Starbucks offers many options in its hot and cold coffee categories, with mocha being one of the options. Most of the times, when I want to satisfy my sweet tooth, I go for mocha beverages due to the sweet and delicious chocolate taste and the velvety ad smooth texture. When on a coffee date with my friends, I noticed that some have a hard time choosing between mocha and white mocha. From personal experience and after thorough research, I compared the two and created this article to help you learn how they differ. Keep reading to the end to discover which of the two you should get.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Starbucks mocha vs. white mocha
Feature/Starbucks Item | Starbucks Mocha | Starbucks White Mocha |
Ingredients | Steamed milk, full-bodied espresso, mocha sauce and sweetened whipped cream | Steamed milk, signature brewed espresso, white chocolate mocha sauce and sweetened whipped cream |
Taste Profile | Sweet and deep taste | Rich and sweet |
Caffeine Content/ Nutritional value | A Grande has 370 calories, 15g fat, 35g sugar, and 175 mg of caffeine. | A Grande serving of white mocha has 430 calories, 18 g fat, 53 g sugar and 150 mg of caffeine. This beverage has is calorie dense but with less caffeine content. |
Availability/ Accessibility | Easy to access every day in a Starbucks store near you all year round. | Easy to access every day in a Starbucks store near you all year round. |
Roast level | Dark roast | Dark roast |
Starbucks mocha vs. white mocha – How They Compare
Ingredients
Starbucks mocha is a sweet beverage made by combining the company’s full-bodied espresso with steamed milk and bittersweet mocha sauce. The mocha sauce is made with cocoa and water and natural flavors, and the cocoa gives it a bittersweet taste. The barista then finishes the drink off with sweetened whipped cream as the topping to make it sweetly satisfying.
On the other hand, white mocha is a white chocolate delight created by combining steamed milk with Starbucks’ signature espresso and white chocolate mocha sauce. The white chocolate mocha sauce is made with cocoa butter, coconut oil, condensed skim milk, and sugar, making the sauce deliciously sweet. The barista finishes the beverage by topping it with sweetened whipped cream.
Starbucks white mocha wins in this category since the white chocolate mocha sauce gives the drink a sweeter punch due to more sugar.
Taste Profile
Coffee and chocolate are a match made in heaven because the flavor of chocolate syrup masks the bold coffee taste making both beverages a delectable delicacy.
For mocha, the mocha sauce gives the beverage a bittersweet taste that elevates the robust coffee flavor perfectly. The sweetened whipped cream that finishes the drink off makes the drink sweeter, giving it a creamier texture.
When it comes to white mocha, the white chocolate mocha sauce packs a hefty sugar punch making the drink even sweeter than mocha. When the white chocolate mocha sauce is mixed with espresso and milk, it brings forth a sweet, rich, and subtly vanilla-like coffee beverage.
Starbucks mocha, therefore, wins in this category since the bittersweet mocha sauce flavor combines perfectly with coffee, and although it is sweet, it is not overly sweet.
Caffeine Content/ Nutritional value
Both mocha and white mocha pack less caffeine content compared to other Starbucks coffee drinks. However, they are calorie dense and not suitable for individuals on a caloric deficit or trying to cut on sugar.
Starbucks mocha packs 370 calories, 15g fat, 35g sugar, and 175 mg of caffeine in a grande serving, while white mocha has 430 calories, 18 g fat, 53 g sugar, and 150 mg of caffeine.
Therefore, Starbucks mocha wins in this category since it has fewer calories, sugar, and fat, and the caffeine content is also relatively low.
Availability/Accessibility
Knowing that your favorite Starbucks drink is readily available at your local store is highly fulfilling. Both Starbucks mocha and white mocha are easy to access from the store. You can easily order them from the store or Starbucks app by simply stating their names.
Both drinks win in this category since they are readily available at Starbucks.
Roast Level
Starbucks mocha and white mocha are made with the company’s espresso. Starbucks espresso is a dark roast, meaning the coffee beans are roasted for a longer period to produce a bold and rich coffee flavor.
Both drinks win in this category since they are made with Starbucks espresso, thus are both made from dark roast beans.
Starbucks mocha vs. white mocha: A comparison review
Starbucks Mocha – Overview
Starbucks mocha brings together chocolate and coffee to create a deep sweet flavor. I took the time to get this beverage from Starbucks, and I loved that the bittersweet mocha sauce blends perfectly with the espresso and does not overly mask the coffee taste. And with whipped cream topping it, this classic beverage always sweetly satisfies. The drink is ideal for people who do not want the strong coffee taste in their drink.
What I liked;
- The mocha sauce blends perfectly with coffee
- The whipped cream makes the drink creamier
- Can be made hot or cold
What I didn’t like;
It is less coffee-forward than other coffee-based beverages
Who it’s best suited for.
- People who do not want the strong coffee taste in their drink.
Starbucks White Mocha – Overview
Starbucks white mocha brings together the company’s signature espresso and white chocolate mocha sauce to create a drink that is creamy and sweet and awesome with sweetened whipped cream. I got this drink from Starbucks, and I liked that the combination of white chocolate sauce with espresso and steamed milk gives a sweet, rich, and subtly vanilla-like flavor. The beverage is best suited for people who want to satisfy their sweet tooth as it packs a lot of sugar.
What I liked;
- It has a sweet, rich, and subtly vanilla-like flavor
- The white chocolate mocha sauce masks the bitter espresso taste making the drink sweet
What I didn’t like;
- It is calorie-dense
Who it’s best suited for.
- For people who want to satisfy their sweet tooth as it packs a lot of sugar
Final Verdict: So, Which is Better? – Starbucks mocha or white mocha
Starbucks mocha is better than white mocha. This is because it packs fewer calories, fat, and sugar. Additionally, it has slightly more caffeine content than white mocha, which still offers the caffeine punch in a sweet drink.
FAQ Section
Is white mocha sweeter than mocha?
White mocha is slightly sweeter than mocha since the white chocolate mocha sauce packs more sugar, while the mocha sauce is bittersweet.
Which is healthier between white mocha and Starbucks mocha?
Mocha is relatively healthier since it has fewer calories than white mocha.
Is Starbucks mocha stronger than white mocha?
Mocha contains more caffeine than white mocha, and the bittersweet mocha sauce does not overly hide the espresso flavor, making it stronger.
Kai Jordan
Kai Jordan worked as a Certified Nutrition Specialist and now a food critic whose main objective is to provide consumers with as much information as they need to make the right choices concerning foods and drinks. Jordan is passionate about helping the public reach their health-related goals but also keen on reviewing foods and drinks offered by some of the famous restaurants the likes of Starbucks.
Kai has therefore created well-researched and comprehensive excerpts regarding the services and products offered by the giant restaurant chain. And which can be retrieved from Starbmag.com, apart from talking writing, and dealing with food Kai loves also to Kayak. You can read more about me on the about us page.
