Kasama Chocolate - 65% Kape Espresso (bar) - Oct. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
65% Kape Espresso (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's 65% Kape Espresso (bar) from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, BC, Canada) was made with Kape Philippine Coffee Beans. 

The Tagalog (Filipino) word Kasama (togetherness, friendship, camaraderie, collaboration) aptly describes Kasama and its four founders. The company makes bean-to-bar chocolate and truffles using cacao from the Philippines and flavor inclusions from both the Philippines and the Pacific Northwest.

Aroma notes included: strong coffee (espresso), chocolate, faint dried fruit (date sugar), and even fainter green (botanical) syrup.

Texture: smooth, uniform, with very slight graininess/astringency.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate with bold, balanced, dark roast espresso coffee. The dark chocolate was more apparent in the taste than in the aroma; but the espresso still ruled the roost.

I appreciated tasting this single origin bean-to-bar chocolate, where both cacao beans and coffee beans came from the Philippines.* The sweetness (provided by unrefined cane sugar) tasted natural and balanced the bold espresso flavor.

Maker's notes: "...synthesis of cacao & coffee beans yields notes of dates, roasted chestnuts, & Muscovado sugar."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Kape Philippine Coffee Beans (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*Maker's coffee origin description: The roasted coffee beans came from "Iona & Paolo at Kape Coffee. This semi-washed coffee is grown in the highlands of Bansalan, by award-winning coffee grower, Ate Marivic, part of a farmer owned co-operative in Davao del Sur."

Public Chocolatory - Nano Batch #01-2 - Coffee 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Public Chocolatory
Nano Batch #01-2 - Coffee 50% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week. 

Today's Nano Batch #01-2 - Coffee 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Public Chocolatory (Republic of Korea).  

Aroma and flavor notes included: nuanced dark milk chocolate; subtle, diffuse fruit (mango, ripe berry, peach) and nut (almond, pecan); creamy whole milk and coffee latte.

Texture: creamy and smooth

I really enjoyed this special, well-executed milk chocolate. The nuanced aroma and flavor notes were superb. A milk-subdued yet bright, upbeat sense of fruit, lightly roasted nutty coffee and rich cacao--all gently integrated into a creamy substrate. Both single origin cacao (Madagascar) and coffee (Brazil) were thoughtfully sourced and very nicely balanced. 

This small-batch bar was a cut above most mocha-style chocolates on the market.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, from Akesson's Organic, Madagascar, Organic Cane Sugar, Cacao Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Coffee roasted by Mesh Coffee from Santa Ines, Brazil.

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.)

Ruya - Cardamom Turkish Coffee Dark Chocolate 65% (bar) - Sept. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ruya

Cardamom - Turkish Coffee Dark Chocolate 65% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .459 oz. (13 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 70 calories in 2 squares of bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Ruya Cardamom Turkish Coffee Dark Chocolate 65% (bar) was created by Melis Aydogan. 

Aydogan started her business as a Turkish-style coffee house concept (including reading fortunes occasionally). We are invited to taste the dream. (Ruyu means "dream" in Turkish.) This dark spiced coffee chocolate was a Good Food Awards Winner in 2021.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, roasted coffee, faint roasted nut(s) and spice.

Texture: uniform, fudge-y, smooth texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet spice (cardamom) and dark roast coffee.

I liked the robust flavors in this chocolate. The roast(s) seemed just right: bold, but no burnt flavor(s); and the roasting process(es) may have minimized (or eclipsed) any sharper edged flavor(s) (acidity, bitterness, earth, etc.) that might have existed. The cardamom (almost playful by contrast) added natural sweetness and light and helped elevate and balance the dark roast flavors.

Maker's description: "Dark as Hell, Strong as Death, Sweet as Love"

Ingredients: "Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic espresso, cardamom"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and milk products due to shared equipment." ("Soy Free. Vegan.")

Ragged Coast Chocolates - Coffee Peanut Bark - Sept. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ragged Coast Chocolates
Coffee Peanut Bark
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $5.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: Ragged Coast Chocolates, online order 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Coffee Peanut Bark was from Ragged Coast Chocolates (Westbrook, Maine).

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, peanuts and very faint vanilla and coffee (latte).

