Choffy Brewed Chocolate, Cacao - IC French Roast - 340g, 12oz Medium Chocolaty & Smoky

UPDATE: I'm editing my review from 1 star to 4 stars to reflect Choffy's good customer service, and a good replacement with the Choffy Volta Dark. The replacement is great, and meets the quality I am accustomed to with their product. Be mindful that Amazon returns on non-refundable items can be a real PIA process, but Choffy pulled through for me and delivered my favorite product.Previous experience of original item recieved: I have purchased Choffy Volta Dark and Volta Medium in the past several times and enjoyed them tremendously. I opened this new flavor and it smells like mold and swampy old gym socks. It had a grayish/mold tinge to the grounds. I'm familiar with vacuum sealed packs, and have purchased Choffy before. This package was hard as a brick. Like it had gotten wet, expanded, and then dried a solid mass. You know how the cocoa grounds expand in moisture? Yep. That is what I got. Unfortunately Amazon initially says that it does not do returns or refunds on these products, so you will really need to pursue electronically getting your refund or replacement with determination.

I had really high hopes for this product. I found out about brewed cacao several weeks ago and tried to order Crio Bru from Amazon. That didn't go well because the vendor was just very unresponsive when the order more or less disappeared into the Amazon Abyss. So I did some research and thought I'd give Choffey a shot. I tracked the package relentlessly until I saw it on the Amazon map widget 2 stops away. Excited and looking forward to it, as soon as it came, I opened the package. Immediately, there was a strong, offputting odor. Now keep in mind, this is the first time I've had brewed cacao, so maybe it's supposed to smell burnt/acrid, but I still wanted to try it, thinking maybe it would be more pleasant after brewing it. I followed the instructions and tried it. I was able to drink it, but the smell was just really overpowering. I wound up adding some milk and sugar, which I never use with my coffee, and it made it more palatable. I should note that I do really like unsweeted dark chocolate and it wasn't the lack of sugar or milk that bothered me. I just think that this product is not to my taste. I'll probably go off-Amazon and try a batch from Creo Chocolate or the Chocolate Alchemist who sell direct. I suspect that maybe a less "charred" roast might be better. Crossing my fingers because I love the idea of brewed cacao.

it's not sweet like cocoa, and not bitter like coffee. It's just the right mix of coffee mouthfeel and cocoa undertones. Very satisfying.

The taste is difficult to describe: not at all hot chocolate, it is similar to unprocessed dark chocolate. "Value for the Money" is a subjective evaluation. When I started buying Choffy, it cost substantially less. People began to experience how good it was, and the law of supply and demand kicked in. Popular opinion is shown through cost in a capitalist system -- though I'm sure there are several other factors all working in conjunction to produce the spike in cost.

I cannot handle the coffee ( caffeine) and love chocolate so this looked like a gem. It is not sweet or bitter--fragrant, flavorful, and gives me the lift without the jitters. All the goodness of cacao beans, roasted and hot in a cup. I have it every day.For me, it's a value over buying a cup of coffee somewhere----and it's great in the evening too.

This tastes close to chicory coffee. 5 stars if that’s what you’re looking for. 1 star if you’re hoping for chocolate flavor

Besides all the health benefits the low acidic levels don't upset my stomach or make me run for the potty an hour later. I purchase direct from their site and their site offers a large about of information. I really liked the Dark Roast best but if you don't want it to taste like hot coco go with the light or med roast. I love this stuff.

Amazon was out of the cacao that I had a subscription for, and offered this brewing accao as a substitute. The flavor is so much more robust that I plan to continue using Choffy...besides, it's a cute name. All pros, no cons that come to mind.

Compared to my usual Ivory coast french roast. Volta french roast is stronger. Stronger chocolate notes, and more coffee notes. This one may be a bit too strong for me.

I normally purchase crio bru... but this was a better buy for what seemed to be a very similar product- so I gave it a try...It is excellent!! I add a couple scoops to my morning coffee grounds before brewing... it’s divine!! Not to mention all the health benefits of the cacao- I will be buying again for sure!! :-)Also- I got a sample bag with my purchase of a different roast... that was very nice-thank you Choffy!!

So, like most of you,I tried this jazz for reasons of health benefits. It's darned expensive!Brewing had been attempted in two ways: French press and using my espresso machine. Flavour was identical. Ground coffee beans are gooey! The French press is very difficult to compress after a few minutes of Brewing.Flavour is interesting, at best. Weak slightly nutty, bitter, and with a weird overtone which remains in chocolate products, but is tempered by time and sweetening. If you take your hot bevies black (as I do), there's not a huge amount to recommend this stuff over other alternatives. Sweeten it a little and it is better! (I didn't say good). I also tried just raw coffee beans. Very little difference. Interestingly, that nasty overtone seems to gas off if you grind your beans, then leave the grits exposed to air for maybe two hours?Result: I mix this with coffee in my espresso filter. Literally, stir the dry grounds, else the cacao forms an impenetrable goo and the machine can't pass water through at 15 bar. Thus it makes an acceptable drink, presumably lessening the caffeine, applying some benefit of the cacao, and most importantly, keeping my wife From brow-beating me over the bags of expensive, inedible stuff in my coffee cupboard!

The best brewed cacao I have ever tried. Great value for the money. Not too dark but not light either. Blends well with coffee grounds. If you add milk and sugar, you get what is like a hot chocolate. Did not last long as it was that delicious. Be sure to use a mesh filter if you brew with an automatic drip machine.

On my hierarchy of favourite roasts this one is in the middle. I've tried most flavours now and wouldn't hesitate to reorder most. Little bit of coconut cream and maple syrup make these heavenly. Love that it's an Albertan company too.