Xocolatl - 60% Dark Chocolate Commuter East Pole Coffee with Coconut Milk (bar) - May 27, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Xocolatl
60% Dark Chocolate Commuter East Pole Coffee with Coconut Milk (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl, online order 

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's 60% Dark Chocolate Commuter East Pole Coffee with Coconut Milk (bar) was made from bean-to-bar by Xocolatl LLC (Atlanta, GA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and coffee with a balanced coconut milk finish.

Texture: smooth texture, mouthfeel and melt--largely due to the coconut milk.

I liked the flavor and texture smoothing the authentic-tasting coconut milk added, reducing the level of harshness (acidity and bitterness) that might have been present with the cacao and coffee. 

There is a balance with using sugars and milks -- you can enjoy creamier/silkier chocolate texture but you may also experience muffle subtler cacao (and in this case coffee) aroma and flavor notes. There was still a coffee flavor that came through with this bar, but it was more subtle.

I also appreciated the relatively short list of quality and organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Milk*, Cocoa Butter*, Coffee (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that processes soy, wheat, peanuts & tree nuts (almond, hazelnut, pecan).

Cacao & Cardamom - Coffee & Cardamom 66% Cacao Single Origin (bar) - May 26, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao & Cardamom
Coffee & Cardamom 66% Cacao Single Origin (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 272 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao & Cardamom, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week. 

Today's Coffee & Cardamom 66% Cacao Single Origin (bar) was made by Cacao & Cardamom (Houston, TX). Their chief chocolatier is Annie Rupani.

The Caraibe single origin cacao used to make this bar refers to a blend of single origin Trinitario cacao from Valrhona (France).*

Aroma and flavor notes for this warm and flavorful dark chocolate included: aromatic cardamom; dark chocolate (relatively sweet 66% cacao chocolate and authentic "100%" cacao nibs and coffee beans); additional warm spices (cinnamon, vanilla); and mild coffee (beans).

Texture: a blend of smooth, relatively creamy dark chocolate and softly crunchy cacao nibs and "Espresso beans" (no coffee grit, thank you).

I loved the blend of cardamom, chocolate and coffee--all relatively aromatic and bold flavors that work very nicely together. The cinnamon and vanilla added more warmth, depth and come hither flavors to the whole blend.

Ingredients: "66% Caraibe Dark Chocolate (Cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla extract), Cardamom, Cinnamon, Espresso Beans"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles tree nuts"

*Valrhona's Caraibe chocolate is crafted from a blend of Trinitario cacao beans from four countries: the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Togo.

Maitre Truffout Grazioso - Milk Chocolate with Cappuccino Flavoured Filling (bars) - May 25, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Maitre Truffout - Grazioso 
Milchschokolade mit einer Fullung mit Cappuccino-Geschmack
Milk chocolate with Cappuccino Flavoured Filling
Good ++
Weight: 1.51 oz. (42.8 g.) in 3 small bars / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package of 7 smaller bars
Calories: 241 calories in 3 small bars
Cost: N/A - gift from friends (Thank you Maddy and Isla)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friends 

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's package of 7 individually-wrapped milk chocolate cappuccino flavored bars were from Maitre Truffout (Austria) and manufactured in Poland.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet milk chocolate + light coffee and milk confection with nut and vanilla.

Texture: very smooth, light and creamy with an easy, even melt

I appreciated the smooth, creamy, rich flavors; the light (almost whipped) creamy texture--and the choice to use fair trade cocoa. The smaller, gold-foil wrapped bars also  made sharing with others very easy.

Ingredients: Sugar, Vegetable Fats (palm, shea; in varying proportions), whole milk powder, cocoa powder, cocoa mass, skimmed milk powder, sweet whey powder (from milk), milk fat, fat reduced cocoa powder, emulsifiers; E322 (soya), E476; flavorings, hazelnut paste, peanut paste. Milk chocolate contains: cocoa solids 30% minimum, milk solids 18% minimum. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Hazelnut, Peanut. "May contain traces of gluten, other nuts and eggs. Produced in the EU. Cocoa mass, cocoa butter non-EU."

