Chocolate and caramel create a sweet harmony in this delicious caramel mocha latte.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Nespresso! As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
caramel mocha latte

My first day of school deserves an extra special (highly caffeinated) beverage, don’t you think?

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You’re confused because it’s April and not September and where is all this back-to-school talk coming from?!

I’m confused because not only do I have be somewhere on time this morning, but I also have to sit through eight hours of lectures. And, you know, be AWAKE for all of them. Normally I really struggle to sit through a one hour seminar without dozing off…so this should be interesting.

What I’m hearing is that we both need (highly caffeinated) beverages. And an IV drip to get them straight into our blood lines, like, ASAP.

Good news: there is a slight chance that by the end of this week I may be proficient enough at putting in an IV that you would let me anywhere near your veins. See, everything is coming up roses.

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Let me explain. So, since 2009 I’ve been on this (seemingly) endless school rollercoaster that I will hopefully come out of in 2017 with an MD and a PhD to my name. The way the program works is that you do the first two years of med school (mostly classroom-based), then get your PhD, and then go back and do your last two years of med school (mostly hospital-based). For the past four years, I’ve been in the PhD part (doing diabetes research) but it’s looking like there is a chance I will defend my thesis this summer and return to med school to learn how to actually be a doctor and do doctor-y things in September. Which brings us to this week which is the intro course for all of the regular med students and MD/PhD students who plan to start their last two years of med school this summer/fall.

So not only is it my first day of school, but I’m also the new kid.

Espresso shots for everyone?! YES and YES.

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Nespresso must have sensed my impending need for massive amounts of caffeine because they recently came out with the first large-cup addition to their VertuoLine Grand Cru line!! Don’t get me wrong, I loved many of the other large-cup flavors, but this one is definitely something special. It’s called Caramelizio, and it is filled with rich flavor and delicate notes of vanilla and caramelized sugar.

It pretty much tastes like dessert on it’s own, but I felt like the occasion called for something a little extra special so I dressed it up a little further with a dash of cocoa powder and a dollop of chocolate syrup. I’m a sucker for a similar drink at a certain coffee chain, but this is just as satisfying with way fewer calories since you’re not loading it up with tons of sugar. Also, cheaper since you’re making it at home.

I own an Aeroccino milk frother, so I used that to steam and froth up my chocolate milk, but you can just heat the milk and cocoa powder on the stove or use a different milk frother if you have one.

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Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go pick out my first day of school outfit. Lisa Frank backpacks scream “medical professional”, don’t you think?

Caramel Mocha Latte
 
Chocolate and caramel create a sweet harmony in this delicious caramel mocha latte.
Yield: 1 latte
Ingredients
  • 2 oz milk
  • 1 tsp sweet cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp chocolate syrup
  • 1 capsule of Caramelizio blend
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan, combine the milk with the chocolate and heat OR if you have a milk frother, combine the milk and cocoa in the device and froth on cappuccino setting.
  2. Add the syrup into a coffee cup. Pour the heated cocoa milk into the cup and stir to combine.
  3. Brew one capsule of the Caramelizio into the cup. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe from Nespresso
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 latte

 More coffee love:

maple walnut coffee smoothie

Maple Walnut Coffee Smoothie

banana cake with mocha frosting

Banana Cake with Mocha Frosting

caramel macchiato cupcakes

Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

From Around the Web:

Caramel Iced Coffee from Waiting on Martha

Cinnabon Coffee Milkshake from Blahnik Baker

Almond Iced Coffee Float from Lemons For Lulu

Caramel Frappuccino from All Day I Dream About Food

White Chocolate Coconut Latte from Crunchy Creamy Sweet

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Caramel Mocha Latte
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49 Responses to Caramel Mocha Latte

  1. Krista says:

    That looks marvelous and sounds delicious. 🙂

  2. Sune Moolman says:

    I’m wearing a scarf, dreading the wind outside and sipping a hot cup of coffee that now seems super unimaginative. I am in total need of this caramel mocha latte to cheer me up – it’s gorgeous!

