Copycat Caribou Spicy Mocha

This Copycat Caribou Spicy Mocha is the best version of itself! It’s creamy, delicious, dairy free, and has no processed sugar! Ready in minutes, with or without espresso, it's the perfect holiday drink!

Some folks get excited when Starbucks coffee shops start adding their seasonal coffees in their famous red cups to their popular drinks list. Us in the Midwest though, get excited for Caribou’s iconic images of prancing caribou and snowflakes on their cups. Caribou Coffee drinks are far superior with seasonal flavors like Ho Ho Mint Mocha, Fa La Latte, Pumpkin White Chocolate Mocha (be sure to check out our at-home version here!), and their Spicy Mocha.

While pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas are great, you can’t deny Ho Ho Mint sounds a little more exciting (right?!). If you are lucky enough to be able to visit your local Caribou Coffee shop this holiday season, the air will smell of maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, freshly ground coffee beans, and beef and cheese (you don’t smell like Santa! Get the Elf reference?).

Just kidding, it won’t smell like beef and cheese but it likely will be crowded and overpriced and while it’s nice to treat yourself to those decadent coffees with real chocolate and brown sugar once in a while, it’s also nice to save your coffee money for gifts or experiences with the family. So, we made this at-home version that can be made with all ingredients you probably already have in the pantry or fridge!

Like I mentioned above, this simple recipe is even dairy-free and has no processed sugar so, dare I say it, a little bit better than Caribou? Maybe, maybe not, I’ll let you decide.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• How to Make This - Step by Step
• Quick Facts and Common Questions
• How To Make This High Protein
• Try These Other Delicious Drinks!
• Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

*All substitution options are a 1:1 substitution unless otherwise noted

Espresso: Brewed decaf or dark roast coffee can be used in place of espresso. Use ½ cup of regular brewed coffee in place of 2 oz of brewed espresso. And plan for a larger mug!

Plant-Based Creamer: Any of your favorite plant-based creamers can be used, or your desired cow’s milk such as whole milk, or half and half. Skim milk should be avoided because it results in a watery drink.

Cocoa Powder: Melted Chocolate chips can be used instead. But, also omit the honey called for.

Honey: Maple syrup, agave syrup, sugar, or coconut sugar can be used in place of honey.

Cayenne Pepper Powder: You can use ground chipotle pepper, ground ancho chilies. Note: We don’t recommend using chili powder because it has garlic in it. To remove the heat, use cinnamon in place of the cayenne pepper.

How to Make This - Step by Step

Step One: Make espresso as you normally would, or make ½ a cup of strong regular coffee. Even though this is a copycat recipe, we do still like to use Caribou Coffee’s Reindeer Blend (available in most grocery stores in the Twin Cities and beyond or check out the link in the substitution section below).

Step Two: Add creamer, cocoa powder, cayenne pepper powder, and honey to a microwave-safe container that has a lid or an electric frother. Heat in the frother or in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Step Three: If not done in an electric frother, cover the jar and shake vigorously to mix the creamer mixture and create foam or use a handheld frother like this one. Just make sure the cocoa powder is fully incorporated.

Step Four: Add coffee over milk.

Step Five: Enjoy! Try topping with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Quick Facts and Common Questions

What is a Caribou spicy mocha?  

A spicy mocha, sometimes called a Mexican mocha, is typically chocolate and either chili, cayenne, or cinnamon. Sometimes it can be both cinnamon and cayenne with chocolate. Caribou Coffee’s Spicy Mocha boasts chocolate, chipotle, and ancho chili.

Does this meet my dietary needs?

This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.

Do I need an electric frother?

Nope! While we love ours since it heats, mixes, and froths with one button (get it here), you can use a handheld frother like this one or put the contents in a mason jar or microwave-safe Tupperware and seal and shake aggressively to achieve the froth.

What’s the difference between espresso and coffee?

Espresso beans are simply dark roast coffee beans. Dark roast coffee beans can be used to make strong coffee or espresso, depending on the process.

What makes an espresso is grinding the coffee beans to a super fine consistency, packing them tightly, and then brewing those beans at high heat with hot water. An espresso maker not only heats the water to a high temperature but also produces high pressure. The combination of high heat, pressure, and fine grounds create the rich, dark flavor of a typical espresso.

Regular coffee, on the other hand, uses course ground coffee beans, medium heat, and no pressure to brew a light to medium roast coffee.

Note that coffee beans can vary in their depth of flavor as well. A light roast coffee is typically more acidic, while a dark roast typically has less acid.

How long does this keep?

1 day in the fridge. Sometimes when putting chocolate drinks in the fridge uncovered, they can develop a film on top. This is more likely to happen when using dairy milk but since we are using plant-based, it should not be an issue. That's not to say you shouldn’t cover it. Always better to keep it sealed. Just reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop when ready to drink again.

Can this be made into an iced mocha?

You betcha! Simple make the hot coffee or espresso and set it in the fridge while you make the creamer mixture. When making the creamer mixture, do not heat it, just mix well. You can even throw the ingredients in the blender to get the same froth without the heat. Fill a large glass with more ice than you think is normal (⅔ rds full of ice) and then pour the coffee and creamer mixture over it and enjoy.

Is there a best plant-based creamer?  

Yes! All plant-based creamers are different. Some have added Xanthax gums which help to thicken it and create that creaminess that is typical of half and half. Some just use a higher percentage of main ingredients (oats, cashew, almonds, flax, etc.) to water. Creamers with added gums typically do not froth because they are too heavy while creamers with too high of a water content will create foam not froth, meaning the bubbles will deflate quickly resulting in a watery coffee.

Our favorite creamers for overall creaminess are Silk Oat Yeah (unsweetened) and Oatly Original Oat Milk. Sometimes I like to add a splash of creamer that does have added gum, like Sown Sweet Cream for extra creaminess. Just a note, Xanthax gum is not necessarily considered healthy, my opinion is that it helps with added creaminess and has not been shown to be determinantal to my health so I will continue to use it in small quantities. But, please make that determination for yourself.

How To Make This High Protein

Simply mix in 1 scoop of unflavored collagen peptides. This will add 10-20g of protein ith little to no extra work!

Try These Other Delicious Drinks!

Sugar Cookie Matcha Latte

Protein Hot Chocolate

Copycat Caribou Vegan Pumpkin White Mocha

Peppermint Tea Latte

Recipe