The character of Charlie Bucket in Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is not the only one who jumps with glee at the thought of touring a chocolate factory. Let's be honest: most people, of any age, would savor the chance to see how chocolate is made, breathe in the sweet scent of warm brown liquid chocolate and sample some of the delectable treats. Did you know that this fantasy is a reality here in our very own Los Angeles? That's right! We have a chocolate factory AND you can tour the facilities! LetterPress Chocolate is the baby of husband and wife team Cory and David. Cory and David had a passion for chocolate but also for graphic design (David) and the environment (Cory). The ingredients (pun!) were in place to get into the chocolate business and infuse it with individual niche skills and thus; LetterPress Chocolate was born in their APARTMENT where the lovely scent of chocolate delighted their neighbors but their landlord? Not so much and therefore they moved to a retail storefront. For the record, LetterPress Chocolate is a chocolate maker where they actually make chocolate versus a place like See's who is a chocolatier where they re-melt chocolate and add mix-ins to make bon bons, truffles, etc. This factory and retail space can be accessed on Roberston near Mid City and Culver City in an unsuspecting strip plaza where one would think it is an actual printing press behind the brick walls versus a chocolate heaven (parking is available in front with street meters). LetterPress of course sells their chocolate bars in the storefront but also offers tours (online booking, $20/person) and this is where the fun begins! There is so much to do in LA; but touring a chocolate factory is certainly a unique and extra-special treasure that you didn't even know existed! We were welcomed by the official tour guide Wesla (LetterPress is a three-person business! How impressive is that?!) and were lucky enough to have no other patrons booked for our tour slot so we instantly felt VIP. We were given masks and hairnets (tip: this is a fragrance-free tour so no perfume, ladies! Wear closed toe shoes, no stilettos, no fur, etc; and bring a jacket as it is chilly in the cooking area). The tour consists of three parts: 1) an i-Pad slide show describing the business and chocolate/cacao itself 2) tour of the facilities 3) chocolate sampling flight The first part of the tour may sound like school work to you but it is absolutely fascinating and Wesla is a great teacher. There is SO much to learn - and you actually retain it! - about cacao, chocolate beans, trees, pollinating trees (midge flys do the work! Look them up!), the farmers and countries involved, the cost of wholesale purchasing and shipping (you will never want to eat Hershey's again!) and so much more. Additionally, you will learn about LetterPress as a business, their fair trade and environmental initiatives, their actual chocolate and even about their labeling/marketing! It's all very enlightening and extraordinary! After the brain has grown some wrinkles from chocolate education; it is time for the tour. Granted the tour is small/short and more like a kitchen area than Willy Wonka's air hangar-sized compound but it is still super fun to see the process in action and what goes into making chocolate and chocolate bars. Finally, you return to the storefront and it is time for a tasting flight of chocolate! LetterPress sells dark, milk and white chocolate (although white is technically not chocolate) and even ice cream; but the tasting on my tour consisted of 8 dark chocolate samples. Similar to wine or coffee beans; the country of origin of the chocolate pods gives the beans different flavors, notes, etc. My samples hailed from Costa Rica, Tanzania, Ecuador, Venezuela, Sao Tome, Peru and Jamaica with flavor notes ranging from peppery, nutty, floral, fruity, mocha, caramel, berries, spicy, fudgy, peanut butter-y and even banana! Once you complete your flight, you can also ask for any of the samples behind the count
May W.
HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend going on the tour if you're a big fan of the dark chocolate process. Their tour lasts for about an hour, especially if you're enthusiastic to learn about the supplies, shipping, making, storage, and product packaging. It's a small business so the front of the store is dedicated to selling merchandise and the back kitchen is where the tour is held. Forewarning, it's not going to be big like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but you will appreciate the amount of effort and time it takes to get high-quality chocolate. At the end, you'll have a speed round to taste test all the different chocolate. Parking TIP: There are parking meters on the side streets, and the rates are 25 cents/15 mins so I would recommend bringing coins or your physical card. Products: Ice cream- Their ice creams are the best! Very rich and with depth of flavor. Certain flavors won't always be available on the menu. Tanzania Dark Chocolate Ice Cream leaves off a rich creamy dark chocolate flavor. Reminds me of the Dark Chocolate Gelato from Patrizia Gelato Shop in LA. Vanilla Earl Tea has whole vanilla beans and a light tea scent. So unique, I've never seen this flavor produced exceptionally well. Chocolate Bars- Three words: Smooth Like Butter. Holy, it just melts in your mouth and I think it has something to do with their extensive process or their tempering machine. I was skeptical about paying $10-$15 for a bar of chocolate, but it is worth it for its quality. I would say it's about the same level or better than European chocolate.
