Mocha Vs Latte

A mocha and a Latte are both very popular types of coffee. A Latte, or Cafè Latte as it’s also called, originated in Italy. The word Latte means “milk” in Italian while cafè means “coffee”. It’s a simple drink made with espresso and milk and a layer of foam on top. It’s usually made with 1/3 espresso, 2/3 milk, and a thin layer of milk foam. Flavored syrups, seasonings and toppings can also be added to a Latte like cinnamon, pumpkin spice or caramel. A Mocha, which is also called a Cafe’ Mocha or a Mochaccino, is simply a variation of a Latte. It’s made with milk, espresso and chocolate and a little milk foam or whipped cream on top. The chocolate adds sweetness to the drink and can be either cocoa powder or a chocolate syrup. Additional ingredients like cinnamon or spice can also be added to the drink.

A Latte is simply milk & espresso with milk foam on top vs a Mocha which is milk, espresso and chocolate with foam or whipped cream on top. A Mocha contains chocolate while a Latte is simply espresso and steamed milk. The chocolate makes Mocha a little sweeter than a latte and gives it more calories.

In some cases, a Mocha can also have some whipped cream on top. This addition adds even more sweetness and calories to the drink.

Baristas make Mochas and Lattes out of the same basic ingredients. But the addition of chocolate and sometimes whipped cream completely changes the drink. Mochas have a slight chocolate flavor but can be a lot sweeter if they come with whipped cream.

What’s In A Latte?

A Latte, a.k.a. Cafè Latte, is an Italian coffee. The word latte actually means “milk” in Italian. It’s a very simple coffee to make containing just 1/3 espresso and 2/3 milk with a thin layer of milk foam on top.

A latte is made with 1/3 espresso, 2/3 milk, and a layer of foam. A tall Starbucks latte contains:

10 ounces of 2% milk (substitute 1%, fat free, plant based or whole milk if you like)
1 shot of espresso (1.5 ounces)
Topped with a layer of milk foam

A latte’s primary ingredient is milk. You can use fat free, 1%, 2%, whole or a plant based milk to make a latte. My favorite is whole milk because it makes the coffee thicker and a bit creamy. Starbucks uses 2%.

If you’re vegan, dairy free or lactose intolerant, substitute a plant based milks instead of regular cow’s milk. Oat milk, almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk are all good choices. Almond milk is my personal favorite. The taste is the most similar to cow’s milk.

Flavored syrups, spices and toppings can be added to your latte after it’s made. They don’t change the ratio of ingredients needed to make the drink. Caramel, pumpkin spice and cinnamon are all good choices. They add just a pinch of flavor but don’t change the consistency of the coffee.

Unlike a Mocha, there’s no additional flavor or sugar added to a standard Latte. This means you can taste the espresso flavor more than many other coffees. However, many people and coffee houses add sugar and flavorings to the their lattes’.

Pros

Strong espresso flavor
A classic coffee
Relatively low in sugar and calories
Can be flavored with additional toppings and seasonings

Cons

Not very sweet unless you add more sugar

What’s In A Mocha?

A mocha, a.k.a. a Cafè Mocha or a Mochaccino, is a variation of a latte that contains chocolate. It’s made out of milk, espresso and chocolate with a little milk foam or whipped cream on top. The chocolate used can be either cocoa powder or a chocolate syrup.

A tall Mocha at Starbucks is 12 ounces and contains the following ingredients:

9 ounces of 2% milk (substitute 1%, fat free, plant based or whole milk if you like)
3 pumps of mocha sauce
1 shot of espresso (1.5 ounces)
Topped with a layer of whipped cream

Mocha coffees’ are made with either a thin layer or milk foam on top of whipped cream. The addition of whipped cream makes the drink creamier and a low sweeter. Flavored syrups and seasonings like caramel, cinnamon and hazelnut can also be added after the drink is prepared as a finish touch.

If you add additional flavorings to a Mocha at home, don’t adjust the basic ingredient ratios. Instead, make the drink and then add the seasonings at the end.

Pros

Chocolate and coffee are a delicious pair
Can be flavored with additional seasonings like caramel or cinnamon
Often topped with whipped cream or chocolate shavings

Cons

Can be a little sweet for some
Less about the espresso and more about the chocolate
More calories and Sugar vs a traditional Latte

What’s The Difference Between A Latte And A Mocha?

