Hot Chocolate

Unabashedly thick, rich and indulgent, European-style chocolate drinks warm up sales across a variety of segments.

Liquid dessert? Chocolate drink? Divine indulgence? Whatever it’s called, one thing is certain: hot chocolate is not just for children anymore.

Operators across the nation are targeting the adult market, turning out thick, intensely flavored chocolate drinks created for sophisticated consumers with a soft spot for sweets.

“We did trend research and saw burgeoning interest in chocolate,” says Rob Grady, director of hot beverages for Seattle-based Starbucks, which in January introduced Chantico. “We thought we could add something special to the market.”

Chantico is billed as a “drinkable dessert.” The dense, velvety beverage is served in 6-ounce cups—the smallest beverage the chain dispenses. “We were looking for something premium, authentic and grounded in the roots of chocolate,” says Grady. “And we wanted something that matched the preferences of our consumers: a dark, intense chocolate.”