Cocoba Chocolate

The memory of hot chocolate made by his grandfather led Darren to create Cocoba. He had grown up in Australia with a drink made from real chocolate and wanted to recapture that taste after moving to the UK. The brand began in 2012 with a pop-up kiosk at Brent Cross Shopping Centre; it opened its Bluewater cafe in Kent in 2013 and added a production unit and warehouse in 2016.

Drinking chocolate remains the connecting thread. There are flakes to melt in milk, chocolate spoons and stirrers, and bombes that open in a hot drink. The range covers milk, dark, white, and salted caramel chocolate, alongside vegan versions and flavored selections. Sets with mugs and accessories bring that preparation into the home.

Confectionery includes bars, buttons, lollipops, truffles, and chocolate-covered bites. Honeycomb, an airy, crunchy candy, comes in bags and large jars with refills. Cocoa-dusted salted toffee truffles are another brand offering. Engraved bars, party bags, and corporate gifts provide personalized formats for celebrations.

Characters add a family-oriented side. The Gruffalo, Zog, and Room on the Broom have dedicated collections, alongside seasonal gifts and calendars. Wawah, a milk chocolate koala, connects with a partnership with Aussie Ark: the company says it donates a share of its sales to Australian wildlife conservation projects. That relationship recalls the founder’s connection to his home country.

At Bluewater, the cafe is at Unit L002, Lower Rose Gallery, Kent, DA9 9SH, near John Lewis. The menu combines the house coffee blend, loose-leaf tea, and hot or iced chocolate with sandwiches, paninis, soups, and salads. Chocolate waffles, warm cookie dough with ice cream, and dessert bombes develop its sweet side. Children’s choices and afternoon tea are also available.

The second cafe is at 2B High Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1QJ. Viv and Shashank opened it in October 2024, with chocolate from the Kent factory, barista-made coffee, desserts, and light lunch options. A retail section carries chocolates and gifts, combining a sit-down visit with purchases to take away.

The two locations have their own schedules: Bluewater follows the shopping center’s rhythm, while Maidenhead stays open into the evening Thursday through Saturday. Maidenhead station connects the town center with the Elizabeth line and Great Western Railway; Bluewater’s rail reference is Greenhithe for Bluewater, with an additional journey to the shopping center.

The online store brings together chocolates, drinking chocolate, hampers, and gifts, while wholesale supplies farm shops, delis, and other retailers. Consumer and corporate purchases have dedicated sections. Cocoba thus connects chocolate made in Kent with two cafes and formats for sharing, gifting, or preparing a drink at home.