Latte VS Mocha: What are the Differences?

Now, coffee is more than a drink to warm the body or relieve sleepiness. Coffee now becomes a lifestyle and existence for some people. They even need a cup of their favorite coffee to start their days. So, it is not surprising that there are a lot of coffee shops that pop up in almost every country. Up to now, so many types of coffee are available with various tastes. Not only bitter, but there are also coffee drinks with a milky taste and even sweet taste.

Among so many kinds of coffee, the ones that always exist in almost every coffee shop menu is latte and mocha. Do you know the differences between these two? Though both of them are made from the combination of espresso and milk, latte and mocha still have some differences that make them have their special taste. So, what is the difference between latte and mocha?

Latte

A latte was introduced for the very first time in North America and became extremely popular there. When it was introduced in Europe, the fans of this type of coffee are mostly teenagers and coffee drinkers who are still relatively young. Quite many people are confused about latte and cappuccino. Since both of them are made from a combination of espresso and milk. What makes latte and cappuccino different is the milk portion used. Generally, a latte is an espresso with a combination of warmed milk by steaming.

Cafe latte is the combination of espresso and milk with a ratio of 1:2. This means that 1/3 of the glass is espresso and 2/3 of the glass is liquid milk. However, there are those who say it more specifically. The ratio of latte is 2/6 espresso, 3/6 liquid milk, and 1/6 milk foam. This is what makes a latte taste lighter than a cappuccino. Moreover, a latte has a milky taste that is more dominant than a cappuccino. The typical process of making latte is steaming milk. This process is purposed to warm milk according to the desired temperature and create microfoam. Then, baristas will use this micro foam to make latte art.

In the United States of America and many other countries in the world, you will get exactly what you want when you order a latte. You will get a single or two shots of espresso, a cup of steamed milk, and a thin layer of frothed milk on the top. Latte has different names in Italy and other places in Europe. When you are traveling to Italy, make sure you order latte macchiato. Because if you order latte, you will only get steamed milk. When you are visiting France, order a café au lait in order to get your favorite latte.

With less espresso and more milk, a latte is a diluted, creamier coffee drink. Some coffee drinkers enjoy it as a dessert by adding some other flavors. If you want to see how gorgeous latte art a barista can make, try to order a cup of latte. This will please your tongue as well as your eyes.

Mocha

Mocha is the best coffee beverage for chocolate lovers. If latte is the combination of espresso and milk, mocha is basically a combination of espresso and chocolate. But, this coffee drink mixes some variants of chocolate. Some coffee shops make mocha by using chocolate syrup while some others use chocolate powder. The kinds of chocolate used are also varied. You can opt for using dark chocolate or even white chocolate to make a cup of mocha.

You can make mocha by combining espresso and chocolate that is a variant of latte. When you add chocolate to latte, you simply make a mocha. The ratio of espresso and milk is the same as latte, but you add chocolate to it. The combination of espresso and chocolate makes mocha has a strong sweet flavor. Mocha will be perfect if you serve it with whipped cream and chocolate granule as the topping.

The word mocha is actually a common word for coffee that grows in the Yemen region. When you order a mocha at your local coffee shop, it is not necessarily mocha beans that are grown and harvested in Yemen. It is called so because this coffee drink tastes similar to chocolate. Many people consider that mocha consists of 5 parts, which are 2/5 espresso, 2/5 chocolate, and 1/5 steamed milk, with a chocolate flavor that particularly comes in the form of hot chocolate.

2 other similar mocha drinks are available. The first one is a mocha latte that is extremely similar to an espresso latte. A mocha latte mixes 1/8 espresso, 5/8 steamed milk, 1/8 foamed milk, and 1/8 hot chocolate. If you notice a mocha latte on a coffee shop’s menu, you can consider it as a standard American latte with a hint of chocolate. The next type of mocha drink is mochaccino. You should be able to guess the way to make it by just hearing the name.

Basically, a mochaccino is a cappuccino with a hint of chocolate. You can make it with 1/3 steamed milk, 1/3 espresso, 1/3 frothed milk, and one tablespoon of chocolate syrup. If your favorite local coffee shop does not have a mochaccino on their menu, you can just simply order a cappuccino with a pump or shot of chocolate. Or, you can also order a latte with additional hot chocolate. This way, you can still have a mochaccino.

What You Need to Know About Latte Art

When it comes to coffee, we cannot miss talking about latte art. It can be said that latte art is a part of coffee. When you order a cup of your favorite latte, you will see a pretty art on top of it. The barista makes it by using the foamed milk and it needs special skills. If you are so into latte art, here is what you need to know about it.

