What is the Difference Between a Frappe and Mocha

Share:

Difference Between Frappe and Mocha

Today we are going to explore the differences between a frappe and a mocha. If you don’t frequent coffee shops, it’s important to point out that these are both names of two different coffee-based beverages. 

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino loaded with toppings

Frappe

mocha iced coffee with chocolate shavings

Mocha

Like all coffee drinks, a frappe and mocha have several similarities, such as they are both a coffee beverage, but there is one specific main difference between the two popular coffee drinks, and maybe more depending on how the frappes are made.

Let’s jump right in to explore first what a frappe is, then what a mocha is, followed by the similarities and differences between these two drinks.

What is a Frappe

A coffee Frappuccino is a delicious type of frozen coffee drink that can satisfy your sweet tooth craving. This sweet drink is typically made using ground coffee beans to make strong brewed coffee, like Starbucks Frappuccino, but can sometimes also be made from an espresso shot. 

The basic ingredients in a Frappe are either brewed coffee or espresso, along with ice cubes, milk, or sometimes ice cream, and sometimes a sweetener such as flavored syrups or simple syrup.

These ingredients are added into a blender and blended until smooth to make a coffee-flavored smoothie type of drink. The cold beverage is often served after it has been topped with whipped cream. 

How thick or thin the consistency depends on how much ice is added to the blender. The more ice you add the thicker consistency of your frappe.

Another delicious, but less common option is to add vanilla ice cream to the mix to make it sweet and even thicker. If you are making your own frappe, you can choose what ingredients it is made from. 

While the base ingredients for a frappe are ice, milk, coffee, and sweetener, you can choose to add other flavors to the frozen drink if you want. Some favorite variations of this base recipe are a caramel frappe or a mocha frappe. 

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino starbucks copycat

Caramel Frappe. To make a caramel frappe all you have to do is add a few tablespoons of your favorite caramel syrup into the blender along with the other ingredients mentioned above.

You can also serve the drink with a drizzle of caramel syrup on top. 

Mocha Frappuccino. Making a mocha Frappuccino is another delicious variation to your basic frappe.

To make it mocha flavored all you have to do is add a bit of chocolate syrup into the blender to add that delicious chocolate flavor.

You can also serve a mocha frappe with a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top. 

What is a Mocha

A mocha, on the other hand, is typically one of the espresso-based beverages. A mocha coffee can be made usually from brewed espresso but could also be made from strong brewed coffee.

The term mocha literally means chocolate, this term refers to a deliciously sweet chocolate-flavored coffee.

The basic ingredients of a café mocha are brewed espresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk mixed to make a delicious flavored hot chocolatey coffee. The drink is often served with whipped cream on top. 

Although there are just a few basic ingredients to make this tasty chocolate coffee, there are many different variations that can be used to make this drink as well. Let’s look at some of them in detail. 

mocha iced coffee

First, let’s explore the espresso component. As mentioned, this type of coffee is usually made with shots of espresso as the coffee. However, it does not always have to be made with hot espresso in order for it to turn out as a delicious mocha.

Instead, strong brewed coffee is often used as a replacement for brewed espresso. Another great option is to heat hot water, and then mix in instant coffee until it is dissolved for a quick alternative.

A café mocha is often flavored with chocolate sauce, or chocolate syrup to get that delicious chocolatey flavor. However, these are not the only options to get the tasty chocolate flavor to the coffee drink.

Some other alternatives to chocolate sauce include hot chocolate, cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate, a bittersweet mocha sauce, a portion of sweet chocolate that has been melted into the hot drink.

Milk is another key ingredient in the hot beverage. Typically, a mocha is made using whole milk, but other milk alternatives or other types of milk can be used as well. If you are making your own mocha, it is entirely up to you a matter of your preference as to what type of milk should be included.

As you may have gathered, often you will find a café mocha served as a hot beverage. However, you can also enjoy mocha coffee as a cold brew, an iced mocha, or even as a mocha latte. 

There are many variations to a basic mocha coffee, essentially if you see the word mocha in addition to another type of coffee such as latte or frappe, this refers to the chocolate-flavored coffee inside of these beverages. 

However, if you see the word mocha alone, it usually refers to chocolate-flavored hot coffee or chocolate-flavored iced coffee.

Iced Mocha. Iced mochas are a type of iced coffee drinks that are brewed either with strong coffee or espresso then poured over ice or prepared as cold brew using cold water and coffee grounds in the fridge.

Iced mocha also contains milk and chocolate syrup, to give it that chocolatey flavor.

Mocha Latte. A regular café mocha usually contains some milk foam in it; however, a mocha latte contains much more milk which is usually froth.

It is still made with espresso or strong brewed coffee, chocolate syrup, and milk. The main difference between a mocha latte and a regular mocha coffee is that the café mocha has less milk and more coffee.

Similarities Between a Frappe and a Mocha

There are many similarities between a frappe and a mocha. Although oftentimes a mocha is prepared as espresso-based drinks, and frappes with coffee, they can both be made as espresso drinks, even with a double shot of espresso in them to give them that coffee flavor. 

Another similarity between the two drinks is that they can both be served as cold drinks. They also both contain milk and often both contain a type of sweet syrup.

Occasionally, they can both have a chocolate flavor to them as well, although a frappe does not always have that chocolate-flavored syrup added to it.

white mocha
white mocha

Difference Between a Frappe and a Mocha

The primary difference between a frappe and a mocha is that a frappe is always a frozen drink, made with either blended ice or ice cream. A mocha on the other hand can be hot or served as an iced drink. This is the main difference between the two drinks

Although a frappe is always made with ice, a mocha is a chocolate-flavored drink that can be served as an iced mocha, but it can also be served as a hot drink. A frappe may or may not contain chocolate syrup, depending on how it is made. 

In summary, the primary difference between a frappe and a mocha is that a frappe is a blended frozen coffee drink, and a mocha is a chocolate-flavored coffee that can be served hot or iced.

Latte vs Mocha

There are also some differences between a latte and a mocha. As we mentioned above, a mocha is a chocolate-flavored drink, that is made using shots of espresso, milk, and chocolate syrup. 

A latte, on the other hand, is also made with shots of espresso, and steamed milk, and may or may not have flavored syrup added to it.

The primary difference between a latte and a mocha is that a mocha contains chocolate syrup and less milk than a latte. A latte contains more milk than a mocha coffee does.

cake batter latte with whipped cream and sprinkles

Frappe vs Latte

A frappe is a frozen coffee beverage, that can be made with strong brewed coffee, or espresso and blended together with ice cubes, milk, and an optional flavored syrup or sweetener. This drink is served like a frozen coffee-flavored smoothie.

A latte on the other hand is a type of milky coffee. A latte often has a significant amount of frost milk, along with a few shots of espresso. A latte can be served either hot or over ice.

What is the Difference between a Frappe and a Mocha

While coffee enthusiasts may be aware of the difference between a frappe and a mocha, those of us average Joes may not know the difference between these two delicious coffee drinks.

The primary difference between a frappe and a mocha is that a frappe is a type of frozen coffee beverage, whereas a mocha is a chocolate-flavored coffee that can be served hot or iced.

For more posts like this one, follow us on PinterestFacebookInstagram and YouTube.

PIN for Later!

difference between a mocha and a frappe Pinterest pin

Some Favorite Recipes!

https://cookthink.com/mocha-iced-coffee-recipe
https://cookthink.com/mocha-cookie-crumble-frappuccino-recipe/
Photo of author
Author
Faith
Faith Has been cooking and baking for many years! she loves to share her recipes with the world, and hopes you will enjoy them too!

Leave a Comment