2Beans Coffee & the immortal feelings of Chocolate

Double Bing's is New York's largest chocolate coffee boutique. From $3 or $4 to $300, there are more than 500 flavors, different brands from all over the world, all of which are personally searched, tasted, asked, and brought back. (Courtesy of Shuangbing)

I thought I was coming to a coffee shop, but I stepped into the world of chocolate.

Double Bing's is New York's largest chocolate coffee boutique. In addition to the strong coffee aroma, there are a variety of exquisite chocolates. From $3 or $4 to $300, there are more than 500 flavors, different brands from all over the world, all of which are personally searched, tasted, asked, and brought back.

Hans Hill, the boss, was Swiss, with thick eyebrows and white hair, and spoke fluent European English. He considers himself a chocolate expert, loves chocolate, and knows chocolate. After 40 years in the industry, Hill knows almost 90% of the chocolate makers in the world.

The name of the store is "Double Bing's", English is 2Beans, meaning chocolate beans and coffee beans, representing the boss's love for coffee and chocolate."We are passionate about the chocolate we sell and always want to introduce the best products." Indeed, this is the only place in New York where you can enjoy coffee slowly and taste delicious chocolates from all over the world.

Many people look for him thousands of times

In search of unique niche brands, Hill spends two months each year attending various chocolate fairs, exhibitions and flying to different places to taste chocolate. From developed Italy, France, to inconvenient transportation in Central America chocolate manor. He went to great lengths to find the delicacy in his heart.

But it wasn't always smooth sailing. Hill's last trip to the Caribbean found a tiny chocolate estate with a daily output of only 200 bars. After investigating, he was very satisfied with the quality of the chocolate, but because the estate production was too low, the final supply was insufficient.

Finding chocolate can be tough, but Hill usually finds the right brand each year. (Courtesy of Shuangbing)

Moreover, especially for some small countries in China and the United States, transportation is inconvenient. Hill has to use his team's strength to import them personally. However, his hard work was not in vain. Every year, he usually made new discoveries.

Here are the most expensive chocolates in the world.

What is good chocolate in his eyes? In addition to cocoa bean origin, production scale, cocoa content and other factors, but also from the aroma, flavor, taste, bitterness and other physical characteristics to taste. Chocolate that tastes good and melts like silk must contain a lot of cocoa butter. In addition, whether chocolate is natural and organic and whether cocoa farmers get reasonable wages are important conditions for Hill's selection.

The store also has the world's most expensive To 'ak aged chocolate, 50 grams a piece, up to 300 US dollars. To 'ak is limited to three dealers in the United States and can only be purchased in New York at 2Beans. Last year, the store sold out of To 'ak chocolates, and this year there are only a few left.

To 'ak is the most expensive chocolate in the world. (To 'ak official website)

Aged chocolate contains cocoa between 70% and 81%. Chocolate beans grow from endangered native cocoa trees in Ecuador's Err Err Rainforest Reserve. After that, cocoa beans undergo six processes of selection, aging and putting into the mouth. The flavor is subtle and the aftertaste is rich. The experience of pairing with famous wine is even more different.

Unlike American coffee, Double Bing chose Italian coffee Illy, and according to European custom, coffee was served on a small iron plate with white water and small chocolate bars. Employees teach customers how to mix chocolate with wine and coffee, and chocolatiers are invited to give lectures on what makes good chocolate.

"We don't just sell chocolates, we celebrate chocolates," Hill said.

You can enjoy European Illy coffee here. (Courtesy of Shuangbing)

The hottest brand in the store

Åkesson’s （$8.99）

Chocolate from Sweden. Akesson's website

Small and refined, Swedish chocolate brand that does not seek quantity and quality, is also the personal favorite of owner Hill. The general public may not be familiar with it, but everyone in the chocolate circle knows it.Åkesson's chocolates have a special fruity wood flavor and its "Single Estate Chocolate" collection has won three awards in the chocolate world.Åkesson's main products have an average cocoa content of 75%, and chocolate with a cocoa content of up to 100%. Smooth and delicate taste, slightly bitter, charming floral aroma.

Chocolat Bonnat （$11.99-16.99）

A hundred years of French chocolate. (Chocolat Bonnat official website)

French century-old chocolate, packaging unpretentious, but the entrance will be superior quality. Chocolat Bonnat has a clear baking flavor and simple ingredients. It is a rare chocolate brand without vanilla extract and soy lecithin. Chocolat Bonnat's origin range of dark chocolates is famous, especially Puerto Cabello from Venezuela. The palate is mellow, with roasted, caramel creamy flavours.

Chocolat Bonnat is one of the classic flavors. (Chocolat Bonnat official website)

2Beans Brand ($9.49)

Double Bing's own brand. (Courtesy of Shuangbing)

Eighteen chocolates in a small box. Rich flavors, dark chocolate, sea salt chocolate, raspberry flavor and so on. Sea salt chocolate tastes especially good. The slightly bitter, silky chocolate was tinged with sea salt, and every time it tasted that little bit of salt, it was full of surprises.

2Beans

Flagship Store:

100 Park Ave,New York, NY 10017

Turnstyle NYC

8th Avenue, New York, NY

Park Avenue

254 Park Ave South,New York, NY 10010

Upper West Side

461 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Tel: (212) 937-8914

Time: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

Website: 2beans.com/index.html