Koko Monk Chocolates

I can’t pass up a good hot chocolate. And when I found out that the Vancouver Chocolate Festival was happening while I was in town I had to make sure I tried at least one place.
Of all the items, the Koko Monk lineup was the most compelling — so that’s where I went.
I had the Rashamon, which is miso Hot Chocolate with Matcha Tea and Sake. The presentation was super pretty and the hot chocolate was delicious. I know white chocolate green tea is always a winner, but I wouldn’t have thought to combine miso, which turned out to be a really fantastic flavour combination. Based on Paul’s suggestion, I paired my hot chocolate with a passion fruit macaron, and the tartness of the passion fruit went well.
I’d read some reviews that Koko Monk sometimes offer chocolate flights. I hope that becomes a regular menu item as I’d love to sample their other creative fare as well. The Lyric and Dagger sounds pretty delish.
Looking forward to going back! :)
One note: several reviews pointed out that the place is small — there is only a 2 seat area and a table that can fit six. The place wasn’t very crowded though when I went so even though the place is cosy, finding a seat doesn’t seem to be an issue :)

Tiny chocolate shop that also serves drinks. Definitely neat to come by and see artisan chocolate being made. Initially, came by to window shop. However, we were warmly greeted by a staff member who gave me and a friend some of flavors to try (chili mango tequila and balsamic vinegar). My friend bought a few chocolates, which I tried and it was very good. Glad to have made the stop here during my trip to Canada, and plan to re-​visit

The newly minted wife and I stopped by Koko Monk for their hot chocolate tasting flight as a last treat before I flew back to London. We’d heard about the tasting flight from a fellow foodie and were pretty excited to try it out.
The staff are very friendly with the sales girl welcoming us in and enthusiastically explaining the various options. A slight hiccup to our plans was that although there are 6 options, you need to order a minimum of two flights and the selection of three is the same for each flight (ie we’d have to order 4 flights to try all 6). Still, not a massive issue so we picked the three most interesting options and sat down to enjoy.
First, we tried the white chocolate and black sesame combo. I’m usually not a fan of white chocolate as I find it too sweet and a bit oily but here the quality was sufficiently high to leave it creamy without any artificial taste. The black sesame was a brilliant addition with a great balance and delicate flavour which I really enjoyed. A lime salted caramel drizzle brought a touch of refreshing citrus which helped lighten the drink.
Next, there was the Brunette Bangle which was a dark hot chocolate with a dusting of coconut and spicy curry. This was my favourite with a rich creamy dark chocolate and a perfect balance between the bitterness of the chocolate and the earthy spice of the curry powder.
Finally, there was a pink peppercorn dark chocolate which was quite decent but paled in comparison (in my view) to the other two. However, the wife loved it as it tasted just right to her so seems to be a great choice if you want something a less in your face than the curry option.
The only other slight negative is the price with two tasting flights costing $ 21 which seems a bit steep for what is essentially two mugs worth of hot chocolate.

Small little chocolate shop on 1^st avenue, that at first glance, appears disorganized. But as you spend more time in the shop, it does have a cozy feel to it.
The owner is super friendly and welcoming and ready to give you a sample. he is definitely passionate about chocolates.
Chocolates are like little pieces of art that are hand made and hand painted. I love the different creations… Blue Moon (blue cheese chocolate), Tuscan Blue (hint of lavender), Jade Box (Japanese matcha tea)…
Next time, I’ll have to try the Turkish coffee :)

Amazing! The owner is extremely friendly, and ready to share info and samples!!!

Cute shop with unique fillings! The cashier was helpful and friendly in picking out chocolates for a custom box, and there were samples available for some of them. It’s a bit cluttered but organized so that it’s cozy. I’ll have to return for some of their «highly rated» hot chocolate one day.

