Butler-based nonprofit prepares holiday hot chocolate selections
The winter season in Western Pennsylvania brings the region cold weather and holiday vibes. Both factors make it the perfect time to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.
In fact, a survey done by StudyFinds in 2021 found that of all the things to look forward to in the winter — holidays, snow, family and more — 48% of Americans most look forward to hot chocolate.
For those in Butler County, there’s a local nonprofit coffee company coming out with several flavors just in time for the holidays.
Created about a year ago, Butler Coffee Lab was born out of a desire for a flavorful morning cup of coffee, with a mission to support communities in need. Now, founder Terry Kaiserman is launching several hot chocolate flavors for the holidays.
“This is our first holiday in business, even though we started experimenting over a year ago,” said Kaiserman. “We’ve experimented for the past three months until we found the right hot chocolate and the right dissolvability and dispersibility that comes through. We finally found it, and the last little bit is to make sure it’s thicker than what you would normally get in a Kuerig K-cup.”
There are many different flavors available, with seven pods coming in one package. Those looking to purchase the pods can mix and match online or get one flavor for all seven pods.
The flavors are: regular; orange; peppermint; spearmint; mint; cherry; vanilla; creamy vanilla; butterscotch; creamy vanilla and caramel; rose; rum; rum and butterscotch; cayenne pepper; peanut butter; apple; ginger; pumpkin pie; double chocolate; hazelnut; banana; and caramel.
Owner Kaiserman, who joked about being diabetic and therefore unable to really drink a lot of his hot chocolates, said his favorite flavor was cherry. Currently, they are not making any sugar-free versions of the hot chocolates, but plan on introducing a sugar-free version next year.
“That’ll come next year; this year is more traditional,” said Kaiserman. “It has taken a long time to get here. It’s taken months of experimentation to be able to hone in on the raw materials and find the right suppliers who had the products in stock.
“Then get the certificates and analysis so we can satisfy our own quality control. It’s taken a long time to get here.”
Kaiserman plans on making the sugar-free version out of monk fruit, a Chinese plant used in artificial sweeteners today. As far as making them goes, their hot chocolates are made entirely by hand in a lab setting.
Interested customers can order the hot chocolates at butlercoffeelab.com or at their physical location, 113 E. Cunningham St. in Butler. The cost is $13.99 for a tube of seven pods with a 20% discount for customers who order more than two tubes.
Originating from a yearlong exploration into ways of giving back, the founders created Butler Coffee Lab to be a shop empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Opting for a different path from a normal coffee shop, they steered Butler Coffee Lab toward crafting distinctive in-home brewed beverages, developing custom pods with unique flavors and additives like nondairy creamer, sugar and spices.
The decision to focus on pod-making was driven by its potential for employing people with diverse abilities, offering a chance for meaningful employment.
The goal is to employ over 75% of individuals with disabilities, including veterans, and to donate profits back to the communities that inspired their journey.
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