Fog, hills and one warm cup
Ceremonial Cacao in San Francisco
A warm cup for foggy mornings and steep climbs, shipped from California to the city and the Bay Area.
- 4.95 from 22 reviews
- Order by 2 PM PT, ships same day
- 30-day money-back (unopened)
A warm cup for a city of fog and hills
Alma Cacao is ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces that whisk into a hot cup in about a minute. It ships from California to San Francisco and across the Bay Area.
If you searched for a cacao ceremony in San Francisco, this page is about the one you can hold yourself: a mug at the kitchen window while the fog sits on the hill, or a warm flask at the top of a staircase.
- 1ingredient, nothing added
- ~1minto whisk a cup
- 4.95from 22 reviews
- 2%of every sale to For the Love of Mateo
Alma Ceremonial Cacao
Pure ceremonial cacao paste, single-origin from native communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Melt it into a warm cup on a slow morning, or pour it over ice on a hot afternoon. One ingredient, nothing added.
- 30-day money-back guarantee (unopened)
- Order by 2 PM Pacific, ships same day (Mon to Fri)
- Lab tested for heavy metals (ISO 17025 lab)
- 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo
Morning in San Francisco
Mornings start in the fog
From spring into summer, fog rolls in through the Golden Gate. Ocean Beach, on the western edge, is often foggy. The eastern side of the city, around the Mission and Potrero Hill, usually sees less of it, so neighbors can wake to different skies.
That makes the first cup simple. Warm the mug, whisk, and carry it to the window before the day begins. July afternoons average only in the mid 60s, so a hot cup suits the season.
- 58°FJan
- 66°FJul
- 70°FSep
- 70°FOct
Average afternoon highs. September and October are usually the warmest months, and the rainy season runs from about November to March.
Around San Francisco
Four stops for a warm flask
San Francisco has hundreds of public stairways, and many end at a view. Whisk at home, pour the cup into a warmed flask, then climb.
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Along the bay
Crissy Field
A flat path beside the water with the Golden Gate Bridge in view. Mornings are best once the fog has burned off, because afternoons tend to be windy.
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Pacific Heights
Lyon Street Steps
332 steps rise between Green Street and Broadway. From the top you can see the dome of the Palace of Fine Arts and, on clear days, the bay.
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Telegraph Hill
Filbert Steps
These steps climb the eastern side of the hill past gardens the neighbors look after, with views of the bay from the rest stops on the way up to Coit Tower.
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Inner Sunset
16th Avenue Tiled Steps
Mosaic fish, shells and other sea creatures run up the 163 steps. From the top you can look down across the Sunset District toward Ocean Beach and the Pacific.
On the coast
Lands End winds along rocky cliffs above the ocean, through shady stands of cypress and eucalyptus, and north-facing Baker Beach looks across to the Marin Headlands and the bridge.
Across the bay and over the hills
The Bay Area changes weather every few miles, and the cup follows.
Sausalito. Just across the bridge, the main street, Bridgeway, runs by the ferry harbor. Up in the Marin Headlands, the Battery Spencer overlook puts you at eye level with the bridge's northern towers, so bring a windproof layer.
Cupertino. Summers run warm and dry, with July highs near 82°F, and the Stevens Creek Trail runs through town.
Santa Cruz. Over the mountains, about 3 miles of West Cliff Drive path follow the Pacific.
The cacao
What Alma Cacao is
There is one ingredient here: 100% ceremonial cacao paste, shaved into small rock-like pieces with the cacao butter left in. Nothing is added, and it is never a powder or a block, so there is nothing to chop or grate.
Everything else is on the Alma Cacao product page.
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Origin
Single-origin, from native communities of the Peruvian Amazon.
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Making
Traditionally fermented, sun-dried and stone ground in small batches.
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Testing
Tested for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury) by an ISO 17025 accredited lab, and made in a GMP certified facility.
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Sizes
A ½ lb Starter pouch or a 1 lb canister, with larger sizes on the product page.
At home
Four steps to a warm cup
A daily cup is 10 to 20 g. This is the short version; our guide to how to prepare ceremonial cacao has the full method.
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Measure
Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of pieces into a mug.
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Heat
Warm 6 to 8 oz of water or milk to about 180°F (82°C), steaming but never boiling.
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Whisk
Pour it over the pieces and whisk for about a minute, until smooth.
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Sip
Take it to a window, a stoop or a bench with a view.
Fog and wind
Warm the mug with a swirl of hot water first. For the coast, whisk at home and pour into a flask you have warmed. Walking the bridge is very windy, and Crissy Field gets windy by afternoon, so a windproof layer helps more than a thicker mug.
A warm afternoon
On the warmest days of September and October, melt the pieces in a little hot water, then pour over ice and cold milk. Our iced ceremonial cacao recipe shows how.
Theobromine is a mild stimulant, so people sensitive to caffeine or other stimulants may feel it. If you are pregnant or nursing, take medication or manage a health condition, check with your healthcare provider first. Cacao and chocolate are toxic to dogs, so keep your cup out of reach.
Reviews
What people say
Rated 4.95 out of 5 across 22 reviews.
“Alma Cacao is the only cacao I purchase. Whether performing cacao + sound bath + meditation or having a delicious cup in the evening it is amazing! Delicious and pure.”
“I love this cacao so much! You can truly feel and sense the quality of it.”
“This is hands down one of the best cacao products I have had.”
Our promise
Giving, shipping and the guarantee
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2%
Giving
The co-op we source from gives 2% back to the producer communities, and Alma gives 2% of every sale to For the Love of Mateo.
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2 PM
Shipping
Orders placed by 2 PM Pacific, Monday to Friday, ship the same day from California to San Francisco and the Bay Area. Orders over 99 dollars ship free.
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30 days
Guarantee
Every order carries a 30-day money-back guarantee if the product is unopened.
FAQ
San Francisco questions
Does Alma Cacao ship to San Francisco and the Bay Area?
Yes. It ships from California to the city and to towns around the bay and down the coast, including Sausalito, Cupertino and Santa Cruz. The carrier sets the delivery time, so reorder before you run out.
How do I keep a cup warm in San Francisco's fog and wind?
Whisk at home at about 180°F, then pour into a lidded flask you have warmed with hot water. Go in the morning once the fog has burned off and before the afternoon wind picks up, and wear a windproof layer on the bridge walk or along Crissy Field.
Can I make iced cacao for a warm September day in San Francisco?
Yes. September and October are usually the warmest months here, with afternoons near 70°F and less fog. Melt 10 to 20 g of pieces in a little hot water, stir until smooth, then pour over ice and cold milk.
Can I carry a cup up a hill or a staircase?
Yes, in a warmed, lidded flask. Climb first and sip at the top, where the Lyon Street Steps and the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps both open onto a view. An open mug on a steep flight is an invitation to spill.
Is there a cacao ceremony in San Francisco I can join?
Alma Cacao ships from California and does not host events in San Francisco, but you can hold a ceremony at home with a mug and a whisk. Our cacao ceremony at home guide covers the steps, and where to buy ceremonial cacao explains how to get Alma Cacao.
Fog outside, a warm cup inside
Whether you live on a hill in the city or across the bay, a cup takes about a minute. Choose your size of Alma Cacao and start tomorrow morning.