L. L.
This chocolate is exquisite. It's the best in LA. I've had almost every flavor they make, and these are truly meant to be savored by someone who can appreciate the finer things in life. Plus the owners are really sweet and hardworking. I went on a chocolate tour and found it all really interesting.
Greg R.
As true chocolate lovers, my friend and I LOVED the tour! It was extremely informative; we had no idea of all the steps involved in making such high-quality chocolate! And, interesting to find out all the different places around the globe they resourced their beans. You can tell that this family- owned business really loves what they are doing!
Mary Cummins
Took the tour. I didn't realize how many hours it takes to make high quality chocolate. Place was beautiful. People were very nice. I learned a lot and was able to taste some amazing chocolate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ivanelis C.
Came here for a chocolate tour and it was a nice simple tour but very informative! Workers were friendly and knowledgeable. They have samples of chocolate so you are able to make informed decisions in your purchase. Know that the chocolate is expensive! But this is not like the candy you buy in stores!
barbara dicks
This is a chocolate maker not a restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter S.
LetterPress Chocolate is one of the perks of working in that area. It's a cool little shop with interesting decorations. It's run by kind people with passion for chocolate. They have samples you can try, but it's hard to get the full flavor from the small samples. Trust--the bars are worth it for a chocolate lover. My wife and I love a square or two after dinner. My wife had the greater interest in chocolate before I found this shop. She can always tells the quality difference between this and any other chocolates. We did a taste test to prove it. We think that many other chocolates are tasty due a little too much to the sugar content, whereas these rely on the natural flavors of the beans, and how LetterPress has been able to roast and extract those flavors. The bars are not inexpensive, but they also don't contain the ingredients that cheapen (and also make cheaper) the average store-bought chocolate. LetterPress dark chocolates contains only cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, and cocoa butter. As seen in the attached pictures. The white chocolate and flavored chocolates, and chocolates of different percentages of cacao obviously have different ingredients or proportions...but the point is that there's no junk. Only quality. They sell homemade ice cream that is excellent. The TanzaniaDark Chocolate is one of the best chocolate ice creams you'll have. The other flavors are great too. They also sell tasty hot chocolate on some days of the week. There is also a tour you can take to learn more about their process and story. It's a pretty good tour and you get to taste samples at the end. Highly recommended.
Lorissa W.
Great chocolate. My favorite is their 70 percent Tanzania chocolate and we both had the complementary Tanzania ice cream which my husband said was the best chocolate ice cream he ever had. They make it in house. Very fresh and authentic. The store is small on Beverlywoods which is between Beverly Hills and Hollywood. The service was good but might be better to have ice cream on a warmer day. I was freezing on Tuesday right after a painful beauty treatment in Beverly Hills so this was the perfect treat afterwards!
Manny L.
Letterpress chocolate is a small unassuming store and factory, but don't let the outside appearance fool you! The staff inside is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and you can tell they have an absolute passion for their product and their process. We took the factory tour (110% recommend) and were guided through the whole bean to bar process, including a factory tour and guided tasting. Incredible tasting experience, and illuminating to taste all the different varieties side by side and learn more about the backstory behind all the bars. After the tour, we sampled their chocolates, and bought a few of our favorites to take home. Also highly recommend getting their hot chocolate. It's akin to drinking from a chocolate fountain, with the thick texture. But the taste was unmatched, and it'll be hard returning to any other hot chocolate. A must visit for any chocolate fans, definitely a highlight of my trip to LA! 10/10
Quite simply the best chocolate I've had in my life up to this point. The store itself is cozy and service was friendly and helpful. I was able to try a number of different chocolates they have available before buying. I would also highly recommend the tour of their facility, which comes with a tasting of a number of their different chocolates. I learned a lot about the chocolate industry and how they make chocolate in-house. The quality of the chocolate is well worth the price.Parking: There are usually spots on the small side street next to the shop.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J W.
The chocolate tour is amazing for any chocolate lover! We went for my friend's birthday and it was such an informative tour- we loved getting to see the step by step process of how chocolate is made. And the samples were, of course, the best part. We really got to taste the difference between each bar. This isn't like wine tasting when everything kind of tastes similar... you can actually discern the tasting notes! We loved our experience and ended up taking home our favorite bars. The passion the owners have for chocolate is crystal clear and it shows in the quality of chocolate. We will be back for more chocolate soon!
Karla S.
It was great and education but most of all fun and tasty . And everyone was just friendly
James Bassett
Top notch husband-and-wife bean to bar chocolate maker. Truly artisinal hand-made single origin chocolates with excellent flavor. A unique offering in Los Angeles. The makers and staff are very nice and have extensive product knowledge. Treat yourself to a visit! They even offer tours of the chocolate making process. Lots of fun and delicious chocolate.
