Coffee has been the go-to morning beverage for hundreds of generations, despite the emergence of various alternative morning beverages in recent years.
Brewed cacao has recently been hailed as an excellent alternative to coffee, but is it right for you? More importantly, is it better than coffee, and how do they differ?
Quick Answer: What is the difference between brewed cacao and coffee?
Brewed cacao is an excellent choice if you're sensitive to caffeine, as it contains theobromine, a natural stimulant. It has a robust cocoa flavor, is slightly sweet, and has more calories than coffee. Coffee is bitter and perfect if you don't have a sweet tooth or need more caffeine.
This article will explain what brewed cacao is and how it differs from coffee.
Let's begin!
Brewed cacao explained
You'd be forgiven if you didn't know what brewed cacao is because it's not as popular as coffee.
Brewed cacao (a drink made from cacao) has been enjoyed for thousands of years.
Archaeological evidence suggests that cacao use dates back at least 5,000 years in the Americas, and cacao drinks later became important in Mesoamerican cultures, such as those of the Maya and Aztec.
The cacao tree produces fruit whose seeds, or beans, are ground into cacao for a tasty beverage.
There are four main cacao bean varieties, which include:
- Forastero. The forastero cacao bean is the most widely sold and least expensive type globally. It has a slightly bitter, chocolatey, and earthy taste when brewed.
- Trinitario. With its origins in the Caribbean islands, the trinitario bean was introduced to South America in the 19th century to form a hybrid cacao bean. The taste of trinitario cacao beans varies according to the sub-variety.
- Criollo. As the rarest cacao bean variety, criollo beans make up only up to 5% of all global cacao bean exports. These beans have a complex fruit flavor profile and plenty of aroma. They're not as bitter as other cacao bean varieties.
- Nacional. The most recently discovered cacao variety is the Nacional. This bean type has only been sold since 2011 and boasts a creamy and robust taste profile with less bitterness than other cacao beans.
The differences between brewed cacao vs. coffee
The main difference between cacao and coffee is that cacao is derived from beans grown on the cacao tree, whereas coffee beans originate from the coffee plant.
Second, both drinks can be enjoyed plain or with add-ins (like milk or sweeteners).
In practice, the way people drink cacao versus coffee varies significantly by culture and personal taste.
Now that you understand brewed cacao, it's time to explore how it differs from coffee.
Below, I'll compare the two beverages in terms of taste, caffeine content, preparation method, flexibility, and price.
Here is a quick overview of the two:
| Botanical & Brew Variable | Brewed Cacao | Brewed Coffee |
| Botanical origin | Made from beans (seeds) grown on the cacao tree | Made from beans (seeds) grown on the coffee plant (coffee tree) |
| Stimulants & caffeine (8 oz / 237 ml) | Contains theobromine (a natural, gentle stimulant) and about 15 mg caffeine | Contains caffeine; an 8 oz / 237 ml cup has about 95 mg on average |
| Taste profile | Robust cocoa flavor, slightly sweet, with a lingering chocolatey finish | Generally bitter and slightly sour; flavor varies by bean type, roast, and brew method |
| Preparation methods | Contains caffeine; an 8 oz / 237 ml cup has about 95 mg on average | Multiple options: AeroPress, French press, pour over, Chemex, cold brew, and moka pot |
| Grounds needed (cost impact) | Typically needs roughly twice the amount of grounds vs. coffee, which can make it more expensive to prepare | Uses less grounds by comparison, and coffee beans are generally less costly than cacao beans |
| Availability & flexibility | Beans can be harder to find (often organic/health-focused stores or online); less common freshly brewed at shops, but growing | Widely available in grocery stores and easy to buy freshly brewed at restaurants and coffee shops |
| Calories (plain) | Typically low-calorie when served plain, but can be higher than black coffee depending on the product and amount used | Black coffee (nothing added) has fewer than five calories |
| Acidity / sensitivity note | Some people find it gentler than coffee, but acidity/pH varies by product and preparation | Can taste slightly sour; how it feels varies by bean, roast, brew method, and personal sensitivity |
Beans
A key difference between brewed cacao and coffee is the type of beans used to make the beverage.
Cacao beans are typically larger than coffee beans and have slightly bumpy surfaces, whereas coffee beans have smoother surfaces, with an indentation running through the center of each bean.
To make brewed cacao, cacao beans are roasted and ground. Making coffee also involves using ground coffee beans, which come from the coffee tree, a distinct plant species from the cacao tree.
