Chocolate making is a lifelong learning experience. We love to challenge ourselves and reignite our chocolate passion periodically throughout our lives. Our Chocolate Masterclass Programs are the next step forward for those who want to advance their skills and knowledge. Be prepared to be energized, enlightened and inspired while you take your chocolate knowledge, skills and expertise to a higher level. The expert Instructors for our Masterclasses are real world chocolate business owners so you'll find that the many of our Masterclass session happen in the off season and may only be available once or twice a year. And if you have made ethical or dietary choices for all or part of your product line, the knowledge and skills you learn can be applied to any type of specialty chocolate product. Information on making vegan chocolates and more....
Chocolate Masterclass Programs focused on improving professional skills
Recipe Development for Chocolatiers - Ganache
May 23 - June 8, 2025. This intensive program is not just about making ganache. It’s about understanding ganache at a more scientific level and collaborating live with your instructor, Rich Tango-Lowy and your fellow students to find the best solutions to your problems. Two sessions per year: May and August. Learn More Program Details
Recipe Development for Chocolatiers - Caramel
April 25 - May 11, 2025. This Masterclass is an online two week program of intensive, interactive training. By the end of the program, you'll learn to perfect your recipes for caramel and sugar-based fillings. The program will also address vegan/nondairy recipe alternatives. One session per year. Learn More Program Details
Recipe Development for Chocolatiers - Fruit & Nut
January 15 - February 1, 2025. This Masterclass is an online *three week program of intensive, interactive training. By the end of the program, you'll learn to perfect your use of fruit purees, pate de fruit, nut pastes, and pralines. The recipes are especially helpful for creating vegan chocolates and plant-based, non dairy chocolate bonbons. Two sessions per year: January and August. Learn More Program Details
Chocolate Quality & Shelf Life for Chocolatiers
January 24 - March 7, 2025. Our one-month online Chocolate Quality & Shelf Life for Chocolatiers Program is all about science – the science of producing a quality product, handling and storing it properly and knowing its keeping limits. We also discuss food safety regulations and labeling standards in depth. Two sessions per year: February and September. Learn More Program Details
Masterclass: Color on Chocolate
March 5 - April 4, 2025. This Masterclass is not just about using color. It's about understanding the science of colored cocoa butter, most efficient processes to apply color and collaborating LIVE with your instructor and your fellow students to find the best solutions to your color challenges in chocolate work. Two sessions per year: March and September. Learn More Color Masterclass Details
Mastering Chocolate Flavor
September 8 - October 17, 2025. This one month program gives you the opportunity to focus on the intricacies of chocolate flavor, while helping you use chocolate more effectively in your professional life. Understanding chocolate flavor and how to taste chocolate consciously will help you to create better products for your business. One session per year. Learn More Flavor Program Details
Couverture Making for Chocolatiers
Feb 21 - Mar 9, 2025. This 2 week program includes topics such as: what to look for when buying cocoa beans or nibs, sourcing other ingredients you will need, minimum machinery requirements, formulations for a dark, dark milk, milk and white chocolate, storage tips, time requirements, key tasks, and more. Two sessions per year: February and July. Learn More Couverture Program Details
Business Plan for Chocolatiers
January 10 - February 7, 2025. This 4 week program gives you the opportunity to do your homework and focus on what you know and don't know when it comes to marketing, operations and finance. This practical curriculum covers all the elements of a business plan from a chocolatier's perspective. Three sessions per year: January, April and July. Learn More Business Program Details
Business Plan for Chocolate Makers
January 10 - February 7, 2025. This 4 week program is focused on the chocolate making from the cocoa bean business plan. During the program, students understand the issues of: management, marketing, operations and finance using your current knowledge and research on chocolate making. Two sessions per year: January and April. Learn More Program Details
Digital Marketing for Chocolate Businesses
January 8, 2025. This webinar-based experience is for chocolate business owners who are struggling with their digital marketing. You will learn about critical aspects of your website, how to execute a successful social media strategy, including photography and email marketing. Learn More Marketing Webinar Details
Maximizing Production Efficiency, Profitablity & Scaling Up
Winter 2025. This Masterclass is an online, three week program for chocolate business owners who want to improve their production efficiency and profitability. Learn More Program Details
Face to Face Cacao Farm Programs
Cacao and Chocolate Making in Costa Rica
March, 2026. A six-day exploration of cacao cultivation, post-harvest processing and artisanal chocolate making in Costa Rica. Follow the tree-to-bar process firsthand from harvesting and fermentation to drying, roasting, winnowing and conching with both artisanal and industrial equipment. Learn More Costa Rica Program Details
Cacao Farm to Chocolate Factory in Hawaii
May 2025 A five-day program with cacao experts, Daniel O'Doherty, and Max Breen, and chocolate maker, Dylan Butterbaugh. Join us for an intense hands-on learning experience at the Kamananui Estate cacao farm and Manoa Chocolate factory on Oahu - learn cacao cultivation, post-harvest processing and chocolate making. Learn More Hawaii Program Details
Face to Face Chocolatier Programs
Chocolatier Program in France
May 10 - 15, 2025. The Chocolatier Program in France is a unique opportunity to learn from French master chocolatiers. You'll be inspired and come away with an in-depth understanding of how fine French bonbons are developed, produced and presented while working with professional enrobing and airbrushing equipment. Learn More France Program Details
Chocolatier Program in Belgium
Fall 2025. The Chocolatier Program in Belgium combines a special program of hands-on training at Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy in Wieze, Belgium with visits to Chocolate World in Antwerp and chocolatier boutiques in Brussels. Learn More Belgium Program Details
All Ecole Chocolat Graduate Programs are delivered in English.
Prerequisite for our Graduate Programs: Ecole Chocolat Professional Certificate of Achievement or equivalent level of experience, knowledge and skills.
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Photography by Jessica Washburn, Bliss Chocolatier and Ecole Chocolat
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Contact Us
Email: info@ecolechocolat.com
Visits by appointment only:
505 Montgomery
San Francisco, CA U.S.
1-213-291-8309
Canadian or International
1666 West 2nd Ave
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
1-604-484-1872
Ecole Chocolat is a woman-owned and operated chocolate education organization. Founded by chocolatier, Pam Williams, we are the professional school of chocolate arts for both chocolatiers and chocolate makers. We also donate our time, leadership, expertise and funds to preserve the fine chocolate industry and save fine cacao.
