Chocolate samples in the cafe
If you’ve been driving down Ironhorse drive lately, your peripheral vision may have quickly picked up a small patio and a red sign reading “Ritual Chocolate Factory & Cafe” and you probably thought to yourself “wait, chocolate? what?” Your peripheral is not letting you down my friends, it’s true. Park City has a new chocolate factory, and it’s pretty damn wonderful.
The dynamic and knowledgeable duo that are running the show are one half local parkite who has returned to his roots and one half English. Both with a passion for starting their own business, they have found an immense love for the entire bean to bar chocolate making process, breathing life into Ritual Chocolate. After meeting in Colorado, Robby Stout and Anna Davies decided to start their chocolate making journey and the company has been based out of Denver for the past 4 years. “The move to Utah was really to scale up our production and we wanted to make the move while we are still relatively small” explains Davies. Stout also being an avid biker, returning to Park City was perfect for him. “The distribution is also much easier here.” He explains.
Roasted cacao beans
The Park City location now being the only factory they are using, their focused plans for their business in the future are nothing short from exciting. “Everyone grows up on some sort of chocolate, but we really want to educate and provide access of the entire chocolate making process to people as well as perhaps change their palates when it comes to eating chocolate.” she says. With that said and only having been open for about 3 weeks, once things are a bit more solidified, Ritual Chocolate plans to start giving a variety of tours and educational tastings.
Nibs going into the grinding mill
Madagascar beans during the conching process showing off their unique red hue
The high quality cacao beans that Ritual Chocolate use have 4 origins; Madagascar, Beliz, Peru, and Ecuador. “Each bean tastes and looks so different, it’s crazy.” explains 
Stout. “Since there are no actual schools for chocolate making, through the making and honing of the craft, each chocolate maker really ends up with their own style and therefor, each chocolate maker’s product will taste different.” they say. From the bean sourcing, the structured process of making the chocolate, to the educating and sharing the flavor, there are many aspects to pursue when it comes to chocolate making, and they are doing it all humbly and happily.
Other than shipping their bars to places like Japan, and Europe, they can also be found at Atticus, Whole Foods, Tony Caputo’s, other specialty markets, at the cafe, and online. While stopping by Ritual Chocolate, enjoy a full espresso bar, sipping chocolates, chocolate nut butter spreads, homemade chocolate granola, trail mix chocolate bars and more menu expansions to come with a possibility of a full toast menu.
Leave your computer at home, there is plenty to watch while sitting here
A cozy and rustic atmosphere
I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the backside of production, but don’t worry, you can easily see it as well through the cafe’s windows while simply enjoying a cup of their delicious sipping chocolate. Ritual chocolate is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to grab a cup of coffee, sit on one of the front or back patios, chat with the owners and employees, and watch one of my favorite things being made. I couldn’t be more excited for such an awesome addition to our town so make sure you go stop by, like today.
Click here to visit their website!
