Chocolat Vitale is the ultimate European Hot Chocolate experience!

VITALE: Italian form of the Late Latin name Vitalis, which was derived from Latin vitalis, meaning “full of life, vital.”

Made from a blend of pure Swiss and Belgian chocolate with a twist, Chocolat Vitale is truly a rich and decadent drink. There is no cocoa powder in this drink as you find in most hot chocolate mixes – it is pure chocolate.

SHOPPING FAQ

On-line ordering:

Our drinking chocolate is made in small batches for maximum freshness. We aim to get all orders out the door by the next business day, but occasionally there is a short delay while a new batch is being prepared.

During summer months, we ship with an ice pack if needed, and will recommend overnight or 2nd day delivery. If temperatures are over 80 degrees, you may want to postpone your order.

Wine must be ordered by phone or email so we can verify you are over 21 and make sure we can ship to your state. Call us at (206) 297-0863 for a quote with shipping and sales tax.

Payment:

Our secure shopping cart accepts all credit cards, as well as PayPal.

Shipping:

We now have one flat shipping rate for all orders – $12 for a medium Priority Mail box. If your order fits a smaller box or qualifies for a lower local rate, we’ll credit you the difference, and if you order so much it needs a larger box, there’s no additional charge. If you’re outside the 48 states or want shipping by another method, get in touch!

Satisfaction guaranteed!

If you aren’t delighted with your order, we’ll make it right. Contact us immediately upon opening your package if there is any damage or other defect.

Chocolat Vitale in the press

Click to see larger version of each article.

Tiny Beans blog

Seattle Times

Seattle Weekly

Seattle Magazine

Seattle Weekly

Ibuki Magazine

CBS Seattle

TESTIMONIALS

I am just in this place. The owner is amazing at communicating her passion to her customers. My chocolate drink is amazing too. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone loving chocolate!

Arnaud C., Seattle, via Yelp,

Remember the chocolate river at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory?  Ya? Well Chocolat Vitale is like a coffee shop that serves chocolate from that river in many variations.
Super friendly owners that’ll answer all your questions, make amazing recommendations, and throw together some amazingly chocolately concoctions!  Some too sweet, some perfectly sweet, some with just the right amount of bite.
It’s very easy to get carried away and literally get chocolate wasted here.  As we consumed a handful of truffles and drank a few cups of chocolate hot drinks – we were all buzzing from the sugar high followed by a sugar crash a few hours later.  But I love this place for it’s simple yet sweet ambiance and owners!

Nam N., via Yelp

Great chocolates for your sweetheart. Also very select wines!! Update: she carries some very nice prosciutto and other meats now as well.
They sell records there too now as well as some band related stuff like t-shirts. It will be a nice place to have a snack once this pandemic is over.

Liam S., via Google,

Gem of a chocolate shop. Good chocolate bars. Real liquid chocolate, not the chocolate scented milk other places serve. Nice wine, teas, coffee and treats to choose from. We will be back.

Amana K., San Francisco, via Yelp

Love this place! From a casual stop by to get a yummy chocolate drink fix, or some scrumptious gifts, it always impresses. The owner is truly lovely and always makes the visit fun. I really enjoy the free samples and knowledge of local chocolatiers too.

Kristel W, via Yelp,

This is my favorite place to go in the city. I stopped in one pre-valentine’s day to pick up some goodies and the lovely proprietor, Janet, was extremely kind, patient and funny with a choco-novice such as myself. She asked me about my girlfriend’s tastes and what she liked and then proceeded to make some considerate, next-level recommendations. I took her advice, and the feedback from my girlfriend was an instantaneous wide-eyed look like she had been shook, and she said this was the best chocolate she had ever tasted. This was about 2 years ago and in a pinch when I want to impress someone or thank them for helping me, this is the first and last place I go. The products are ethically-sourced and she has wide selections from all over the world. They also have a nice selection of wines and even a record store definitely worth checking out. Quick with a good story and an easy smile, she and her staff are among the nicest people I have met in the city. I tell you this freely and with no agenda other than the chance to make your day much better just like they do for me every time I come here. Thank you for what you folks do. Try the hot chocolate too, it may change your life…

Jon P., via Google

Great service from the owner.   Found exactly what I was looking for, a small gift of chocolate for a congrats gift.  Cool spot and great coffee.

Christopher L., via Yelp

Best mocha I’ve ever had. Cool environment and learned a bunch about chocolate.

