Mocha Smoothie

This delicious 5-minute mocha smoothie will give you a boost of energy. See how to make the easy drink with just 5 healthy ingredients.

Recipe Highlights

• Start your day with this decadent, caffeinated, and filling mocha smoothie.
• The mocha flavor comes from espresso and high-quality cocoa powder, which are blended with oat milk and frozen bananas.
• It’s naturally sweetened with date syrup and bananas, making it a healthy and delicious drink.
• Make the 5-minute recipe whenever you need a boost of energy.

RELATED: Chocolate Smoothie

4 Mocha Smoothie Benefits

1. Manages Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is a normal reaction in the body. But too much can increase the risk of the disease. Eating foods rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress. This includes ingredients like cocoa powder and banana, which are used in this smoothie.

2. Supports Gut Health

Banana is one of the best sources of fiber, an essential nutrient for healthy digestion. Fiber “feeds” the good bacteria in your gut. It also encourages regular bowel movements, making constipation less likely.

3. Promotes Satiety

Thanks to the fiber-rich bananas, you’ll feel satisfied after drinking this smoothie. When you eat fiber, it’s digested slowly and stays in the body for a while. This reduces feelings of hunger.

4. Increases Energy

The espresso in this smoothie will give you an energy boost. Bananas, which are used in this drink, also increase fullness. This is helpful because feeling hungry can make you feel tired.

RELATED: 12 Benefits of Eating Bananas

Ingredient Notes

• Oat milk: Oat milk is so good in banana-based smoothies. It has a mild nutty taste and creamy consistency. If you don’t have oat milk, you can use any kind of milk.
• Espresso: When combined with cocoa powder, espresso creates a tasty mocha flavor. If you don’t have an espresso machine or Nespresso, you can use instant coffee or plain cold black coffee. Don’t use coffee that already has added milk or sweetener.
• Date syrup: As a natural sweetener, date syrup will deepen the flavor of this drink.
• Cocoa powder: Use a high-quality cocoa powder for the best taste and nutrition. Make sure you don’t use hot cocoa mix, which has added sugar and milk.
• Frozen bananas: Sliced frozen ripe bananas chills the drink, omitting the need for ice.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Variations

Seeds: For extra antioxidants and vitamins, add 1 tablespoon of seeds. Examples include chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds. These ingredients also have omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects in the body. They also add a nutty flavor that tastes great with mocha drinks.

Nut butters: Peanut butter, cashew butter, and other nut butters are delicious with chocolate and coffee flavors. Plus, they have some antioxidants, plant-based protein, and healthy fats. Use 1 or 2 tablespoons to avoid overwhelming the drink.

Protein powder: Make this smoothie even more filling by adding vegan or whey protein powder. This ingredient can also help exercise recovery. Chocolate protein powder will intensify the chocolate taste of the drink. But vanilla and unflavored protein powder can also be used.

Collagen powder: If you want to focus on skin and joint health, add powdered collagen instead. It’s usually unflavored, so it won’t change your smoothie’s taste.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Blender Tips

Slice fruit before freezing.

Never put whole frozen bananas in your blender. This is unsafe, as it can damage the blades. Instead, cut the bananas into slices first before freezing them. Your blender will have an easier time pureeing the slices into a smooth blend.

If you have a powerful blender, the banana pieces can be a slightly bigger, about the size of a quarter of an apple.

Add ingredients in the correct order.

When putting ingredients in a blender, doing it in the right order will encourage a smooth blend.

The liquid ingredients, including milk and syrups, should go in first. Follow with add-ins like seeds, nut butters, and powders. Next, load any leafy greens and fresh fruit. Finish with heavy items like ice or frozen fruit.

Don’t blend on low the whole time.

To protect your blender’s motor, avoid blending on low for too long. You can start on low speed to start breaking down the ingredients. But after 10 seconds, increase the speed to high. This will ensure the motor stays cool.

Rotate the ingredients with a tamper.

An easy way to avoid air pockets is to use a blender tamper. While the blades are moving, put the tamper through the lid. Rotate the tamper around the container, to move the ingredients toward the blades.

Most blenders come with a tamper. If you don’t have one, simply pause the blender and use a spatula to push around the ingredients.

Use a blade scraper.

A blade scraper is a handy tool that lets you remove smoothie under the blades. This reduces food waste, especially if you prefer thicker smoothies.

Expert Tips

• When freezing bananas, avoid ones with green peel. This means they’re unripe and too bitter for smoothies.
• For a stronger chocolate flavor, add another 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder.
• The recipe uses 1 shot of espresso but you can add another for a more caffeinated drink.
• Skip the date syrup for a less sweet drink.
• You can also replace the date syrup with a pitted and chopped Medjool date.
• If your smoothie is too thick for your liking, add a splash of oat milk and blend for 10 minutes.
• Add extra frozen bananas or a few ice cubes to make the drink thicker.
• Leftover mocha smoothie can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Store it in an airtight jar to help it stay fresh.

Questions You May Have

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• Chocolate Protein Shake
• Chocolate Almond Smoothie
• Coffee Protein Shake
• Chocolate Collagen Smoothie
• S’more Smoothie
• Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino

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