Capucchino

Location: Alejandro Velasco Astete airport, 1st floor
Price: s/. 6.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, milk
Atmosphere: Airline check-in area

I couldn't leave for home for the holidays without getting in one last hot chocolate! Smooth and buttery with a weak cocoa presence and a light, nutty aftertaste. Nuttiness accented with the addition of sugar. No bitterness or unpleasant flavors, surprisingly nice presentation for a to-go airport beverage (foam cap, marshmallow & dusting of cocoa powder.) Not bad at all for a kiosk cafe!

Chocolates Cusco

Location: Calle Choquechaka
Price: s/. 5.00
Prepared: Sweetened, milk
Atmosphere: Tiny hole-in-the-wall cafe, easy to miss.

Creamy, sweet, chocolatey goodness. Assertive & robust cocoa presence with delicate notes of cinnamon and nuttiness that don't compete with the cocoa flavor at all, but rather flawlessly compliment it. The sweetness is velvety and superbly balanced, the creaminess dreamy. Aftertaste a lingering chocolate sweetness. I don't know how long it took to perfect this recipe, but perfection it is.

This is it. This is the best chocolate I've ever had in my life. I could literally write an epic poem on how good this drink is, and frankly, I have to resist the temptation to. Simply put (almost to the point of understatement) this is bar-none the best chocolate in Cusco. The cafe also offers coffee, mocha and homemade chocolates, but DON'T YOU DARE set foot in this comically tiny shop without trying this hot chocolate. At many of the other places that I've had hot chocolates more than once, I've received different-tasting drinks. Probably the greatest thing about Chocolates Cusco is its consistency. I've drank the hot cocoa here countless times, and each drink, despite being made from scratch every time, tastes every bit as great as the last. Do not underestimate this cocoa. This is the Pandora's Box of chocolate. Once you taste it, no other chocolate--not Godiva, not Lindt, nothing--will ever quite stack up the same way again.

There is an etiquette to drinking this cocoa if (or WHEN) you try it:
1. You must drink it in-house, DO NOT get it to-go.
2. Sip it slowly from the spoon ONLY. Under all circumstances, resist the temptation to drink it from the cup.
3. Do NOT place or dunk the cookie-biscuits that come with the cup into the cocoa. Ladle a spoonfull of cocoa and put the cookie in the spoon.
4. When you take a sip of the cocoa from the spoon, purse your lips and take a sharp, quick breath through your mouth, getting some of the chocolate vapors into where your nasal passage meets the roof of your mouth. Swallow the liquid in your mouth while exhaling through your nose.
5. It should take you AT LEAST 15 minutes to finish the cup. If you don't have the time to savor it properly, wait another day to do so.

If savored properly, this chocolate will give you a buzz. It will change your mood, it will change your day. You will leave the cafe with the feeling that all is right with your life.

Tupananchis

Location: Plazoleta Espinar
Price: s/. 8.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, milk
Atmosphere: Upscale bar/lounge & restaurant

Rich and creamy, made with cinnamon, which lends a natural sweetness to the pure cacao. Dark and nutty notes with a strong cocoa presence. However, the chocolate flavor is just a tad shadowed by the cinammon. Adding sugar diminishes non of the flavor. Aftertaste of lingering cinnamon and raw cacao beans. Better balance: Just a little less cinnamon!

Yajuu

Location: Calle Marquez
Price: s/. 5.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, milk
Atmosphere: The Peruvian equivalent of an Orange Julius or Jamba Juice

Thick and creamy. Light cocoa flavor with notes of walnut. Aftertaste of whole milk and butter. The cocoa flavor is present, but struggles against the richness of the milk. Adding sugar accents the butteriness, but diminishes the cocoa flavor. Needs a stronger chocolate presence, tastes like nuts pan-toasted in butter. Points for the creaminess. Also served in a beer mug...nice touch (no points for that, though.)

Cafe Perla

Location: Calle San Andres
Price: s/. 5.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Relaxed, spacious cafe

Sweet and nutty, with notes of cinnamon and clove. Aftertaste a a smoother nuttiness with the lingering sweetness of the clove. Adding sugar accents the clove sharply. This drink almost tastes like it was made with the cocoa para taza, but it came unsweetened, so it couldn't have been. A better balance could come from a stronger chocolate flavor and more creaminess. The cinnamon and clove flavors were well-balanced, which is fairly uncommon. Props!

Panam

Location: Plaza Recocijo
Price: s/. 6.00
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk & Water
Atmosphere: Upper-scale bakery & coffee bar


Not a strong cocoa presence at all and not very creamy either. Served lukewarm. I was expecting a lot more for 6 soles, but honestly, this drink is quite bland! Aftertaste of almonds.

Inka Fe Cafe

Location: Calle Choquechaka
Price: s/.7.00 - 11.00
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Cozy side-street cafe


Super sweet, rich and thick. The drink is robust and bursting with creamy, full chocolate flavor. Heavy cinnamon notes, with an aftertaste complimented by a lingering cocoa sweetness. The cinnamon flavors are a nice touch & the chocolate flavor is pumped to the max, but it's just a little too sweet. The richness burns the throat a little and distracts from the awesome chocolate & cinnamon flavors.

