For many of us chocolate and coffee are two of the things we crave the most. It’s no surprise that combining these two flavours produces a taste sensation that makes them even more irresistible! Chocolate is such a versatile ingredient and it is perfectly complimented by a coffee flavour. There are a number of coffee-flavoured chocolates on the market but, if you want to make them yourself, it couldn’t get any easier!
You will need:

  • Chocolate chips (choose the type of chocolate you prefer)
  • Instant coffee (If you are concerned about too much caffeine, use decaf)
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Wax paper

Method:

  • Depending on how many chocolates you’d like to make, you will need to adjust the quantities of your ingredients accordingly. Tastes often vary so start with a ratio of 1/2 tablespoon of coffee for every cup of chocolate chips.
  • Start by using your mortar and pestle to grind the instant coffee into a finer powder. If you can find very fine coffee powder, it might be worth your while buying it instead of using the larger granules. Do not try to add the large granules because they will not blend properly with the chocolate and, apart from the texture, the flavour won’t be quite right either. Grind some extra coffee just in case you want to add more than the ratio suggested above. You can always set it aside and use in another batch if you don’t need it.
  • Once your coffee is ready, it’s time to melt the chocolate. There are two major rules to remember when melting chocolate. The first is to never allow your chocolate to come into contact with water of any kind. It will cause the chocolate to seize and rectifying this time-consuming (if it even works at all). The second is to never burn your chocolate. You can melt chocolate in the microwave but the safest method is to use a double-boiler on the stove. This helps slow down the melting process so that your chocolate does not burn. It also decreases the chances of your chocolate coming into contact with water droplets that can form inside your microwave. Place a pot of water on the stove with another pot or bowl inside. The top pot or bowl should sit firmly and should not tip over. It should be in direct contact with the water in the bottom pot. Place the chocolate in the top pot and turn on your stove. The bottom pot will get hot and warm the water which will, in turn, gently warm the top pot. Stir constantly until the chocolate has melted and remove from heat as soon as it has.
  • Add your coffee powder to the melted chocolate and mix well.
  • Taste the chocolate while still in its melted state and decide whether or not you wish you add more coffee.
  • Once you have reached the desired flavour, it’s time to make those chocolates! You can dip fruit in the coffee chocolate or make your own chocolates and let them harden on the wax paper. Another great idea is to use chocolate molds to make various fun shapes.

Once you have tried this recipe, you’ll be ever so eager to share it with your loved ones. Make extra over the holidays, package them, and send as gifts for Christmas or any other occasion.