Coffee beans also come in four main varieties, including:
- Robusta. This coffee bean type contains high caffeine levels and has a robust flavor profile with hints of cocoa and smoke.
- Arabica. As the most popular and widely sold coffee bean, the Arabica variety can exhibit a range of tastes, from smooth to bitter, earthy, and fruity.
- Liberica. The rarest type of coffee bean is the Liberica bean, characterized by its irregular shape and a smoky yet fruity taste profile.
- Excelsa. Although excelsa beans are part of the liberica family, their taste differs greatly. Brewed from excelsa beans, this yields a tart, floral, and woody taste.
Taste
Taste is one of the primary factors in selecting a suitable drink.
If you usually add sugar or a sweetener to your coffee, you may not need to do the same with brewed cacao, as it's already slightly sweet.
Brewed cacao has a similar flavor profile to dark chocolate, and the bitterness of the cocoa bean is offset by subtle, sweeter overtones, resulting in a balanced taste.
After drinking brewed cacao, you may notice a lingering chocolatey finish.
Coffee can also leave a noticeable aftertaste; the strength of this aftertaste depends on the type of beans, roast, and brewing method.
There are many different kinds of coffee beans with distinct flavor profiles, but generally speaking, coffee tastes bitter and slightly sour, with subtle floral, nutty, and cocoa notes.
Tip: If you're interested in trying some of the most special coffee beans, you can learn more about Geisha coffee here or check out its brewing guide here.
Caffeine in cacao vs. coffee (Compared)
Most people are aware that coffee contains caffeine, and an average-sized cup (237 ml) of coffee contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine.
Brewed cacao doesn't contain as much caffeine as regular coffee, as it only has about 15 mg of caffeine for an 8-oz (237-ml) cup.
Instead, it contains theobromine, a natural and gentle stimulating substance.
Preparation method
Another key difference between coffee and brewed cacao is the method of preparation.
There are several ways to prepare coffee, including:
- AeroPress
- French press
- Pour over
- Chemex
- Cold brew
- Moka pot
Using a French press to prepare a tasty cup of hot brewed cacao is the only suitable method.
However, if you'd like a cold cacao beverage, you can use the cold brew method.
Flexibility
Coffee beans, grounds, and instant coffee are widely available and sold in most grocery stores.
You can also easily purchase freshly brewed coffee at restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments.
Cacao beans are more difficult to find, but you can typically find them in supermarkets focusing on organic or healthy foods, or online.
It's challenging to find freshly brewed cacao at fast food places or coffee shops, but it's gradually becoming more popular.
After you have ground your cacao beans, you can include the used grounds in baking recipes that call for chocolate chips, cocoa powder, or melted chocolate.
On the other hand, instant coffee is great to use in recipes that already contain chocolate, as the bitter coffee flavor can enhance the chocolate notes in the food.
Price
Ground cacao products are often more expensive per ounce than many ground coffees, but prices vary a lot by brand, origin, and retailer (and can change frequently).
To make a tasty cup of brewed cacao, you need to use roughly twice the cacao grounds as coffee grounds.
This makes ground cacao or cacao beans even more expensive than coffee.
Calories
Coffee and brewed cacao are both low in calories. A cup of brewed coffee with nothing added has fewer than five calories.
Brewed cacao is typically a low-calorie drink when served plain, but it can be higher in calories than black coffee, depending on the product and the amount of ground cacao used.
Check the nutrition label for the most accurate information.
How to choose the correct option for you
I've compared brewed cacao and coffee in-depth and can now assess which beverage is better for you.
If you're sensitive to caffeine or are looking for a natural caffeine alternative, brewed cacao may be a more suitable option.
Some people find brewed cacao gentler than coffee, but acidity/pH varies based on the product and preparation (and personal sensitivity differs).
Brewed cacao has a slightly sweet and rich cocoa flavor, making it ideal for those who enjoy dark chocolate.
Coffee beans aren't as costly as cacao beans.
Since you need to use roughly twice the amount of ground cacao as ground coffee, it's an expensive beverage to prepare and may not be suitable if you're on a budget.
Final thoughts
If you're looking for a natural caffeine alternative and you love dark chocolate, brewed cacao is an excellent option.
And if you're looking at price, coffee is significantly cheaper than cacao, making it an excellent option for those on a budget.
Which one do you like the most? Let me know in the comments below!