Trattoria Adriano

Location: Calle Mantas
Price: s/. 7.00
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk & Water
Atmosphere: Italian restaurant


Sweet and rich, but not too creamy. Full cocoa flavor with buttery toffee notes. No bitterness, with a smooth and mellow coconut aftertaste. Rides the line of too sweet, but doesn't cross it. Very tasty, well worth the s/. 7.00.

Cafe Ayllu

Location: Calle Marquez
Price: s/. 6.00 - 7.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Small diner/cafe


Cocoa has a bitter, earthy flavor, with notes of quinoa or green veggies. Green earthiness melts into a classic pure cacao aftertaste. Adding sugar disperses the quinoa/green veggie notes, but accents the earthiness. Overall, a strong cocoa presence with lots of character. Well-balanced with the milk. A quality chocolate! The green veggie/quinoa taste is different, but I'm not sure if everyone would appreciate it.

The Real McCoy

Location: Calle Plateros
Price: s/. 6.00
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: British pub


Rich, creamy, sweet. Despite this creamy sweetness, the cocoa taste is not very strong. There are notes of butter and honey, with a faintly nutty aftertaste. Not bad overall, but could use a much stronger chocolate taste.

Kissaten

Location: Avenida El Sol
Price: s/. 6.50
Prepared: Un/sweetened
Atmosphere: Cozy coffee lounge

Davorino

Location: Avenida El Sol
Price: s/. 4.00 - 4.50
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Snack & juice bar


A seemingly quality with a sharp-ish bitterness and notes of overtoasted nuts, which mellows into a milky creaminess. Aftertaste is of toasted nuts. Adding Sugar tames the bitterness, but the toasty nutty notes remain strong. A better balance could be achieved with a stronger cocoa presence.

Los Traviesos

Location: Avenida El Sol
Price: s/. 4.00 - 4.50
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Snack & juice bar


Chocolate has a plastic taste to it, which lingers on the palate and into the aftertaste. Well-balanced with the milk, the addition of sugar changes the plastic taste to a walnut-like flavor. The sweetness diminishes the chocolate flavor though. I don't know what the plastic taste is all about, but the drink could really do without it!

Casa De Los Cafes y Chocolates

Location: Avenida El Sol
Price: s/. 5.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Money exchange booth, no chairs


Thick, rich, bold chocolate flavor. Bitter nuttiness with notes of strawberry. Wonderfully creamy, and the cream is well-balanced with the cocoa. Clearly a high-quality cocoa with a smooth aftertaste. Takes sugar beautifully, with the sweetness accenting the fruity notes. Served piping hot, but the chocolate flavor begins to diminish a little as the drink cools.

Las Palmeras

Location: Calle Ayacucho
Price: s/. 5.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Snack & juice bar


Milky and nutty, but no real chocolate flavor present. They didn't rinse the glass out very well, and some very strong soapy notes came into play as well. Although I don't think it would have mattered too much; this chocolate was pretty bad anyway.

Cafe Punchay

Location: Calle Choquechaka
Price: s/. 5.00
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk & Water
Atmosphere: Small cafe w/ outdoor patio


Smooth and creamy, but not rich. Chocolate taste is rather subtle, with notes of honey and marshmallow and a milky aftertaste. Could be worse, but could be a lot better too.

Cafe Naupawasi

Location: Calle Waynapata
Price: s/. 2.50 - 3.00
Prepared: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Back-alley chicheria or public bathroom


Not entirely sure on the price--none listed, and seemed like the proprietor made one up on the spot. I opted for the three sol chocolate (made with milk instead of water) and I think I paid s/. 2.99 too much! I could see (some) cocoa floating in the cup, but I couldn't taste any of it. Basically a cup of hot, brown milk, and the milk wasn't even creamy.

Kukuly

Location: Calle Waynapata
Price: s/. 3.50
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk & Water
Atmosphere: Small, typical Peruvian diner


Sweet and creamy, but the cocoa isn't overpowered by the cream (due to its water base.) Cinnamon and clove flavors, stronger than "notes," but don't overpower the chocolate. The clove lingers into the aftertaste. Although the clove didn't completely overpower the cocoa, a better balance could have been achieved by using less of it. Had that been the case, this would have been a 5-star chocolate.

Bar Cusco

Location: Calle Heladeros
Price: s/. 10.00
Preparation: Unsweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: British Pub


Thick, dark, and robust chocolate flavor. Bitter, very much like coffee. A very high quality cocoa that has been wonderfully balanced with the cream. Aftertaste is a smooth & natural nuttiness. You definitely get what you pay for here! The most expensive hot chocolate I've had, but it uses one of the highest-quality cocoas I've tasted, and the amount of cocoa in the drink is very generous. Takes sugar beautifully without without losing any of its flavor or characteristics.

Cafe Cafe

Location: Calle Sunturwasi
Price: s/. 7.00
Prepared: Sweetened, Milk
Atmosphere: Very spacious, contemporary, upscale lounge


Holy sugar rush! Has a rich and buttery chocolate flavor, and the milk takes a rightful back seat to next to the cocoa flavor. But holy crap, this hot chocolate is sweet-sweet-sweet! Perhaps a little too sweet. The over-the-top sweetness detracts from the cocoa flavor, which is certainly there, but fighting the sweetness. Has a nice aftertaste of cinnamon. Definitely worth the s/. 7.00, especially if you like chocolate fudge. (Man, I can't believe they served me extra sugar with it!) Less sugar, and this would be a 5-star chocolate for sure.