As a coffee aficionado, I wish to understand the difference between each caffeinated beverage and what makes them special, sometimes I could confuse the mocha for a latte.
However, I got it right at some point. In this article, we would highlight the history and difference of this popular special drinks.
What Is in a Mocha?
What is a mocha? Simply, the ingredient that makes mocha distinct is dark chocolate. It is best to make the ganache, however, chocolate syrup or even chocolate chunks are also commonly used.
The first layout includes two-fifths of espresso, followed by the same amount of chocolate, and one-fifth of steamed milk. Although, some coffee shops might use two shots of espresso as a base for mocha and latte.
What is In a Latte?
Generally, a latte is more of a milky drink with a small touch of coffee. Of course, a double shot of espresso infuses more caffeine, but the taste of milk is still dominant.
For a latte, all you need is four-sixths of steamed milk and equal amounts of espresso and foamed milk – one-sixth of each to be precise.
The History Of The Latte
The history and origins of latte are not that fascinating, however, this doesn’t make the drink any less interesting.
Based on stories by the legends, Americans coveted a cup of cappuccino that was not too strong. Adding extra steamed milk was a logical thing to do. And voila – a latte was formed about a decade after world war 2 was over.
Furthermore, its popularity took off over the past 20 years, and there are even latte art competitions to support the rising trend. A thicker, creamier version of the latte, the breve latte or cafe breve, has also become a trend in America.
The History Of The Mocha
Hmmm, for one to speak of mocha’s origins, one thing needs to be made clear. The term mocha coffee can mean to two different things entirely. The coffee drink talked about in this article is an espresso-based beverage with chocolate or cocoa, and it comes as a result of a European take on espresso and milk drinks.
There are also mocha beans, and the coffee that is made with those beans is also called mocha.
The name itself was originally used in the 18th century only for the beans that came through the Al Mokha port in Yemen [1].
However, in our world today, the word mocha mostly refers to the chocolate-infused drink while the bean is just called Arabica.
Mocha is also a distinct variety of Arabica beans that are harvested in Yemen and Ethiopia. The Al Mokha beans still grow in mountainous regions of Yemen, although they are rare and fetch high prices.
Mocha Vs Latte: Similarities And Differences
Like lots of coffee beverages, these two are made with espresso and milk. It is best to use an espresso machine, but some recipes allow you to make a decent cup of espresso or mocha without the machine. although, the taste might differ without the use of the machine.
Excluding the tools and basic ingredients needed, mocha and latte have a few other similarities. The quantities of ingredients are different, and mocha features a special addition that makes it unique.
