Coffee is our beloved favorite when it comes to comforting the soul from all the troubles in the world. It is the ultimate dose of calm and relaxation that you need when things get a little stressed.
Though every cup of coffee gives the same feel, everyone might have a different palate for it. Some like it black, and some like it with extra milk. While some even like it with a touch of luxurious sweetness that only comes with chocolate. This lovely coffee variant goes by the name mocha!
A question might pop in your head asking what does mocha mean and what is mocha coffee? Mocha is used to describe a drink with a mix of coffee and chocolate.
Mocha is a coffee variant that is made with a touch of chocolate in it. Mocha is one of the best customizations that you can give your latte. The sweet and rich flavor of chocolate enhances the overall texture of the coffee, making it an absolute favorite of almost every coffee fanatic.
Lets get more familiarised with this magical flavor of the coffee.
Place of Origin
Tracing the history of mocha coffee shows its root embedded in America. This variant of coffee seems to have been inspired by a Turin coffee beverage, found in Italy, Bicerin.
Bicerin was originated in the early 1700s. It is an artistically crafted beverage in which the three layers of chocolate, coffee, and milk are carefully layered over each other. This is the only difference between a Bicerin and a Mocha. Though the ingredients remain the same, mocha is more like a mix of the three ingredients.
The colour of mocha is slightly darker than any other coffee variants. The obvious reason for that is the additional chocolate syrup that goes into the mix.
Mocha v. Hot Chocolate
Many people question what the difference between hot chocolate and mocha is. The most obvious difference between the two is coffee. While a big and rich cup of hot chocolate might taste similar to a mocha, it would not provide you with that extra kick of caffeine.
So, you can rely on a mocha to begin your day with. But a steaming cup of hot chocolate might put you back to a sound sleep.
Main Ingredients
The primary ingredients in a mocha are chocolate, espresso, and milk. If you wish to learn how to make a mocha at home, all you need is some chocolate syrup, some quality ground coffee, and the milk of your choice.
For making a delicious cup of mocha, steam the milk to a temperature of around 165-degree Fahrenheit.
Prepare a smooth mixture of coffee and chocolate in the cup of your choice. If you are thinking about what size of cup to use for mocha, you can go with the ones used for cappuccino or latte.
Once your mixture is done, pour the steamed milk over the mixture. You will get a smooth and silky layer of foam on the top that will give that velvety texture with every sip of this absolute delight.
If you want to enjoy your mocha on a hot summer day and wondering how to make an iced mocha or how to make a mocha frappe, all you need to do is, pour some cold milk and ice and shake to mix! Your cure for the heat is ready.
If you have access to an espresso machine, your job becomes easier. You don’t have to trouble yourself by pondering about how to make a mocha with an espresso machine, how much coffee should I add to the mocha, and so on.
Depending on your taste, pour is a double or triple shot of espresso, put about three to four pumps of chocolate syrup, and top it with steamed milk. Your rich cup of mocha is ready to serve.
Serving Temperature
Since a quality cup of mocha requires steaming of milk, a mocha latte is served at a minimum temperature of 7 Celsius ( or 160-degree Fahrenheit). Below this, the texture and the velvety feel of the milk foam might not get delivered.
Variations
Mocha is a more pop variant of a caf latte. Despite that, the drink in itself offers a lot of customizing options.
- You can ask the barista to make your mocha with either dark chocolate syrup or white chocolate syrup. The one made with white chocolate is often called the white mocha.
- If you dont have chocolate syrup at home, and you have an irresistible craving for a cup of mocha, you can replace the syrup with any hot chocolate mix.
- If you wish to have some chocolaty delight on a hot summer afternoon, mix it up with some cold milk and loads of ice. You got yourself a mocha frappe.
- Apart from these, you can also use chocolate milk to avoid the hassle of chocolate syrup and milk separately. Just add some coffee powder, and you are good to go.
Caffeine Level
A conscious coffee consumer is always aware of the amount of caffeine intake per cup. If you are wondering how much caffeine is there in a mocha, depending on the size of your drink, it can range anywhere between 85 to 180mg.
How Many Calories in a Mocha?
The mix of chocolate in your coffee might leave you wondering, how many calories are there in a mocha?
Though it is highly pleasing for the taste buds, unfortunately, mocha is not one of the healthiest options. One cup of mocha contains about 360 calories with about 14 grams of fat.
Because of the sugar present in chocolate syrup, an additional 35 grams of sugar gets added to your coffee. Even if you want to avoid putting sugar in your coffee, a mocha might nullify all your efforts of keeping that extra sugar away.
Best Milk to use for Mocha
The default milk option that is used in the preparation of a cup of mocha is whole milk. However, depending on your dietary needs, you can choose any milk of your choice. The texture might vary, but you can have a healthy alternative.
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