Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker Tour

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker is located in Berkeley, California and is the first bean to bar manufacturer to enter the United States in over 50 years. The company was founded by Steinberg and Scharffenberger, starting first in Robert Steinberg's kitchen before becoming a physical plant. They use nearly 30 cacao varieties. In the home kitchen the pair worked hard to find a recipe for their chocolate that would be unlike any other. They made their first home in South San Francisco with European equipment. They picked up the vintage equipment in order to get a more European flair in their chocolate.

The Berkley location was opened in 2001 in a red brick building. The building is historically important to Berkley, which makes the tour historical and fun. The factory was originally used as a bomb making facility before it was turned into a Heinz Ketchup location. With such a historical background, the tour of the chocolate factory will include its past as well as the current. Visitors can see how the chocolate is made, get a free taste, and then spend time in the shop picking up their favorite chocolate bars. The tour is of minimal cost.