Bean to Bar Chocolate Maker Location: Kentucky
Chocolate Maker Name: Dustin Cornett
Website: www.chocolat-inn.com
Date Established: April 2015
Ingredients Used: Cacao, Cocoa Butter, Sugar
Allergen Information: Made in a facility that processes milk powder, nuts, and soy
Click here to watch the chocolate tasting recording with Dustin from Chocolat Chocolate.
Dustin’s interest in making chocolate began after he discovered his grandmother's boxed chocolate candy recipes. He wanted to add his touch to her candies by creating his own chocolate to complement them. After teaching himself how to make chocolate, he fell in love with bean-to-bar chocolate and the whole process of producing them. After starting his candy company, another opportunity in the form of a chocolate inn came his way and his chocolate making had to take a back seat for several years while the inn was being built.
The first batch of chocolate Dustin made was actually the first time he had tried craft chocolate. He was experimenting with coating candies but he also made some chocolate bars to try. He remembered using Ghana as he liked the fudgy flavor to complement the candies. He shared his first batch with family and friends who were trying craft chocolate for the first time. Everyone enjoyed the chocolate and over time, his chocolate got better.
Today, Dustin and his wife, Mai, own and operate a café in Indiana that features Mai’s pastries alongside Dustin’s coffee and chocolate. The café serves as a welcoming space where customers can experience their shared craftsmanship and passion for quality, handmade food.
Dustin is also the founder of the Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival, an annual event that brings together chocolate makers from across the Midwest, the United States, and beyond. The festival celebrates bean-to-bar chocolate, fosters genuine connections between makers and consumers, and provides both emerging and established chocolate professionals with a platform to share their work, ideas, and passion.
Through years of dedication to perfecting his craft, Dustin’s chocolate has gained recognition and earned awards. While he still creates seasonal boxed chocolates, his primary focus is on crafting chocolate bars that offer a full sensory experience. With a range of origins and percentages, there’s a bar for every palate.