I’ll be back for sure.

Keith R., Seattle, via Yelp

Super great drinking chocolate, can pick your own sweetness level so it’s great for me who likes >75% dark hot chocolate. Fantastic service too!

Jing X., via Google

This little corner cafe esc hole in the wall is outstanding. We walked in and were instantly greeted by the sweetest lady. (Makes sense because she is surrounded by sweets) She helped us figure out what to get and my oh my. Their drinking chocolate is like liquid silk and just makes you feel so warm. The presentation was beautiful and the taste was even better. I’m glad I’m not a local or I’d be in everyday! I would 100% recommend.

Jenice J., via Google,

BRAVO! Chocolate is the owner’s passion and she is wonderful at sharing it with anyone who walks in the door. What truffles she hand crafts! She wisely controls the quality by making chocolates in small batches. I have never found anything disappointing about the products she makes and all those wonderful items from others that she also provides. She really finds some amazing things. The customer service is only surpassed by the sincerity of the proprietor and the outstanding quality of her product. Chocolat Vitale is a real gem for Ballard and Greenwood and our hands-down preferred source for the finest chocolates in Seattle.

C.M., via Yelp

Delicious. A little bit of chocolate heaven. Chocolates from around the world plus a thick dark sipping chocolate. Hostess gracious.

Lind S., via Yelp

Always a treat to come here. The proprietress welcomes us and gives us little tastes of the chocolate. Her hot chocolate is rich and velvety, today topped with fresh whipped cream and raspberry sugar.

Rhenda M., via Yelp

We have to stock up because your chocolate has become a daily routine since we started working from home in March! It keeps our mood up and makes us think of the fun we had at your shop, far far away from Texas!

Jenny L., Texas, via customer order

I called them a few days before Christmas to order something for my uncle and they shipped it to him the same day. Janet was exquisitely helpful, created a selection for him based on learning a bit about his tastes from me, and my uncle had a whole mess o chocolate delivered by the following day since he is in Seattle. Fantastic and friendly service.

Amy H., Bellingham WA, via Yelp,

A simple, eclectic, and appealing neighborhood shop and cafe. Inviting and kind owners, with a passion for fine foods–including chocolate. The place is cozy and comfortable, yet timelessly open and ageless. Go and support a great neighborhood business. Try the great drinking chocolate. Discover chocolate bars by artisan chocolate makers. I must return for lunch sometime and to try the house made chocolate truffles.

Earnie G., via Yelp

Janet made me one of he best mochas I’ve had, very cool shop to get coffee chocolate and wine.

John S., via Yelp

This place has the best espresso, drinking chocolates and sweets! We always stop here when we are in town and we can’t get enough of the great decor, tasty drinks and snacks! They have great furniture and artwork from local artists for sale too. We just went into today and they now have a luncheonette menu. The sandwiches were delicious! Janet, the owner, is fantastic and passionate about everything she has in the shop so you know you are getting only the best!

B.H., via Yelp,

Hands down the tastiest hot chocolate ever!. I am a dark chocolate person and I find their owner’s taste very accommodating to what I feel like having at that time. My husband takes the european chocolate preferring his milk chocolate taste. I find her selections of bean to bar chocolates very exquisite and superior to what I usually find in the big stores. I saw a lot of french- Italian as well ( pastas- sauces- EV oils) and will definitely try them for sure. The store shares a vinyl store and it gives a very retro chic feel to the whole atmosphere.

Diksha N., via Yelp

This place is a neighborhood gem. Best hot chocolate I’ve ever encountered, with so many varieties to choose from, and the owner and chef are so friendly and generous that every time I go I feel like I’m hanging out in an old friend’s kitchen. Superb selection of artisan truffles and chocolate bars, wines, and a lovely fresh and simple lunch menu. My husband and I have made this a weekend ritual with our 4-year-old daughter and we discover something new and wonderful each time. Also a perfect place to buy gifts.

Jody R., via Yelp

Amazing ambience, courteous and smiling host, mind blowing drinking chocolate and fab cappuccino!

Richa P., via Google

I found this place originally because my favorite coffee shop uses their drinking chocolate in a mocha I love. Now I go every few weeks to refill my drinking chocolate to make mochas at home. If you’re into baking, they sell wonderful chocolate discs, as well as small batch chocolate bars. The owner is always kind and helpful. What’s not to love?!

