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Mochas and lattes are undoubtedly 2 of the most popular coffee drinks out there.
To be honest, before I really got into coffee, I couldn’t tell you for the life of me what either one was.
Now, I’ve had countless lattes and mochas, and I’m here to explain the ins-and-outs of each one.
I’ll cover their differences, similarities, common variations, and much more, so let’s jump right in!
Key Takeaways
- The latte and the mocha are very similar, with a couple big differences.
- Each one is very popular, with many different variations.
- Every cafe will make a mocha and latte a little bit different.
Mocha Vs Latte (The Bottom Line)
Coffee drink names can frankly sound like a foreign language (and they kind of are?), so let me break down the differences between these two incredibly popular beverages!
Factors | Mocha | Latte |
|---|---|---|
Caffeine Content | Average caffeine content of 85mg | Average caffeine content of 80mg |
Milk Content | Mocha has less milk volume than a latte and is stronger. | Latte has a high content of milk, noticeably more than a mocha. |
Milk Ratio | 1 ounce of steamed milk and a thin layer of milk foam to top it off | 4/6 steamed milk and ⅙ foamed milk |
With or Without Foam | Comes with a thin layer of foam. | Typically topped with a decent amount of foam, and sometimes even adorable designs. |
Hot or Cold Options | Yes to both | Yes to both |
Sweetness Level | One main difference between a mocha and a latte is that mocha has a sweeter flavor as it comes with chocolate or chocolate syrup. | Not sweet (just milk and coffee usually). |
Extra Additions | Chocolate chunks Topped with chocolate shavings Sometimes there’s even the addition of marshmallows Whipped cream | Not really a whole lot of additions for the latte, but there are many popular types of latte. |
Variations | Variations are typically based on the type of chocolate. You can use white chocolate, dark chocolate, or even a mixture of both (also known as a Tuxedo Mocha). | Matcha latte (with green tea) Soy latte (swapped with soy milk) Almond latte (swapped with almond milk) Chai latte (using chai tea instead of espresso) Plenty of other versions were created by Starbucks, from the pumpkin latte to an eggnog latte and more. |
What Is In A Mocha?
The mocha coffee beverage is made with:
- A double shot of espresso
- Chocolate (shavings, syrup, etc.)
- Steamed milk
Chocolate and coffee?! Say no more!
A mocha is very similar to a hot chocolate, with the key difference being that espresso is added in before it's served.
The rich, bold flavors of both the chocolate and espresso are balanced out with the creamy milk.
In most cases, mochas include dark chocolate which has a more ’sophisticated’ taste as opposed to a kid’s chocolate milk.
They can easily be sweetened up with some whipped cream, or made to be less sweet with an extra shot of espresso.
Flavor
Depending on the cafe, a mocha will generally taste very different from one locale to the next.
In some coffee shops the recipe calls for extra chocolate syrup (or chocolate sauce) which make it more sweet, while some recipes actually use dark chocolate to give it a more bitter notes.
I’ve noticed that in more commercial chains, they tend to be sweeter.
In more ‘homegrown’, local cafes, they tend to be bolder and even a little bitter.
Milk Content
A mocha is made with steamed milk and milk foam.
Some coffee shops choose to flavor the steamed milk with additional chocolate sauce, but the recipe does vary.
In a 12oz serving, 7-9 oz of that will be milk, so it really is a key ingredient.
Mochas work fantastically with dairy-free milk, too, though my favorites are oat and almond for a nutty-chocolatey taste.
Coconut milk is also great, creating a kind of Almond Joy-espresso drink!
Toppings
I personally love using chocolate shavings and chocolate drizzle on top of whipped cream.
It’s luxurious, and adds more depth to the chocolate instead of using just one type of ‘mocha’.
Salted caramel drizzle is another delicious option, adding a savory, buttery aspect to any mocha.
Marshmallows, cinnamon, and nutmeg are also nice additions!
Calorie Content
Depending on the size and specific recipe, mochas will typically land somewhere between 160 - 400 calories.
