What is a mocha? Espresso Perfetto explains!
Mocha is probably the most original way of preparing coffee. The preparation of mocha coffee can be traced back to the beginning of the 16th century.
But what is a mocha and how is it prepared? What is the difference between mocha and espresso? And which coffee has the most caffeine? Espresso Perfetto explains! In our blog post you will learn everything about the origin, the preparation and the difference to espresso.
Mocha: the origin and historical background
If you're wondering: What is a mocha? Espresso Perfetto explains!
Mocha (also known as Turkish coffee or Greek mocha) is probably the oldest and most traditional way of preparing coffee. Originally, the mocha bean comes from Yemen or Ethiopia. Mocha was named after the Yemeni port city of "Al-Muha" on the Red Sea. From the port city, the mocha beans were then cultivated, grown, roasted and shipped all over the world.
Especially in Turkey and the Arab world, the mocha coffee is extremely popular. In fact, however, Mocha is also gaining more and more enthusiasts in Germany. But what makes Mocha so special? Characteristic of mocha coffee is that it is boiled several times and served with coffee grounds. The taste of the mocha bean is reminiscent of chocolate, although there is no cocoa in it at all. Spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and cloves give the mocha a particularly aromatic and oriental note that evokes associations with 1001 Nights.
What is the difference between espresso and mocha?
Time and again, there are disagreements about what is actually the difference between espresso and mocha. Coffee connoisseurs can argue passionately about which coffee makes you feel more alert and alive. But if you think espresso is the strongest coffee, you're wrong to begin with. We explain why!
Espresso beans are intensively roasted and then finely ground. Precisely because of the intensive roasting, espresso contains much less caffeine than mocha. Mocha beans are roasted even more intensively and then ground to almost dust-fine. Mocha beans are then infused with warm water and boiled twice. This allows the powder to extract further and even more flavors are released.
Although mocha beans are roasted much more intensively than espresso beans, they contain more caffeine: due to the very fine grind and the long extraction time, significantly more caffeine is released. This makes mocha one of the strongest coffee drinks.
How much caffeine does espresso and mocha have? Let's find out!
A 25 ml espresso has about 30 mg of caffeine, while the caffeine content of a 25 ml mocha coffee is 65 mg. Thus, mocha has more than twice as much caffeine as an espresso. Mocha is drunk from small coffee or espresso cups. espresso cupswhich usually contain 60 to 90 ml. Accordingly, a cup of mocha (60 ml) contains up to 156 mg of caffeine, which makes mocha by far stronger than espresso.
Greek and Turkish mocha are identical, by the way.
How healthy is mocha actually?
Turkish coffee is more than just mocha from the Orient: in addition to its aromatic taste and invigorating effect, mocha contains other powers that can have a pronounced effect on our health.
According to studies, a cup of mocha a day reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, strengthens the liver and also boosts fat burning. In addition, mocha coffee has a positive effect on the central nervous system and thus positively influences brain activity. Thus, it increases mood, attention and concentration.
One mocha cup contains 11% vitamin B2, 6% vitamin B5, 3% manganese and potassium, and 2% magnesium and nicotinic acid. The amazing thing about mocha is that the effect starts after 20 to 30 minutes and lasts up to five or six hours. Since one mocha cup already contains up to 156 mg of caffeine, the coffee should be enjoyed in moderation. Of course, due to the lack of scientific long-term studies, we can not give any guarantees for the benefits mentioned.
Did you know?
While enjoying a mocha coffee, reading coffee grounds is still a widespread tradition in many Middle Eastern countries. From the remains of the drunk coffee is to be read in such a way the future. To do this, the demitasse is covered with the saucer, lightly swung in a circle and then turned over. The coffee grounds remain in the cup and should not be drunk in any case.
Get a craving for a delicious mocha?
For the optimal enjoyment of a mocha coffee, it doesn't matter whether the Turkish coffee is prepared in the traditional way or with one of our innovative mocha coffee grinderswhich are guaranteed to give your mocha beans the perfect grind!
Mocha beans are ground extremely finely, which is why most common grinders are not able to achieve this fine grinding degree. With our coffee grinders, however, you are definitely on the safe side and can prepare your mocha without any problems.
Have fun experimenting and enjoy!
