Happy New Year!

All of us at Bittersweet Danville would like to extend our best wishes to all of you for a very happy, safe, and prosperous 2010! Thank you so much for you patronage this past year!

Happy New Year!

Alter Eco and the El Ceibo Cooperative

We are carrying a delicious new deep milk chocolate that tastes good and is good for farmers in developing nations. The bar, called Dark Chocolate Velvet, is a 46% milk chocolate made from organic fair trade cane sugar from Paraguay and organic fair trade cocoa from Bolivia. It is the result of a collaboration of Alter Eco in France and the El Ceibo Cooperative in Bolivia. As one of my new favorite chocolate bars here at Bittersweet, I am glad to read about the sustainable practices that go into making this chocolate. That and the bar is our only one from Switzerland and its velvety texture is truly a testament to the centuries of chocolate craft tradition in the region.


Alter Eco is a fair trade organization based in France. It started in 1998 and quickly built up its name in the Fair Trade Movement thanks to its unique marketing and extensive product range. Considered to be one of the strongest Fair Trade brands on the market, Alter Eco offers over 100 products that are sourced from 42 cooperatives in 37 countries. The organization took the Fair Trade Movement forward in 2006 when it approached Brazilian retailers to sell Brazilian products under Fair Trade terms, hereby creating the first South-South Fair Trade arrangement. All Alter Eco products are Fair Trade Certified by TransFair USA.

The El Ceibo Cooperative formed out of the ashes of the Brazilian government's cocoa coop, which went bankrupt in the 60s. After its bankruptcy, farmers were forced to sell to local middlemen because of the difficulty of transportation to La Paz coupled with their lack of knowledge of market prices. In the early 70s, farmers in the Alto Beni region in northeast Bolivia formed small cocoa coops, and in 1977, 37 of these small coops united to form the stronger El Ceibo Cooperative. In 1988 El Ceibo became the first certified organic cocoa cooperative in the world. Since then, the coop has reinvested its profits into its community: they provide allowance for school fees to their members, give out yearly bonuses to members over 65, reinvest in trucks and improvements in their processing facilities, operate a technical assistance program in agroecology and forestry, research alternative cultivation methods, and provide all members with health and accident insurance. Today, El Ceibo is responsible for 70% of the organic cocoa production in Bolivia.

Our Holiday Hours

Hey everyone!

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season so far!
I'd like to remind all of you of our holiday hours just in case you might need to grab some last minute goodies!

Today until December 23rd: Regular operating hours
December 24th: 7am - 4pm
December 25th: CLOSED
December 26th - 30th: Regular operating hours
December 31st: 7am - 4pm
January 1st: CLOSED

We resume our regular operating hours on January 2nd.

Happy holidays, and thanks very much for you patronage!

Music Comes to Bittersweet This Saturday!

This is an event that you won't want to miss. We have some great local artists coming to play for you. What a night, great chocolate, great coffee, and great music!

Stop in this Saturday from 7-9PM to join the fun!

Acoustic Saturday Coming Next Week!

We are so excited to bring to you some great local artists for an Acoustic Evening of song on Saturday, December 19th, from 7-9PM.

We will be hosting Graham Harper, Kacie Cone, and Michael Sallstrom as they play some of their favorites.

Stop in for a drink and a pastry and some great local artists playing their tunes for a night of fun.

Looking For That Gift To Send?

Are you looking for that perfect gift to send to a client or maybe your best friend? We have a wonderful selection that is not in our stores, but available to you to order. Just pop on over to our Bittersweet Corporate Gifts file and all the information you need to pick the perfect gift is available to you. From wine and chocolate to your favorite Bittersweet Drink Mix or Bittersweet Origins Coffee. It is here ready to send.

These are gift selections that you can't get anywhere else and have all of the quality you have come to expect from Bittersweet Cafe.

Favorite Drink?

A lot of people ask me what is my favorite chocolate drink. Like my favorite chocolate bars I havea couple of favorites and it really depends on my mood as to which I pick.

Other than the Bicerin, I love the Spicy! hot chocolate. And if I feel like coffee I think it is even better with a shot of espresso in it. However, if I am in the mood for a cold drink it is either the Iced Mocha or Vanilla Dry Soda that I choose.

