Mocha vs. Latte: What’s the Difference?

At the end of this article, you would know the differences between a mocha and a latte and how both can be made.
By
Samanta Fryer
Samanta Fryer
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Samanta Fryer is our senior editor and content writer, at CoffeeVibe. Apart from writing and reading, she’s fond of the coffee brewing process and enjoys tasting new coffe read more
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Ryan Hendricks
Ryan Hendricks
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Ryan Hendricks is our tester, who puts products through their paces. He used to be a barista and is now a full-time coffee enthusiast. He’s always testing out new gadgets, read more
Last updated: August 25, 2023
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There are many types of coffee drinks Trusted Source A Complete List Of Coffee Drinks - A Helpful Guide - Craft Coffee Guru A complete list of all types of coffee drinks that your likely to see. Includes a brief video on the most popular and a short description of each coffee. www.craftcoffeeguru.com that are available to coffee drinkers in the modern world, and if you have made it your mission to taste them all, there might be a reason to refresh your mission every few years because they are more springing up.

However, two of the most popular broad categories of coffee drinks are the mocha and the latte. Except you’re a barista or someone who has previously taken it upon themselves to research this, chances are you don’t know all that makes these two categories of coffee drinks different. This article pays homage to both in our version of a mocha vs. latte showdown.

We are here to rectify this lack of knowledge, though, and provide you with a little bit more history and context to help you appreciate your coffee.

What is a mocha coffee?

Mocha vs. Latte: What's the Difference?In the basic form, a mocha is chocolate, espresso, steamed milk combo. However, this form isn’t the only form that the mocha may come in, with many coffee shops opting to tweak the formula a little bit.

Normally, the mocha is prepared in a 2:2:1 formula of the ingredients above, but altering the ratio of the ingredients and adding new ones in some cases would give mocha derivatives such as the mochaccino and mocha latte.

The origins of a mocha

The term ‘mocha’ was originally used in the 1700s and was used to refer to the mocha beans that came from Yemen. The particular term was used because the beans came through the Al Mokha port.

However, the current use of the word today is a  creation of Europeans looking to express their expanding coffee tastes, and it has caught up to the rest of the world. Today mocha popularly refers to an espresso-chocolate-milk drink, but there’s still the rare Mokha beans Trusted Source The world’s most dangerous cup of coffee? At the start of the year, Mokhtar Alkhanshali already knew his business would be facing hard times ahead. mailchimp.com as well.

How to make a mocha

The mocha is not very difficult to make despite its rich taste. To do so, you only have to follow the below steps:

  1. Pour a tablespoon of chocolate syrup or two tablespoons of cocoa powder into a large mug.
  2. Pull an espresso shot into the mug. The Lavazza Grand espresso beans have been recommended by many coffee experts as being integral to making a top espresso drink.
  3. Add steamed milk to the contents of the mug and mix by stirring thoroughly.
  4. Top with shaved chocolate, whipped cream, or any topping you may like to try out, and you have your mocha.


The pros and cons of a mocha

The biggest advantage and draw of the mocha is arguably the chocolate flavor and its sweetness, but the drink is heavy and rich in calories.

What is a latte coffee?

Mocha vs. Latte: What's the Difference?On the other side of this showdown is the latte, a milk-based espresso drink made up of steamed milk, espresso, and foamed milk in a 4:1:1 ratio. Basically, this is a milk drink with a bit of espresso to give the coffee effect.

The latte could be prepared using a double shot espresso to increase the coffee flavor, but the real craft in latte preparation is usually the milk pouring, and this has been adapted by a lot of baristas and coffee lovers to make what we know as latte art Trusted Source How To Do Latte Art - A Beginner’s Guide | CoffeeScience Ever wondered how to make latte art in your own kitchen? With this easy step-by-step guide, you can start making your very own pieces of latte art today! www.coffeescience.org .

The origins of a latte

Suppose you’ve been alive longer than two decades. In that case, you should have witnessed the growth in the popularity of the latte that has culminated in the popularity of latte art and all the intricacies of the practice.

However, you might not know that a latte was originally created by coffee drinkers wanting a cappuccino that wasn’t too coffee-strong. At least that’s what the legends say. All of this is speculated to have occurred about ten years after the Second World War.

The alternative theory places the origins of the latte in Europe (particularly France) where it is referred to as “Café au lait”.

How to make a latte

The method of making a latte is generally straightforward, but as implied earlier, it can be modified by coffee drinkers looking for a little something different. To make one, all you need to do is:

  1. Pull a shot or double shot of your espresso into a large mug
  2. Pour in a shot of flavored syrup. The one to use is a personal choice, but the Starbucks variety syrups are recommended as some of the best in the market.
  3. Pour in steamed milk through the espresso base while holding back the milk foam with a ladle or spoon.
  4. Top with the milk foam when you’re done pouring and your espresso is ready. The process of pouring is where the latte art is made.


The pros and cons of a latte

The latté is widely considered to be healthier than the mocha, and it is lighter as well. However, it is not as rich in flavor or taste.

Which to choose: a mocha or a latte

The choice between a latte and mocha can be considered from many angles. Both are good drinks, but their comparison could be hashed out in the following way:

  1. The latté is considered healthier than the mocha.
  2. The latté is seen as a morning drink (because it’s light), while the mocha, thanks to its heaviness, is considered by many to be an evening beverage.
  3. The latte contains relatively less espresso than the mocha. The quantity of caffeine they may contain may also be a factor, and though this would depend on the strength or volume of your shot, and how much caffeine is in your cup of coffee.
  4. The latte uses more milk than the mocha.
  5. A mocha contains chocolate, while a latte does not.

Final thoughts

As we have strived to show in this piece, the mocha and latte are different but equally special. Where the latté is considered creamy, the mocha is more “chocolaty”.  The differences do not stop there, though; the latté is prepared with relatively less espresso and gives a weaker caffeine hit, while the mocha is arguably stronger than a cappuccino in this regard.

However, the showdown of mocha vs. latte would be different if the methods of preparation of any or both drinks had been tweaked. So, this discussion might not be over.

References

1.
A Complete List Of Coffee Drinks - A Helpful Guide - Craft Coffee Guru
A complete list of all types of coffee drinks that your likely to see. Includes a brief video on the most popular and a short description of each coffee.
2.
The world’s most dangerous cup of coffee?
At the start of the year, Mokhtar Alkhanshali already knew his business would be facing hard times ahead.
3.
How To Do Latte Art - A Beginner’s Guide | CoffeeScience
Ever wondered how to make latte art in your own kitchen? With this easy step-by-step guide, you can start making your very own pieces of latte art today!

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