Caffè mocha, mocha coffee, white mocha, cappuccino, macchiato, mochaccino – it’s easy to get confused, especially when staring at a coffee shop menu.

Bearing in mind that different coffee houses may put different spins on each of these drinks, here’s a cheat sheet to help you get your bearings.

• Caffè mocha: The espresso, steamed milk and chocolate drink we’ve been discussing.
• Mocha coffee: Essentially a mocha, but with coffee instead of espresso. We’ll discuss making this one at home, in a bit.
• White mocha: A caffè mocha made with white chocolate instead of milk or dark chocolate. It’s usually slightly lighter and a little less bitter.
• Cappuccino: No chocolate here; it’s one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, one-third milk foam. (That’s different from an Americano, which has no milk at all, just espresso and hot water.)
• Macchiato: Similar to a cappuccino, but with different proportions of espresso, milk and foam.
• Mochaccino: This is why we included the last two. A mochaccino is basically a cappuccino or macchiato with chocolate added to it; it has less milk and more microfoam than a caffè mocha. In truth, though, a mochaccino can really be anything the barista or coffee store wants it to be. Mochaccino is more of a marketing term than a traditional coffee one. 

There are other ways to switch up a mocha. You’ll often see black-and-white mochas (also called marble mochas or zebra mochas) which use both dark and white chocolate, iced mochas, and “adult” mochas made with a shot of liquor. Bailey’s Irish Cream and Kahlua are two great choices, but straight spirits also can give caffè mocha a terrific zing.

Flavorings like vanilla or almond extract can vary the drink’s flavor nicely, and some people like to go off the reservation by adding mint, salt, hazelnut, chili powder or even peanut butter to their drink. Like your coffee and coffee drinks sweet? Some add sugar to their mocha, especially if it’s made with dark chocolate or cocoa powder.

Mochas average about 150mg of caffeine (when made with a double shot of espresso). That’s about 150% the caffeine content of a regular cup of coffee – but if you like to enjoy an after-dinner mocha, no worries. Most places will be happy to make you a decaf mocha.

Of course, you don’t have to rely on a barista to whip up a delicious caffè mocha for you.

Preparing your own mocha is a relatively simple but enjoyable task, if you own an espresso machine. The fact that there’s no “definitive” recipe for a caffè mocha makes it even easier.

The Coffee

The keys to good espresso, as you probably know, are its deep flavor and luxurious crema. An easy-to-use Nespresso machine won’t quite duplicate the intensity or complexity you get from an espresso machine, but it will be a close approximation.

A French press can produce large amounts of rich, flavorful brewed coffee (a good choice if you’re making mochas for a party). It’s also a decent substitute for a pricey espresso maker. An AeroPress (available on Amazon) works much like a French press, but is less complicated and faster to use. It creates a mellower brew, but if you’re not a perfectionist you can still make a great mocha with it.

Just have a regular old drip coffee maker? You’re not out of luck. Simply brew the strongest coffee you can (a dark or French roast is the best type of coffee to use). If you’re experimenting, using less water than usual will make the coffee stronger.

The Milk

This is easier than for most coffee drinks, since hot milk is often used instead steamed milk to make a mocha. If you want the authenticity of steamed milk but don’t have a frothing wand, though, you can put the milk in a blender, whisk it by hand, or simply shake it in a jar until foam develops. Microwave for five seconds, and poof! Frothed milk (or something very similar).

The Chocolate

Cocoa powder and chocolate syrup are the simple choices, but you’ll get a richer mocha if you mix flaked chocolate or chocolate chips into your espresso. (Unsweetened cocoa powder may require a little sugar to make it palatable.) Dark, milk, white chocolate? Totally depends on your personal preference.

Assembling Your Mocha

Brew your espresso or coffee, mix in the chocolate, add the milk, and spoon some froth onto the top if you like. If desired, top with your choice of whipped cream, chocolate shavings or sprinkles, or add any other ingredients you want to use to spice things up.

Will it be as good as the mocha at your favorite coffee emporium? Not quite. But it won’t cost you 4-5 bucks per cup, you won’t have to go out on a cold winter’s day for a delicious hot mocha – and even better, you can amaze your family and friends with your newfound barista skills.