Key Points
- Hot chocolate emerges as the new coffee rival in Tower Hamlets, serving as a mid-day pick-me-up or indulgent treat amid rising chocolate prices over 17% in the past year.
- It ranks as the nation’s third most popular coffee shop beverage, boosted by Knoops’ expansion with over 20 variations.
- Tower Hamlets Slice guide highlights top spots from Roman Road to Brick Lane, prioritising velvety texture, indulgent yet restrained sweetness, and pairing snacks.
- Key venues include Jungle Electric (frothy, deep flavour), Mae + Harvey (nine-year anniversary, sleek interior with pancakes), Tita’s Coffee (vegan dark hot chocolate from West African cacao), Astro Cafe (family-run with crodoughs and pastries), Gallery Cafe (vegan, calming with garden views), Cafe at Oxford House (local suppliers, homey vibe), The Beehive (co-working friendly), Dark Sugars (intense flavours like salted caramel, African cocoa focus since 2013), Coffee Room (Italian cioccolata calda with marshmallows), Quarantacinque (Italian with milk options and cannoli), and Andrea Cacao (Colombian recipe at Columbia Road market).
- Criteria emphasise balance: creamy but not nap-inducing, rich yet defined, paired with sweets like brownies, danishes, or truffles.
As reported by the team at Tower Hamlets Slice in their guide “Hot Chocolate is the New Coffee, and These are the Best Cups You’ll Find in Tower Hamlets,” hot chocolate has surged in popularity across Tower Hamlets, challenging coffee’s dominance with velvety mugs that blend indulgence and restraint. From Roman Road to Brick Lane, the article scouts the borough’s finest spots, declaring it the “less hyped cousin of coffee and tea” now enjoying a “well-deserved moment.” Despite chocolate prices rising more than 17% over the past year, it remains the nation’s third most popular coffee shop beverage, propelled by chains like Knoops offering over 20 variations.
This winter hunt for cures to the “winter blues” emphasises frothy textures, deep flavours, and non-sickly sweetness—ideal for mid-day without the post-coffee crash. Top picks balance “rich and defined,” paired with snacks from pancakes to artisan truffles, drawing crowds to family-run vans, historic cafes, and innovative chocolatiers.
Why is Hot Chocolate Overtaking Coffee in Tower Hamlets?
Hot chocolate’s rise stems from its comforting appeal in chilly weather, as detailed in Tower Hamlets Slice‘s comprehensive roundup. The guide notes it as a “mid-day pick-me-up or self-indulgent treat,” gaining traction despite economic pressures.
“Despite the price of chocolate rising more than 17% over the past year, hot chocolate remains the nation’s third most popular coffee shop beverage,”
the article states, crediting expansions like Knoops for elevating its status to “an all-time high.”
Local venues capitalise on this trend, transforming routine coffee runs into chocolate rituals. The piece describes scouring Tower Hamlets “even if it means suffering through a copious amount of melted chocolate along the way,” underscoring the dedication to finding mugs that “truly deliver.”
What Makes the Perfect Hot Chocolate in Tower Hamlets?
T Tower Hamlets Slice defines perfection by “velvety texture” as the “key criterion,” alongside “appropriately indulgent sweet snacks.” Ideal cups land “somewhere between rich and defined, sweet but not sickly,” avoiding the need for an “afternoon nap.” This standard filters the borough’s offerings, spotlighting those with frothy depths or natural balances that sustain energy.
The guide praises pairings that enhance the experience, from vegan bakes to hybrid pastries, ensuring hot chocolate feels like a complete treat rather than a standalone sip.
Where Can You Find the Frothy Hot Chocolate on Roman Road?
Jungle Electric on Roman Road tops early recommendations for those seeking a non-drowsy option. As per Tower Hamlets Slice,
“If you’re looking for a hot chocolate that won’t leave you requiring an afternoon nap, Jungle Electric on Roman Road is a good first stop. Their hot chocolate is frothy with a deep chocolatey flavour, meaning you can enjoy the treat midday and still finish off your work afterwards.”
