What Is Mocha?

Have you ever heard of mocha? Or perhaps you know about mocha but you are not quite sure what it is. Well, in this article we are going to take a closer look at what a mocha is and everything you could possibly want to know about it.

There is quite a lot to discover about this tasty drink, so, let’s dive right in and get started!

What Is Mocha?

What Exactly Is Mocha?

In short, a mocha is a latte flavored chocolate beverage. Some other popular names for a mocha are Café Mocha, mocha latte, or mochaccino.

A mocha will generally stick close to the ratio of a traditional latte. This means that a mocha will have about one third espresso, two thirds steamed milk and a thin layer of foam on top. 

What makes a mocha different is the serving of chocolate syrup which is added into the mix. Some mochas are topped with whipped cream and sprinkles, but that depends on the café you are buying your mocha at. 

Bear in mind that modern mocha beverages are different from Mocha Java Coffee (see also: What Is An Americano?)Beans. This variety of coffee bean gets its name from a port called Mocha in Yemen.

It was this port many years ago that these coffee beans were imported from. These beans are not a type of coffee beverage and they certainly do not contain any chocolate. But they are said to have a lightly chocolaty flavor. 

Where Does Mocha Coffee Come From?

Originally mocha was a coffee which was made using Mocha Java Beans. This specific variety of coffee bean came from Yemen and traveled through port Mocha and a region of Indonesia called Java which is where the name of this blend came from.

These beans were said to have a naturally chocolaty flavor. 

Today however mocha is a type of drink which is a type of espresso blend that has chocolate added into the mix. The beverage we know and love today originated in Italy, in a place called Turin way back in the 18th century. 

At that time this drink was layered and made using cream, chocolate and espresso. It was also known by another name, bicerin, which was the name of the café where the modern mocha originated.

As time went on, this drink traveled through the world and became one of the most popular beverages in the world. 

What Is Mocha?

How Do You Make Mocha?

Mocha coffees are actually quite easy to make at home. You do not need to pop down to your local Starbucks every time you fancy one of these tasty chocolaty caffeine (see also: Does Chocolate Have Caffeine?)beverages.

In this section we are going to take a look at how you can make this tasty drink at home with just a few ingredients. 

Firstly, let’s start off with what you will need to make this delicious coffee. We have listed everything you will need below: 

  • Finely Ground Coffee of Choice – You will need 0.63 ounces. 
  • Chocolate Syrup –  You will need one tablespoon.
  • Milk –  You will need one ½ cup and one ¼  cup of milk. 
  • Whipped Cream – As much or as little as you like. 
  • Cocoa Powder – As much or as little on top of the cream as you like. 

This beverage should take you about ten minutes to make you about seven ounces of mocha coffee. To make this drink, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

For one, you may need some special equipment like an espresso machine with a steam wand, a milk steaming pitcher and a thermometer. These pieces of equipment are not all necessary but they will make your life easier. 

You will get the best results if you use a dark roast as it has a delightful strong flavor which has the perfect balance of bitterness against the sweet chocolate. But you can make do with any type of coffee that you prefer. 

You will be best off making your mocha with a milk chocolate syrup. But you can use dark or white chocolate syrup if you prefer. 

Now that you know the basics, we can take a look at how to make your own delicious mocha. We have listed a step-by-step guide down below: 

  • Step 1 – Start off by grinding your beans and preparing a double shot of espresso. While you are doing that you should also preheat your latte glass. 
  • Step 2 – Mix your chocolate syrup and espresso together using a whisk. 
  • Step 3 – Pour your milk into a steaming pitcher, use your steam wand to make this process easier. The milk should be about 160 degrees Fahrenheit and the texture should be akin to wet paint. You can use your thermometer to make sure that the milk is at the right temperature. 
  • Step 4 – Pour your steamed milk onto the chocolate and espresso mix. At this point, you can create pretty latte art as you pour the milk in. 
  • Step 5 – Top your mocha with whipped cream and cocoa powder as you wish.

That’s all! It is that easy to make yourself a delicious chocolaty mocha. Anyone should be able to make a drink like this. But if you want to check out other recipes, you will find that there will be alterations that would suit your taste better.

There are countless ways that you can make this beverage. So, do not be scared to check out some of the mocha recipes online. 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about what exactly mocha is. As we discovered, mocha is a high quality variety of coffee which is made from a particular type of coffee bean. 

If you want to enjoy a delicious beverage and you have never tried a mocha. You need to try this drink. If you are not a coffee drinker, then you may not really enjoy a mocha. But there are a variety of other tasty drinks that you might prefer. 

If you have enjoyed reading this article make sure to check out our website. We have a wide range of great articles which you are bound to find interesting or even educational.

Thanks for reading!

Kaitlyn James
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