November 2024 - Stone Grindz Chocolate

Each month we feature a new American small-batch craft bean-to-bar chocolate maker. When considering chocolate makers, we take into account all elements of chocolat’ology - including the origin, ingredients, process and more. We also sample their finest makes (naturally!). 

Why Do Our Featured Chocolates Taste So Good?

The chocolate bars we feature are mostly made in small batches by chocolate makers who transform the cocoa beans they source directly from farmers to the finished product. 

We feature those who passionately make chocolate bars using less than 5 ingredients; namely cacao beans, sugar and cocoa butter. They source cacao beans from all over the world and painstakingly manage the entire chocolate process themselves – fermentation, drying, testing, cleaning, roasting, cracking (or fanning), grinding, conching, tempering and forming. This is known as the bean-to-bar process.  

Just as vintners consider environmental conditions in cultivating grapes for wine, so too do cocoa farmers treat their beans with care. The way cocoa beans are grown and nurtured is essential to producing quality chocolate. Climate, soil conditions and treatment all impact taste, batch quality and uniqueness.

We are committed to bringing you single-origin chocolate bars that do not contain any GMO ingredients (non-GMO), vegan, use only fair trade products, and are soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free. Our artisan single origin chocolate makers hand make their bars using only 5 ingredients or less to make small batch bars; namely cacao beans, cocoa butter and sugar.

Why Bean-to-Bar Chocolates?

The featured American chocolate makers ensure quality by building relationships with farmers. By sourcing beans directly from farmers, chocolate makers can develop consistently high-quality chocolate. Taking control of the manufacturing process from the earliest stage further allows them to apply incredible attention to detail at every stage - from bean to bar. 

This direct connection also creates a sustainable reciprocal relationship. Notably, it allows farmers in poorer countries to receive higher payments, invest long-term and receive fair treatment for their hard work and quality offerings. 

This is how the best artisan chocolate is made - with people who care about their craft. It is also why Cococlectic connects you to them. We believe in going straight to the source! 

Do you know and love a bean-to-bar chocolate maker newbie? Send us an email with their contact and we’ll get in touch with them! 

Past Featured American Bean to Bar Chocolate Makers

October 2024 - Great Lakes Chocolate
September 2024 - Seahorse Chocolate
June 2024 - Tiny House Chocolate
May 2024 - Loon Chocolate
April 2024 - Maribea Chocolate
March 2024 - Odyssey Chocolate
February 2024 - Lumineux Chocolate
January 2024 - Xocolatl Chocolate
December 2023 - Exquisito Chocolates
November 2023 - Cleveland Chocolate
October 2023 - DAR Chocolate
September 2023 - River-Sea Chocolate
June 2023 - White Label Chocolate
May 2023 - Chocotenango Chocolate
April 2023 - Makenu Chocolate
March 2023 - Chocolat Chocolate
February 2023 - Fresco Chocolate
January 2023 - Ethereal Confections
December 2022 - Twenty-Four Blackbirds
November 2022 - Ranger Chocolate
October 2022 - Potomac Chocolate
September 2022 - Hazel Hill Chocolate
June 2022 - Monsoon Chocolate
May 2022 - Ritual Chocolate
April 2022 - Spinnaker Chocolate
March 2022 - Taste Artisan Chocolate
February 2022 - BOHO Chocolate
January 2022 - 5 Mile Chocolate
December 2021 - CAR Artisan Chocolate
November 2021 - Lirio Chocolate
October 2021 - Conjure Craft Chocolate
September 2021 - Moka Origins
June 2021 - Maribea Chocolate
May 2021 - Lumineux Chocolate
April 2021 - Triangle Roasters
March 2021 - Odyssey Chocolate 
February 2021 - Loon Chocolate
January 2021 - Seahorse Chocolate
December 2020 - Animas Chocolate Company
November 2020 - ChocolateSpiel
October 2020 - Sweet Minou Chocolate
September 2020 - Black Sheep Chocolate
June 2020 - Lirio Chocolate
May 2020 - El Buen Cacao
April 2020 - Crow & Moss Chocolate
March 2020 - Tabal Chocolate
February 2020 - Wm Chocolate
January 2020 - Stone Grindz Chocolate
December 2019 - Brasstown Chocolate
November 2019 - Moka Origins
October 2019 - BOHO Chocolate
September 2019 - Cru Chocolate
June 2019 - White Label Chocolate
May 2019 - Primo Botanica Chocolate
April 2019 - Eldora Chocolate
March 2019 - Enna Chocolate
February 2019 - Markham & Fitz Chocolate
January 2019 - Seahorse Chocolate
December 2018 - Raphio Chocolate
November 2018 - PipeVine Chocolate
October 2018 - Terroir Chocolate
September 2018 - Altus Chocolate
June 2018 - Parliament Chocolate
May 2018 - Cello Chocolate
April 2018 - DAR Chocolate
March 2018 - Double Spiral Chocolate
February 2018 - Cao Chocolate
January 2018 - Taste Artisan Chocolate
December 2017 - Firefly Chocolate
November 2017 - Dark Forest Chocolate
October 2017 - Wm. Chocolate
September 2017 - Ethereal Confections
June 2017 - Nibble Chocolate
May 2017 - Nova Chocolate & Tuanis Chocolate
April 2017 - Goodnow Farms Chocolate
March 2017 - Acalli Chocolate
February 2017 - Ranger Chocolate
January 2017 - Violet Sky Chocolate
December 2016 - Cultura Chocolate
November 2016 - Mutari Chocolate
October 2016 - Harper Macaw Chocolate
September 2016 - Wm Chocolate
August 2016 - Potomac Chocolate
July 2016 - Ritual Chocolate
June 2016 - Starchild Chocolate
May 2016 - Parliament Chocolate
April 2016 - Terrior Chocolate
March 2016 - Durci Chocolate
February 2016 - Molucca Chocolate
January 2016 - Sol Cacao
December 2015 - KTO Bean to Bar Chocolate
November 2015 - Cao Chocolates
October 2015 - Pitch Dark Chocolate
September 2015 - Burnt Fork Bend Chocolate
August 2015 - Nibble Chocolate
July 2015 - Hello Cocoa
June 2015 - Ethereal Confections
May 2015 - Just Good Chocolate
April 2015 - Sublime Chocolate
March 2015 - Kyya Chocolate
February 2015 - Meadowlands Chocolate
January 2015 - Twenty-Four Blackbirds
December 2014 - Mana Chocolate
November 2014 - Amano Chocolate
October 2014 - Solstice Chocolate
September 2014 - Dick Taylor Chocolate
August 2014 - It's Chocolate
July 2014 - Woodblock Chocolate
June 2014 - Castronovo Chocolate
May 2014 - Ritual Chocolate
April 2014 - Potomac Chocolate
March 2014 - French Broad Chocolates