mocha

noun

mo·​cha ˈmō-kə 

1

a(1)

: the small, irregular-shaped coffee beans of plants grown in the mountainous regions of Yemen that produce an earthy, strong coffee of usually medium to high acidity

… Mocha beans, from Yemen, confer a winey accent to mellow-tasting Java beans from Indonesia.

—Consumer Reports

also : the coffee prepared from mocha beans

(2)

: a similar coffee grown in Ethiopia

b

: a flavoring made of a strong coffee infusion or of a mixture of cocoa or chocolate with coffee

2

: a pliable suede-finished glove leather from African sheepskins

3

: a dark chocolate-brown color

Examples of mocha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bootcut pants come in a flattering light mocha mousse shade and have two side pockets and two back welt pockets. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024

Local shops will serve special menu items, like a peppermint s'mores skillet at Star Bar, lychee cranberry spritz at Lucky Lotus, merry minty mocha at Zanzibar and Midwest ham balls at Harbinger. —Jason Clayworth, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

Use this coffee for mochas, or drink it plain to appreciate the citrusy undertones. —Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Jan. 2025

His 2021 Reserve Cab has aromas of mocha, Morello cherry, and black currant. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Mocha, Yemen

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

mocha

noun

mo·​cha ˈmō-kə 

1

: coffee of high quality grown in Arabia

2

: a mixture of coffee and chocolate

Geographical Definition

Mocha

geographical name

Mo·​cha ˈmō-kə 

variants or Arabic Al Mukhā

ˌäl-mu̇-ˈḵä 

town and port on the Red Sea in southwestern Yemen population 10,428