TASTE THE BEAN TO BAR DIFFERENCE @ CHOCXO - COSTA MESA

CHOCXO COFFEE AND CACAO
ADDRESS:1534 Adams #A Costa Mesa, CA
(In the same plaza as That Boba Place, The Habit, Fluff Ice, Frostbites & behind the Kickin Crab restaurant)
WEBSITE: http://www.chocxo.com/

MEET SANDY, ASPIRING LATTE ARTIST AT CHOCXO. 

 GOT TO TRY SOME AMAZING CHOCOLATE. COME HERE AND TRY IT YOURSELF! ^___^ & YOU'LL TASTE THE FRESHNESS!

 THEY SURE KNOW HOW TO DO BRANDING! CHOCXO ON ERRRTHANG ! 

 A-MAAAAAZING CHOCOLATE

I LOVE IT WHEN MY NAME IS WRITTEN WITH CARAMEL, MAKES THE LATTE TASTE A LOT BETTER (:

Why do all the good places open when I no longer attend OCC. Like...REALLY! I could have studied at this new cool spot called Chocxo back in the day while studying exams while sippin' on yummy specialty coffee instead of plain ole Starbucks. But, I'm glad a place like this eventually opened in the OC. I noticed that more specialty coffee shops are opening in Orange County and I am definitely not complaining.

I discovered this place randomly from yelp one day. It was labeled as hot and new and barely had any reviews. Even better, found out that it's nearby! It's in the same plaza as all the other popular places around the area to go to like Frostbites Italian Ice, Fluff Ice, That Boba Place, The Habit, Kickin Crab, etc. When I finally visited this coffeeshop, I was impressed. It is a great addition to the already very hip go to spots in Costa Mesa (Lab Antimall, Oc Mix Mart, South Coast Plaza, etc.)!

Chocxo, pronounced Choc-soh, specializes in coffee beans and cacao beans. In fact, they actually have a factory in Irvine (very local, I like!) that literally roasts high-end espresso beans and produces chocolate from their cacao beans too. Because of this, you can actually taste the bean (espresso and cacao beans that is) to bar difference at their coffeeshops. And if you're curious about the process, make sure to participate in a Chocxo factory tour (only $20/person)! Doesn't that remind you of like... the movie Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory tour?! I saw one of their instagram short videos and there's a chocolate dispenser at the factory where you can pour shots of chocolate. Who isn't down for that?! 

The store itself isn't that big at all but there is seating (indoors and outdoors but not much) and there is wi-fi if y'all looking for a new study spot.

If you're also looking for some eyegasm on your coffee, this is great spot because yes, they do latte art. I personally strongly dislike coffee. I personally used to be a barista at a specialty coffeeshop (with the latte art using Illy espresso beans) and usually never drank the coffee there unless it was diluted with sweetener and different flavors. But...but...if there is some intricate latte art, then I will drink it. In other words, yes, I'm a sucka for latte art.

The customer service was splendid. Sandy, the wonderful barista helping me the day I visited explained very thoroughly about the products Chocxo has and the company and just everything about it. She even gave me some samples of the chocolate! On top of that, she was smiley and had a great attitude the entire time. Wow, I love it when coffeeshops have great enough customer service to that warrants another visit! Thanks Sandy for the warm welcome!

On to the important part: how it really tasted. The chocolate I tried was the dark chocolate with espresso. I loved how it had hints of espresso flavors and the tingly crunchiness from the beans in every bite. I also tried the salted caramel with dark chocolate and that was super good too. You really taste the salted caramel and the dark chocolate isn't too strong either. The regular latte (no flavorings) that Sandy whipped up for me was smooooooooth. Like, what a latte should taste like. The foam was pretty much perfect and smooth (no bubbles!) so every sip tasted smooth with foam+coffee together. I'm totally gonna be back!

OVERALL:

• Price won't burn your wallet actually (but maybe the chocolate will)! 
• Coffee prices are between $2-$5 ish
• Chocolate related items are between $4-$6
• They sell chocolate fondue! Date anyone?!
• Cute small place with very unique ("hipster") products
• ex. you can get your cold brewed coffee in a glass bottle (like those OG coke glass bottles) or in mason jars
• I'd totally carry those around showin' it off
• Chocolate is yummmmmy and fresh
• my friends also taste tested the chocolates and noted that they were "super good" but "must be really fresh because they didn't last long." The ones that they didn't eat right away "turned white and got hard by a day or two later" 
• this concerns me a bit actually because sometimes I don't eat all my chocolates right away and wouldn't want them to go hard. But that's why they're fresh ... no preservatives I'm guessing that's why ... ?
• Great customer service
• They've got their own chocolate factory / espresso bean roasting factory in Irvine and you can go on factory tours there!
• I am super curious about how their hot chocolate tastes. Will keep y'all posted about it when I try it!
• They have free wi-fi and outdoor/indoor seating
• They also can do latte art 

I'LL BE BACK FOR SOME CHOCOLATE HUGS AND KISSES ! (THAT'S WHAT THE "XO" PART OF THE NAME MEANS RIGHT... )