Katie Wells of Wellness Mama has published a simple recipe for a homemade peppermint mocha made with coffee, healthy fats like coconut oil and butter, and peppermint flavoring. The drink is presented as a festive, budget-conscious alternative to sugar-heavy coffee shop versions, using real-food ingredients that can be blended at home in minutes.
Katie Wells, founder of the Wellness Mama website and a certified nutrition consultant, outlines her homemade peppermint mocha in a blog post dated December 6, 2022, on WellnessMama.com. In the post, she recalls enjoying coffee shop drinks in college but says she now makes coffee at home with organic beans and favors real-food ingredients over "junky artificial flavors and high-fructose corn syrup." She writes that "fancy coffee drinks can be a real budget breaker (not to mention full of sugar)" and describes her version as an easy, delicious alternative.
The recipe emphasizes healthy fats and a straightforward method. Wells notes that she almost always includes a tablespoon of butter, coconut oil, and/or MCT oil in her coffee and says this peppermint mocha is "packed with brain-boosting fats" that help keep her energetic but not jittery.
Wells also explains that she often uses mushroom coffee from Four Sigmatic for what she calls "extra superfood benefits," adding that it "doesn't taste like mushrooms, just great coffee." She writes that she has made variations of the recipe with regular coffee, decaf coffee, chai tea and herbal teas, and that all have turned out well.
According to the post, the key ingredients for one serving are:
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or MCT oil)
- 1 tablespoon grass-fed butter
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon honey (or peppermint stevia to taste; Wells notes she uses about 8 drops)
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (or 1 drop peppermint essential oil)
The instructions are concise: brew the coffee, then while it is still hot, pour it into a blender or large cup if using an immersion blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high for about 10 seconds, until emulsified. Wells notes that this step creates froth and a creamy texture "instead of an oily one," making a separate frother unnecessary.
In a section titled "A word of warning," Wells advises readers who are new to coconut oil or MCT oil to start slowly, stating that these fats can cause short-term nausea if someone is not used to them. She writes that coconut and MCT oils have immune-boosting, metabolism-boosting and yeast-fighting properties but cautions that increasing intake too quickly may upset the stomach.
The post also addresses peppermint safety. Wells notes that the recipe can use either natural peppermint extract or one drop of peppermint essential oil and says the amount used is minimal and in culinary ranges. She points out that some sources warn peppermint oil in medicinal or supplemental amounts may reduce breast milk production and that pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, are often advised against ingesting essential oils. She writes that the small amount included in this drink is generally considered safe for most people, while referring readers who are pregnant or nursing to the safety notes above the recipe.
Reader comments on the site highlight how some home cooks adapt the drink. One commenter in January 2020 wrote that her husband "loved" the at-home version and that it was "so much healthier for him" than buying a peppermint mocha at a local coffee shop. Another commenter in December 2018 said she added cacao and collagen powder and described the result as "YUM! My favorite!"
For presentation, Wells suggests optional toppings such as peppermint candy or crushed candy cane, noting they will add extra sugar, as well as white or dark chocolate curls. She also recommends a dollop of grass-fed whipped cream or whipped coconut cream, and mentions her homemade marshmallows as another topping option.
At the end of the post, Wells points readers to related drinks on WellnessMama.com, including her brain-boosting coffee, healthy salted caramel coffee, superfood vanilla latte, superfood gingerbread latte and pumpkin spice latte, for those who prefer different flavors or want to skip the peppermint.