Choffy Brewed Cacao Coffee Alternative Substitute - 80 Oz Volta Medium Flavor - Caffeine Free Brew Cacao Ground Drinking for Coffee and Dark Chocolate Lovers, Healthy Rich Chocolate Drink, Nutrients for Mood & Energy

This smells wonderful - half the pleasure is in opening the canister to measure it into my Keurig cups. The flavor is rich and luxurious, but very different (and with a lot fewer calories) than hot chocolate or chocolate flavored coffees. Some describe it as a tea, but that is not quite right, either -- imagine a very low fat unsweetened cocoa, richer than tea by far. I drink it like coffee, sometimes mixed with coffee, with a splash of half and half and no sugar. It is warming rather than stimulating like coffee, and I drink it in the evening with no ill effects on my sleep schedule. I helps with my ongoing diet efforts, too, a genuine treat with no chemical or fake flavors. One thing for keurig machines -- cacao measures differently than coffee, and I fill the capsules only about 3/4 full. The grounds swell considerably more than a similar measure of coffee, and can become so solid the water doesn't pass through. I brew on "strong" so the machine releases the water more slowly, the water lingers more in the cacao and so brings more flavor. For mocha, I brew half a cup of coffee, and half a cup of the cacao. I have used a French press to brew the cacao, as recommended by the producer, but I find that more messy than the Keurig, it produces more beverage than I can easily consume in a sitting, and I don't find the results significantly tastier than the Keurig-brewed product.

Was curious about this so I purchase it. I like the flavor. I do grind it up a bit smaller in my coffee grinder, but I don’t think that is necessary for it.

Let me first say that I am NOT a coffee drinker. I've tasted coffee a couple times, so I'm familiar with the horrible taste. lol First, I bought the Nigeria and Volta for comparison since both of them had similar reviews, and in my opinion the Volta has the best flavor. With that said, the flavor from cacao is definitely not like a hot chocolate drink, the bitter flavor lends itself to coffee with a slight chocolate after-taste. If you're trying to find a coffee alternative I can see cacao as being a good choice, especially the dark roast versions. I use the Body Chambord French Press to brew the cacao. Pros: Interesting bitter dark chocolate flavor. Already ground and in a resealable bag. Cacao is 'supposed' to be good for you. Cons: Definitely an expensive drink. Like coffee, its an acquired taste. Cleanup with the French Press is a pain. Takes a long time to brew.

Drinking coffee first thing in the morning can upset my stomach, and the taste of black coffee upsets my taste buds. I tried Choffy because I love chocolate and wanted something warm to drink on winter mornings. Went with Choffy because it was cheaper than Crio Bru; still never have had Crio Bru, so I can't compare. But I love Choffy! Tried it in a regular drip coffee maker with a paper filter (which the instructions say NOT to do), and it overflowed. Tried it in a Keurig mesh pod, and the taste was weak and meh. Tried it in a drip coffee maker with a gold mesh reusable filter, and it was great. I mix it with a little milk. If you're expecting a hot chocolate taste, you'll be *bitterly* disappointed. But I'd take black Choffy over black coffee any day (though I don't drink Choffy black, as mentioned above). I find myself craving it like I do solid dark chocolate. The biggest drawback to me is the cost. When I had a job that required me to wake up early, I drank Choffy every day as a splurge/survival strategy. Now I only drink it occasionally as a treat. I would drink it a lot more if it were the same price as coffee.

The title says it all. The craze or fad of brewed cocoa as a coffee alternative intrigued me, so I’ve tried this and another brand. Is it flavorful? Yes. Does cocoa beat the pants off of decaf for those who seek an alternative? Absolutely. But here’s the thing. It’s going to take you a minimum of 10 minutes to brew this stuff because it requires traditional brewing or a French press and for what? You can get virtually the exact same thing with unsweetened cocoa powder and it will brew in 30 seconds. I’m talking Hersheys powder or Droste. And remember, these grinds are no different than coffee grinds for all intents and purposes so the cleanup is a PIA also. Save yourself 15 minutes a cup and use powder. I seriously doubt this will be a thing in another year.

How disappointing. It does not smell like cocoa; rather, it has a faint coffee scent. When brewed, it's very, very dark brown, but the taste is weak. I added whipped cream and it became drinkable, but not with either a cocoa or a coffee flavor. It simply tastes brown. I'll not be purchasing this again.

I drink this as a alternative to store bought, sugar laden (or fake sugar laden) hot cocoa. I sometimes add coffee to it or a scoop of it to an about to be brewed pot of coffee. I like it by itself or with milk. I have had no problems adding a scoop of it to the coffee I am about to brew and using a paper filter instead of the one recommended. I gave 4 stars for the price because it is, to me, a bit expensive (roughly $2.20 an ounce). Overall, it is an excellent drink, in my opinion. "Mikey likes it;" you might too!