Coffee is a flavorful, caffeinated, rich, and widely consumed beverage around the world. It has so many variations that choosing one can be a real headache. However, each variant is different from others in certain ways.
Mocha is the favourite coffee variant out of all. However, there is also a major portion of people who don’t like fancy drinking any coffee variants; instead, to them, a standard coffee is good to get their day going.
Some people who are not regular coffee drinkers ask, “is mocha and coffee the same?”
Well, both are identical from the standpoint of being a coffee beverage. However, when you compare their making, flavour, taste, ingredients, etc., they are distinct in certain ways.
This article will go in-depth to differentiate between a mocha and a coffee. Once you’re finished reading, you will know stuff.
So, let’s start!
Mocha Vs Coffee
To begin with, let’s define mocha and coffee:
Mocha
Mocha is a chocolate-flavoured coffee drink. It is a drink with espresso shots as a base combination of chocolate and steamed milk. Mocha is typically sweet and strong with a topping of whipped cream.
Ingredients used in Mocha
- 1 espresso shot (30 ml)
- 1 oz of chocolate syrup or cocoa powder
- 8 oz of steamed milk
You might also like to read our popular blog on low calorie mocha frappe recipe.
Coffee
Coffee is a beverage made from the roasted beans of coffee plants. To create a jolting beverage, these coffee beans are ground and brewed. Although coffee is often served hot, some individuals prefer cold or iced coffee in the winter.
Ingredients used in Coffee
- Coffee beans (up to 1 gram of coffee)
- Water (15 ml)
Other optional ingredients:
- Milk
- Sugar
- Syrups
- Spices
- The ratio can depend on personal choice.
What are the Differences between Mocha and Coffee?
Mocha and coffee are both flavorful coffee drinks, but there are a few key differences between the two:
Ingredients
Mocha is an espresso-based coffee drink. It starts with a half-shot of espresso, then adds chocolate and steamed milk before topping whipped cream. On the other hand, coffee is a typical drink made with a combination of coffee beans and water.
Flavour Profile
Mocha has chocolate in the drink and on the top, so it’s easy to understand it would have a sweet and chocolatey flavour. It also adds whipped cream, which gives a creamy-touch taste. In comparison, coffee is just sweet and bitter in flavour.
Caffeine Content
One primary characteristic that distinguishes a mocha from a coffee is the amount of caffeine. The quantity, however, can change based on the serving size and the preparation technique.
Per a typical serving, coffee has more caffeine than mocha. Yes, mocha has chocolate, which increases the amount of caffeine in the beverage, but coffee is made from coffee beans, which directly increases the amount of caffeine in the beverage.
Preparation Method
Mocha is made with espresso, chocolate, and steamed milk, whereas coffee is typically made using a french press, drip coffee maker, or pour-over method.
Calories
In mocha, the amount of calories is more because of the addition of milk and chocolate. On the other hand, coffee has almost no calories because it is brewed from coffee beans. However, the calorie amount can increase if you add cream and sugar.
Is Mocha and Coffee the Same?
While we talked about the differences between coffee and mocha, there are also some parallels.
Coffee beans
For making mocha and coffee, you can use the same type of coffee beans for both. Although, roasting can be a differentiator here.
While in a mocha, you need to make sure the beans are dark-roasted, while in the coffee, you can have medium-roasted beans.
Caffeine
Caffeine is another similarity between mocha and coffee. Coffee beans are naturally caffeinated, so they make mocha and coffee caffeinated when they are brewed. Mocha also includes chocolate which adds a little more caffeine.
Hot and Iced
As we discussed earlier too, mocha and coffee are often served as warm coffee drinks. However, in certain regions, the consumption of iced mocha and iced coffee is on trend, especially in the summer.
Mocha or Coffee: Which is Better?
Now, it is hard to answer this question because, generally, coffee is one of the drinks consumed based on personal preferences. This means that if you like mocha, it is not important that the other person besides you might share the same taste.
Mocha is a chocolatey coffee drink with espresso shots as a base. So, for someone who needs a caffeinated drink but also wants to enjoy the flavour of sweetness and chocolate with a whipped creamy touch on the top, mocha is the best!
However, suppose you are someone who is about to have a long tiring day and wants to be alert and concentrated until things are finished. In that case, a drink like a regular coffee which is caffeinated and gives a bold and bitter taste as per the preferences required is preferable.
So, it all comes down to what you think is best for your taste. Mocha is for chocolate-favoured people, while coffee is for bold-taste flavoured.
Suggested reading: difference between mocha and macchiato
Can You Add Other Ingredients to Both Coffee Drinks?
So, if you are someone who enjoys trying different things, then yes, you can try adding more ingredients to your coffee and mocha.
Mocha is (optionally) topped with whipped cream, but many people also add honey or sugar-flavoured ingredients. While on coffee, you can use spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for additional flavour.
Bottom Line
Mocha is an espresso-based coffee drink combined with chocolate and steamed milk, while coffee is a regular drink made using coffee beans and water.
These two coffee drinks are highly consumed around the world. While they seem similar in many ways, they are quite different from each on several aspects.
In this article, we have effectively discussed the differences and answered the question, “is mocha and coffee the same?”
Now that you have finished reading, it’s for sure you know how different these two drinks are.
