Starbucks mocha vs. white mocha: Which One is better?

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.

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. This drink has fewer calories and more 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.