John Powers
This is an exceptional experience. The staff at Letterpress Chocolates is knowledgeable, professional, and very accommodating.
The character of Charlie Bucket in Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is not the only one who jumps with glee at the thought of touring a chocolate factory. Let's be honest: most people, of any age, would savor the chance to see how chocolate is made, breathe in the sweet scent of warm brown liquid chocolate and sample some of the delectable treats. Did you know that this fantasy is a reality here in our very own Los Angeles? That's right! We have a chocolate factory AND you can tour the facilities! LetterPress Chocolate is the baby of husband and wife team Cory and David. Cory and David had a passion for chocolate but also for graphic design (David) and the environment (Cory). The ingredients (pun!) were in place to get into the chocolate business and infuse it with individual niche skills and thus; LetterPress Chocolate was born in their APARTMENT where the lovely scent of chocolate delighted their neighbors but their landlord? Not so much and therefore they moved to a retail storefront. For the record, LetterPress Chocolate is a chocolate maker where they actually make chocolate versus a place like See's who is a chocolatier where they re-melt chocolate and add mix-ins to make bon bons, truffles, etc. This factory and retail space can be accessed on Roberston near Mid City and Culver City in an unsuspecting strip plaza where one would think it is an actual printing press behind the brick walls versus a chocolate heaven (parking is available in front with street meters). LetterPress of course sells their chocolate bars in the storefront but also offers tours (online booking, $20/person) and this is where the fun begins! There is so much to do in LA; but touring a chocolate factory is certainly a unique and extra-special treasure that you didn't even know existed! We were welcomed by the official tour guide Wesla (LetterPress is a three-person business! How impressive is that?!) and were lucky enough to have no other patrons booked for our tour slot so we instantly felt VIP. We were given masks and hairnets (tip: this is a fragrance-free tour so no perfume, ladies! Wear closed toe shoes, no stilettos, no fur, etc; and bring a jacket as it is chilly in the cooking area). The tour consists of three parts: 1) an i-Pad slide show describing the business and chocolate/cacao itself 2) tour of the facilities 3) chocolate sampling flight The first part of the tour may sound like school work to you but it is absolutely fascinating and Wesla is a great teacher. There is SO much to learn - and you actually retain it! - about cacao, chocolate beans, trees, pollinating trees (midge flys do the work! Look them up!), the farmers and countries involved, the cost of wholesale purchasing and shipping (you will never want to eat Hershey's again!) and so much more. Additionally, you will learn about LetterPress as a business, their fair trade and environmental initiatives, their actual chocolate and even about their labeling/marketing! It's all very enlightening and extraordinary! After the brain has grown some wrinkles from chocolate education; it is time for the tour. Granted the tour is small/short and more like a kitchen area than Willy Wonka's air hangar-sized compound but it is still super fun to see the process in action and what goes into making chocolate and chocolate bars. Finally, you return to the storefront and it is time for a tasting flight of chocolate! LetterPress sells dark, milk and white chocolate (although white is technically not chocolate) and even ice cream; but the tasting on my tour consisted of 8 dark chocolate samples. Similar to wine or coffee beans; the country of origin of the chocolate pods gives the beans different flavors, notes, etc. My samples hailed from Costa Rica, Tanzania, Ecuador, Venezuela, Sao Tome, Peru and Jamaica with flavor notes ranging from peppery, nutty, floral, fruity, mocha, caramel, berries, spicy, fudgy, peanut butter-y and even banana! Once you complete your flight, you can also ask for any of the samples behind the count
HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend going on the tour if you're a big fan of the dark chocolate process. Their tour lasts for about an hour, especially if you're enthusiastic to learn about the supplies, shipping, making, storage, and product packaging. It's a small business so the front of the store is dedicated to selling merchandise and the back kitchen is where the tour is held. Forewarning, it's not going to be big like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but you will appreciate the amount of effort and time it takes to get high-quality chocolate. At the end, you'll have a speed round to taste test all the different chocolate. Parking TIP: There are parking meters on the side streets, and the rates are 25 cents/15 mins so I would recommend bringing coins or your physical card. Products: Ice cream- Their ice creams are the best! Very rich and with depth of flavor. Certain flavors won't always be available on the menu. Tanzania Dark Chocolate Ice Cream leaves off a rich creamy dark chocolate flavor. Reminds me of the Dark Chocolate Gelato from Patrizia Gelato Shop in LA. Vanilla Earl Tea has whole vanilla beans and a light tea scent. So unique, I've never seen this flavor produced exceptionally well. Chocolate Bars- Three words: Smooth Like Butter. Holy, it just melts in your mouth and I think it has something to do with their extensive process or their tempering machine. I was skeptical about paying $10-$15 for a bar of chocolate, but it is worth it for its quality. I would say it's about the same level or better than European chocolate.
