Happy Valentine’s Day from Washington, DC ❤️ This is the Vosges Chocolate Alchemy of Egypt heart box, inspired by the deities, goddesses and queens of Egypt, and it is *stunning*. Vosges is truly the most luxurious chocolate on the market — the Rolex, Dior, Mercedes-Benz of cacao. This morning, we chose the Cleopatra bonbon, “Macedonian honey, figs and dark chocolate of 62% cacao are rolled in crispy white poppy seeds imbued with turquoise algae.” It’s incredible. This chocolate, dare we say, does Cleopatra justice. (If you’re interested in learning more about Cleopatra, the book pictured here is a fantastic primer to “the alchemist” herself.) You can buy this chocolate box or another collection, here. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is this weekend! Do you have your gifts yet? Here are our 3 picks Across the city (+Online for shipping or pickup) where you can buy a great chocolate bar or box for your Valentine — just in time for the holiday of love.
ONLINE. Bar & Cocoa is our go-to online vendor for craft dark and milk chocolate bars. They have a robust collection of chocolate makers and a delectable assortment of Valentine’s Day treats. Happy shopping. If you’re quarantining, this is our #1 pick for Valentine’s chocolate gifts. 🙂
Espuma: a weekly curated collection of coffee & chocolate themed articles, items & thoughts.
JUST THE CAPPUCCINO FROTH. FOR YOUR WEEKEND.
Quote for the weekend
What she (the octopus) taught me was to feel… that you’re part of this place, not a visitor. That’s a huge difference.
My Octopus Teacher, Netflix
Coffee & Reading the morning paper
[New Coffee Shop Alert] Washington, DC: “An industrial-style all-day cafe that roasts coffee from countries such as Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala opened in Arlington late last month and just started serving food this week. Origin Coffee Lab & Kitchen takes up a 2,000-square-foot space on Pentagon Row, which recently rebranded as Westpost.”
[New Coffee Shop Alert] Washington, DC: “Lost Sock Roasters Open Their First Shop for Fruity Coffees and South American Snacks: The wholesaler for D.C. favorites like Baked & Wired opens a cafe in Takoma that sells pour-overs and Argentine empanadas” Read more!
a weekly curated collection of coffee & chocolate themed articles, items & thoughts.
JUST THE CAPPUCCINO FROTH. FOR YOUR WEEKEND.
Coffee & Reading the morning paper
News: Govida is sadly closing all 128 of its stores in North America at the end of March 🙁 Read why, here.
Local: Have you heard about DC’s Ratzilla? Seen it? Did you hear that DC may get mopeds? Ciao!
Trending: Ben & Jerry’s has new flavors (7) topped with chocolate ganache: Whiskey Biz, Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough, PB Over the Top, Salted Caramel Brownie, Strawberry Topped Tart, Thick Mint and Tiramisu! Yum. Which one will you try?
Valentine’s Gifts: Discover Bar & Cocoa’s top picks for Valentine’s Day gifts, here.
How-To: Tips from a florist. Increase your sales for Valentine’s Day in 2021!
Listening:This podcast episode with Carla Martin on fine cacao and chocolate, what ‘soil’ means, ethical research, and more.
Reading: Speaking of moderate ambient noise, how does noise affect how people taste bitterness, acidity, sweetness and coffee aroma + how much we’re willing to pay for coffee? A new study explains how. You can read the full paper, here.