Curses to whoever told me about that Skinny Peppermint Mocha!!!

I saw that on the menu when I went in for my Skinny Hazelnut Latte, and I have to plead ignorance....

What is a "mocha"? Is it coffee? Because 'mocha' is chocolate, no? Is it chocolate coffee? That does not sound appealing to me. Am I missing something?

Mocha = coffee + chocolate

The coffee flavor isn't strong. Tastes like a thin mint to me. Mmmmmmmm...

 A mocha is a latte with chocolate syrup and instead of foam, you get whipped cream (unless you order it skinny or simply without). Soo... steamed milk, espresso (1 shot for a short or tall, 2 shots for a Grande or Venti), chocolate syrup (If I remember correctly it's 2 pumps for a short, 3 for a Tall, 4 for a Grande and 5 for a Venti) and then whip.  Very tasty, but Starbucks doesn't have sugar free mocha syrup anymore.. they discontinued it.  (Which made me sad).  A "skinny" version of a drink is usually non-fat milk and, when applicable, sugar free syrup.  

  I used to manage a Starbucks.  

Yes, my name is Samantha and I am a coffee addict.  

So what are they using for the "Mocha" in the Skinny Peppermint Mochas?  I brought the SF peppermint syrup and I was going to stop today and get the SF Mocha syrup.

Mocha isn't a syrup. Mocha simply refers to the combination of coffee and chocolate. As such I don't think Starbucks has a SF Mocha syrup (nor do I think anyone really does). Mocha is achieved by combinine coffee with either cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong! Even if there were a mocha syrup, it's MUCH cheaper in the long run to use cocoa powder (which also has flavanoids so there is also a health benefit).

OK Cleo  & all others questioning...

Yes Starbucks has RE-INTRODUCED a SF Mocha it is made from powder form @ the store morning for use that day, my local barista gave me the skinny (no pun intended)...

I have now had several versions of "Bux" drinks that were formerly off limits - another really good one is the Salted Caramel Mocha - now available as a SF drink (hint ask for SF caramel instead of the reg toffeenut syrup usually used in this drink ) otherwise proceed as ordered

Also yummo if you can handle a little higher regular sugar, SF Mocha JavaChip Frappachino lite ( the lite frap mix has a small amount of real sugar & the chips are NOT SF so buyer beware)...

In response to the poster remarking that they put crack in their coffee - Actually its the next best thing, they truly use a specialized process to roast their beans making the caffeine content stronger, since caffeine is addictive, it REALLY is the coffee equivalent to adding crack

 The syrup they use at Starbucks is called "Mocha syrup", but it's really just chocolate.  Same stuff they use in the Hot Chocolates.  

Hmmm...interesting. I always assumed it was just SF hot chocolate with SF Peppermint syrup. Guess I was wrong!

 That just means that your recipe is MUCH better!!!  

Actually, since I wrote that recipe (eons ago) I've figured out that I like making a really rich SF hot chocolate (straight from the cocoa powder...I don't mess with the Swiss Miss) and mix it with a bit of instant decaf espresso...then I actually flavor my whipped cream with mint. Something about that combo works better for me. Then the whippage gets melty into the hot cocoa and it's all just too yummy for words.