This chocolate is exquisite. It's the best in LA. I've had almost every flavor they make, and these are truly meant to be savored by someone who can appreciate the finer things in life. Plus the owners are really sweet and hardworking. I went on a chocolate tour and found it all really interesting.
As true chocolate lovers, my friend and I LOVED the tour! It was extremely informative; we had no idea of all the steps involved in making such high-quality chocolate! And, interesting to find out all the different places around the globe they resourced their beans. You can tell that this family- owned business really loves what they are doing!
Took the tour. I didn't realize how many hours it takes to make high quality chocolate. Place was beautiful. People were very nice. I learned a lot and was able to taste some amazing chocolate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for a chocolate tour and it was a nice simple tour but very informative! Workers were friendly and knowledgeable. They have samples of chocolate so you are able to make informed decisions in your purchase. Know that the chocolate is expensive! But this is not like the candy you buy in stores!
This is a chocolate maker not a restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LetterPress Chocolate is one of the perks of working in that area. It's a cool little shop with interesting decorations. It's run by kind people with passion for chocolate. They have samples you can try, but it's hard to get the full flavor from the small samples. Trust--the bars are worth it for a chocolate lover. My wife and I love a square or two after dinner. My wife had the greater interest in chocolate before I found this shop. She can always tells the quality difference between this and any other chocolates. We did a taste test to prove it. We think that many other chocolates are tasty due a little too much to the sugar content, whereas these rely on the natural flavors of the beans, and how LetterPress has been able to roast and extract those flavors. The bars are not inexpensive, but they also don't contain the ingredients that cheapen (and also make cheaper) the average store-bought chocolate. LetterPress dark chocolates contains only cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, and cocoa butter. As seen in the attached pictures. The white chocolate and flavored chocolates, and chocolates of different percentages of cacao obviously have different ingredients or proportions...but the point is that there's no junk. Only quality. They sell homemade ice cream that is excellent. The TanzaniaDark Chocolate is one of the best chocolate ice creams you'll have. The other flavors are great too. They also sell tasty hot chocolate on some days of the week. There is also a tour you can take to learn more about their process and story. It's a pretty good tour and you get to taste samples at the end. Highly recommended.
Great chocolate. My favorite is their 70 percent Tanzania chocolate and we both had the complementary Tanzania ice cream which my husband said was the best chocolate ice cream he ever had. They make it in house. Very fresh and authentic. The store is small on Beverlywoods which is between Beverly Hills and Hollywood. The service was good but might be better to have ice cream on a warmer day. I was freezing on Tuesday right after a painful beauty treatment in Beverly Hills so this was the perfect treat afterwards!
Letterpress chocolate is a small unassuming store and factory, but don't let the outside appearance fool you! The staff inside is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and you can tell they have an absolute passion for their product and their process. We took the factory tour (110% recommend) and were guided through the whole bean to bar process, including a factory tour and guided tasting. Incredible tasting experience, and illuminating to taste all the different varieties side by side and learn more about the backstory behind all the bars. After the tour, we sampled their chocolates, and bought a few of our favorites to take home. Also highly recommend getting their hot chocolate. It's akin to drinking from a chocolate fountain, with the thick texture. But the taste was unmatched, and it'll be hard returning to any other hot chocolate. A must visit for any chocolate fans, definitely a highlight of my trip to LA! 10/10
Restaurantji Recommends
Quite simply the best chocolate I've had in my life up to this point. The store itself is cozy and service was friendly and helpful. I was able to try a number of different chocolates they have available before buying. I would also highly recommend the tour of their facility, which comes with a tasting of a number of their different chocolates. I learned a lot about the chocolate industry and how they make chocolate in-house. The quality of the chocolate is well worth the price.Parking: There are usually spots on the small side street next to the shop.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chocolate tour is amazing for any chocolate lover! We went for my friend's birthday and it was such an informative tour- we loved getting to see the step by step process of how chocolate is made. And the samples were, of course, the best part. We really got to taste the difference between each bar. This isn't like wine tasting when everything kind of tastes similar... you can actually discern the tasting notes! We loved our experience and ended up taking home our favorite bars. The passion the owners have for chocolate is crystal clear and it shows in the quality of chocolate. We will be back for more chocolate soon!
It was great and education but most of all fun and tasty . And everyone was just friendly
Top notch husband-and-wife bean to bar chocolate maker. Truly artisinal hand-made single origin chocolates with excellent flavor. A unique offering in Los Angeles. The makers and staff are very nice and have extensive product knowledge. Treat yourself to a visit! They even offer tours of the chocolate making process. Lots of fun and delicious chocolate.
This is an exceptional experience. The staff at Letterpress Chocolates is knowledgeable, professional, and very accommodating.