STEP 1
Handpicked at the Source
It all begins in the rainforest. Our cacao pods are picked by hand, one by one, from trusted farmers we’ve partnered with for years. Not just for quality, but because we pay them fairly and directly. This isn’t commodity. It’s connection.
STEP 2
Fermented for Flavor
Fermentation is where the flavor is born. Our farmers follow precise, Marsatta-guided methods to coax out deep complexity from the beans. This is a process that takes days, patience, and sun-warmed crates.
STEP 3
Sun-Dried to Perfection
Each fermented bean is laid out to dry in the open air, under the sun. Turned by hand. Watched like wine. This step locks in the aromatic signature of each origin before the journey to our Southern California factory begins.
STEP 4
The Inspection Ritual
Every single bean is inspected in our factory. Not in bulk, but by hand, by eye, by someone who knows what perfect looks like. It’s a ritual of patience, focus, and quiet reverence.
STEP 5
Precision Winnowing
Using custom-calibrated machinery, we separate the delicate cacao nibs from their shells. This is surgical. Clean. The beginning of turning raw into refined.
STEP 6
Roasted, the Marsatta Way
Our proprietary roasting technique is tuned to reduce bitterness and unlock nuance. This is where our technology meets our obsession. The heat curve isn’t a guess. It’s a signature.
STEP 7
Heavily Customized Conching Machine
We conch the chocolate in machinery we’ve modified ourselves. The motion, the pressure, the timing — all adjusted to give our chocolate a smoothness and balance you won’t find anywhere else.
STEP 8
Aged Like Fine Wine
After conching, we let the chocolate rest. In custom aging vessels. For at least 6 months, sometimes over a year. This quiet stage rounds out the flavor, softens the edges, and builds depth...like a good Bordeaux.
STEP 9
Wrapped With Intention
We finish with packaging that honors the process. Every fold, every ribbon, every bar — handled with care. Because presentation isn’t just an afterthought. It’s the final expression of everything that came before.