Create Your Own Hot Chocolate at Johns

Warm Up Your Winter with Create-Your-Own Hot Chocolate at Johns Instow & Appledore

Winter is officially here, and with it comes shorter days, crisp coastal air, and that unmistakable desire to slow down and savour the season. At Johns of Instow & Appledore, winter is all about warmth, comfort, and small moments of indulgence — and nothing captures that better than a perfectly made hot chocolate.

This year, we’re inviting you to do something a little different with our Create-Your-Own Hot Chocolate experience, designed to let you build a drink that’s completely, unapologetically you. Featuring the exceptional Kokoa Collection, our hot chocolates are rich, luxurious, and endlessly customisable. Whether you’re popping in after a blustery beach walk, meeting friends for a cosy catch-up, or grabbing a takeaway to warm your hands as you wander the village, this is winter comfort done your way.

Why Hot Chocolate is the Ultimate Winter Comfort

There’s a reason hot chocolate has been loved for centuries. It’s more than just a drink — it’s a ritual, a pause in the day, and a moment of warmth when the world outside feels cold and grey. In winter, especially here on the North Devon coast, hot chocolate becomes part of the rhythm of life.

After a windswept walk along Instow Beach, with views across the estuary to Crow Point, or a wander through Appledore’s winding streets, there’s nothing quite like stepping into a warm café and wrapping your hands around a steaming cup. It’s comforting, nostalgic, and quietly indulgent — a small luxury that makes winter feel a little brighter.

Our Create-Your-Own Hot Chocolate takes that comfort one step further. Instead of a one-size-fits-all drink, you get to choose every element, creating something that suits your mood, your taste, and the moment you’re in.

Start with the Star: Choose Your Chocolate

Every great hot chocolate begins with exceptional chocolate. That’s why we proudly use the Kokoa Collection, renowned for its award-winning, single-origin chocolate and outstanding depth of flavour. Crafted with care and precision, Kokoa chocolate melts beautifully, creating a smooth, velvety drink that feels indulgent from the very first sip.

Kokoa Milk Chocolate

Creamy, sweet, and deeply comforting, milk chocolate is a timeless classic. It’s the go-to choice for those who love a balanced, crowd-pleasing hot chocolate that feels familiar and satisfying. Perfect for all ages, it pairs beautifully with almost every flavour syrup, making it one of the most versatile options on our menu.

Kokoa White Chocolate

If indulgence is what you’re after, white chocolate delivers. Sweet, velvety, and luxuriously smooth, it creates a lighter-coloured but richly flavoured hot chocolate that feels almost dessert-like. White chocolate is especially delicious with fruity or vanilla-based flavours, making it a favourite for those who enjoy something a little different.

Dark or Extra Dark Chocolate

For chocolate purists, our dark and extra dark options offer depth, intensity, and sophistication. With bold cocoa notes and a less sweet finish, these chocolates create a grown-up hot chocolate that’s rich without being overpowering. Ideal for pairing with mint, spice, or nutty flavours, it’s a luxurious choice for those who love strong, complex tastes.

Every chocolate option is carefully prepared to ensure it melts seamlessly into your chosen milk, creating a drink that’s smooth, rich, and beautifully balanced.

Personalise It Further: Choose Your Milk

Once you’ve selected your chocolate, it’s time to choose your milk. We believe everyone should be able to enjoy a great hot chocolate, which is why we offer a range of options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences — without ever compromising on flavour or texture.

Cow’s Milk

Smooth, creamy, and comforting, cow’s milk is a classic choice that works perfectly with all chocolate types. It enhances the richness of milk and white chocolate while softening the intensity of darker blends.

Oat Milk

Naturally sweet and beautifully velvety, oat milk has become a firm favourite. It complements chocolate wonderfully, creating a creamy, well-rounded drink that’s ideal for plant-based customers or anyone who enjoys a slightly sweeter finish.

Coconut Milk

For something a little more adventurous, coconut milk adds a subtle tropical note and luxurious creaminess. It pairs especially well with dark chocolate or caramel flavours, offering a unique twist that feels indulgent and warming.

Almond Milk

Light, delicate, and gently nutty, almond milk brings a different dimension to hot chocolate. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a less heavy drink with a refined flavour profile.

No matter which milk you choose, your hot chocolate will be crafted to ensure the perfect consistency — smooth, comforting, and deeply satisfying.

Add the Magic: Choose Your Flavour Twist

This is where your hot chocolate truly becomes your own. Our flavour syrups allow you to experiment, personalise, and have a little fun with your drink. Whether you’re craving something festive, nostalgic, or indulgent, there’s a flavour to match your mood.

Peppermint

Fresh, cool, and unmistakably festive, peppermint adds a refreshing contrast to rich chocolate. Paired with dark chocolate, it creates a classic “After Eight” style drink that’s perfect for winter evenings.

Gingerbread

Warm, spiced, and wonderfully cosy, gingerbread captures the essence of winter. It’s a comforting choice that pairs beautifully with milk or white chocolate, especially during the festive season.