No matter my mood I will always find something pleasing at Bittersweet. Hot or cold, you can't beat the rich chocolate and smooth creaminess of any Bittersweet drink. Why do you think I chose to work here. I can have one every day. Though in the mornings it is usually a latte in my hand.

Stop on in to find out your mood and your favorites today.

Reminder No Postcards Tonight!

This is a reminder that the Paris Postcards Event tonight was cancelled.

We will have one more event this year. Details to come....

Clothing Drive

So far the Clothing Drive has been a great success! Every weekend we have been overflowing with donations. Thank you Danville for being so generous this time of year when others need your help.

The drive will be continuing through the weekend of December 20th, so be sure to come in soon with you gently used clothing.

All donations are greatly appreciated.

Paris Postcards Cancelled!

I am sorry to say that our Thursday Night Event this week has been cancelled. Please make note. The store will be open for our regular hours.

Thank you!

Holiday Goodies!

It is that time of year again. Where did the time go? We have been in Danville for over a year now! Wow!

Bittersweet has some great treats and stocking stuffers in the stores perfect for all your gift giving needs.

These are just a few of the fabulous items that we have. The ever popular Crispy Pop, Marshmallow Fellow, Placesetting Tree and Snowman, and the tastiest (and cutest) ornaments ever done in chocolate!

Also, for that one of a kind gift please ask our friendly Baristas to help you put together a gift box or bag.

This is the time of year for Hot Chocolate as well and we
have ours ready to go home with you. A gift of Hot Chocolate or Bittersweet Origins Coffee will keep your loved ones warm this winter.

Everyone loves to receive chocolate. This is your opportunity to please even the most distinctive Chocophile this holiday season.

Happy holiday and we will see you soon!

Next Week - Postcards from Paris!

"Paris Postcards" is a new book written by Leonard Pitt.

He will be joining us next Thursday, December 10th, from 7-9PM, to discuss his new book and show some of the postcards, as well as, discuss his favorite chocolate, Pralus.

“The book has almost 200 stunning postcards, many hand tinted, from the early 1900s. The history of the early postcard is full of drama. Deplored by many, it became a world-wide craze that revolutionized communication just like email today and with many of the same problems. The photos in the book show a Paris that no longer exists. The messages written by Americans to loved ones back home evoke the American experience of Paris at the turn of the century.”
-Leonard Pitt

Come and join us for some fabulous chocolate and a "guaranteed good time."

Marshmallow + Chocolate = Yum!

Heeeeee's Baaaaaaaack!!!
Stop by and pick up your own Marshmallow Fellow today!

Closed Thanksgiving Day

So that our family can be with their families, Bittersweet will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. We will reopen at our normal time on Friday.

Please have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Plaid Friday, November 27th

Wear plaid while you shop on November 27th to show you support for local and independent businesses.

About Plaid Friday

The name Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of Bay Area independent businesses. Envisioned to be the independent business alternative to the big box store "Black Friday", Plaid Friday is designed to help raise awareness about shopping local and supporting the local economy.

Although the designation of this day is a new concept, the movement towards supporting the independent spirit and "Indie" Businesses of the Bay Area has been growing and expanding year by year. In early 2009, The East Bay Express launched a monthly guide to shopping local called the Indie Resolution, where patrons pledge to spend money at local establishments. Other local movements include Buy Local Berkeley, Oakland Grown and Oakland Unwrapped. Plaid Friday was created by two local independent businesses, Blankspace Gallery and the Compound Gallery, as a way to tie into this movement and elevate the awareness of the abundant and thriving independent businesses located in neighborhoods throughout the East Bay.

Help us celebrate by supporting participating shops on Friday, November 27th and throughout this Holiday season.

Wear plaid on November 27th to show your support while shopping at participating businesses. Look for the special plaid placards at your local shops. Many of the participating businesses are offering specials for Plaid Friday. Go to the participating businesses page to find out.

Trunk Show Is On Right Now!

Barbara Edelston Peterson, renown jeweler is here today until 12:30 showing her beautiful handmade jewelry. Stop in to browse and maybe pick up a latte for yourself.

