Discover the Best Chocolate Brands in New York City

New York chocolate brands reflect the city's creative energy, with talented makers who are doing things differently. In this post, we’re exploring the bean-to-bar chocolate makers in New York City. Chocolate makers who handle every step from sourcing cacao to making the final bar.

Our list is focused on New York City bean-to-bar chocolate brands. If you are not familiar with what bean-to-bar chocolate is let's us quickly define it. Bean-to-bar is both a movement and a process in which the chocolate maker controls every step of chocolate production from from transparently sourcing beans directly from farmers or cooperatives to roasting, grinding, refining, conching, and molding the final bar. By knowing exactly where and how their beans are grown, bean-to-bar makers can support environmentally friendly practices like agroforestry and organic cultivation, while also helping to preserve heirloom cacao varieties that protect biodiversity, maintain genetic diversity, and honor traditional cacao-growing heritage.

Traditionally, chocolatiers would receive couverture pre-made chocolate from third parties and simply melt it down to create their confections. In this approach, they have little control or visibility into where the cacao came from, how it was farmed, or what blend of beans was used. 

Now that we know what types of brands are on this list, let’s take a closer look. We’ve grouped them into two categories: small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate makers, and luxury confection chocolatiers.

New York City Chocolate Brands

Small-Batch Bean-to-Bar Makers

Raaka Chocolate

Raaka Chocolate takes a unique approach by working exclusively with unroasted cacao beans. Skipping the roasting step preserves the natural brightness, fruitiness, and subtle complexity of each cacao origin, showcasing flavors you might not find in traditional dark chocolate. While some people find unroasted bars a bit sharper or more intense compared to the mellow, caramelized flavors of roasted chocolate, Raaka’s style is all about celebrating cacao in its purest form. If you prefer a gentler introduction, try one of their vegan milk bars, which use coconut or oat as creamy, plant-based substitutes. In fact, all of Raaka’s bars are vegan, making them a great choice for chocolate lovers seeking bold flavor and a fully dairy-free experience. You can explore and shop Raaka’s of bars directly on our website.

Fine and Raw Chocolate

Fine & Raw Chocolate was founded in 2007 by Daniel Sklaar in a Williamsburg artist loft, built on a mission to save the world through silliness and chocolate. Their bean-to-bar, organic creations range from bold dark bars to playful spreads, all made with clean, plant-based ingredients. Using minimally processed, sometimes low-temperature roasted cacao, they celebrate the bright, natural flavors of each origin. Fine & Raw maintains a radically transparent supply chain, sourcing from ethical partners in Belize and Ecuador and paying well above fair trade to empower farmers and promote organic practices. With a vision for a fully solar-powered factory in the future, their commitment to sustainability is as strong as their passion for exceptional chocolate.

Kahkow

Kahkow brings the deep cacao heritage of the Dominican Republic straight to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. As an extension of Rizek Cacao, a respected, family-owned producer in the Dominican Republic, Kahkow crafts single-origin chocolate bars from their own Dominican cacao. Their bean-to-bar approach is showcased through in-store experiences where visitors can learn about the chocolate-making process firsthand. 

Sol Cacao

Sol Cacao, founded by three brothers from Trinidad and Tobago, operates in the South Bronx with a focus on pure, minimalist chocolate. They craft single-origin dark chocolate bars using just two ingredients: carefully sourced cacao beans and organic cane sugar. This simple, transparent approach lets the unique flavors of cacao from regions like Peru, Madagascar, and Ecuador truly shine.