Pumpkin Spice

A true winter warmer, pumpkin spice blends gentle sweetness with aromatic spices. It’s a perfect choice for those who love seasonal flavours and want something that feels both comforting and indulgent.

Hazelnut

Nutty, rich, and comforting, hazelnut is a natural partner for chocolate. It works especially well with milk chocolate, creating a flavour reminiscent of pralines and chocolate spreads.

Caramel

Sweet, buttery, and decadent, caramel adds depth and indulgence to any hot chocolate. A favourite for those who love a dessert-style drink.

Vanilla

Soft, fragrant, and beautifully balanced, vanilla enhances the natural flavour of chocolate without overpowering it. It’s a subtle addition that brings warmth and elegance to your cup.

Black Cherry

Fruity, slightly tart, and sophisticated, black cherry adds a grown-up twist to hot chocolate. It pairs wonderfully with dark chocolate for a rich, complex flavour.

Strawberry

Bright, sweet, and playful, strawberry is perfect with white chocolate, creating a drink that feels indulgent and fun — almost like a melted dessert.

Devon Spiced Rum

For an extra special adult treat we have also created a naughty but nice Hot Chocolate including a generous spoonful ( or 2 ) of Devon Spiced Rum. What better way to warm yourself up this winter.

Johns’ Favourite Combinations

If you’re not sure where to start, we’re always happy to help — and we’ve got a few tried-and-tested favourites we love to recommend:

White Chocolate + Strawberry – Often described as a “Strawberry Cheesecake” in a cup, this combination is sweet, creamy, and wonderfully indulgent.
Dark Chocolate + Peppermint – A classic “After Eight” flavour that’s refreshing, rich, and perfect for winter.

These combinations are popular for a reason — but half the fun is discovering your own favourite.

The Kokoa Collection Difference

What truly sets our hot chocolates apart is the quality of the chocolate itself. The Kokoa Collection is celebrated for its commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and exceptional craftsmanship. Using single-origin beans and carefully developed recipes, Kokoa creates chocolate that delivers depth, creaminess, and complexity in every cup.

Kokoa works closely with trusted cocoa-growing partners, sourcing beans from specific regions known for their distinctive flavour profiles. By focusing on single-origin cocoa, Kokoa allows the natural characteristics of each growing region to shine through — whether that’s rich cocoa depth, gentle sweetness, or subtle fruity notes. This approach ensures consistency, transparency, and a chocolate that tells a story from bean to cup.

Beyond flavour, Kokoa places strong emphasis on responsible production. Ethical sourcing and long-term relationships with growers help support better farming practices and fairer outcomes within the cocoa industry. For us at Johns of Instow & Appledore, this matters just as much as taste. It means every hot chocolate we serve is crafted with integrity as well as indulgence.

The chocolate itself is expertly refined to achieve a smooth, melt-in-the-mouth texture. This is especially important for hot chocolate, where the quality of the melt directly affects the final drink. Kokoa chocolate blends seamlessly with both dairy and plant-based milks, creating a consistently silky finish regardless of your chosen combination.

Another defining feature of the Kokoa Collection is balance. The chocolate is carefully developed to be rich without being overly sweet, allowing the cocoa flavour to remain front and centre. This makes it the perfect base for customisation — strong enough to stand up to added syrups, yet refined enough to shine on its own.

By choosing Kokoa, we’re able to offer hot chocolates that feel genuinely special rather than simply sweet. It’s the difference between a quick winter warmer and a thoughtfully crafted drink that you’ll remember long after the last sip.

Enjoy In-Café or Takeaway

Our Create-Your-Own Hot Chocolate experience is designed to fit perfectly into your winter routine.

In Our Cafés

Settle into a warm corner, take a break from the cold, and enjoy your hot chocolate slowly. Our cafes in Instow & Appledore are ideal for catching up with friends, warming up after a coastal walk, or simply treating yourself to a quiet moment.

Takeaway

Prefer to enjoy your hot chocolate on the go? Grab a takeaway cup, feel the warmth through your hands, and sip as you explore Instow’s Beach or Tarka Trail, Appledore, or the nearby coast. It’s the perfect companion for winter walks and crisp seaside days.

Why Create-Your-Own Hot Chocolate is Perfect for Winter

Winter can be busy, cold, and sometimes overwhelming — but a customised hot chocolate offers a moment of comfort and choice. It allows you to:

Tailor your drink exactly to your taste.
Experiment with new and exciting flavour combinations.
Enjoy a cosy moment in our welcoming cafés or out in the winter air
Add a little indulgence to everyday routines.
No two cups need to be the same. Each visit is a chance to try something new or return to a favourite that feels like a winter ritual.

Visit Us at Johns of Instow & Appledore

This winter, let us help you warm up from the inside out. Visit us in Instow or Appledore and discover your perfect Create-Your-Own Hot Chocolate, made with the luxurious Kokoa Collection.

With endless combinations of chocolate, milk, and flavour syrups, every visit can be a new experience — or a comforting return to a much-loved favourite.

View our current menu at Johns of Instow – Autumn & Winter 2025, and start creating your ultimate winter comfort in a cup.

Your perfect hot chocolate is waiting…

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