Starbucks Mocha Frappucino

A while ago I found myself working from home and as a result I often got bored at home and popped to my local Starbucks to get one of my favourite Mocha Frappucinos. Well, it's not just me working from home these days - thanks to the all the Covid craziness a lot of us find ourselves in that situation!

I found I was spending a lot of money on what seemed like it must be a fairly simple drink. All it could be was coffee, chocolate syrup, milk and ice. If you break the chocolate syrup down into chocolate and sugar, these are all cheap and easy to get ingredients. In fact, you probably have all of them at home right now.

I must admit it took a fair bit of fiddling around to get the amounts right, but to be honest that is all there is to it. If you have those things - and a blender - then you're good to go. Plus, you'll save yourself about $4-$5 or equivalent in your local currency.

• 1 tsp of instant coffee
  You could use a shot of espresso, but to be honest this is just fine.
• 2 tsp of hot chocolate powder
• 7-8 tsp of sugar
  I know. Scary, right?
• Ice
• Milk

I say measure out, but it's easier than that.

1. Fill the glass you're going to use with ice cubes.
2. Fill it with milk. It's already full of ice, but pour the milk over and fill it up (again) with milk.
3. Tip this into your blender.

This is the easiest way to measure out just the right amount so that when you pour it back out of the blender it's absolutely perfect.

One teaspoonful of instant coffee goes in the blender. Maybe a spoon and a half if you like it a little stronger or it's a large cup. Obviously you can vary this to your taste.

I find two teaspoons of this makes it nice and chocolatey and similar to the original. Obviously you can also vary this according to taste, but I suggest you start with two.

When I first tried making this I went with two teaspoons of sugar. Not even close. It's scary to think that there is probably about 8 spoons of sugar in the original. I find that 6 is about the bare minimum and I don't even have any sugar at all in hot coffee.

I tend to use fine sugar for this as it means you don't have to worry about it dissolving in the milk when you blend it together. If you use normal granulated sugar it can help to leave it a minute or so before you blend. It's nto essential but it helps.

All you need to do now it press the button on the blender. Wait!!! Don't forget to put the lid on first! That was close. Disaster averted. It does take a while to blend large cubes of ice down to the fine slushy consistency of a Frappucino without any lumps.

That really is all there is too it. It's so simple I could probably have crammed it all onto one page, but then I would feel I've not really done enough for your $5!

Enjoy your fake Frappucino and watch out for brain freeze. Let me know what you think or if you added any variations - vanilla essence, whipped cream, caramel sauce, etc. Personally, I like it just as it is.