What is Mocha?

What is a Mocha?

There are so many coffee lovers worldwide who enjoy varieties of coffee. Mocha is one of them, but what is Mocha? It is a beverage that is a combination of both coffee and chocolate. You may be wondering: What is a mocha latte? Or what is café mocha? They are basically Mocha in long-form.

So, what is mocha coffee? It is a variety of coffee that is made from a type of coffee bean. The coffee beans are from a plant species that is called Coffee Arabica. Apart from a mocha, there are also many other types of Italian coffee drinks.

The Rich History of Making Mocha

Mocha has quite a history! The only countries that were sources of coffee beans were Yemen and Ethiopia. They would then ship the coffee beans across the world. The best was the Arabica beans that came from Yemen. 

They had flavors like chocolate. The name Mocha came from AI Moka, a red Yemeni seaport. AI Moka was where they shipped the coffee beans from. Eventually, the Europeans started calling the beans “mocha beans.”

Currently, it is not easy to find coffee beans from AI Moka. The city itself is not there anymore. All in all, the mocha beans became very popular in Italy. Chocolate and espresso were combined into a drink for the first time in the 16th century.

More precisely, they served chocolate drinks named Bicerin and Bavareisa in Venice and Turin–both cities.. In the 18th century, they added milk to them. No one knows whether the name mocha was given to the coffee drinks that tasted like mocha beans. It is in 1892 that people saw the name caffé mocha in a recipe by Betty Crocker.

The mocha grew in popularity recently. It came as a variation on the caffé latte familiar in java coffee shops in America in the 20th century. It is in Italy that the idea of having mocha coffee started.

What is the Difference Between a Mocha and a Latte?

Most people have no answer to this question; what is the difference between a latte and a mocha? Latte is a result of mixing milk and espresso. It comprises 1/6 of a cup, espresso, 1/6 of a cup of milk, and 4/6 of a cup of steamed milk.

Coffee lovers who enjoy creamy and diluted coffee drinks prefer the latte. Most of the time, the latte is served in a cup that measures eight oz. What happens is that one or two shots of espresso are put in the cup. What follows is six oz of steamed milk. A thin layer of foamed milk is placed on top of the brew. You can add some flavors or syrups if you wish.

On the other hand, what is mocha made of? Mocha comprises two espresso shots, one oz of steamed milk, two oz of hot chocolate, and a thin layer of milk foam. Mocha syrup or mocha sauce can be used. 

But, what is mocha syrup,and what is mocha sauce? Mocha syrup is like chocolate syrup while the mocha sauce is made with brewed coffee that gives it a chocolate flavor.  You can add brandy or Baileys Irish cream to your Mocha as well. Choose whatever suits you.

You need not get confused with what a mocha latte is. It is merely a latte that has chocolate syrup in it. In short, latte and mocha are both espresso drinks. The difference is that latte has little coffee while mocha has more coffee and some dark chocolate.

The Difference Between a White and a Dark Mocha

A white and dark mocha are two different things. A white mocha is usually made using white chocolate syrup. White mocha is sweeter than dark mocha.

On the other hand, a dark mocha is made from dark chocolate syrup. It is bitter compared to white mocha. 

How to Make a Mocha

Have you made a latte before? If you have, then creating a mocha is not entirely different. It is even easier if you have an espresso machine. Before you start the brewing process, ensure all your ingredients and equipment are intact.

First you will need a Moka pot or an espresso machine. Luckily, we have reviewed the Best Moka Pots you can buy online.

 Of course, if you have an espresso machine, you can easily access espresso glasses and the milk pitcher.

For your mocha recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• 8 oz of steamed milk.
• 16.5 g of ground espresso.
• 10-12 oz latte cup.

Here are the step-by-step guides for you to follow:

First Step: Measure the Ingredients

Before brewing begins, get all the ingredients. In this first step, you will grind your espresso in the machine’s portafilter. This is also the time to pour your chocolate syrup into the latte cup.

Second Step: Extract Your Espresso

In your latte cup, extract two shots of espresso. Remember you have your chocolate syrup in the latte cup. The heat in the espresso will warm the chocolate syrup hence making a delicious mixture. After extracting the espresso, stir the two concoctions thoroughly so that the two flavors can blend well.

Step Three: Steam Your Milk

Begin steaming your milk until you hear sounds like papers tearing. The sounds indicate that the milk is blending with air. In this case, there will be a good amount of foam for the latte. When the milk pitcher becomes too hot when you touch it, or 165 degrees Fahrenheit, then the steaming will be complete.

Step Four: Pour

After steaming your milk, add it to the mixture of espresso and chocolate. You need to see a layer of foam on the surface. When you sip it, it should be smooth and velvet in texture.

Step Five: Decorate Your Drink

Make your drink look fantastic by decorating it. There are various ways of decorating it; you can add nutmeg, cinnamon, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and dark or white chocolate syrup. After decorating it, you can then enjoy your drink!

There are different ways of modifying the drink. Just like you can change a latte, a mocha too is customizable. Below are ways in which you can modify your mocha:

Dark or white

Mocha can be made white or dark! That’s why in a java coffee shop if you ask for a mocha, they will tell you to choose between white or dark. Most of the time, the standard mocha is made with milk chocolate syrup.

If you want a sweeter drink, then choose a white mocha. A white mocha is made using white chocolate syrup. If you are a lover of bitter tastes, then the dark mocha suits you best. The dark mocha is made with dark chocolate syrup.

You can also play with your mocha by blending the three syrups. What you will have is a marble mocha! You make a marble mocha by combining dark chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate syrups.

Cocoa powder

Cocoa powder is the best for controlling the quantity of chocolate you put in your coffee. You may be having sachets of cocoa powder, and you can utilize them well in your mocha.

Coffee

Coffee comes in handy when you don’t have espresso. You can combine black coffee with chocolate syrup and steamed milk.

Chocolate milk

Chocolate milk is another easy way to make your Mocha. You can leave out chocolate syrup and go for chocolate milk. All you need to do is get chocolate milk, and espresso and you will be good to go!

Iced mocha

What is an iced mocha? The best thing with mocha is that you can ice it! You need to extract your espresso regularly, get your chocolate syrup and pour in cold milk. Lastly, get your ice and put it in your mocha! So delicious!

Your Mocha, Your Way

If you love a drink that has some espresso and a good amount of milk, then get the mocha! It is easier to prepare, just as seen in the steps above. So, why not try it at home?