Whipped topping and extra chocolate sauce will definitely add to that content.
For lower calories, opt for sugar-free chocolate, no whip, and an alternative milk like almond.
Popular Types of mochas
- White Chocolate Mocha
- Dark Chocolate Mocha
- Salted Caramel Mocha
- Mocha Frappuccino
- Black and White Mocha
Pros & Cons of Mochas
What We Like
Things We Don’t
What Is In A Latte?
A latte is a coffee-based drink that’s made with:
- ⅓ espresso
- ⅔ heated milk
- About 1cm of it is foam
Quick word of advice: never order a latte in Italy.
At least, don’t expect to receive a drink consisting of espresso, steamed milk, and foam.
‘Latte’ literally means ‘milk’ in Italy, so ordering it by that name will just result in receiving a cup of milk.
Outside of Italy, a latte usually features shots of espresso with steamed milk and a layer of milk foam sitting on top.
Flavor
Lattes are literally espresso and steamed milk, offering a creamy-yet-slightly-bold flavor profile.
I always recommend them to those who aren’t fans of straight-up bold coffee drinks like an Americano nor sweet drinks like the mocha.
A latte is just slightly sweet, and the sweetness comes from the milk it’s made with.
Some cafes may add a bit of vanilla syrup by default, but it’s not as common.
Adding an extra shot of espresso changes the bitterness and boldness quite a bit (I usually add an extra shot as I like mine strong).
I find lattes to be a great ‘base’ drink, meaning it’s easy to add syrups to without conflict.
Raspberry, vanilla, white chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar are my personal favorites!
Milk Content
Lattes contain around the same amount of milk as a mocha.
However, I find that changing the milk to a non-dairy milk changes the flavor much more than it does in a mocha.
This is because the strong chocolate flavor isn’t there in a latte to downplay the milk taste at all.
I find that lattes taste great with literally any type of milk.
Toppings
For a little touch of character, I like adding toppings like whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon.
I wouldn’t recommend any ‘crazy’ toppings like chocolate shavings or marshmallows, as the earthiness of the latte just doesn’t go as well with it.
Calorie Content
Lattes contain less calories than mochas, as they don’t feature syrups or whipped cream, by default.
Lattes will have around 150 to 300 calories, depending on the size.
Popular types of lattes
- Vanilla Latte - this is by far the most popular type of latte aside from the default
- Hazelnut Latte
- Caramel Latte
- Cinnamon Latte
- Coconut Latte
Pros & Cons of Latte Coffees
What We Like
Things We Don’t
Making Mochas & Lattes at Home: Barista Tips
Looking to make a mocha and latte coffee drink at home? They aren't too difficult to prepare, and below are two recipes, along with some tips to get you started.
Mocha Coffee recipe
Ingredients:
- 1In a small glass or microwaveable cup, add your sugar, cocoa powder, and water before heating it. Stir and make sure that they have combined and completely dissolved.
- 2Stir in the coffee and milk and continue to heat until steaming.
- 3Add your favorite toppings (whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and marshmallows are all good if you aren't worried about the calories).
Latte Coffee recipe
Ingredients:
- 1Heat the milk in a pot or in your microwave.
- 2Once the milk is heated, take a small whisk and vigorously whisk until you’ve got a nice and frothy milk with little or no air bubbles. You can also use a specific milk frothing device or steam wand if you have one.
- 3Pour the coffee or espresso shot over your frothed milk or brew it over the frothed milk.
- 4Feel free to add extra sweet ingredients into your latte, or even add some vanilla syrup to make it into a flavored latte instead. Prefer something more chocolatey? You can also consider adding one to two tablespoons of chocolate syrup (make sure you do this before you heat the milk!) You can even choose to add cinnamon to give it a slightly spiced taste.
How To Make Espresso Shots At Home
Latte and mocha are both espresso based drinks, so naturally they have espresso shots included in the recipe.
