Sol Cacao

- 780 E 133rd St, Bronx, NY 10454

Introduction / Overview: Sol Cacao – Crafting Excellence in the Bronx

In a city renowned for its culinary diversity and entrepreneurial spirit, Sol Cacao stands out as a unique and meaningful enterprise. Located in the dynamic Port Morris section of the South Bronx (10454), Sol Cacao is not just a chocolate factory; it is the Bronx's first bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer. Founded by three brothers—Dominic, Nicholas, and Daniel Maloney—this is a 100% Black-owned business bringing a deep, ancestral commitment to craft chocolate. Their mission is straightforward: to create premium, single-origin dark chocolate using only the finest certified organic cacao beans and a maximum of two or three simple ingredients, such as organic cane sugar and sometimes cocoa butter.

The story of Sol Cacao is deeply rooted in the Caribbean. The Maloney brothers draw inspiration from their family’s legacy in Trinidad and Tobago, a region historically known for producing some of the world’s highest-quality cacao. This heritage informs their entire process, from ethically sourcing rare cacao beans from small family farms around the world to meticulously crafting each bar in their South Bronx facility. They aim to elevate chocolate beyond a mere "sweet" treat, focusing on complex flavor notes like red wine, berry, and savory spice that connoisseurs seek. By doing so, they are not only making exceptional chocolate but also helping to position the Bronx as a notable destination for craft chocolate lovers.

The factory embodies the New York ethos of hard work and community pride. They are actively involved in generating specialty manufacturing jobs for Bronx residents and are committed to inspiring the next generation of Black and diverse chocolatiers. When you support Sol Cacao, you are not just buying a chocolate bar; you are supporting a powerful local narrative and a commitment to ethical, high-quality production right here in NYC.

Location and Accessibility: Port Morris, South Bronx

The Sol Cacao factory is located at 780 E 133rd St, Bronx, NY 10454, USA, in the Port Morris neighborhood of the South Bronx. This area is characterized by a blend of industrial buildings and emerging creative spaces, offering a uniquely New York atmosphere. While primarily a manufacturing location, its accessibility is important for customers looking to support and purchase directly, often through online orders and occasional local pop-ups or events.

The factory’s location offers solid access via public transportation for New Yorkers willing to make the trip to this exciting part of the Bronx:

• Subway Access: The factory is located near several major subway stops on the 6 train line, which serves the East Bronx and connects directly to Manhattan. Nearby stations include Cypress Avenue, East 143rd Street-St. Mary’s Street, and Brook Avenue. The Cypress Avenue station is approximately a 9-minute walk (0.9 miles) away.
• Transit Features: The immediate vicinity is serviced by bus lines, and the industrial nature of the area provides options for driving and parking, though street parking availability is typical for the city.
• Neighborhood Vibe: Port Morris is a historically industrial area that has become a center for new small businesses, artists, and manufacturers, reflecting a dynamic blend of grit and creativity—a perfect setting for an artisan craft factory.

Services Offered

Sol Cacao's core business is the manufacturing and retail of their signature craft chocolate bars. While the primary business model centers on direct sales and distribution to retailers, the "factory" experience involves several key services for the local NYC customer.

• Artisan Chocolate Manufacturing: The fundamental service is the bean-to-bar production of premium, single-origin dark chocolate.
• E-commerce and Direct-to-Consumer Sales: Allowing customers across New York and beyond to purchase chocolate bars online for delivery.
• Retail Sales and Distribution: Selling their finished bars to various specialty stores and major markets across NYC (as evidenced by their product availability in stores like Whole Foods Market and Chelsea Market Baskets).
• Educational Engagement: Through their marketing and public appearances, the founders aim to educate consumers on the ethical sourcing of cacao and how to properly experience the complex flavor notes in their dark chocolate.
• Community Outreach: The company is committed to creating local manufacturing jobs and inspiring entrepreneurship within the Bronx community.

Features / Highlights: Ethical Sourcing and Pure Ingredients

Sol Cacao distinguishes itself from mass-market chocolate producers through its unwavering commitment to quality, simplicity, and social responsibility.

• Bronx’s First Bean-to-Bar Factory: They handle every step of the chocolate-making process in-house, from raw cacao bean to finished bar, allowing for meticulous quality control and the distinct crafting of flavor.
• 100% Black-Owned and Family-Run: Founded and operated by three brothers from Trinidad and Tobago, making them one of the few 100% Black-owned chocolate factories in the U.S. and a point of pride for the Bronx and New York City.
• Single-Origin Excellence: Their bars are made from single-origin cacao beans, ethically sourced from specific, small family farms in countries like Ecuador, Madagascar, Peru, and Colombia. This sourcing method ensures the highest quality and unique flavor profiles that reflect the cacao's terroir.
• Minimalist, Organic Ingredients: Their recipe philosophy is simple and pure—often just organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar, plus sometimes cocoa butter. They intentionally avoid the numerous additives found in bulk chocolate, putting the true flavor of the cacao center stage.
• Exceptional Flavor Profiles: Their dark chocolate bars (typically 70% or 72% cacao) boast sophisticated flavor notes such as vanilla and nutty (Ecuador), berry with a winey finish (Madagascar), and fruity and light citrus (Peru), appealing to true chocolate enthusiasts.
• Community Commitment: Beyond chocolate, the owners are focused on uplifting the local Bronx community through neighborhood outreach and job creation, embodying the spirit of a socially conscious local business.

Contact Information

For New Yorkers interested in learning more, supporting the business, or purchasing their high-quality craft chocolate, here is the contact information for Sol Cacao:

• Address: 780 E 133rd St, Bronx, NY 10454, USA
• Phone: (929) 294-5111

What is Worth Choosing: Supporting Craft and Heritage

For a local New Yorker, choosing Sol Cacao is a decision to prioritize high-quality, ethically made product over mass-market brands, and a direct investment into a commendable local business with a powerful story.

Reasons to Choose Sol Cacao:

• Unparalleled Quality and Purity: If you appreciate the artistry of bean-to-bar chocolate, Sol Cacao’s bars are essential. The focus on single-origin beans and minimal, organic ingredients means you are tasting the purest expression of the cacao. Customers consistently describe the chocolate as "seriously delicious."
• Support a Black-Owned Bronx Business: Sol Cacao represents a significant milestone as a 100% Black-owned factory committed to the Bronx. Supporting them helps to foster local job creation and promotes diversity within the premium food manufacturing sector of New York City. This is a chance to put your dollars toward a local enterprise with strong social and community values.
• Taste the World: The four core single-origin bars (Ecuador, Madagascar, Peru, Colombia) offer a guided tasting experience that allows you to compare and contrast the diverse flavor profiles of cacao from different regions. This educational element is part of the "journey" the brothers invite customers to take.
• Ethical Sourcing: Choosing Sol Cacao means buying from a company dedicated to ethical sourcing, ensuring that the small family farms who grow the high-quality cacao are supported fairly—a crucial ethical consideration in the global chocolate industry.

A Note on Customer Experience: It is important to acknowledge that, as a small and growing artisan business, there may be occasional challenges with customer service or shipping, as noted in one review mentioning difficulty reaching the company by phone and delays. New Yorkers should recognize this is a dedicated, small-scale craft operation. While the reviews strongly praise the exceptional quality of the product and the character of the owners, it is advised to place orders through their established website or purchase bars directly from one of their partner retailers across the city for a seamless transaction. The consensus remains that the quality and mission of Sol Cacao make the chocolate bars a highly worthwhile and rewarding local purchase.

Sol Cacao

780 E 133rd St, Bronx, NY 10454, USA