  3. Erica says:

    Ahhhh we’ll be in the same year! Good luck Joanne, both with the thesis defense and starting up third year!! <3
    Also this sounds like the perfect way to drink coffee. I dig it.

  4. Oh good luck today! And you most definitely deserve a super special latte!

  5. Sues says:

    I LOVE this new VertuoLine Grand Cru (I have my machine on my work desk and it makes every day SO much better). I definitely need to try this latte!

    Good luck today!!! Sounds like you’re at the beginning of the end (of the beginning) 🙂

  6. I had no idea you’ve been doing diabetes research?! Dude, that’s amazing. Amazing. Seriously, we need more people like you in the world. Damn, girl, how do you do it all?! Good luck on the thesis and returning to med school in September and TODAY! You got this. I’m excited for you! More lattes!!

  7. Trisha says:

    Joanne, you never cease to inspire me with your constant stream of beautiful photos and delicious recipes while simultaneously earning your M.D./P.h.D. You are amazing! And I totally loved the Lisa Frank reference. I rocked those in second grade. 🙂 Good luck in class!

  8. Woooo defense time!! Good luck my friend. I originally thought about doing the PharmD/PhD but decided I didn’t want to be in school that long (and frankly Pharmacy didn’t end up appealing anyway). With just the PhD. I somehow managed to escape without a single drop of coffee in my veins.

  9. Zainab says:

    That’s freaking exciting!! Can’t believe the end is almost here!! You will rock this week no doubt there and can’t wait for the summer when you defend and peace out of lab. (I’m living through U sister!!). As for this latte, well it’s got your back for hours!!

  10. bellini says:

    My own daughter sees the end of university after 8 years. She finishes a year early in June, has a job waiting for her in Timbuktu, but it is a job in her field, and life moves forward with many caffeinated beverages like this one.

  11. Oh, man. Homemade caramel mocha lattes on a Monday morning FOR THE WIN. Will you come over and make me some of this awesomeness?! 😉

  12. Tara P. says:

    You go girl!! 🙂

  13. Good luck! You will rock it, we know it!
    And Lisa Frank….omg. I miss my Lisa Frank binders and folders! Haha.

  14. Beth says:

    Joanne, you’re a super-acheiver. Hooray for back-to-school outfits!

  15. Heather says:

    Wow, good luck! Sounds exciting, exhausting and nerve-wracking. Seriously, though, I tip my hat to you – med school sounds like a lot of hard work.

  16. Woohoo school! You go, superstar! Gettin’ alllll the degrees 🙂
    Good luck tahday!

  17. Pam says:

    Good luck today! I wish my coffee is as tasty as yours… mine’s plain old boring.

  18. This mocha latte looks divine! I love anything with caramel! 😀

  19. Julia says:

    Ahhhhh it all makes sense! I knew you were getting some sort of medical degree, but I didn’t realize you were getting an MD and doing research in diabetes! You’re such a smarty McSmartsalot I can barely stand it! HUGE kudos to you for going to school, writing a thesis, and blogging full time! I’m amazed! And I need 12 of these mochas because a.) I’m out of coffee b.) It’s Monday and c.) the weekend happened 😉

    xoxoxo

  20. I NEED a Nespresso maker in my life! My uncle had one and it was legit- better than Starbucks!

  21. Monica says:

    You are amazing! You not only deserve this caramel mocha latte but a huge cake, a big quinoa bowl, and goodness..just anything you want! : ) Keep rocking on and good luck with the first day of school. ; )

  22. I hope today is going along wonderfully – and when you perfect the art of administering an IV, would you please work on inventing an IV Coffee drip – FUR REALZ!!! I need this caramel mocha in a drip every Monday!

