Us college students need coffee like our lives depend on it. It seems like we find ourselves turning to Starbucks (and similar chains) again and again because, lets be honest — it tastes better than the homemade stuff.

Relying on Starbs isn't always the best decision because it sure isn't cheap. For a group of people in need of record-setting amounts of caffeine with very limited budgets, there should be a solution — a happy medium.

I figured out how to make the ultimate peppermint mocha, the one that will turn Starbucks from a daily habit to a monthly treat. This recipe is affordable, easy, and quick. I'll take my Good Food Award now, thank you.

Peppermint Mocha

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:2 mins
  • Total Time:7 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 cup coffee
  • 1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
  • 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint
  • optional: sweetener
milk, coffee, tea

  • Step 1

    Brew 1 cup of coffee. Any coffee works, so choose your vice wisely, caffeine addict. I used Starbucks' Mocha coffee. When the coffeemaker is done brewing your happy juice, pour it into a mug.

    cappuccino, espresso, coffee

  • Step 2

    Break your chocolate up into small chunks and add it to the hot mug of coffee. Any bittersweet chocolate works — I used Ghirardelli. Stir the coffee-chocolate combo until the chocolate is melty and delicious. Don't sneak a sip — exercise that weak self control.

    cappuccino, tea, espresso, coffee

  • Step 3

    Pour 1/2 cup of milk into your mug. Any kind of milk works (cow, almond, soy, coconut), but I used whole cow's milk. Stir that chocolatey nectar until everything is well combined.

    cappuccino, espresso, milk, tea, coffee

  • Step 4

    Add 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Depending on how minty you like your drink, I would recommend starting with 1/2 teaspoon and adding the additional 1/2 teaspoon after tasting. Stir that bad boy again.

    cream, mocha, hot chocolate, chocolate, espresso, milk, cappuccino, coffee

Lastly, add a tablespoon of honey, sugar, or artificial sweetener of your choice if the mocha isn't sweet enough for you. If you end up pulling a Buddy the Elf and add an obscene amount of sugar, I won't judge.

This is my New Year gift to you, Spoonies. May it last you all year and save you all the monies.