Cacao Sampaka - Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee 86% Cocoa (bar) May 24, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Sampaka
Chocolate Negro con Cafe Arabica 86% (tableta)

Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee 86% Cocoa (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 oz. of bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee 86% Cocoa (bar) was from Cacao Sampaka S.L. (Barcelona, Spain) 

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (fudge-y, chocolate-y, roasted cacao); aromatic, roasted coffee; and very faint vanilla and roasted nut. (There were no nut ingredients.)

Texture: Smooth, rich, ultra-dark bar with cocoa butter (no coffee "grit") (Thank you.)

This bar had an interesting texture--with a relatively slow and almost fatty (cold butter) melt. The melt then became more rapid toward the end. (Note: this bar did contain both added cocoa butter and an emulsifier (soy lecithin) and I was tasting this bar in a cool room.)

I enjoyed the lack of sugar. This 86% chocolate had some very well-mannered bitterness, but had a surprisingly pleasant quality and natural sweetness to it. (Note: I like bitter and dark flavors.) 

I also appreciated the maker's decision to infuse the coffee into the chocolate vs. using ground coffee. (Incorporating intact coffee beans* into a chocolate bar can work, or it can leave you chewing on sharp coffee grounds.)

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, coffee (1.9%), emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame."

*Cocoa beans are (on average) about 50% fat; coffee beans are only around 14% fat. Big difference in terms of texture. Cocoa nibs (minimally ground cacao beans) vs. ground coffee bits. The coffee bean pieces will be drier and more fibrous.

Conexion Chocolate - Mocha Latte Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar) - May 23, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Conexion Chocolate
Mocha Latte - Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Touring Chocolatier, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Conexion Chocolate Mocha Latte - Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar) was from

Aroma notes included: slightly earthy coffee and dark milk chocolate with a very faint (barely detectable) herbal and light vanilla.

Texture: rich, creamy milk chocolate surrounded a very generous helping of crunchy, ground coffee bits. (Chew well before swallowing due to slightly jagged coffee bean bit edges.)

Flavor notes included: creamy sweet milk chocolate blended with unsweetened, lightly roasted ground coffee, and light vanilla. Together the flavors harmonized well together, but the coffee grit was a little distracting.*

I enjoyed the relatively long, authentic mocha finish. 

And I appreciated the use of Arriba Nacional cacao; the fact this bar was made "in country" (in Ecuador where beans are grown); the mocha flavors in this Ecuador bar; and the makers striving to be the connection (conexion) between small Ecuadorian cacao farmers and end customers across the globe. 

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cane sugar, milk powder, cacao butter, coffee, natural vanilla, sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that also handles dairy and" "Gluten Free" "Soy Free"

Loon Chocolate - Coffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 22, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Loon Chocolate
Coffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Loon Chocolate Coffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, NH).

The coffee used to make this bar was from Terra Nova Coffee (Keene, New Hampshire). 

Aroma and flavor notes for this small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate bar included: aromatic coffee and smooth, relatively sweet dark chocolate. 

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy, with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel. The tiny particles of coffee on the back of the bar provided a bit of textural interest. The finely ground coffee beans bits (and likely infusion of coffee into cocoa butter) yielded fresh coffee flavor(s) without being gritty or tough and fibrous. (Thank you!)

I enjoyed the balanced flavors (dark chocolate, coffee, faint nut and very faint warm spice and roasty notes). This bar had satisfying dark chocolate and coffee flavors without being too harsh or bitter. I also appreciated the short list of quality, organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Coffee

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a Facility That Uses Almonds, Milk and Wheat. Contains Caffeine." "Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan"

Elements - Araku Valley Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 21, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Elements
Araku Valley Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Andronico's market, Los Altos, CA

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

Today's Araku Valley Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Elements (Union City, NJ).

The cacao used to make this bar was from Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark cocoa; (hazelnut/almond) honey and nut butter; coffee (roasted, slightly bitter) and faint cardamom. (Note: there were no nut ingredients.)

Texture: smooth, with a pleasing honey-velvet texture and melt

Cocoa butter (#1 ingredient) helped to smooth over rough edges from the coffee/cacao powder/cardamom.

I enjoyed the honey in this bar that had a bright, almost floral, natural sweetness and helped lighten up what otherwise might have been very dark, bitter or heavily roasted elements. The honey also contributed to a lovely, almost silken texture.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Butter, Raw Honey, Organic Cacao Powder, Coffee, Organic Cardamom

Allergen-related information: "No Dairy, Refined Sugar, Soy, Gluten, Lecithin or Shortcuts"