The best place in Vancouver for hot chocolate since Cocoa Nymph closed its retail location. Koko Monk’s owner, Paul, is passionate and interested and is a true storyteller as well as a gifted chocolatier. My husband and I are regulars here, and feel remembered and appreciated each time we visit!
Try the hot chocolate. If it’s a hot day, try an iced hot chocolate.
Try a cookie. They’re all great. Try a tart – my favourite is the chocolate salted caramel.
Try some chocolate bonbons. They are all thoughtfully created and balanced in ways that will make you more adventurous and open-​minded. The new-​to-​you flavour combinations will be worth it: they work. Paul has worked to make them work.
Koko Monk is always a highlight during the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival, mid-​January to Valentine’s Day each year. Sample a new hot chocolate creation each week and then in the final week, try a «flight» of all three!
So much gratitude that a place like this exists.

I was in the area for an appointment and I still had time so I decided to give this place a try. This is a very small little coffee and chocolate place — limited seating and not really on the main streets of Kitsilano. What caught my attention was the sandwich board for authenic Turkish coffee. I ordered a semi sweet Turkish coffeeband as I was waiting for my coffee the server offered me chocolate to taste. He offered two flavors to me and they were really good. The flavors were very nice and unique. The Turkish coffee is the size of an espresso but I have to say it is much better than espresso. The server explaining howbthe coffee is brewed to me and the difference between Turkish coffee and expresso. I didn’t need to add anything to the Turkish coffee, I can just drink it black. I would say this little place is a definite must try. A little gem in Kitsilano.

I was introduced to Koko Monk when I took a CHOCOLATE DECODING CLASS. I’ve went to several chocolate tastings and info sessions and I learned the most at his. Paul (the owner) is a brilliant man and an innovative chocolatier. He uses raw cacao beans (which ensures all the benefits of the chocolate and all the antioxidants and nutrients) instead of roasting them like conventional chocolate makers and uses his own secret way to make his chocolate the best I’ve ever had. His choclate is out of this world and if you want to understand why, I highly recommend taking his chocolate decoding class. It is not a tasting class but rather a very informative session with a small tasting of beans and some creations he fills inside his chocolates. His hand painted chocolates have very unique fillings that never overpower and always satisfy your cravings. He is truly an artist and may his chocolate creations take over the planet… thank you Paul for your amazing chocolate!!!

Exquisite! Wow, this guy is passionate about his chocolate. Great flavor pairings, like white chocolate-​lavender-​chamomile. Macarons were amazingly good.

If I see a sign that says Turkish Coffee, I go in and drink it. If I get the chance I watch them make it, I watch. I’m the obnoxious guy with the questions. Koko Monk was ready for me. Here’s what I found:
They sell the Turkish coffee they server by the canister, and even have ibriks for home brewing. I’m unsure why people even bother with the ibrik if they aren’t going to use the pressure of the coffee grind puck on the top of the pot to give the brewing process pressure. I don’t think they do that here, but the result seemingly doesn’t require it.
I was given the tip to just not drink to the bottom, which I wouldn’t, the grinds at the bottom of the cup were wet dust and I would have had to scrape them out to get it. Why does that matter? The separation of grinds and drink was easy and the sugar (I had semi sweet) wasn’t anything other than raw sugar.
Hands down the best Turkish coffee I’ve had in this city.
Oh, and apparently they sell chocolate too.

First up was the Red Cadillac which today finishes its weekly run. This is a decadent mixture of salted almond hot chocolate with pink peppercorn. Being made with almond milk this is vegan friendly and is served with your choice of cookie (total starting at $ 5.95). The inspiration for this drink is racing through the scenes of America’s Pulp Fiction in your luxury Cadillac and I can taste the peppercorn really spicing things up. I think the shortbread was a good complement since the drink was really sweet and the shortbread was less sweet than the gingerbread. I was a little disappointed with the goopy chocolate left over at the end since these were too strong on their own but the journey down was a sweet and spicy one.
Next up was a taster of the previous week’s hot chocolate, the Lyric and Dagger. Inspired by 13^th-​century philosopher and poet Rūmī, this small tube is a Black Sesame White Hot Chocolate with lemon and lime caramel. This one was a little creamier with its hot chocolate base and so I thought it went well with the gingerbread cookie. The black sesame can be seen on top and I could taste a hint of it in every sip. The caramel is also quite a treat hovering precariously on the whipped froth waiting to slip into your mouth. The lemon was barely a whisper in my drink but I prefer to have as little sourness as possible in my hot chocolate so the Lyrics and Dagger was my favourite of the evening.

