Difference Between Coffee and Mocha

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world.  There are so many people who just love their cup of coffee.  For some, the world will stop revolving if they are deprived of coffee.  Winter especially is considered incomplete without having a hot coffee.

Different perceptions are held by different people towards coffee.  For some, it is a token of love, for some consider it as the best medicine to stay awake during exams, and for some, it acts as an energizer during their hectic work schedule.

There are so many people who know what they like.  We should sample at least once the different types of coffee to understand the variation on each. We sometimes do not understand the difference between the different variants available be it the Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, or just the plain coffee.  Here we will try to know more about Mocha and Coffee.

Coffee vs Mocha

The main difference between Coffee and Mocha is that Coffee is a pale brown beverage made by infusing ground coffee beans in hot water or milk whereas Mocha is a dark brown coffee drink made with coffee, steamed milk, chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream or milk foam.

Comparison Table Between Coffee and Mocha

Parameters of ComparisonCoffeeMocha
DefinitionA beverage made with ground coffee beans along with water or milkA beverage made with coffee, steamed milk, chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream or milk foam
OriginOriginated on the plateaus of EthiopiaOriginated from Yemen
ContentsMade with coffee beans, water, or milkMade with coffee, steamed milk, chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream or milk foam
ColorPale brownDark brown
ServedServed hot or coldGenerally served hot
Caffeine contentAn average cup contains 95mg of caffeineAn average cup contains 80mg of caffeine
TypesThere are 30 popular types of coffeeThere are 2 variants of mocha

What is Coffee?

The earliest evidence available of coffee-drinking appears in the accounts of Ahmed Al-Ghaffar in Yemen during the 15th century.  It was at Arabia that coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed similar to how it is prepared now.

When you think of coffee we always think of its ability to provide us an energy booster.  Worldwide it is believed that people consume about 2.25 billion cups of coffee per day approximately.

Experts believe that drinking coffee benefits health conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cardiovascular disease.  But there is no proof to support some if not all of these claims.

Coffee is the third most popular beverage in the world(after water and tea) and the second traded commodity after petroleum.  Though coffee forms the base for an endless array of beverages, its popularity is mostly because of its effect produced by the caffeine(an alkaloid) present in it.

There are two varieties of coffee beans the Arabica and Robusta and the caffeine content is different in both these varieties.  One serving of Arabica instant coffee contains around 70mg of caffeine while brewed Robusta contains about 200 mg of caffeine.

There are so many popular types of coffee loved all over the world. Some of them are :

  • Black coffee – Made with coffee beans and hot water.  Its proper name is Café Noir.
  • Latte – Made of steamed milk along with a shot of espresso. It is had plain or with a shot of any flavor from vanilla to pumpkin spice.
  • Cappuccino – Made with more foam rather than steamed milk topped with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or cinnamon.  Variations are found where the cream is used instead of milk.
  • Americano – Made with a shot of espresso diluted in hot water.  It has a flavor similar to black coffee.
  • Expresso – This is served solo or it is used as the base of most coffee drinks like lattes or macchiatos.
  • Doppio – This is a double shot of espresso.
  • Macchiato – It is an espresso-based drink that has a topping of a small amount of foam.
  • Mocha – This is a chocolate espresso mixed with steamed milk and foam.
  • Irish Coffee – It is made up of black coffee, sugar, and whiskey with a topping of whipped cream.
  • And the list goes on.

    Coffee is served hot or iced depending on the choice of the person who wants to have it.

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    What is Mocha?

    There are a lot of things common between Coffee and Chocolate.  They both come from equatorial tropical countries and are best when roasted.  Sometimes they are overlapped for the best flavors.  Hence, it seems but natural that we combine chocolate and coffee to get a wonderful drink.

    Even though Mocha is now associated with coffee the word actually comes from the city of Mocha in Yemen.  This city was the world’s major coffee market place during the 15th to 18th century.  This drink got its name from the Arabica coffee beans which were grown in the mountainous regions of Central Yemen.

    Mocha was originally known as Bavareisa or Bicerin and it only after 1892 that it got referred in a Betty Crocker recipe.

    The best-known combination of chocolate and coffee is Mocha.  It is generally served with a double shot of espresso, steamed milk, foam, and chocolate. Chocolate can be in any form of syrup, shavings, or drinking chocolate.  Some cafes use melted chocolate rather than chocolate powder or syrup and this requires more preparation time.

    Most café owners say that the taste of Mocha varies from café to café.  It is all about the ratios used for mixing.  The best way to make a Mocha is by starting to mix chocolate with expresso and then top it with milk.

    Mochas are often made by using high cocoa chocolate but there is another variant as well.  White chocolate is also used instead of dark chocolate and sometimes even by combining the white and dark chocolate which is called a Zebra Mocha.

    The Mocha is liked by those who generally do not like a strong coffee taste but would prefer a balance between sweetness and a caffeine kick. It is described as a dreamer’s coffee and makes a great winter drink.

    One small cup of Mocha can contain about 180mg of caffeine. Mocha helps in reducing anxiety.  While caffeine alone normally increases anxiety, but adding chocolate to the mixture reduces the effects and helps in over-all attention.  Thus, it is good news for students who are seeking to focus on their studies.

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    Main Differences Between Coffee and Mocha

  • The basic difference between Coffee and Mocha is that Coffee is made with ground coffee beans mixed with hot water or milk whereas Mocha is made by mixing coffee with steamed milk and chocolate along with a topping of milk foam or whipped cream.
  • The contents of Coffee is plain ground coffee beans and water or milk whereas Mocha is made with coffee along with steamed milk, chocolate syrup with toppings of milk foam or whipped cream
  • The origin of Coffee was from the plateaus of Ethiopia whereas Mocha originated in Yemen.
  • The content of caffeine in an average cup of Coffee is about 95mg whereas in Mocha the content of caffeine is about 80 mg.
  • Coffee is served either hot or iced whereas Mocha is generally served hot.
  • There are about thirty popular types of Coffee whereas Mocha has only two variants.
  • Conclusion

    The demand for drinks that are made with both coffee and chocolate is unlikely to decrease.  This is because they have been always popular among the young and old and will continue to be so in the future as well.  Its high levels of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients make it quite healthy as well.

    The world might stop revolving for so many people if they are deprived of coffee! Most of the working professionals, students, and even those who stay at home survive on their blissful cups of coffee.

    The sweet and subtle flavor of Mocha brings about a perfect balance making it an ideal drink for those who love Coffee in any form. Whether you have tried the various varieties of Coffee or just had plain Coffee or a cup of Mocha there is nothing more comfortable than getting cozy with a cup of this beverage.

    References

  • https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-african-history/article/early-history-of-ethiopias-coffee-trade-and-the-rise-of-shawa/24FC7271EE18D37A6E30BAEF68872A45
  • https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf070779x
  • Last update on 2022-06-13 / Amazon Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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