Our Own Micro Batches Now In All The Stores

Bittersweet Café Introduces Its Own Micro-Batched Bittersweet Origins Coffee

New Hand-Crafted, Locally Roasted Coffees Join the Bean-to-Bar Micro-Batched Bittersweet Origins Chocolate Bars

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - November 17, 2009) - Bittersweet Café, the Bay Area's bean-to-bar Bittersweet Origins chocolate maker and chocolate cafés, announced today the introduction of its own Bittersweet Origins micro-batched coffees. The coffees -- espresso, drip blend, single bean and decaf -- are locally roasted by Bittersweet's own coffee expert in micro-batches and use beans from Kenya, Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Sumatra.

The Bittersweet Origins coffees join the company's own Bittersweet Origins micro-batched, hand-crafted chocolate bars. The coffees and the chocolate bars are for sale at the three Bittersweet Cafés in Danville, Oakland and San Francisco as well as online.

"Our coffees follow the same hands-on approach we use for our Bittersweet Origins chocolate bars," explains Penny Finnie, co-owner of Bittersweet Café. "This is another amazing varietal product and we are taking the same interest in the farms and cooperatives where the coffee beans are grown as we do with our cacao sourcing."

The Bittersweet Origins coffee is light roast. Light roast coffee, though it tastes less strong than some darker roasts, actually contains a stronger caffeine "dose."

The micro-batched Bittersweet Origins coffees include:

--  "Long Day's Journey" Espresso -- named in honor of Danville's own
 Eugene O'Neil's play.   The Espresso is a blend of Kenyan and Brazilian
 beans now which will change depending on the season.
--  "Faultline" drip coffee -- this will always be a blend; today it is a
 mixture of Sumatra, Ethiopia and Guatemala.
--  Single bean drip -- this coffee will change seasonally. Right now it
 is Guatemala Finca Florencia.
--  Swiss water process Decaf coffee is also available from Bittersweet
 Origins.
 

"Bittersweet has developed its bean-to-bar chocolates. Moving into roasting our own coffee beans is a logical next step," explained Finnie. "We are very motivated to take control of our products so we can provide our customers with an outstanding taste experience."

Seneca Klassen, Bittersweet Café's chocolate maker, makes the "bean-to-bar" chocolate in 50-pound micro-batches, making each bar unique. He uses cacao beans from the Dominican Republic, Bali and Madagascar for the Bittersweet Origins chocolates and roasts and prepares the beans in Bittersweet's Berkeley production facility. The coffee beans now join the cacao beans, roasting in the Berkeley facility, under the supervision of a Bay Area coffee roasting expert.

About Bittersweet Origins and Café

Bittersweet Origins is a manufacturing and retailing company which creates craft chocolate and coffee in handmade, micro-batches to engage the senses and the mind. Bittersweet Café retail stores' ambience and furnishings reflect the one-of-a-kind nature of its chocolate bars, chocolate drinks and coffees. The warm and welcoming spaces furnished with unique tables, benches, carts and artwork from local craftspeople and artists create a gathering place for the community to savor locally made chocolate delicacies, coffee and tea. The Bittersweet Cafés are located in San Francisco on Fillmore Street, College Avenue in Oakland and the Rose Garden Shopping Center in Danville. For more information, visit www.bittersweetcafe.com or call 510-705-1860.

First Chocolate Club Meeting This Thursday.

Chocolate Clubs are forming now, are open to the public, will meet once per quarter, to teach the ‘art’ and nuance of chocolate tasting

Seneca Klassen, chocolatier for the Bay Area’s three renowned Bittersweet Cafes, will host once per quarter chocolate tastings through newly formed Chocolate Clubs. Each of the three Bay Area Bittersweet Cafes will have its own club.

The Rockridge Chocolate Club will kick off on October 29, the Danville store’s first meeting will be November 19 from 8:00-9:30 PM and the San Francisco’s Club will enjoy its initial meeting on December 17.

Forming now, the Chocolate Clubs at each store will be limited to 18 regular members plus seven open spaces reserved for on-the-spot sign-ups for each meeting. Annual memberships cost $20 which includes four chocolate tasting meetings (one per quarter) and a ten percent off discount card for Bittersweet purchases. Individual meetings will cost $5. The first Chocolate Club meeting at each store will cost $5 so people may attend and see what’s in store before making a full year’s commitment.