The staff was really outgoing and was very knowledgable about the chocolates. However, I think it’s more of a personal preference. The hot chocolate didn’t taste very good. It had a flavor to it that I wasn’t a fan of.

Love the hospitality upon entering the store where I was promptly greeted by genuine smile and hello.
I had an expired coupon from Groupon for the Raw Chocolate Tasting Lessons but the owner did not hesitate to let me use the paid value for other purchases yay! Then I had the pleasure of tasting filling of the balsamic vinegar caramel and a piece of dark chocolate with pistachios inside.
The staff was very helpful in explaining the various types of innovative chocolates and I liked the ideas: Ie Apple wood smoked chocolate, blue cheese chocolate, watermelon and sea salt…
I walked away with two 8-​piece boxes and eyed the colourful pastel macarons in the display secretly planning to come back for the them next time.
This is a tiny local shop but don’t be fooled by its size and be prepared to be dazzled with its audacious flavours.
Cheerio!

Koko Monk is top notch. Every time we go in Paul and the staff offer us samples and education around their delicious chocolate concoctions. My favorites are the Balsamic, espresso, lavender, and the 100% is heavenly! If you haven’t been in stop by for an espresso and the best chocolate in Van.

I went for the RAW Chocolate Tasting and Decoding Class for 2 from Groupon for $ 45. To be honest I thought it was a class where they show you how to make the chocolate, painting it, decorating etc. But it was an 1 hour 45 min lecture about the history of chocolate, the different cocoa beans, and tasting cocoa beans and chocolate. My friend and I were zoning out during some parts. I don’t think it was worth the price to be honest. I’d rather watch a documentary about chocolate on youtube or something. But his chocolate are superb and really are something special!
I would recommend skipping the class and instead spend the money on buying the chocolate.

Had a vegan dark chocolate caramel treat from here yesterday. It was quite delightful. A friend of mine works there and always raves about their delicious treats.
I will definitely be stopping by for some Turkish coffee soon!

First time stopping in thanks to an awesome groupon, and loved it! The got chocolate was delicious and meticulously made, and the chocolates look like they are to die for.

Great hot chocolate. I had curry and coconut and it was delicious. The owner is very friendly and let us sample some usual chocolates.

There hasn’t been too many times that I have been wooed over hot chocolate here in Vancouver. This was one of those occasions where it happened. The drink was made to perfection with dark chocolate expertly combined with spices to create an extremely satisfying concoction. Paul, the owner of this relatively humble-​looking place, explained to me that he dries a special combination of spices out to a certain degree before mixing it into the chocolate he uses. Apparently, his secret recipe works!
I also tried his chocolate éclair and I have to say it was one of the best I’ve had. This was a true éclair with real vanilla filling. Most places serve up their either soggy eclairs or try to pass up donuts posing as ones. Koko Monk’s eclairs have the perfect texture to them which creates the perfect surrounding to the ice cream-​like filling inside. So, combined with my hot chocolate in hand, I was 15 minutes in bliss :-)
Their dessert selection is not extensive but if they are all as good as the éclair then I’m OK with that. I’d rather have a small number of very good desserts than a caseload of so-​so ones that you often find in other coffee houses.
Be aware that seating is extremely limited because of the size of the store. There’s a deuce tucked in one corner and a larger table that seats up to six in the other corner. That’s it. If the weather is OK, you can also sit outside.