Cafe Mocha vs Mocha Latte? What are their differences? Which one is best for me?
If you love trying new coffee drinks but feel overwhelmed when looking at the menu, can’t figure out the differences between each drink, or they just all sound so delicious and don’t know which one to get… We understand!
There are so many types of coffee: Black coffee, wet cappuccino, dry cappuccino, latte, cappuccino, caffe macchiato, Americano, espresso, doppio, cortado, red-eye, lungo, macchiato, mocha, ristretto, flat white, affogato – which includes ice cream, café au lait, Irish… and the list goes on and on! Some are very different from each other, while similar drinks use the same base ingredients to create pretty much the same type of coffee with some minor differences.
For example, your local coffee shop’s skilled barista will know when to use cold milk, hot milk, hot water, a steam wand, whole milk, etc, to create popular coffee drinks, as well as different ways to please most coffee aficionados and their taste buds.
We love getting how creative you can get with coffee, but learning their different names and characteristics can be tricky for new coffee drinkers, especially if they have the same basic ingredients. If you can relate to what we just said, then this article will be of great help to you.
In this article, we will be talking about two amazing coffee drinks that you should know about: cafe mocha and mocha latte… Are they really different? Let’s find out – just keep reading!
What is a Cafe Mocha?
You have probably had a cafe mocha before, but you may not be familiar with what it is or what makes it distinct from a regular coffee. Well, let’s begin with the basics. Mocha is a regular latte (which is an espresso with steamed milk and milk foam), with added hot chocolate syrup.
One of the best things about this drink is that it can be completely customizable, from the number of espresso shots to the amount of milk. The amount of chocolate syrup depends entirely on the person ordering the drink, but normally it’s anywhere from one to four pumps of syrup.
However, a mocha latte can sometimes be made with cocoa powder instead of chocolate syrup and can have extra additions, such as whipped cream, chocolate chips, or white chocolate instead of dark chocolate.
By the way, did you know the word “mocha” is a shortened version of “cafe mocha” or “mocha latte”?
What is a Mocha Latte?
Well, as we just mentioned, a mocha latte is exactly the same as a cafe mocha, it’s simply one of the many variants of the name “mocha”.
However, it can often be confused with a latte because of how similar their names and ingredients are. Here’s the definition of a latte, just to make the difference clearer:
What is a Latte?
A latte is another famous coffee drink that we all have enjoyed at some point in our lives. Latte is made with espresso and steamed milk and a small layer of frothed milk. As opposed to mocha, the texture and appearance of a latte are very important.
This delicious drink can have one or two shots of espresso, with a typical ratio for espresso to steamed milk of 1-2, but of course, they can also be tailored to fit your preferences.
If you want a coffee beverage with less milk, next time you are at a cafe you can ask for a flat white. A flat white is the same as a latte, but with less milk. You can ask for it with no foam, a lot of foam, or something in between. Flat white is usually the best choice for people who prefer tasting the real flavor of the espresso but are slightly less strong.
How to Make a Cafe Mocha
Making a mocha latte is very easy, even beginners can do it. You will need:
- Chocolate syrup or chocolate powder
- One or two shots of espresso – the number of espresso shots is up to you
- Steamed milk
- Whipped cream
Instructions:
- Brew your espresso and serve it in a cup.
- Add two pumps of chocolate syrup.
- You can use cocoa powder if you don’t have chocolate syrup, and mix it with the espresso.
- Foam your steamed milk to get the texture of your preference, and add it to your chocolate espresso.
- Top it with whipped cream and add cocoa powder to the top.
- If you want an iced mocha, wait for the espresso shot to cool down before adding the ice.
- If you have a sweet tooth, we recommend changing the chocolate to white chocolate – it’s sweeter and smoother than a classic mocha.
As always, you can add or remove quantities of ingredients from the list – for example, you can add sugar if you want your drink to be sweeter, remove the whipped cream, etc.
How to Make a Latte
Lattes are also very easy to create. You only need an espresso machine, a milk jug, and the ingredients. Here are some simple instructions so you can make your own latte drink at home:
Ingredients:
- Espresso
- Steamed milk
- Foamed milk
Instructions:
- Prepare an espresso in a glass.
- Fill your milk jug with your preferred milk up to 1/3 of the jar.
- Foam/froth your milk until it’s smooth and there are no air bubbles.
- Pour your frothed milk into your espresso at an angle.
- Make sure there’s a small amount of milk on top of your espresso.
- Add cinnamon, sugar, or whatever you prefer, and enjoy your latte!
And that’s it!
Now you know what makes a cafe mocha, or mocha latte, so delicious and unique – and also a quick recipe so you can make your own right now, as well as a recipe to create a latte too. And what’s best, you won’t have to visit coffee shops every time you want a mocha!
We hope this article was helpful to you! If it was, please share it with your friends and family interested in creating the best cup of coffee.