The Birth of Latte Art

The person who created latte art was David Schomer. He was an American man who was obsessed with creating art on top of coffee in the mid-1980s. There was also an Italian man named Luigi Lupi who created latte art in the exact same period of time. So, there were 2 founders of latte art.

David Schomer even made a book about latte art. In 1994, David Schomer said in the Coffee Talk article that he developed a heart shape in a latte since fall in 1989. In this article, David Schomer unofficially patented the heart shape of latte art.

Latte Art is About Science

When you create latte art, you do not just simply pour milk into espresso. You can make latte art with the help of milk steamed by using a steamer or frother and creating microfoam in your home, check our article How To Make Latte At Home Using Machine if you curious . In science, this process is called denaturation. Milk consists of fat, protein, and sugar. When you evaporate milk, the fat breaks down the sugar so that the milk tastes sweeter. This milk that has produced microfoam is what the barista pours into an espresso so that they can shape it into various designs in latte art.

Tools to Make Latte Art

In order to make latte art, you will need a milk jug. A milk jug is like a brush for a barista. Imagine a cup of latte on an acme cup that contains perfect rosetta-shaped latte art. All thanks to the barista who controls the milk jug. You can choose a milk jug from various brands, such as Latte Pro, Motta, and Espro Toroid. The materials used to make a milk jug are varied as well. For example, stainless steel and Teflon. Besides a milk jug, you will also probably need a latte art pen that can help you to create gorgeous, detailed latte art.

Latte Art Championship

Nowadays, latte art has become a serious thing. There is even a latte art championship where all countries around the world send their experts in latte art to compete in the international latte art championship. Now you know that a cup of your favorite latte is highly appreciated. If you want to learn to make latte art, you can ask your local coffee shop whether they have a later art studying program or not.

That is the difference between latte and mocha. As you know, each coffee beverage is different though all of them use coffee as the base ingredient. So, which coffee drink is your favorite?

Latte Machine Deal

Table Differences Between Latte and Mocha

	Latte	Mocha
Main Ingredients	Espresso, steamed milk, milk foam	Espresso, steamed milk, chocolate syrup
Flavor	Mild and creamy, with a slightly bitter taste from the espresso	Sweet and chocolatey, with a hint of coffee flavor
Serving Size	Typically served in a large mug, with a ratio of 1/3 espresso, 2/3 milk	Usually served in a smaller cup or glass, with a ratio of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, 1/3 chocolate
Milk Texture	Smooth and velvety, with a layer of foam on top	Smooth and creamy, with a thicker texture from the chocolate syrup
Caffeine Content	Moderate, with one shot of espresso	Moderate, with one shot of espresso
Variations	Can be flavored with syrups or spices, such as vanilla or cinnamon	Can be made with white chocolate or dark chocolate

Cappuccino vs Latte vs Mocha

You can differentiate between cappuccino vs latte vs mocha based on the ingredients and their ratio. 

Cappuccino

Cappuccino consists of Espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. People love this drink because of the attractive art designs on the top made of milk foam. It is because cappuccino uses dry foam that has big and airy bubbles with lots of volume. The standard ratio of a cup of cappuccino is 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam. The flavor of this drink is milky, although it uses an equal ratio. That’s why people who can’t drink pure coffee often choose to drink a cup of cappuccino. Baristas take 1/3 espresso and pour it on the bottom of the glass. Then, they add 1/3 of steamed milk as the second layer. 1/3 milk foam is on the third layer or at the top of the cup.

Latte

Don’t get confused between cappuccino and latte when you compare cappuccino vs latte vs mocha. Cappuccino and latte have the same ingredients, which are espresso, steam milk, and milk foam. The difference is in the ratio of them. Latte uses more steamed milk than a cappuccino. It uses 6 to 8 ounces of steamed milk. Like cappuccino, baristas pour a double shot of espresso on the first layer or at the bottom of the cup. Then, they continue the process by pouring the steamed milk. Milk foam is also the top layer. Baristas often use 1 cm thick milk foam on a cup of latte.  

Mocha

Unlike cappuccino and latte, mocha has a little bit of different ingredients. This drink doesn’t use milk foam. So, baristas pour espresso as the first layer or at the bottom of the cup. Then, they pour hot chocolate on the second layer. Mocha is using steamed milk as the top layer. The ratio of this coffee is the same as the latte. The flavor and color may different depending on the ratio of the white milk or dark chocolate used in the drink. It is a simple way to differentiate between cappuccino vs latte vs mocha.   

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