  23. The amount of work you do every day amazes me. You deserve at least THREEVE of these lattes. And, you know, if you have any extra, I’d be happy to take one, too. 😉

  24. Oh my gosh, 8-hour lecture days! I had one of those every so often in law school, and it was torture. I don’t envy you having to go back and do the classroom portion of your degree after all these years of lab work! But yay for getting the thesis portion done soon! I’ll be cheering you on from CA! I also have a feeling you’ll be making a few more cups of this delish latte in the next few months…

  25. Tina says:

    You can do anything! Anything. I have complete confidence in you and am constantly amazed by your tenaciousness to tackle school, great things in the kitchen, exercise… You amaze me????
    That caramel mocha latte is something I pay dearly for at Statbucks. Would love to make this at home.

  26. You’re killing that academic scene, Joanne! I’m just about to start undergrad and I DEFINITELY know I want to go to law school, but there’s this 5th-year-free Master’s program in my field at my college and also there’s this cool JD/MBA program I’m looking at post-undergrad, and also if I love research as much as I’m sure I will, am I looking for a PhD, too?! Yeah, I might be in school for a bit, too 🙂 I’ve never gotten on the coffee-for-caffeine’s-sake bandwagon, but I definitely love it when it’s mixed with something sweet as a treat 🙂 This looks right up my alley!

  27. Lynn says:

    Another milestone, my friend!

  28. Hooray for highly caffeinated beverages! And this one looks especially good…

  29. There are 37 school days left. But who’s counting. I’m running on fumes right now. Pass me this coffee!

  30. SallyBR says:

    In other words, you can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel… 🙂

    awesome, on all counts, drink included!

  31. All this school talk is making me anxious. So I need a latte to calm me down. obvi.

  32. enjoy your “first day!” this latte sounds awesome!

  33. Christine says:

    I am ever amazed at how much you tackle every 24 hrs.! Congratulations on reaching the end of school milestone! Sending you lots of luck as you get through the thesis process and start on the last leg of med school. Yay you!

  34. Good luck with your course! You definitely deserve one (or more) of these today. 😉 Caramel and chocolate make everything better.

  35. Hotly Spiced says:

    I admire you for taking on all your studies. I can imagine that you would need your coping mechanisms for 8 hours of lectures. Good luck being a student again xx

  36. This sounds wonderful Joanne! Love me some lattes especially when they have caramel in them!

  37. I bought 2 boxes of caramelizo the day it came out. I love it! But, call me crazy…I kind of think it tastes a little like coconut?

  38. How was your first day of school? I also need an iv drip of caffeine 😉

  39. Kate says:

    It’s tough being the new girl!

  40. grace says:

    i always get filled with envy when i see these nespresso posts! glorious creation, joanne, for any morning!

  41. Kelly says:

    You are amazing for rocking everything that you have going on! Love this caramel mocha latte! Hope you had a great first day at school 🙂

  42. Eva R. says:

    You go girl! Congrats on the (almost) Ph.D. New girl or not, just think about all of the diabetes questions that you will be able to answer on rounds!

    P.s. I love this DIY caramel mocha. If it were up to me, all days would start with highly caffeinated beverages!

  43. Good luck with school. I think the latte looks wonderful.

  44. Yumm!! I need this caramel mocha latte for when I enter clinics this summer. I am also taking the pre-clerkship course at my med school right now. There are quite a few MSTP students in the course, and it’s been great meeting them and making new friends. I’m sure the MD only students at your med school feel the same about meeting you!

  45. My FIL has a Nespresso machine – I’ll have to get him in on this action!

  46. Katie says:

    sounds like a great course, hope the first week went well! x

  47. Johanna GGG says:

    good luck with going back to school – your course sounds odd but interesting the way they structure it – I don’t know enough about med students in Australia but have not come across this sort of structure. The med PhDs I have known were just spending years doing their PhDs and getting side tracked with other projects – so congrats on getting so far with your PhD too – and enjoy that coffee – hope it gets you going

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