CocoaTown

06/02/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄?

𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 equipment is used by chocolate makers, cocoa farmers, universities, research institutions, and food entrepreneurs in over 100 countries around the world.

From small farms exploring value-added products to established chocolate brands developing new recipes, 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 helps people turn ideas into products and passion into profits.

Our mission is simple: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱.

Tag your chocolate business, farm, school, or food brand below so we can learn more about your work and support your page.

CocoaTown

06/01/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲.

A roast runs a little longer than planned.

A batch develops a flavor you did not expect.

A recipe adjustment changes the final result in a surprising way.

A snack on the worktable catches a little melted chocolate, and new combination is born.

At 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻, we believe every step in the bean-to-bar process is a chance to learn. From sorting and roasting to refining and tempering, each batch gives chocolate makers new information about the cocoa beans, the equipment, and the process.

Not every mistake is a failure. Sometimes it is the beginning of a better method, a new flavor profile, or a chocolate bar you never planned to create.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴?

CocoaTown

05/29/2026

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

The cacao and chocolate industry has a deeper story to tell, and women have always been part of it.

Join 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 for an 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 with cacao educators and Women of Cacao founders Ava J. Holmes and Fiorella Richter.

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: Ava J. Holmes & Fiorella Richter
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday, May 30, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10 am – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Virtual

Explore women’s historical and modern leadership across cacao farming, chocolate making, science, education, ceremony, and the global cacao value chain.

Register now: https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

Read more: https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

CocoaTown

05/27/2026

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Every step matters. Progress may feel slow, but each effort brings you closer to your goal. Stay focused, stay patient, and trust the work you are doing today.

Tag someone who needs this reminder today.

CocoaTown

05/25/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗮 𝗝. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗺𝗲𝘀

Join CocoaTown for an upcoming 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 featuring Fiorella Richter and Ava J. Holmes, co-founders of 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼.

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday, May 30, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10 AM – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Virtual

𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 is the founder of Women of Cacao and General Manager of 𝗞𝗮𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼, a Peru-based company working with native cacao varieties and origin-centered cacao experiences. Her work connects 𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, and regenerative cacao value chains.

𝗔𝘃𝗮 𝗝. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗺𝗲𝘀 is a serial entrepreneur whose work blends 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, and social ventureship. She co-founded Women of Cacao and 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, an educational center and research hub in the lower Amazon focused on wild cacao strains, medicinal plants, and regenerative agroforestry.

Together, Fiorella and Ava will lead a thoughtful conversation on 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻, and the future of Women of Cacao.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗮:
https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/meet-the-presenters-women-of-cacao

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿:
https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

CocoaTown

05/22/2026

The story of chocolate is also the story of women.

Across generations, women have helped shape cacao through cultivation, preparation, ritual, culture, leadership, education, science, chocolate making, and community building. Yet many of these contributions have been overlooked or underrepresented in the wider history of cacao and chocolate.

Join 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 for 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼: 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, presented by cacao educators and Women of Cacao founders Ava J. Holmes and Fiorella Richter.

This 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 will explore women’s roles in cacao history, Peru’s unique cultural connection between cacao and women, where women are leading today, and how Women of Cacao is building a global, bilingual network for collaboration, education, and leadership.

You will also learn how to participate in the Women of Cacao Summit 2026 as a speaker, local host, or attendee.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: Ava J. Holmes & Fiorella Richter
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday, May 30, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10 am – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Virtual

This webinar is more than a history lesson. It is an invitation to see the cacao and chocolate industry through a wider lens and help shape what comes next.

Read more:https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

Register now: https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

CocoaTown

05/19/2026

Time for another wrapper role call! Show us what you got.

Your wrapper tells a story, a unique tale of your creativity, imagination, and personal style. It's more than just a cover; it's an art form that captures attention, sparks intrigue, and leaves a lasting impression.

What story does your wrapper tell? What inspired your design?

Share a picture and answer these questions in the comments.

Don't forget to add your @ so we can all stop by your page to give a like, share or follow. It's one way we can all support each other.

Pictured is a wrapper from QANTU, cacao et chocolat. Don't you just love the playful nature of the design?

CocoaTown

05/18/2026

What role have women really played in the story of chocolate, and how are women shaping its future?

Join CocoaTown and cacao educators and Women of Cacao founders Ava J. Holmes and Fiorella Richter for a dynamic three-part Empowering Chocopreneurs webinar exploring gender, leadership, culture, and opportunity across the cacao and chocolate value chain.

Topic: Women of Cacao: Cultural History, Leadership & the Future of Chocolate
Presented by: Ava J. Holmes & Fiorella Richter
Date: Saturday May 30th , 2026
Time: 10 am – 12 Noon Atlanta Time
Location: Virtual

In this webinar, you will learn:
• How women have shaped cacao through cultivation, preparation, ritual, culture, and leadership
• Why women’s contributions to cacao and chocolate history have often been overlooked
• How Peru’s cultural history connects cacao and women in a unique and meaningful way
• Where women are leading today across farming, chocolate making, science, education, ceremony, and more
• What gaps still exist across the cacao and chocolate value chain, and why they matter
• How Women of Cacao is building a global, bilingual network for collaboration, education, and leadership
• How to participate in the Women of Cacao Summit 2026 as a speaker, local host, or attendee

This webinar is more than a history lesson. It is an invitation to see the cacao and chocolate industry through a wider lens and help shape what comes next.

Read more: https://cocoatown.com/blogs/blog/women-in-chocolate-past-present-future

Register now: https://form.jotform.com/260924250699162

CocoaTown

05/15/2026

Thank you Bakers World Indonesia for this great video of the CocoaT Bean Cutter!

CocoaTown

05/12/2026

𝗖𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿, 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

NPR recently featured Cacao of Excellence and highlighted an important question for the cacao and chocolate industry: how can flavor and quality be understood, discussed, and recognized more consistently?

Cacao is still often traded as a commodity, even though its flavor potential, origin, processing, and quality can vary greatly. Shared language, training, evaluation tools, and harmonized methodologies help producers better communicate the value of their cacao and create stronger opportunities across the supply chain.

CocoaTown is proud to have been with Cacao of Excellence since the beginning. From the start, we have believed that cocoa farmers should have the tools, knowledge, and support to move beyond selling cacao only as a commodity. When farmers can better evaluate, process, and communicate the quality of their beans, they are in a stronger position to reach specialty markets, negotiate better value, and build more sustainable opportunities for their communities.

When the whole sector speaks a shared language around cacao quality, cocoa farmers benefit.

CocoaTown

The chocolate biz is raising the bar with a lab to assess cacao beans from around the world. (Talk about a sweet gig!) Consumers and farmers stand to benefit from the "Standard of Excellence" program.