If you are a true “Coffee Connoisseur” then you love coffee prepared in any way, shape or form. A combination of coffee and chocolate is sure to give you goose bumps and have your mouth watering just thinking about it. A popular treat among coffee lovers is chocolate covered coffee beans. You can buy these tasty treats at almost any coffee shop or specialty store. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to make your own chocolate covered coffee beans and impress your spouse, family and friends. If you follow a simple recipe and get the right ingredients you are sure to make a pleasing chocolate indulgence.

Select Your Coffee Beans and Decide What Kind of Chocolate

First and foremost you need to buy high quality coffee beans. If you purchase the beans at the grocery store be sure they are fresh and not broken or damaged. Purchase a brand you are familiar with so you know the taste will be up to par. You might have better luck if you go to a coffee specialty shop and buy your beans from them. Next you need to purchase your chocolate.

What kind of chocolate works best? Dipping chocolate is easier to work with and it tends to set up nicer. This kind of chocolate may be harder to come by but if you are looking for quality it is worth the search. Chocolate chips and chocolate squares will work too. After you have selected the type of chocolate you are going to use you need to decide on the flavor. Milk chocolate is the most popular for candy style treats, but some other options are dark, semi-sweet or white chocolate. Use your own personal preference when selecting your chocolate flavor.

Melt and Prepare Chocolate for Dipping

If you have not worked with chocolate much then candy making can be a little tricky. You have to be careful when melting your chocolate because if you get it too hot it will burn and taste funny.

Some tips for melting your chocolate are:

• Make sure you use a low temperature and stir often
• For microwave melting cook 1-2 minute per square or ¼ cup and watch carefully stirring occasionally. (Use caution microwaves can burn the chocolate easily)
• If you use a double broiler, place the chocolate in the top pan with boiling water underneath.
• Be careful not to get moisture in the chocolate because this can cause unwanted lumps. If lumps form use 1 tablespoon of shortening per square of chocolate and stir until smooth.
• Cool the chocolate to a warm temperature before dipping the beans; this helps prevent burns on your fingers.

Various Recipes For Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

Here are some simple recipes taken off the web from About.Com for chocolate covered coffee beans (with some tips added to enhance your creation):

Simple Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

• 1/3 cup roasted coffee beans
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler until liquid and smooth. Drop in a handful of beans, and stir them around. Scoop them out with a spoon while letting the excess chocolate drip off and set them out on waxed paper. Keep them separate. Continue until all the beans are covered. They will harden overnight, or if you are in a hurry, you can freeze them for about half an hour. Once hard, they won't stick together and can be stored in any airtight container.

• Tip: Add variety to the recipe and make your beans a little fancier by dipping white chocolate over them. This will make strips of white over the brown chocolate and it adds some flare to your candy. You could also roll them in finely chopped nuts or peppermint candy dust (put the candy in a the blender or food processor and chopped until it turns to dust).

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans Using Baker’s Chocolate

• 1 cup roasted coffee beans
• 4 oz. chocolate pieces
• 3 tbsp. cocoa powder

Melt the chocolate and cover the beans, using the technique in the previous recipe or any chocolate dipping technique will work. Let them harden a little, but not completely. Roll the chocolate beans in the cocoa powder, and then let them finish hardening.

Flavored coffees are usually not recommended, but they can add a tasty twist to these treats. Try hazelnut or vanilla.

• Chocolate varieties: Ghirardelli is a good tasting brand of chocolate that you can also purchase in squares.

Making your own candy can be a challenge but it can also be rewarding. You can enjoy a homemade dessert and save money in the process. Whether you are a gourmet cook or just a beginner the recipes mentioned above are good starter recipes for anyone to use. Whip up a batch of chocolate covered coffee beans and indulge your self!