Nearby, Mae + Harvey, celebrating its “nine-year anniversary,” offers a sleek interior with “expansive windows” perfect for people-watching. The guide highlights slurping hot chocolate “alongside pancakes drenched with clementine, pecan praline, mascarpone and maple syrup.”
What is the Best Vegan Hot Chocolate Near Weavers Fields?
Tita’s Coffee, a blue and cream van in Weavers Fields dedicated to the owner’s late aunt, serves commuters heading to work or Columbia Road strolls. Tower Hamlets Slice calls their “popular dark hot chocolate” the top pick:
“It’s vegan-friendly, apparently made with a West African Cacao mix, and hits a balance of sweet, rich, and bitter without any artificial flavours or ingredients.”
It also offers coffee, teas, and fresh bakes for an “all-natural pick-me-up.”
Why Choose Astro Cafe for Hot Chocolate with Pastries in Bethnal Green?
Astro Cafe, a “family-run business at the heart of Bethnal Green,” excels for mugs paired with sweets. The Tower Hamlets Slice guide recommends “a pastel de nata, blackberry danish or a gluten-free salted brownie on the side, or if you’re feeling adventurous, a signature crodough.” It explains,
“A crodough, famously created by Rinkoffs, sits somewhere on the scale between croissant and doughnut,”
nodding to the iconic East End bakery.
How Does Gallery Cafe Offer a Calming Vegan Escape?
Gallery Cafe at St Margaret’s House, “around the corner from Young V&A,” provides a “quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle.” Known for “vegan food, art and community vibes,” it serves a “sedate, calming vegan hot chocolate, paired with the cafe’s garden views,” according to Tower Hamlets Slice.
What Defines the Homey Hot Chocolate at Oxford House?
Next to Weavers Fields, the Cafe at Oxford House emphasises “local suppliers and high-quality ingredients” in a “homey feel of a neighbourhood cafe.” Tower Hamlets Slice suggests enjoying “a creamy hot chocolate alongside a brownie or pain au chocolat.”
Is The Beehive Ideal for Working with Hot Chocolate?
On Cambridge Heath Road towards Hackney, The Beehive suits “those looking for a friendly co-working space, to type away while sipping on a hot chocolate,” as noted by Tower Hamlets Slice.
Where to Get the Most Intense Hot Chocolate Experience?
Dark Sugars, “founded in Brick Lane in 2013 with the purpose of bringing the authentic taste of African cocoa to East London,” delivers a “full, knock-you-out-for-a-week experience.” Flavours include “salted caramel, chilli, cinnamon or wild strawberry,” topped with “dark, milk and white chocolate shavings, an interesting twist to the standard cream and marshmallows.” The guide adds,
“If your insulin levels can take it, you can also browse the artisan handcrafted truffles and chocolates displayed in store.”
What are the Best Italian-Style Hot Chocolates in the Borough?
For walkable indulgence, Coffee Room in Mile End specialises in “traditional Italian thickened, cioccolata calda.” Tower Hamlets Slice describes it as
“rich, thick and velvety hot chocolates… as well as their famous homemade marshmallows.”
In Bethnal Green, Quarantacinque offers a similar fix:
“You can choose from almond, soy, oat or regular milk, and you also have the option of splashing in a syrup. Hot chocolate here is best enjoyed alongside a signature Italian cannoli.”
How Does Andrea Cacao Bring Colombian Flavours to Columbia Road?
Andrea Cacao serves a “family Colombian hot chocolate recipe at the Sunday flower market on Columbia Road.” Made by “frothing spices and Oaxaca chocolate with a traditional Latin chocolate whisk,” it collaborates with Milagros Mexican Shop “to sell her handcrafted drinking chocolate during the week,” per Tower Hamlets Slice.
