COFFEE GUIDE
Hot Chocolate
Melted chocolate with steamed milk. Simple, reliable, not coffee.
WHAT IT IS
Hot chocolate is steamed milk mixed with chocolate in some form: cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, or melted real chocolate. It contains no coffee and no espresso. At specialty shops, high-quality dark chocolate creates a genuinely excellent drink.
HOW IT IS MADE
Chocolate (melted dark chocolate, cocoa powder, or commercial syrup) is combined with hot milk or steamed milk. At specialty shops, real chocolate is melted into hot milk and sometimes steamed to create a slight froth.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE
Sweet, chocolatey, and comforting. Quality varies dramatically. Real dark chocolate produces a complex, slightly bitter, rich drink. Commercial powders produce a sweet, flat drink.
WHEN TO ORDER IT
When you want something warm and sweet with no caffeine. For children. As a non-coffee option at any cafe. On cold days when you want comfort over caffeine.
HOW TO ORDER IT
Say "hot chocolate." Ask if they use real chocolate or powder. Ask for "dark chocolate" if you prefer less sweet.
VARIATIONS
Mexican hot chocolate: with cinnamon and sometimes chili. White hot chocolate: with white chocolate. Spiked hot chocolate: with peppermint schnapps or bourbon.
CAFFEINE
About 5 to 10mg per cup from the cocoa. Minimal compared to coffee or tea.
According to Pulled Coffee data from 462,531 coffee shops worldwide, 15.9% of all coffee shops are classified as specialty — the type most likely to serve a proper Hot Chocolate. In cities like Vancouver (4,175 specialty shops) and London (3,621), your chances of finding a great one are significantly higher than the global average.
Find a great Hot Chocolate near you
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Find a great Hot Chocolate near you
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