Does Mocha Have Caffeine? Yes, But How Much?

Last updated on July 28th, 2024 at 14:07

The answer to does mocha have caffeine is clearly yes as it is made with two sources of caffeine: coffee and chocolate, more concretely, espresso and chocolate.

The amount of caffeine in mocha varies slightly depending on the particular mocha drink that you have ordered. As a cautionary word, mocha ice cream also has caffeine.

Keep reading to find out how much caffeine is in mocha and mocha ice cream.

Does Mocha Have Caffeine?

Yes, in almost all cases a mocha has a little, every so slightly more caffeine than a caffé latte. The extra caffeine content comes from the caffeine that is in the chocolate. Dark chocolate is the most popular option which has only a little more caffeine than white chocolate mocha. The caffeine difference between a mocha and the most similar coffee drinks, a latte and cappuccino, is only at most 20 mg of caffeine per cup.

Check the table below for how much caffeine is in a caffe mocha for all drink sizes and popular variations of the drink.

Drink Size	Caffé Mocha	Cardusio Mocha	Salted Caramel Mocha	White Chocolate Mocha	Peppermint Mocha	Mocha Frappuccino
Short 8 Oz (240 ml)	90 mg.	155 mg	90 mg.	75 mg.	75 mg.	75 mg.
Tall 12 (360 ml)	95 mg.	155 mg.	95 mg.	75 mg.	75 mg.	110 mg.
Grande 16 Oz (480 ml)	175 mg.	315 mg	175 mg.	150 mg.	150 mg.	140 mg.
Venti 20 Oz (600 ml)	185 mg.	320 mg.	185 mg.	150 mg.	150 mg.	N/A

Read: Breve Vs Latte 

What Is Mocha?

A mocha is a delicious, decadent and delightful beverage that is made with a balance of espresso, steamed whole milk and chocolate. The drink is often topped with a fine layer of milk foam and may be decorated with cocoa powder, chocolate shavings or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

The chocolate flavor of the drink is one that does not dominate the drink, neither does the espresso. It’s not milky like a latte but is balanced with all three ingredients in equilibrium.

The chocolate content depends on the individual coffee shop and may be from chocolate sauce, chocolate syrup, or cocoa powder. The higher end gourmet coffee shops will make it with top quality hot chocolate and make it fresh when ordered.

Other Names For Mocha And Mocha Variations

A mocha by any other name is a mocha, except where it is a variation of a mocha. Common names for a mocha are caffé mocha, café mocha and mocha latte, of which refer to the same drink, a mocha.

A mochaccino is more similar to a cappuccino than a latte, and is like a cappuccino with chocolate whereas regular mocha is more like a latte with chocolate.

A mochaccino has a few spelling variations, including mocaccino and mochachino, which refer to the same drink.

A mocha has a few variations that go beyond a mochaccino. Here are some of the popular ones that I have seen across the world:

• White Chocolate Mocha.
• Peppermint Mocha.
• Orange Mocha.
• Coconut Mocha.
• Toasted White Chocolate Mocha.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Mocha.
• Peppermint White Mocha.
• Peppermint Mocha With Half And Half.
• Black And White Mocha (AKA Zebra Mocha).
• White Pistachio Mocha.
• Dark Pistachio Mocha.

There are many more, and I’d love to hear about your favorite and “secret” mocha variation.

Read: What flavor is mocha?

Does Mocha Have Coffee In It?

Yes, a mocha is a balanced coffee drink with milk and chocolate in perfect unison where neither of the three components dominate the drink. A perfect mocha should not be too chocolatey, not too milky and with the coffee taste matched with the chocolate and milk.

Traditionally, a mocha is made from mocha coffee beans, which are a species of the arabica coffee plant that was originally only grown in the city of Mocha, Yemen.

Does Mocha Have Espresso?

Yes, it is the shot or two of espresso that provides the bulk of the caffeine content in a mocha.

A well-made mocha is made with an espresso shot that is brewed using a strong coffee to water ratio of 1:1.5 which is 20 grams of finely ground coffee per espresso shot. The drink then has steamed milk and chocolate added.

