Mocha Coffee Guide: How to Make a Classic Mocha

A mocha, also known as a cafe mocha or caffè mocha, is a coffee drink made with chocolate, espresso, and milk. The exact proportions of those ingredients and even the type of chocolate—such as chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, or hot chocolate mix—varies widely. Some coffee shops serve iced mocha lattes and mochaccinos (a cappuccino flavored with chocolate), while others serve white mochas (made with white chocolate), peppermint mochas, and more. One of the easiest and most popular versions is the mocha latte.

The term “mocha” comes from Mocha, Yemen, a port city known for its exportation of high-quality Arabica coffee beans. It is likely that sometime during the seventeenth or eighteenth century, baristas at European coffee houses combined Mocha coffee beans with chocolate flavoring to make hot beverages. The development of the modern espresso machine after World War II led to the invention of drinks like the macchiato, cappuccino, and caffè latte. Soon, baristas were adding chocolate flavor to espresso drinks. By the 1970s, instant mocha packets were sold commercially in the United States.

Mochas and lattes are both milky coffee drinks, but a latte isn’t made with chocolate—unless it's a mocha latte. Depending on the style of mocha, a mocha may contain the same amount or less milk than a latte. For example, a mocha macchiato is made with just a touch of steamed milk, while a mocha latte has roughly the same milk-to-coffee ratio as a regular latte.

Yes, there are many simple mocha latte recipes that don’t involve espresso machines. To make a homemade mocha latte without an espresso machine, simply brew a small cup of strong coffee using your preferred brewing method—with a French press or pour-over dripper, for example. You could also use instant coffee. Meanwhile, make a cup of hot chocolate using cocoa powder, sugar (or chocolate syrup), and hot milk or non-dairy creamer. Pour the cup of coffee into the hot chocolate. If you have a milk frother or small whisk, you can use it to add a layer of milk froth to the top of your drink. Otherwise, garnish your hot coffee drink with whipped cream or marshmallows, or add ice for an iced mocha latte.