Deliciously sweet, nutty, and chocolatey. This creamy coffee drink, based on espresso, often causes confusion as to exactly what a mocha is. We explain what it is, where it came from, and how it differs from other coffees.

What is mocha coffee?

Although mocha is often interpreted differently around the world, the basic concept is that a shot of espresso is combined with chocolate powder or syrup, followed by milk or cream. It’s a variation of a latte, typically consisting of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk, but with the addition of chocolate flavoring, which can be milk or dark.

What does mocha mean?

Essentially, ‘mocha’ refers to a type of high-quality coffee made from specific coffee beans. These beans come from the Coffee Arabica plant species and were originally grown only in Mocha, Yemen. It also means a blend of coffee and chocolate, or a flavoring that tastes like this.

What does a mocha taste like?

It’s said that a mocha tastes like chocolatey coffee. While this is true, a mocha is much more than that. Where the espresso shot offers an almost bitter taste, the addition of chocolate creates a sweetness, resulting in a velvety smooth, luxurious beverage.

Mocha origin – where did it come from?

Now that we understand what a mocha is, where did it come from exactly? It’s believed that the drink was originally named after mocha beans, a type of coffee bean shipped from the port of Al Mokka in Yemen. Mocha beans were known for their naturally chocolatey flavor. Nowadays, the name mocha doesn’t specifically refer to these coffee beans but rather to the presence of added chocolate flavorings in the coffee drink.

Cappuccino vs. mocha – what are the differences?

For starters, cappuccino hails from Italy, while mocha originates in Yemen. Interestingly, both are espresso-based drinks, but mocha contains chocolate flavoring, while cappuccino is topped with milk foam to form a frothy coffee beverage – sometimes with a dusting of chocolate on top too.

As the cold months linger on, fellow coffee enthusiasts may be on the hunt for something new. Or perhaps rediscovering a forgotten favorite as they try to stay warm until spring. Ellianos offers a wide variety of delicious coffee drinks, but there’s one in particular that we recommend: mocha coffee.

Though mocha coffee is often confused with regular coffee, there are many differences to be found. In this blog, we’ll dive into mocha’s origins, explore differences to answer what is coffee (mocha or otherwise), and help you decide why mocha should be your next order!