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

Whether enjoying a latte on Christmas morning or a mocha on New Year's Eve, customers are advised to check their local store's hours in advance. —Jesus Mesa, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Add a shot of espresso or a splash of black coffee to make a cafe mocha. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024

The bottom line: Lows will still hover near freezing, so light the fire and grab a peppermint mocha anyway. —John Frank, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024

That feels like a perfect excuse for a peppermint mocha or another festive hot drink. —Cate Martel, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024

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