Can You Put Cocoa Powder In Coffee? (Yes, Here’s How!)

Do you want to put cocoa powder in coffee? Check out our guide and learn how to make a more flavorful cup of joe with cocoa powder.

If you love mochas, you’ve probably thought about how you can make one at home.

I mean, all those fancy Starbucks drinks add up after a while!

One way that many people have tried making a DIY mocha is with cocoa powder.

So, can you put cocoa powder in coffee, or should you stick to your Starbucks routine?

In this guide, I’ll go over everything you need to know about adding cocoa powder to coffee. Plus, I’ll give you a few tips on how to go about getting that chocolatey coffee you’re after.

Let’s begin!

Can You Add Cocoa Powder to Coffee? 

You can add cocoa powder to coffee without any issues. In fact, the resulting combination actually tastes pretty good (kind of like hot chocolate, but with an extra caffeine punch). 

Adding cocoa powder to your regular coffee can result in a rich drink. The reason for this is that cocoa powder enhances the flavor of the drink without losing your coffee’s unique flavor notes. 

This resulting drink features the complex flavors of cocoa powder and coffee with a less bitter taste. 

The best thing about adding cocoa powder to coffee is that cocoa powder doesn’t contain any added sugar. So, you can bring out your coffee’s sweeter notes without making it an unhealthy beverage.

However, if unsweetened cocoa powder is too bitter for you. You can use the sweetened one or just add some sugar (or some healthier alternative) in the end.

NOTE
I know it sounds so similar, but don’t confuse cocoa and cacao powder! Cacao powder is made of raw cacao beans, while cocoa is made of roasted ones.

How to Put Cocoa Powder in Coffee? 

So, you’ve decided that you want to try adding cocoa powder to coffee. Good for you!

There are a couple of ways to go about it:

1. Make a cocoa paste
2. Combine the cocoa powder with ground coffee
3. Add it to cold brew

Let’s take a look at each of these methods in a bit more depth. 

Make a Cocoa Paste 

Before we jump right into adding cocoa powder to coffee, it pays to know that this stuff doesn’t dissolve well in coffee. So, if you just throw it into your coffee, you might wind up with lumps. 

You see, thanks to the fats that cocoa powder has, it’s hydrophobic. This means that it repels water. 

But, cocoa isn’t as water-repellent as pure oils. So, you can get around this property with a bit of cooking savvy.

One way to get around this is to make a cocoa paste. You can use a few different ingredients for this method. 

Butter or coconut oil can be used, for example. Those components help dissolve the cocoa powder faster. 

But, that’s not always to everyone’s liking.

For those who would not like to add fat to their morning coffee, hot water can be used instead. 

Either way, here’s how to make the paste:

1. Add equal amounts of cocoa powder and either fat or water to the bottom of your mug. 
2. If you want, you can add a little sugar or flavored coffee syrup.
3. Stir until you get a homogeneous hot cocoa paste
4. Next, slowly add the coffee to your mug while continuing to stir.
5. If you want, top your drink off with milk.

As for the coffee, you can use anything from espresso, drip, or instant coffee. Just choose your favorite brewing method to prepare a cup of black coffee, and the result will be the same.

NOTE
For a better result, it’s recommended to use very hot water. Freshly boiled water is the best. The reason for this is that it helps the cocoa powder dissolve better. That way, you avoid unwanted lumps in your coffee!

Combine With Ground Coffee 

Another brewing method for coffee using cocoa powder is to brew it directly with the coffee grounds! 

With this trick, you can actually brew your coffee with any method you like. A few personal favorites include using the French press or just adding it to the grounds basket of my drip coffee maker.

Once you’ve picked your chosen brewing method, it’s time to get to work. To make the coffee:

1. Measure out 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder for each tablespoon of coffee you’ll use. 
2. Add the cocoa powder and ground coffee beans to your coffee maker. 
3. Brew your coffee as you normally would. 
4. Serve your coffee fresh, and add milk, sugar, or any other additions you like!

NOTE
Cocoa powder is much more finely ground than coffee. So, you should use it in small quantities when adding it to coffee grounds.   

Brew It Into Cold Brew Coffee

If hot coffee isn’t your thing, you can also make a cold brew with cocoa powder! Just note that this method works a bit differently. 

For this method, you’re going to heat up your cold brew base. Then, you can finish off the way you normally would prepare cold brew!

Let’s go over this cold brew coffee recipe in detail: 

1. Make a batch of cold brew concentrate. You can use any method you like.
2. Once the concentrate is ready, separate ¼ cup of concentrate and heat it in the microwave until it’s hot to the touch. 
3. Add 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder to the heated cold brew and stir until the powder is dissolved. 
4. Add ¾ cup of unheated cold brew concentrate to the mixture. 
5. Add to a tall glass and add ice cubes. 
6. Finish off with your favorite cold brew additives, such as milk and sugar, or even whipped cream. 

Even though this process works a bit differently, you’ll wind up with a great-tasting cup of cocoa cold brew!

FAQ 

Adding cocoa powder to coffee isn’t super common. As a result, many people aren’t quite sure how to go about it. 

If you’ve still got some doubts about adding cocoa powder to coffee, check out these FAQs to clear things up.  

Conclusion 

So, can you use cocoa powder in your coffee? Absolutely! 

When prepared properly, adding cocoa powder to your morning brew results in a comforting and smooth drink. 

So if you want to try something different, give it a shot. It’s another way to mix up your morning routine and try something a bit different!

Wondering if you can add other ingredients to coffee? Check out this guide to adding powdered sugar to your cup of joe!