Amazing café goodies: Cocoa Black
When a Christchurch café opens a second location that’s busy from day one, there must be a secret ingredient.
In this case there are two – happy staff, and awesome cheese scones. Merivale’s Cocoa Black launched its sister cafe in February at Bishopdale Mall.
Both Cocoa Blacks’ long-serving employees laugh and chat away, especially with their customers. It’s what owner Yong Ren loves to see.
What they won’t be doing is exposing the mystery spices in the amazing cheese scones. But what we can reveal is they include three types of tasty quality cheese, and a spike of cayenne pepper.
“Across both locations we sell over 300 cheese scones each day – and counting. And we make sure there’s plenty left in the afternoon, so no one is disappointed,” Yong says.
Asking what else is popular, he exclaims, “Mostly everything! It all sells out,” such as homemade date and orange scones, sausage rolls, triple-cheese bacon scones, and freshly made soup.
Yong enjoys working seven days a week between both locations, and will be out front making cups of AllPress coffee, talking to customers, or doing the dishes.
“Everyone is equal here. And what happens to be left over each day goes the City Mission. We love giving to those that need help.”
