Luxury Coffee Mocha, Budget Price!

I love posh coffee. I have a minor Starbucks addiction not helped by the recent opening of a branch just 3 miles from my home. My bank balance, however, hates Starbucks with a passion. So when possible, I recreate my favourites at home.

I recently had cause to complain to both Cravendale and Anchor Squirty Cream. The Cravendale had gone off to the cottage cheese stage the day after I bought it, and I was fed up of the nozzles snapping off my squirty cream. Both companies have excellent customer services teams and my complaint was answered quickly and thoroughly and accompanied by vouchers for replacement products.

So this morning, feeling tired and impoverished after our holiday, I have decided to perk myself up with a top notch Coffee Mocha, a la Starbucks.

I microwave a mug of Cravendale skimmed milk for 3 minutes, and stir in 1 teaspoon of Carte Noire Instinct Coffee along with a big dollop of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. It is topped with a big squirt of Anchor Chocolate Squirty Cream and mmm mmm mmm heaven!

Cravendale milk - we started using Cravendale instead of regular milk a few years ago. It is slightly more expensive (average £1.80 for 2 litres, but often on 2 for £3 offers), but we have found it cheaper in the long term, as we aren't throwing away any turned milk. Firstly, the Cravendale has a longer shelf life prior to opening, generally a good 3-4 weeks, meaning we can take advantage of multi-buy offers. Secondly, after opening it keeps for atleast 1 week, far longer than regular milk. Finally, it tastes better! We used semi-skimmed for years, but recently changed to skimmed and have noticed no taste difference.

Carte Noire Instinct instant coffee - another extravagant purchase? No! Bought while on half price offer and combined with a 75p off voucher given away at a food and drink festival. Tip - free samples are available on the Carte Noire Instinct Facebook page which comes with a money off voucher. I don't drink coffee often, so a tin lasts me 3-4 months. Especially if well hidden from hubby! Both Instinct and it's rival Millicano are lovely, much smoother than regular instant coffee and more like filter coffee. I had 3 vouchers so stocked up a few months ago.

Hershey's Chocolate Syrup - I bought this at Aldi during one of their American specials last year, I think it was £1.99. Kept in the fridge it's still going strong! I use it mostly to make Mochas, and on pancakes. It makes amazing milkshakes, a fact I've not shared with my sons.

Anchor Chocolate Squirty Cream -Squirty cream is a regular feature in my fridge, both my 11 year old Alex and I love it on top of hot chocolate and lattes. If the nozzles is rinsed after every use it keeps for a long time. When I make a trip to Makro I tend to buy their own brand one, and often buy the Asda brand cream. I've only found the chocolate variety in Anchor brand though. I had 4 vouchers for free Anchor Squirty Cream and have so far tried the regular, and extra thick variety. I bought the chocolate one this morning in Asda with one of my vouchers, it was selling for £1.98 but luckily for me the cashier didn't bother to check the price charged and keyed in the maximum value of £2.10 as printed on the voucher, effectively paying me 12p to bring home some cream. Always a bonus! The chocolate cream is yummy, a good chocolate taste and not too sweet.

So how did it turn out? Flumping gorgeous!