My favorite part about Starbucks is the ability to customize its drinks in endless ways. I love playing around with ingredients to see what I can come up with. With the cocoa cappuccino, ask your barista to add some sweeteners to your cappuccino. I recommend you go in with some classic syrup, as this will not only sweeten your drink but also enhance the general flavor of the cappuccino.

You can also twist the toppings a little bit to deepen the chocolate flavor of this drink. Rather than using the chocolate drizzles, ask your barista to top your cocoa cappuccino with chocolate curls, as they tend to have a more robust chocolatey flavor. You can also use whipped cream instead of foam if you want a more creamy drink. Let us not forget that this drink is already available in two variations; cold and hot.

How to make Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino at home – Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino recipe

Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino

Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino recipe

Kai Jordan

Equipment

  • Pan
  • Glass
  • Espresso machine
  • Spoon

Ingredients
  

  • Milk
  • Brewed espresso
  • Bittersweet mocha sauce
  • Foam
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Chocolate drizzles
  • Milk foam

Instructions
 

  • Making a cocoa cappuccino is relatively straightforward and shouldn't take you long. Start by preparing your espresso shots using an espresso machine.
  • Heat your milk till it reaches your preferred temperature.
  • Pour your espresso shots into a glass and add milk on top of it.
  • Using a spoon, take a reasonable amount of bittersweet mocha sauce and add it to your drink; stir well.
  • Garnish your drink with thick foam and sprinkle some unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate drizzles to get a velvety texture and enhance the drink's taste.

Notes

  • There are endless ways in which you can customize your cocoa cappuccino at home. While making this drink, I usually use strong coffee because getting a high-quality brewed espresso that will bring out the flavor of this drink ideally is a bit hard because of the prices.
  • Another way to customize the cocoa Frappuccino is by using non-fat or plant-based milk instead of whole milk.
  • You can substitute milk foam with whipped cream if you want a smoother finish.
  • If you love a sweet drink, do not hesitate to add sweeteners of your choice to your cappuccino, brown sugar will blend well with the rest of the ingredients.

Informative Section

How do you order a Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino?

To order the cocoa cappuccino, simply order it and ask your barista to customize it by adding a bittersweet mocha sauce. Top your drink with a thick foam dusted with chocolate drizzles and cocoa powder to get a velvety, dense foam and fully experience this drink’s flavor.

How much is the Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino?

The price of the cocoa cappuccino is a bit higher than that of the regular cappuccino. A tall serving of this drink will cost you around $3.55, depending on the Starbucks location you are getting it from. A regular cappuccino should cost you around $2.65 for the same serving.

Is the Starbucks Cocoa cappuccino good?

Absolutely good! This drink is delicious, with just enough sweetness to compliment the slightly chocolatey flavor. It is slightly bitter and is great for a health freak who loves a flavored cup of cappuccino that is not overly sweet.

You’ll Also Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating