Chocolate is a mood booster, whether you’re eating it as a bar or sipping it in a hot drink. The Montclair shop Vesta, which opened in late 2019 on Valley Road, offers both, as well as a few other indulgent treats like cocoa mixes, cacao spreads and baked goods including cookies and sea-salt brownies. As for the drinks, customers can enjoy a variety of coffee and espresso drinks as well as classic chocolate hot cocoa made with the brand’s chocolate and topped with fluffy homemade marshmallow. For vegan patrons, Vesta also has non-dairy hot chocolates and beverages that can be enjoyed on their own.
In the hands of husband and wife duo Roger and Julia Rodriguez, Vesta is a bean-to-bonbon craft chocolate factory that serves as both a cafe and chocolate store. The pair, who met in the Navy, moved to New York City in 2015 where Roger was a master chocolate maker at Cacao Prieto in Red Hook and Julia was a pastry chef in the kitchens of Jean-Georges, Gramercy Tavern and Bouchon Bakery. With their combined experience, the couple grew to realize that there was a void in the market for high-quality, artisanal chocolate products and decided to take matters into their own hands.
With a name that means “veil” in Latin, the brand aims to create a veil of luxury and indulgence for its customers. To achieve this, the chocolate is made on-site in a small factory and the ingredients are kept to a minimum—cocoa beans from different origins mixed with unrefined sugar. The result is rich, creamy chocolate that can be molded into bars, drizzled over fillings or melted into ganache and then used to make baked goods, spreads and other sweets, as well as hot chocolate and other beverage options.
One of the highlights of the shop is its selection of chocolate-dipped fruits and nuts, which are a great gift option for anyone on your list. There’s everything from apricot and pistachio to six-year-aged Korean miso caramel bonbons. For those who are looking to go a little darker, there is also a 78% dark chocolate that features cocoa from Lachua, Guatemala.
The most popular beverage at the shop is a cup of their infamous cocoa, which can be had either in a traditional hot chocolate or in the form of a thick and aromatic drinking chocolate with notes of ground hazelnuts and almonds. It is also available in a convenient powder form so you can enjoy it at home.
For those who prefer their chocolate with a little more caffeine, Vesta offers a variety of coffee and espresso-based drinks as well as teas, cappuccinos and mochas. The cozy space, with its wooden chairs and plush bar stools, is ideal for sipping the chocolaty drinks alone or with friends. The ambiance, coupled with its delicious offerings and low prices, have earned the business a 4.8 star rating on Google. To save on your next visit, check out Vesta’s coupon page for money-saving deals and offers.