Decorations of whipped cream or milk foam with a drizzle of chocolate, a dusting of cocoa powder or chocolate shavings or flakes.

Read: Latte Vs Mocha

Does Mocha Have More Caffeine Than Coffee?

The bulk of the caffeine that is in a mocha comes from the coffee content, namely the shot of espresso. A little more caffeine, not much more, comes from the chocolate.

How it compares to regular coffee, brewed coffee, is shown in the table below.

Drink Size	Caffé Mocha	Brewed Coffee
Short 8 Oz (240 ml)	90 mg.	155 mg
Tall 12 (360 ml)	95 mg.	235 mg.
Grande 16 Oz (480 ml)	175 mg.	310 mg
Venti 20 Oz (600 ml)	185 mg.	410 mg.

Does Mocha Have Chocolate?

Yes, chocolate is an integral part of this decadent delight. Without chocolate, this drink is simply not a mocha.

How a coffee shop adds the chocolate varies widely and can be:

• Chocolate syrup.
• Chocolate powder.
• Melted chocolate.
• Hot Chocolate.

Naturally, the type and quality of the chocolate will also vary from outlet to outlet.

Does Mocha Ice Cream Have Caffeine?

Yes! This is something that is good to know and for a number of reasons, namely to ensure that you remain within the healthy and recommended limits for caffeine consumption. which is 400 mg per day and 200 mg per day for pregnant ladies.

It’s also good to know to ensure that your kids are not overstimulated with caffeine.

Mocha ice cream can have just under 50 mg of caffeine per serving, which is the equivalent of ⅔ of an espresso shot or half a cup of coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions About Does Mocha Have Caffeine

How Much Caffeine Is In A Mocha?

How much caffeine in a caffe mocha depends on the drink size and the volume plays a significant role in the caffeine content of beverage.

Here is how much caffeine is in a caffe mocha coffee at Starbucks:

• Short 8 Oz (240 ml): 90 mg of caffeine.
• Tall 12 Oz (360 ml): 95 milligrams of caffeine.
• Grande: 16 Oz (480 ml): 175 mg of caffeine.
• Venti 20 Oz (600 ml): 185 mg of caffeine.

Is Mocha The Strongest Coffee?

A mocha coffee made with mocha coffee beans has a significant amount of caffeine from the beans alone which is enhanced with the addition of chocolate, which also contains caffeine. Overall it is a very mildly caffeinated coffee. There are other coffee beverages that have a lot more caffeine.

Can Mocha Keep You Awake?

Yes, due to the caffeine content of a mocha it will keep you awake. It has more caffeine than a latte, to give you an indication and benchmark.

What Type Of Coffee Has Least Caffeine?

Without stating the obvious, decaffeinated coffee has the least amount of caffeine. Note, decaffeinated does not mean uncaffeinated as there is still a negligible amount of caffeine in it.

A Caramel ribbon crunch Frappuccino has the least amount of caffeine at Starbuck. Of the more traditional coffee drinks is a latte, with 75 mg of caffeine.

How Long Does A Mocha Keep You Awake?

Caffeine has a half life of 6 hours. This means that after 6 hours half the stimulant will still be circulating your body and a quarter of it will still be there after 12 hours. A Mocha should keep you awake for 6 to 8 hours on average.

Is Mocha Good For Anxiety?

Yes, even though there is caffeine which, on its own, can be a cause of anxiety, the cocoa effect has a reductive effect on anxiety and helps with concentration and focus, making it a great drink for studying or when at work.

Final Thoughts – Does Mocha Have Caffeine?

If any of your friends are curious and are themselves wondering does mocha have caffeine, share this article or send them a link to it and help them to stay within the healthy caffeine limits of 400 milligrams per day for adults and 200 mg per day for pregnant ladies.

That mocha ice cream, well it’s caffeine content may replace your coffee!

Join our cool online coffee community and take part by sharing your lovely coffee creations, eye-catching latte art and those hilarious coffee memes and jokes. Find us on Facebook/Meta.