"Focused chocolate tasting is a great experience and offers a new way to really appreciate the amazing palate you find in chocolate," explains Klassen. "Like any other fermented varietal food, chocolate is affected by factors ranging from genetics to soil, climate and microbiology. We look forward to exploring this territory with our in-store chocolate clubs."

“The initial club meetings will introduce members to the various aspects of chocolate tasting so people will have an opportunity to see what the concept is all about, and the chocolate club membership might be a great gift for your favorite chocoholic,” says Bittersweet co-founder, Penny Finnie.

Klassen will guide members through the chocolate tastings at each store. He is the creator of Bittersweet Origins chocolate and makes the “bean-to-bar” chocolate in 50-pound micro-batches, making each bar unique. He uses cacao beans from the Dominican Republic, Bali and Venezuela for his Bittersweet Origins chocolates and roasts and prepares the beans in Bittersweet’s Berkeley production facility. Klassen spent this summer in Oahu, planting a 15-acre 7000-tree cacao plantation.

Sign ups for each Chocolate Club are available at each Bittersweet location. The first meeting is $5 to reserve your seat. Space is limited, so please act early.

Postcards from Paris

"Paris Postcards" is a new book written by Leonard Pitt.

He will be joining us Thursday, December 10th, from 7-9PM, to discuss his new book and show some of the postcards, as well as, discuss his favorite chocolate, Pralus.

“The book has almost 200 stunning postcards, many hand tinted, from the early 1900s. The history of the early postcard is full of drama. Deplored by many, it became a world-wide craze that revolutionized communication just like email today and with many of the same problems. The photos in the book show a Paris that no longer exists. The messages written by Americans to loved ones back home evoke the American experience of Paris at the turn of the century.”
-Leonard Pitt

Come and join us for some fabulous chocolate and a "guaranteed good time."

Chocolate Club Meeting Next Week

It is arriving quickly. Our first Chocolate Club Meeting is next Thursday, November 19th at 8:00 PM. Please call or come in to secure your seat.

Also, don't forget tonight is Holiday Shopping Night from 5-9PM. We will have 20% off of purchases and get your free cup of brewed coffee.

While you are here, bring in your clothing donation for our Clothing Drive. We are looking for gently used clothing for high school age students.

We look forward to seeing you here!

Holiday Shopping Night This Thursday

It is a town wide event and we are happy to be participating in Danville's Holiday Shopping Night this Thursday, November 12th, from 5-9 PM.

While you get ahead on your shopping list, please enjoy a free cup of brewed coffee and 20% off your purchases. There will also be a few little treats around to keep you going.

Don't forget to bring your clothing donations for our Clothing Drive, we are accepting donations until December 20th of gently used clothing.

Come and enjoy the fun and community spirit while shopping locally.

Bittersweet Origins Espresso Has Landed!

It is finally here and we are so excited. After months of talk and hard work we have come up with a wonderful espresso blend that will know your socks off. It has some great citrus notes with a wonderful chocolate finish.

Bittersweet Cafe is now exclusively serving Bittersweet Origins Coffees and drinks.

Come in today and try it for yourself. It is amazingly good, especially in a Mocha.

Help Us Help Others

Bittersweet Cafe is joining with Free Stores Partners of Danville and Vallejo for their Holiday Clothing Drive.

We are collecting gently-used and clean clothing to stock the Free Stores at Vallejo High Schools. You donations will help disadvantaged high school students in Vallejo. We need sweaters, jackets, coats, t-shirts, pants, gently-used shoes, and accessories.

This is a great opportunity to clean out your closets before the holidays and to make a young person smile.

Please drop off your donations at Bittersweet Cafe. We are accepting clothing every weekend through December 20th.

Thank you and enjoy the holiday season.

Holiday Shopping Night November 12th.

In case you haven't marked you calendar yet, next week is the big day! The Holiday Shopping Night for Danville is Thursday November 12th, from 5-9 PM.

We here at Bittersweet Cafe will be offering 20% Off purchases and a Free Cup of our Brewed Coffee to celebrate.

Come in and get started on your holiday shopping early. Everyone likes a gift of chocolate, and don't forget your co-workers this time of year really love chocolate.

