“Hi all,” my Facebook post began, “I’m on the hunt for a proper hot chocolate… made with real chocolate melted by hot milk (no chocolate powder in sight!). Please let me know so I can go rate them!” It was mid-May 2024, and the weather was cooling, so I posted in as many Northern Beaches Facebook groups as I could, thinking I could spend the winter testing out any suggestions. What a fun idea! Except…I got almost 50 recommendations! That’s a lot of hot chocolate!
Still, I set out, starting with cafés close to home, then venturing further afield. With each tasting I became more discerning, more of an expert. After a few months, I had to return to test some hot chocolates again – just to be fair! Some places were a disappointment of course, claiming to use real chocolate, then spooning out powder or using a chocolate-flavoured syrup. Chocolate will naturally solidify if left at room temperature, so what is in those syrup bottles? Not melted chocolate!
One place even had several delicious-looking chocolate fountains on display, yet moments after telling me they used real chocolate in their hot chocolates, the barista reached for a syrup bottle! When I asked what was in it, she admitted she had no idea! The best places all used hot milk to melt fresh chocolate buttons or chips, or kept warm melted chocolate ready to ladle into a cup. There were about 25 of these across the beaches. But since I was after the absolute best, I returned to my highest ratings to ask more questions and observe how each drink was made.
This time I realised that some baristas were leaving it up to their customers to stir in the melted chocolate. But stirring a hot drink invites in cold air, and by the time I’d stirred in mine, my drink was no longer hot! When I asked these baristas to do the stirring while the cup was only half (or less) full, then top it up with hot milk, some happily obliged. But others insisted that melted chocolate should remain on the rim or glass of the cup for aesthetic purposes. Since I was after a tasty hot beverage, not a cool photograph, I couldn’t keep them on my list. Some hot chocolates were also weaker on subsequent visits, with baristas admitting they’d used less chocolate than before.
Finally, a whole year later, I had my Top 12. None of the places I visited knew I was rating them, so I hope these twelve are as delighted to be included as I was by their efforts! If you’d like to try them out, just remember to tell them you’re after taste, not beauty, so to use a good amount of chocolate and stir it in properly! In alphabetical order, they are:
- Aggy’s Corner, 1/94 West Street, Balgowlah
- Choc et Moi, 15/19 Pacific Parade, Dee Why
- Frankie’s, 277 Mona Vale Road, Terry Hills
- Lighthouse Specialty Coffee, Kiosk 2A/10 Park Street, Mona Vale
- Lindt Chocolate Boutique, Shop 1536, Westfield Warringah Mall
- Mary’s Cafe, 4/23 Howard Avenue, Dee Why
- P&N Daily Scoop, 1483 Pittwater Road, North Narrabeen
- Redstone Cafe, Shop 2105A, Westfield Warringah Mall
- Roseberry Street Cafe, 2/62 Balgowlah Road, Balgowlah
- Showbox Coffee, 19 Whistler Street, Manly
- Sunrise Cafe, 122A Narrabeen Park Parade, Warriewood Beach
- Two Siisters, 147 Sydney Road, Fairlight
Zena Shapter is a local hot chocolate expert, author, editor and writing mentor. Enjoy more of her musings on her blog at zenashapter.com/blog
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