Amelia J., Seattle, via Yelp
Frequently a customer, never disappointed.
Scott F., via Google

This place is truly a gem. Love, Love, Love their hot chocolate. I’ve gotten their 65% and 72% hot chocolate and they were delicious – European style so they were rich and full of flavor. Janet is very welcoming and provides excellent service. Hands down recommend this place- after you taste their hot chocolate you won’t bother going anywhere else (thank goodness it’s by my son’s daycare)

Giselle L., via Yelp,

The chocolatier n curator is so kind n knowledgeable! I really love the chocolates she helped me pick out n the vinyl selection is full of classics!

Haessig A., Arlington TX, via Yelp

We live just up the street, and have passed this place many times. We finally decided to walk down and check it out. Janet, the owner, is quite knowledgable about everything chocolate, and has some wonderful ideas if you are at all wavering on a decision. My husband and I hung around for a while, sipping delicious chocolate in this amazing little shop. DEFINITELY worth the stop. Oh! And they play movies there in the evening!!

Gabrielle R., Seattle, via Yelp

The best drinking chocolate I’ve had anywhere in the country! It also helps that it’s a cute setup with first-class service.

Rob N., Seattle, via Yelp,

A wonderful little shop with lots of wine, cheese, and of course, chocolate! The chocolate is all sustainably sourced, and I highly recommend having some drinking chocolate – you can even request a specific cacao percentage (I like 80%). There’s also a nice selection of vinyl to peruse while you wait. But seriously, try the drinking chocolate.

Fawn G., via Google,

The coffee there is really good. I like the Americano the best. The also have re-purposed furniture that is eclectic and retro looking decor. The person who runs the place seems to know a lot about chocolate and coffee. I will be back for sure.

Audrey W, via Google,

Wonderful chocolates and education on them (admittedly the drinking chocolate is just not my thing, my friends loved it). Real passion to bring the best. We enjoyed a chocolate and wine pairing that was delish. Worth a visit.

Gretchen M., Seattle, via Yelp,

Not easy to find but so worth it. Friendly staff make the BEST Drinking Chocolate ever, and just the way you like it. Four bucks a cup, and you get to pick the country where your chocolate is from. This is not the tepid mud water from that huge Seattle Corp. They have the real deal fair trade and all. Hungry, why yes we were, oh man the homemade biscuit sandwiches inexpensive and very tasty. Tell em MixMasterD sent you. Oh one last thing they have a fine collection of chocolate in bar form to take home. With the money you save get several.

Don M., via Yelp

Excellent little chocolate shop.  I’ve been here a few times with my wife and the owner is very nice and recommends different drinking chocolates for us.  She’s also let us sample a few different things.  I like to try the high (greater than 70%) cocoa and her recommendations have been very helpful for getting ones that have a complex taste to match.

Manoj B., via Yelp

They have my favorite single origin chocolate brand, so what’s not to love? They also serve drinking chocolate in a variety of darknesses, and will even make it vegan with non-dairy milk. Awesome!

Erin M., via Yelp

This place is one of a kind. The owner is generous with her time and knowledge of chocolate, and with that knowledge comes the best sipping chocolate in the city. She is able to tailor the sipping chocolate to your desired consistency, I personally love the dense consistency she’s able to make for me. I’ve been to other cafes claiming to serve sipping chocolate, but the consistency is thinner, and the flavor weaker. She is a true chocolate connoisseur, serving the best our world has to offer from Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and even Vietnam! Truffles are unique and excellent…Not to be missed if you like chocolate.

Rachel S., via Google

OUR STORY

Angelina Vitale

Jen & Jim Schneider founded Chocolat Vitale in honor of Jim’s grandmother, Angelina Vitale, who used to serve him a deliciously rich hot chocolate when he was young. He had never tasted anything like his grandmother’s recipe until he began traveling to Europe, where the hot chocolate served there more closely resembled what he had as a child .

Being serious chocolate connoisseurs, Jen & Jim created Chocolat Vitale “The Drink of the Gods,” a sinfully rich European hot chocolate. Not your typical hot chocolate!

When they left Seattle, Jen & Jim left Chocolat Vitale in the hands of their long-time assistant, Janet Eicher, who, along with her husband and her sister, opened the first retail outlet for the brand, while maintaining the strong on-line and wholesale following. The brick-and-mortar store in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, combines their love of fine chocolate with their passion for eclectic foods, beverages, art and collectibles.