You may not have a clue how to make an espresso at home and many people assume that making one involves a lot of added time and effort.
Your instinct might be just to brew a regular coffee and pour it in, but making an espresso at home is far easier than you think.
To start with you will need espresso coffee beans (or specific mocha coffee beans if you're making a mocha).
You can pick these up at any supermarket or coffee shop and they're not very expensive. Then, you'll have to use one of these methods to create the base for your latte and mocha drink:
1. Use An Espresso Machine
The easiest way to make an espresso at home is to use a machine. You'll just need to put in the coffee beans with some water, and you'll be able to prepare a cup of coffee in minutes.
If you love espresso based drinks then an espresso machine can save you a lot of time, but they are expensive so this won't be a viable option for everyone.
Many espresso machines come with a frothing device to help you create the steamed milk and milk foam, but if not then you'll need to buy your own.
2. Use An Aeropress
An Aeropress uses a plunger technique which is similar to a French press. You load up coffee grounds into the device, fill with boiling water, and press down to remove any air bubbles.
The air is compressed within the airtight chamber and forces the water through the coffee grounds to create an espresso.
Aeropress coffee is full of coffee flavors and is completely hand operated so you can use it anywhere.
The only downside is that it can't make multiple espresso shots at once, which means you'll have to repeat the process several times if you're brewing coffee for a group.
3. Use A French Press
A French press works in a very similar way to an Aeropress. It makes espresso by immersing coffee grounds in hot water.
The flavors of the coffee infuse with the water, and are intensified when you push down on the handle to create a vaccuum.
The coffee grounds are then filtered out so you're left with a fresh espresso drink.
A French press can save you a lot of time and give you espresso shots very quickly.
The disadvantage is that there is a chance of over extraction if you leave the coffee brewing unattended.
This can ruin the flavor and really impact the quality of your mocha and latte, so try not to leave it for more than 4-5 minutes.
4. Use A Moka Pot
A Moka pot is one of the oldest ways to brew espresso but it's still popular around the world.
The Moka pot has several compartments, one to fill with water, one for coffee grounds, and one for brewing.
Heat is applied to the bottom of the pot which generates steam. This increases the pressure in the bottom of the pot and forces water up through the coffee grounds.
The water infuses with the coffee to give you the espresso flavor. it can then be poured out into your mocha, latte, cappuccino, or any other espresso based drink.
FAQs
Which is stronger: latte or mocha?
Mocha and latte drinks both have caffeine, but interestingly, mocha actually has more caffeine than a latte! A mocha coffee drink has about 85 mg of caffeine, while a latte has an average of 80mg.
Is a mocha sweeter than a latte?
When it comes to the sweetness level of cafe mocha vs. latte, a mocha is definitely sweeter as it contains chocolate in it. In some instances (such as vanilla or caramel lattes), lattes can be equally, if not sweeter, than mocha.
Which is the best coffee for non-coffee drinkers, latte or mocha?
If you're someone that isn't a fan of the bitterness of coffee, mocha is a great drink to start with as it's a lot more palatable.
Are lattes healthier than mochas?
Generally speaking, lattes are healthier than mochas as they don’t have as much sugar. It is, however, highly dependent on the latte that you’re drinking. Vanilla lattes and other sugary lattes such as the Starbucks Brown Sugar Shortbread Latte come packed with sugar.
Is a mocha just a latte with chocolate?
No, it isn’t a chocolate latte and they’re actually very different drinks. While they both contain milk and caffeine, the flavors between the two and the percentage of caffeine differ.
Conclusion
Mochas and lattes both have a lot to offer, and are staple drinks in coffee culture.
While they’re very similar, there are a couple of big differences that completely change the taste and mouthfeel.
One of my regular go-tos are lattes, because they’re always consistent and have a very notable coffee taste.
However, if I’m feeling like treating myself, I’ll grab a mocha - maybe even order one with some peppermint or dark chocolate shavings!
My recommendation?
Try them both, as well as some of their most popular variations!
