Last Updated on August 26, 2021 by Guillermina
Need a sweet, caffeinated treat to kick off your day? This vegan iced coconut milk mocha macchiato recipe is going to rock your world! This is a go-to drink for coffee lovers looking to change up their at-home caffeine routine or current Starbucks order.
The Starbucks Recipe
The iced coconut milk mocha macchiato is a popular drink on the Starbucks menu, but it is not vegan. According to Starbuck’s website, the recipe for a grande size (16 oz) drink is:
- coconut milk
- ice
- espresso
- 1 pump white chocolate mocha
- caramel drizzle
- mocha drizzle
Recipe Breakdown
Let’s break down the recipe to identify modifications needed to make it vegan-friendly.
Milk
The coconut milk at Starbucks is vegan. However, if you are allergic to or don’t like coconut milk, they also offer almond, soy, and oat milk as other vegan-friendly milks.
Espresso
Espresso is vegan and makes this delicious beverage caffeinated. If you want to decrease the caffeine in the drink, you can order the drink with fewer espresso shots or substitute for decaf espresso. Substitute blonde espresso if you want the espresso flavor to be less bitter.
Sauces and Syrups
The mocha sauce at Starbucks does not contain dairy. The ingredients for the mocha sauce, listed on their website, are: Water, Sugar, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Natural Flavor. The sugar used is not listed as organic, so this item may not be vegan-friendly depending on if you are okay with non-organic sugar.
The caramel drizzle and white chocolate sauce at Starbucks both contain dairy. At this time, there are not any dairy-free substitutes for these items. Starbucks does have a caramel syrup that can be added if you still want a caramel flavor in the drink. However, there are many variations of this recipe that can be ordered that are just as tasty.
Drink Variations
Hazelnut Mocha Coconut Milk Macchiato
Try it with hazelnut syrup! This flavor combination is delicious a way to substitute the caramel and white mocha sauces that contain dairy. This syrup, as well as most of Starbucks sweeteners, does not specify the use of organic sugar, so it may not be vegan by certain definitions.
Mocha Coconut Milk Macchiato
Pass on the additional syrup flavors and sip on a macchiato made with coconut milk and mocha sauce. Add a vegan mocha drizzle for some extra sweetness.
Make it Yourself!
Save time and money by skipping the line at Starbucks and make this delicious drink at home. This recipe is very easy to make but does require a view of ingredients and a little extra time to prepare.
What You Will Need to Make a Vegan Iced Coconut Milk Mocha Macchiato
Yield |
16 oz iced drink (“Grande”) |
Prep Time |
15 minutes |
Ingredients for Drink
- 2 shots of espresso or 3 oz brewed coffee/instant coffee
- 1 pump/1tbsp white mocha sauce
- Ice
- 1 cup coconut milk
- Mocha sauce, drizzled
- Caramel sauce, drizzled
Ingredients for Sauces
- ¼ cup plant-based milk
- ¼ cup vegan chips (chocolate, white chocolate, caramel)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp sweetener (organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, etc)
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Spoon or whisk
- Measuring cups
- Espresso maker, coffee maker, or instant coffee
- 16 oz glass
- Stir stick or spoon
- Straw (optional)
Instructions
Step 1. Make your sauces.
This step can be done in advance and stored before of making your drink. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan over low heat. Continually stir mixture until the chips are melted and all ingredients are combined. Add more milk to the recipe for a thinner consistency.
Step 2. Make your coffee.
Pull espresso shots or make your coffee. If you are brewing coffee or making instant coffee, use the same amount of coffee but make it with only 3 oz of water.
Step 3. Add sauces.
Add the white mocha sauce and coconut milk to an empty glass. Stir together.
Step 4. Add ice.
Add as much ice as desired. Be sure to leave 2″ at the top of the glass for the espresso.
Step 5. Pour espresso.
Pour the espresso on top of the drink using a slow, circular motion to evenly distribute it over the top of the glass.
Step 6. Add drizzle.
Pour mocha and caramel sauces on top of espresso. Cheers!
Recipe Tips
Storage
Keep homemade sauces for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. If they’ve already been prepped, pull them out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before making your drink. This makes the consistency a little easier to work with. If the sauces have hardened, add hot water ( 1 tsp at a time) and stir before use.
No Espresso, No Problem
If you don’t have an espresso maker, don’t fret! There are a couple ways to substitute espresso in this recipe.
Brew extra strong coffee or make instant coffee in 3 oz water. While the flavor will be a little different, you will still achieve an overall coffee flavor and some caffeine. If you still want espresso, head over to a local coffee shop and get espresso to make this recipe.
Sauces and Syrups
If you don’t have the extra time to make your own sauces, there are some brands that offer dairy-free options. Finding vegan syrups and sauces can be a little tricky because they do not always specify the type of sugar they use. Overall, they are relatively inexpensive and will be convenient to have on hand for making coffees at home.
Torani is a very popular syrup brand. Their syrups contain “pure cane sugar”, but do not explicitly state vegan. Their non-dairy flavors for this recipe include caramel, sugar-free caramel, white chocolate, sugar-free white chocolate, chocolate, and sugar-free chocolate syrup that could be used for the recipe.
Monin is another brand of syrup. According to their FAQ page, all of their syrups except the Honey Syrup is vegan. Their sauces are not vegan, except they do offer an Organic Chocolate Sauce that would work for this recipe. Monin has a variety of organic, premium, and sugar-free flavor options available.
The sugar-free syrups are great if you’re looking for a low-sugar drink option. Starbucks does not carry sugar-free syrups in these flavors.
Conclusion
This DIY vegan iced coconut milk mocha macchiato recipe is easy and delicious! Did you try this recipe? Let us know your thoughts!
Learn more about Does Almond Milk Spoil If It’s Left Out?
Vegan Iced Coconut Milk Mocha Macchiato
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Spoon or whisk
- Measuring cups
- Espresso maker, coffee maker, or instant coffee
- 16 oz glass
- Stir stick or spoon
- Straw (optional)
Ingredients
Ingredients for Drink
- 2 shots of espresso or 3 oz brewed coffee/instant coffee
- 1 tbsp white mocha sauce
- Ice
- 1 cup coconut milk
- Mocha sauce drizzled
- Caramel sauce drizzled
Ingredients for Sauces
- ¼ cup plant-based milk
- ¼ cup vegan chips chocolate, white chocolate, caramel
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp sweetener organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, etc
Instructions
- Make your sauces. This step can be done in advance and stored before of making your drink. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan over low heat. Continually stir mixture until the chips are melted and all ingredients are combined. Add more milk to the recipe for a thinner consistency.
- Make your coffee. Pull espresso shots or make your coffee. If you are brewing coffee or making instant coffee, use the same amount of coffee but make it with only 3 oz of water.
- Add sauces. Add the white mocha sauce and coconut milk to an empty glass. Stir together.
- Add ice. Add as much ice as desired. Be sure to leave 2" at the top of the glass for the espresso.
- Pour espresso. Pour the espresso on top of the drink using a slow, circular motion to evenly distribute it over the top of the glass.
- Add drizzle. Pour mocha and caramel sauces on top of espresso. Cheers!