My Starbucks Espresso Truffle

My wife loves the Espresso Truffle from Starbucks. It's a combination of the trademark Starbucks rich hot chocolate and a shot of espresso coffee, topped off with whipped cream and sprinkled with mocha powder.I knew we had enough information needed to recreate this drink after having a few $5 samples from the local Starbucks. Want to make it at home? All you need is:- An espresso machine with milk frother.- Mocha powder or hot chocolate mix. Starbucks offers a mocha powder, otherwise any mocha powder or a premium hot chocolate mix.- Espresso coffee beans. Of course, Starbucks offers an Espresso Roast coffee that you can grind fine for your espresso machine or grind regular and drip-brew for a bold coffee. Otherwise, any quality dark-roasted beans. You will be making one shot of espresso per Espresso Truffle.- Skim milk.- Whipped cream.Start boiling some water. Grind your espresso beans to a fine grind. Begin to brew the ground coffee in your espresso machine, including enough water in the cycle to blow steam from the milk frother. Put 2/3 cup of mocha powder in a oversized mug. When your water is boiling, pour 2/3 cup in the mug with the mocha powder. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved into a mocha syrup in the mug. If you're making two Espresso Truffles, prepare the same in a second mug.Per your espresso machine instructions, begin to heat 1-2 cups of milk using the frother. You will be heating the milk rather than frothing it so if your espresso machine frother comes with a rubber spout that frothes the milk, remove that rubber spout. Once the milk is very hot, let the espresso brewing cycle complete.Pour one shot of espresso into each mug with mocha syrup. Top up the mug with the heated milk, leaving enough room for whipped cream. Stir together. Top off with whipped cream and lightly sprinkle with mocha powder.And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the Espresso Truffle that costs $5 at Starbucks. I'm not suggesting it isn't worth $5, I love this drink too. But, now you and I can make it at home for much less - and best of all in the case of Starbucks Mocha Powder and Starbucks Espresso Roast, use the same ingredients that they're using.