The difference between a Mocha and a Latte is that a Mocha contains chocolate, while a Latte is simply espresso and steamed milk. Because of the chocolate, a Mocha will be a little sweeter than a Latte with a hint of chocolate flavor.

Both a Latte and Mocha are finished with a thin layer of milk foam. But a Mocha is sometimes topped with whipped cream instead. In this case, the coffee will be a lot sweater and creamier than a Latte.

Because of the chocolate, and possible a whipped cream topping, Mochas contain more calories than Lattes. For example, a Starbucks tall Latte contains 150 calories while a tall Mocha contains 290 calories.

Making A Mocha vs Latte At Home

You don’t have to wait in line at a Starbucks every time you want a Mocha or a Latte. As long as you have the equipment needed to make espresso, like a Moka pot or an espresso machine, you can make them at home. They’re both made in the same way because a Mocha is essentially just a Latte with some chocolate mixed in.

To make a latte, you simply add hot milk to an espresso. It works best if you also own a frother. But if you don’t have a frother, heat the milk on a stovetop. When it warms up, slowly add it to your espresso in the correct ratio. Once the basic Latte is made, add other ingredients like cinnamon or extra sugar. You can use any type of milk to make a Latte. Starbucks uses 2% but 1%, fat free, whole or plant milks like almond work fine.
To make a Mocha, simply make a standard Latte and add chocolate. You can use either chocolate syrup or powder.

To make your own chocolate sauce, heat chocolate chips or bars on the stove with a splash of milk. Once the sauce is finished, add it to your espresso before the milk.

Top your mocha with whipped cream and chocolate shavings or some cinnamon.

What Is A Latte?

A Latte is a simple coffee drink originating from Italy. In fact, the word latte means “milk” in Italian. A Latte is simply 1/3 espresso with 2/3 milk and a thin layer of milk foam on top. A typical latte contains 1-2 ounces of espresso and 8-15 ounces of milk. It’s traditionally made with cow’s milk but you can substitute almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk or oat milk if you prefer.

Latte’s are made at Starbucks with 2% milk, but you can substitute fat fee, 1% or whole milk if you want less calories or a creamer coffee. I occasionally substitute a bit of milk for heavy cream to make my coffee a bit richer.

Additional ingredients like flavored syrups, spices and toppings can be added to your latte after it’s made. But they don’t change the ratio of ingredients needed to make the drink. Caramel, pumpkin spice and cinnamon are all good choices.

What Is A Mocha?

A mocha is essentially a Latte with some chocolate mixed in. It’s also referred to as a Cafè Mocha or a Mochaccino. It contains milk, espresso and chocolate with some milk foam or whipped cream on top. The chocolate can be either cocoa powder or a chocolate syrup. Mochas’ have more calories and sugar than a Latte because of the chocolate and possible addition of whipped cream.

A typical Mocha contains 1-2 ounces of espresso and 8-15 ounces of milk with 2-3 squirts of chocolate syrup or 1-2 teaspoons of chocolate powder. It’s traditionally made with cow’s milk but you can substitute almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk or oat milk if you prefer.

Is There Sugar In A Caffè Latte?

A Caffè Latte, also simply called a Latte, is made from espresso and steamed milk with a thin light layer of milk foam on top. Many people add sweeteners to their latte, but the drink itself is free of added sugar. However, it contains 18 grams of milk sugar in each 16-ounce (473-mL) serving.

Summary: Mocha Vs Latte

A mocha and a Latte are both very popular types of coffee. A Latte, or Cafè Latte as it’s also called, originated in Italy and means “milk” in Italian. It’s a simple drink made with espresso and milk with a layer of foam on top. It’s usually made with 1/3 espresso, 2/3 milk, and a thin layer of milk foam. Flavored syrups, seasonings and toppings can also be added to a Latte like cinnamon, pumpkin spice or caramel. A Mocha, which is also called a Cafè Mocha or a Mochaccino, is simply a variation of a Latte. It’s made with milk, espresso and chocolate with milk foam on top. The chocolate adds sweetness to the drink and can be either cocoa powder or a chocolate syrup. Additional ingredients like whipped cream, cinnamon or spice can also be added to the drink.

In some cases, a Mocha can also have some whipped cream on top. This addition adds even more sweetness and calories to the drink.

If you have any questions or comments about a Mocha vs a Latte, email any time.