Located just 14 minutes away from the heart of Westford, the chocolate artisan shop Two Friends Chocolates in Boxborough is the go-to place for a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate at a reasonable price. On the last Monday in December, my family and I went to try out the cafe for the first time.
We arrived at 12:00 pm and there was no line. As we walked in, the first thing that caught my eye was that there was no indoor seating, it was all outdoor. Luckily that day it was not snowing or raining, but on days where sitting outside is not an option, it would likely get a little crowded inside the small cafe. There also were not any bathrooms which was a downside.
I briefly looked over their menu and ordered all four of their signature drinking chocolates which each cost $6.75 for 10 oz. The drinks were the Classic, the Indian, the Mexicano, and the Mocha. All of them are crafted from their 60% dark chocolate mix and the Two Friends specialty cocoa mix.
There was only one person working that day so it took around ten minutes to be served all of the drinks that I ordered. What kept me entertained while waiting was watching the drink be made right in front of me. I got to watch as the chocolate was being melted and the milk being poured to form the drinks.
The cafe was small but well-decorated, with a nice Christmas tree that was abundantly decorated with ornaments. The tree and other decorations throughout the cafe that gave it a festive atmosphere. The cafe also had lots of chocolates, and samples were available for each of them upon request.
Once I got my drinks I was surprised to see that they came in a compostable cup, with even the lids being compostable. The Classic was a drink unlike any other; it was the perfect balance of a rich yet sweet hot chocolate. Being made with 60% dark chocolate, it surprised me seeing how sweet and balanced it tasted. It was like a classic, original hot chocolate that your mom would make on a cold winter day. It warmed me up and made me feel like I was at home. It was definitely on the darker side compared to other hot chocolates, but it was not bitter at all. It left a sweet aftertaste that brought me back in to drink more. The smell was comforting too, as it reminded me of the melted chocolate of a s’more.
The Mexicano had a dash of cinnamon and cayenne and a special in-house spice blend, and this drink was a different story to the Classic. It was tangy, a bit bitter and not as sweet as the Classic. When I first picked it up the smell was shocking. It was strong, and you could almost taste the drink just by smelling it. After I took a sip the only thing I could taste was their “in-house spice blend” and the overpowering cayenne. It also left a strong aftertaste, which was when I could taste the cinnamon and a bit of the chocolatey sweetness. Overall, it was an interesting choice of flavors for a hot chocolate, and I am sure to some people this drink would be their favorite, but for me it was definitely last on the list.
The Mocha was the next one that I tried. It is made with a shot of fine espresso as well as the 60% dark chocolate and the Two Friends specialty mix. The coffee taste was subtle, but definitely there, and it was a nice mix that would be enjoyable for people who love chocolate and coffee. Like the Classic, it also had that warm and comforting taste to it, but it also was a bit refreshing and a change of pace from the Classic and the Mexicano. It smelled like a freshly brewed cup of coffee, but the smell was not slapping you in the face.
The final drink I tried was the Indian. Similar to the rest ,it was made with 60% dark chocolate and the two friends speciality mix, but this drink had a dash of cardamom and ginger, as well as the in-house spice blend. The smell was similar to the Mexicano, tangy and strong, but the taste was better. The cardamom and ginger were there, but they did not overpower the chocolate and leave that strong bitter aftertaste. It was a unique mix of flavors that worked, and worked well.
Overall I was really pleased with the drinks and the atmosphere of the cafe. The new flavors opened my eyes to the world of hot chocolate and got me intrigued to try them all. The server was very polite and quick with getting the drinks out, and the price was pretty good considering the quality of the drinks. I would definitely come back here again.
8.9/10
