The cappuccino and the mocha are both popular coffee drinks made from espresso and milk. But there’s one big difference between them.
That difference is chocolate.
If you order a cappuccino, the barista may offer a light dusting of chocolate on top of the coffee. Chocolate is not an essential part of a cappuccino, so whether you choose to drink your cappuccino with or without a chocolate topping is entirely up to you.
However, when it comes to the mocha, chocolate is non-negotiable! If your coffee doesn’t contain chocolate, it simply isn’t a mocha.
In today’s coffee comparison, we’ll compare the cappuccino and the mocha to find out what these popular drinks have in common and what sets them apart.
What is a Cappuccino?
A cappuccino is a drink of three equal parts: espresso, steamed milk, and milk froth.
The foundation of a cappuccino is one or two shots of espresso. So the first step to making a cappuccino is to pull the desired amount of espresso shots using your espresso machine.
Next, steamed milk is added to the cup. The amount of steamed milk should be equal to the amount of espresso.
And finally, the drink is topped off with a head of milk froth. To create a balanced drink of equal thirds, the milk froth should be equal to the amount of steamed milk (which is equal to the amount of espresso).
Some coffee shops will offer a dusting of chocolate on top of your cappuccino. This is an optional extra and – unlike the mocha – is the only way chocolate should ever feature in a cappuccino.
What is a Mocha?
Mocha coffee is traditionally made with mocha coffee beans, a type of arabica bean that gets its name from the port town of Mocha, in Yemen, from where the beans were originally exported.
Like the cappuccino, the mocha is an espresso drink with a foundation of one or two espresso shots. However, it’s what’s added to the espresso that makes the mocha unique.
The special ingredient in a mocha is chocolate. After pulling the espresso shots, the barista adds chocolate in the form of chocolate powder, chocolate syrup, or simply pure melted chocolate.
The cup is then topped up with steamed milk, and a swirl of whipped cream is often added on top.
To round off the drink and emphasize the chocolatey taste, a dusting of chocolate sprinkles will sometimes be added on top of the whipped cream.
The Difference Between Cappuccino and Mocha Coffees
The difference between a cappuccino and a mocha is that a cappuccino is made from espresso and milk, whereas a mocha is made from espresso, chocolate, and milk.
A cappuccino has strictly fixed proportions. To be a true cappuccino, a coffee should be one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third milk froth. A mocha is much more flexible, with no fixed proportions – you can add as much chocolate as you like! – and therefore, much more variety in how they are prepared in coffee shops around the world.
Some coffee shops will add whipped cream on top of a mocha as standard, whereas you would never add whipped cream on top of a cappuccino.
In terms of taste, a cappuccino is a well-balanced coffee with a relatively strong espresso flavor compared to milkier coffees, such as the latte. Meanwhile, the mocha is all about combining coffee and chocolate flavors.
Some mocha coffees will be very chocolatey, with lots of rich chocolate mixed into the espresso and even more chocolate added on top of the drink in the form of sprinkles. Other mochas will be more subtle, allowing the espresso flavor to come through without being overwhelmed by the chocolate.
Needless to say, a mocha will taste much sweeter than a cappuccino – particularly if it has whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top – and the mocha will be much higher in calories than a cappuccino too.
Ultimately, if you are a coffee-lover with a sweet tooth and you’re looking for a treat, the chocolatey mocha is a great option. But if you’re a more traditional coffee drinker looking for more prominent espresso flavors – or you’re watching your calorie intake – the cappuccino would be the way to go when choosing between these two coffees.
FAQ – Cappuccino vs Mocha
The difference between a cappuccino and a mocha is that a cappuccino is made from espresso and milk, whereas a mocha is made from espresso, chocolate, and milk.
A cappuccino should be stronger than a mocha as it’s much more restrictive in terms of how many parts each element is; One-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third milk froth. A mocha is much more flexible, with no fixed proportions. You could add more cocoa or whipped cream to a mocha.
In theory, they have the same as they should both consist of 1 shot of espresso.
Hi, I’m Megan! I love coffee – especially cappuccino – and spending time with my kids. When I’m not busy being a mom, I enjoy reading magazines (or just about anything that interests me) and swimming. In fact, I used to be a swimmer in college!
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