The terms “chocolate maker” and “chocolatier” refer to distinct roles within the chocolate industry, each with its own set of responsibilities and skills.
A chocolate maker is primarily involved in the production of chocolate from cacao beans. This involves sourcing high-quality cacao beans, roasting and grinding them, and then refining and conching the chocolate to achieve the desired texture and flavor.
Chocolate makers are focused on the bean-to-bar process, ensuring that the chocolate is made from scratch using quality ingredients and traditional methods. They often work closely with cacao farmers and are passionate about crafting chocolate with unique flavor profiles that highlight the natural characteristics of the cacao beans.
On the other hand, a chocolatier specializes in creating chocolate confections and desserts using already made chocolate. Chocolatiers work with couverture chocolate, which is high-quality chocolate used for coating or molding. They create a variety of chocolate products, including truffles, bonbons, pralines, and chocolate sculptures.
Chocolatiers often incorporate other ingredients like nuts, fruits, spices, and liqueurs to create unique and innovative flavor combinations. While chocolatiers don’t typically make chocolate from scratch, they are skilled in tempering, moulding, and decorating chocolate to create beautiful and delicious confections.