Lisa Higginson
A bespoke bandit machine is shelling out chocolate instead of coins at a new sweet retreat in Manchester. The Austrian Doppel Knacker bandit has taken centre stage in Deansgateâs Chocolate Café to introduce customers to its exclusive Labooko chocolate bars.
The first of its kind in the UK, the Doppel Knacker machine has two levers which, when pulled, snap off a piece of the designer chocolate for customers to sample. Made with single estate cocoa beans from Peru, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Brazil and Nicaragua, the Labooko chocolate bars come in yellow (a creamy white chocolate), milk, dark and extra dark varieties ranging from 33 per cent to 80 per cent cocoa content. The Labooko range also uses white creola beans, which are said to be the highest quality and most difficult to grow.
Chocolate Café owner, Paul Morris, said: âThe Doppel Knacker is a big hit with customers. The quality of chocolate is amazing and the machine gives people the chance to try before they buy. Our designer chocolate bars have a real following in Ramsbottom, so itâs great to be able to bring them to the city centre.â?
With a flagship store in Ramsbottom, the Chocolate Café has recently brought its high-end chocolate treats, artisan coffee and more than 20 leaf teas to its Manchester outlet. And as well as the posh Labooko bars (£1.50 for 35g), adventurous chocoholics can also devour the caféâs latest range of exotic chocs, which include chocolate with caramelised bacon bits, birds-eye chilli and cheese and grape and walnut.
The Chocolate Caféâs range is available from www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk as well from both branches.
The Chocolate Café, on the corner of Carr Street and Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, BLO 9HX
The Chocolate Café, Overseas House, Deansgate (on the corner of Quay Street), Manchester, M3 3BB
T:01706-822828