We are in the news again, and what a nice article!

This article came out a few days ago in the Oakland Tribune. The picture of Seneca is quite nice. It is a really good article explaining about fine chocolate and what we, Bittersweet, do.

Opening Later This Friday the 6th.

Bittersweet will be opening at 8:15 AM on Friday, November 6th, instead of our usual time, due to staff training. We are excited to be rolling out our very own Bittersweet Origins Espresso and want to make sure that every cup is served perfectly. Our knowledgeable staff will be training to serve you better.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you the quality you expect from Bittersweet Cafe.

Closing Early On Halloween

Bittersweet will be closing at 6:00 PM on Halloween to hide from all the little tricksters.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Chocolate can be your knight in shining armor...here's why!

Eat Chocolate at least twice a week, and live longer!!

A recent study in Sweden concluded that eating chocolate can lengthen your life! According to the study, eating chocolate cuts the risk of dying from a heart attack by three times. The study was published in the Journal of Internal Medicine and led by Imre Janszky at the Karolinska Institute, and they found that chocolate with a 70% cocoa content was most effective in making people healthy and live longer. Another result from the study showed that it cuts the mortality rate for post-menopausal women and healthy older men, which gives them yet another reason to enjoy retired life with chocolate!!

So head on over to Bittersweet, for your bittersweet chocolate....who knows, it could save your life!

Melissa Love, Shift Supervisor

New Halloween Items In...

and they are going fast. If you are looking for that special little gift for your little ghostie, stop in soon before they all disappear.

We have a nice selection of little gift bags filled with all kinds of treats. Perfect for a co-worker or friend who you wanted to find "a little something" for.

We will see you here and have your favorite drink waiting for you.

Another Rainy Day

It is sprinkling yet again. What a perfect day to curl up with a good book and stay in bed all day. What would make it even better? Why a cup of amazing hot chocolate made with real chocolate, no syrups or flavorings added. Then on top of that add a housemade raspberry marshmallow to complete the picture.

Your chocolate is waiting for you at Bittersweet. It will brighten your cloudy day.

Chocolate Club To Start Next Month!

Chocolate Clubs are forming now, are open to the public, will meet once per quarter, to teach the ‘art’ and nuance of chocolate tasting

Seneca Klassen, chocolatier for the Bay Area’s three renowned Bittersweet Cafes, will host once per quarter chocolate tastings through newly formed Chocolate Clubs. Each of the three Bay Area Bittersweet Cafes will have its own club.

The Rockridge Chocolate Club will kick off on October 29, the Danville store’s first meeting will be November 19 from 8:00-9:30 PM and the San Francisco’s Club will enjoy its initial meeting on December 17.

Forming now, the Chocolate Clubs at each store will be limited to 18 regular members plus seven open spaces reserved for on-the-spot sign-ups for each meeting. Annual memberships cost $20 which includes four chocolate tasting meetings (one per quarter) and a ten percent off discount card for Bittersweet purchases. Individual meetings will cost $5. The first Chocolate Club meeting at each store will cost $5 so people may attend and see what’s in store before making a full year’s commitment.

"Focused chocolate tasting is a great experience and offers a new way to really appreciate the amazing palate you find in chocolate," explains Klassen. "Like any other fermented varietal food, chocolate is affected by factors ranging from genetics to soil, climate and microbiology. We look forward to exploring this territory with our in-store chocolate clubs."

“The initial club meetings will introduce members to the various aspects of chocolate tasting so people will have an opportunity to see what the concept is all about, and the chocolate club membership might be a great gift for your favorite chocoholic,” says Bittersweet co-founder, Penny Finnie.

Klassen will guide members through the chocolate tastings at each store. He is the creator of Bittersweet Origins chocolate and makes the “bean-to-bar” chocolate in 50-pound micro-batches, making each bar unique. He uses cacao beans from the Dominican Republic, Bali and Venezuela for his Bittersweet Origins chocolates and roasts and prepares the beans in Bittersweet’s Berkeley production facility. Klassen spent this summer in Oahu, planting a 15-acre 7000-tree cacao plantation.

Sign ups for each Chocolate Club are available at each Bittersweet location. The first meeting is $5 to reserve your seat. Space is limited, so please act early.