Warming up: Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate on Martha’s Vineyard

Discover where to warm up this cold winter with the island’s most comforting and chocolate-based drinks

Espresso Love

New England is well known for our cold winters, so those of us that live here, along with visitors to the island, are often looking for ways to warm up during those brrrr days. 
 
First, let’s talk about the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. Although sometimes used interchangeably, they are two different things: 

• Hot cocoa is made with a powdered chocolate, whether it’s a mix of chocolate and sugar, sometimes along with spices, or just pure ground chocolate, hot cocoa will always start with a dry powder. It’s usually sweetener and thinner than hot chocolate; 
• Hot chocolate is made with a ganache, solid chocolate or chocolate syrup, meaning that hot milk is mixed with a chocolate/cream/sugar syrup or a ganache of chocolate and cream. Due to the high fat content of chocolate, it is a richer beverage than it’s counterpart, hot cocoa. 

Edgartown Meat & Fish

Below we have listed ten coffee shops on island that you can get your hot cocoa or hot chocolate fix, alongside baked goods and other treats that one would want paired with their hot, chocolate infused drink: 
 

1. Espresso Love - Espresso Love in Edgartown uses chocolate syrup mixed with hot milk to create a lovely chocolate drink. 
2. Not Your Sugar Mamas - using their own NYSM superfood chocolate mix, NYSM cashew milk, and dates, they are creating one of the healthiest and creamiest hot chocolates in town! Everything they make  is also dairy free and refined sugar free. 
3. Mocha Motts - they are one of the few places that make real whipped cream to top their drinks - and who doesn’t love freshly whipped cream?!
4. Nat’s Nook - they make their hot chocolate with a sweetened chocolate syrup but the important thing is that you pair that drink with a delicious crepe! 
5. Waterside Market - grab a seat at Waterside Market and indulge in a delicious hot chocolate. 
6. Little House Cafe - they make their hot chocolate with a chocolate syrup (not Hershey’s) of high quality, resulting in a rich and creamy drink. 
7. Behind the Bookstore - open during the season, BTB makes their own ganache syrup to create their hot chocolate drinks and espresso mocha drinks and it really makes a difference! 
8. Black Dog Bakery - using a powdered Baker’s Chocolate mix, they create a flavorful drink that is even better when paired with a slice of their cakes. 
9. Edgartown Meat and Fish Market - with it being the only Starbucks location, it’s safe to say they use the Starbucks Mocha Sauce resulting in a delectable beverage to warm up with. 
10. Beetlebung Cafe - open during the season, this coffee shop in Oak Bluffs serves up everything from espressos to lattes and hot chocolate in between!       

Photo: Elizabeth Cecil for Not Your Sugar Mamas