The textural blend included: creamy smooth milk chocolate topped with softly crunchy peanuts, and tiny, firm/hard granules of coffee.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet and creamy and cacao-buttery (whole) milk chocolate, peanut, and occasional tiny bits of roasted coffee. The vanilla and (Maine) sea salt were both subtle and enhanced the slightly addictive quality of this Coffee Peanut Bark confection.*

I liked the relatively short list of ingredients and use of Single Origin Latin American (milk) chocolate.

Ragged Coast product description: "...slightly smoky flavor of Maine-roasted coffee...percolates through organic peanuts, Maine sea salt and luscious milk chocolate."

Ingredients: Single Origin Latin American Milk Chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa liquor, soy lecithin, natural vanilla), Organic Coffee Beans, Organic Peanuts, Maine Sea Salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Peanuts" "Allergens: Soy, Nuts, Milk, and Coconut."

Note: while the coffee is not immediately obvious in appearance/strength, I did get a bit of a caffeine buzz from this.

 

Giddy Up Nuts - Coffee Chocolate Gourmet Spiced Almonds - Sept. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Giddy Up Nuts 
Coffee Chocolate Gourmet Spiced Almonds
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 6 oz. (170.1 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $9.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, order add-on

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Coffee Chocolate Gourmet Spiced Almonds were from Giddy Up Nuts (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes included: roasted nuts (almonds), cocoa/chocolate, shortbread nut cookie and faint vanilla latte.

Texture: fresh, crunchy, whole roasted almonds with a light glaze coating that had small dark cocoa/coffee bits.

Flavor notes included: tasty crunchy roasted almond, milk cocoa (dutch-processed cocoa powder was part of the thin, glaze-style coating), vanilla, and very faint coffee.

I loved the fresh, almond nut flavor and texture. The nuts were the stars of this show. They were lightly seasoned and allowed to shine. The hints of cocoa, coffee and vanilla were well-balanced; and these nuts were not too sweet (thank you!). 

Ingredients: "Almonds, Sugar, Cocoa Powder, Coffee, All Natural Vanilla Extract, Kosher Salt"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almond"

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - 77% Dark Chocolate Las Palomas Coffee (bar) - Sept. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
77% Dark Chocolate with Las Palomas Coffee Guatemala (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar (when bought in a 3-bar Coffee bundle)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Special Reserve 77% Dark Chocolate with Las Palomas Coffee Guatemala (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA) in collaboration with George Howell Coffee.

Aroma notes included: appealing dark chocolate; fruit; and subtle spice and coffee.

Texture: rich, smooth, relatively creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: a compelling blend of true chocolate with fruit (ripe, sweet berry, faint tropical fruits (mango, cacao, other)); slight, diffuse warm spice and coffee.

I really enjoyed the nuanced, sophisticated complexity in this bar. I kept returning to take another bite, to appreciate what I was tasting, and in case I had missed something in the attractive unfolding of notes.

I loved the fruity notes in this well-executed chocolate and coffee blend; the care taken to make a true single origin bar--with a short list of high-quality ingredients; and the balance and harmony between chocolate and coffee.

Maker's description: "...This collaboration bar with George Howell Coffee is a testament to the joys of single origin flavor. The many fruit flavors of their Las Palomas coffee from Huehuetenango, Guatemala combine with our fruity cacao from Coban, Guatemala..."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Single Origin Coffee

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." ("Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free")

 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch 69% (bar) - Sept. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch 69% Cacao (bar)
Good +++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar (when bought in a 3-bar Coffee bundle)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Maker's Choice Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch Nicaragua 69% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). Both cacao and coffee beans used to make this single origin bar hailed from Nicaragua.

Aroma notes included: very inviting dark chocolate and coffee.

Texture: smooth, fudge-y, creamy dark chocolate with finely ground bits of (very slightly gritty, crunchy) coffee.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (dark chocolate fudge, true chocolate-y) infused with just the right amount of coffee (not too much, not too little) so that the chocolate was still the primary focus. The cacao and the coffee were neither too acidic nor too bitter. 

I appreciated the thoughtful execution and moderate sweetness level. (There was enough sugar to please those who don't care for black coffee, but not enough to muffle flavors that ultra-dark fans appreciate.)

Maker's description: "...premium single origin Nicaraguan cacao with finely ground single origin coffee from Nicaragua's El Recreo Estate for this crunchy celebration of Nicaraguan flavor."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Single Origin Coffee

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." ("Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free")