Knoops - Rye

My mum and I took a short weekend break to the seaside and stayed in a cute village named Rye and discovered an absolute gem of a cafe called Knoops.

Knoops is located on the edge of the village and is renowned for their hot chocolates. Knoops offer a variety of strengths from 28% cocoa (white chocolate) to 99% very bitter dark chocolate. According to the lady who was working this cafe is one of a kind.

The lady who worked there was very helpful and let us taste the different chocolate chips to help us decide. However as I had enjoyed a hot chocolate earlier on in the day and it was a warm day I decided to have a milkshake instead. The milkshakes were only available in 34% and 70%, however they are currently working on other strengths.

In addition to the simple hot chocolate you can also add flavours to the drink such as a shot of baileys, thyme, or sea salt.

My mum had the 34% hot chocolate with added sea salt as the lady recommended it as it would taste like salted caramel. I had the 34% hot chocolate, however the lady let me taste the 70% and it was far too rich for me despite being a lover of dark chocolate. We also shared a shortbread.  

We liked the place so much that we went back the next day and both me and mother had a milkshake each.

D.I.Y Hot Chocolate @ The Forum

On Saturday myself and a friend visited The Forum on Devonshire Street in Sheffield for the first time for a drink.

We didn't know what to expect but fancied going somewhere other than a coffee chain, The Forum looked cute and is regularly busy so seemed a good idea.

The Forum is a restaurant and bar, but also has a coffee bar on the side of it. We decided to sit on the high stools by the bar and looked at the menu. There was so much to choose from, a large array of smoothies and too many hot chocolate flavours including chocolate orange and rocky road. However the DIY one stood out to me as it seemed fun and different.

For it, you got to choose the chocolate type, either white, milk or dark, I went for dark chocolate as it is my favourite! You then go to choose a filling; flavoured syrup, marshmallows, blackberries, cherries or fresh strawberries. I went for caramel syrup seeing as I love the stuff.

The hot chocolate came on a lovely wooden board, with a mug of frothy milk, then your pot of chosen chocolate drops, a pot of whipped cream and mine came with a jug of caramel syrup.

I poured the chocolate drops into the wamred milk and stirred, I then added a little of the syrup and topped with cream.

It was such fun to make it yourself and I think a great idea that other cafes should do too!!

Thanks The Forum for a brilliant afternoon in your lovely coffee bar. xoxo