If you ask us where you could satisfy a cake craving, we would provide you with an extensive list of bakeries and patisseries, but when you have a craving for fluffy, decadent cream puffs, there is only one destination if you reside in Vancouver - Beta5 Chocolates.

THE STORY

Growing up, baking and sweets were a big part of family celebrations, but Adam Chandler, Co-Founder of Beta5 Chocolates, attributes his fascination of and attraction to making pastries to his dad’s engineering background, “it was the scientific side of pastry that really drew me in.”

Adam had trained for 8 years as a pastry cook before him and his Co-Founder Jessica Rosinki decided to take the leap into making Beta5 a reality. “The motivation was really just to provide a space where we could drive the creative direction, and hopefully build a sustainable business that allowed us to focus our creative energies.” Adam shared. “The opportunity to spend our time surrounded by chocolate and cream puffs didn’t hurt either!”

Beta5 has long been known as the place for delightful and creative cream puffs and recognized as one of North America’s Top Ten Chocolatiers. In November of last year, Co-founders Adam Chandler and Jessica Rosinski realized their dream of opening a cafe space where customers could settle in to enjoy their sweet treats on the spot.

Adam shares the rationale behind opening a cafe after so many years in the business. “We have always wanted to create a space where we could properly display our creations, and to provide customers with a comfortable space to enjoy them. So, in some respects, ​it’s​ taken ​9 years, but we took possession of the neighbouring unit where the café was built last summer and opened our doors in mid-November. We took a total of about 4.5 to 5 months for the design and build-out of the space, which is pretty quick in the grand scheme of things, but I think it helped that I did the bulk of the design work myself, and we had a great contractor on board in Belcarra Contracting.”

INTERIOR DESIGN

The goal was to create a minimalist space where the team’s creations could really shine. While Adam handled the design for the space, he mentions how their working relationships with other local creatives have brought key elements into the space, such as the lighting installation by BOCCI, and the two murals featured in the space painted by Scott Sueme.

“We wanted to create a space that felt welcoming, but that also belonged in the industrial neighbourhood where the café is located – this meant not hiding some of the more industrial finishes, and using materials like concrete block and plywood. The overall design is quite minimal, and for me, the focal points are the chocolate and cream puff display cases, where it’s the products that are the stars, not the design of the space.”

The L-shaped glass display case running the length of the space lets each carefully handcrafted creation tout its individuality, from the decadent Chocolate Cream Puff to the fruity Lychee Rose Cream Puff.

Light wooden shelving facing the glass display features other take-home treats, such as a wooden box collection of Beta5 Polygon chocolate bars, which are made in unique molds referencing local mountains, and creamy caramels with fruity infusions like the Mango Passionfruit Caramels.

Of course, we mustn’t forget about the vibrant arrangement of artisanal chocolates that greet guests as soon as they step into the cafe. The colourful chocolates face the entryway, providing an enticing visual for every visitor.

AN UNRIVALLED COLLECTION OF SWEET TREATS

We witnessed as many guests spent an extended amount of time trying to decide which cream puffs, chocolates, and pastries to buy. We exhibited the same reaction to the rows upon rows of beautifully-designed cream puffs, not to mention that when we saw the pastries case it made it even harder for us to decide; should we try to Twice-baked Strawberry Mochi Croissant? Or the Lychee-Rose Cream Puff and the Vietnamese Coffee Cream Puff…AND the hot chocolate?

Of course, in the end, we gave in to our sweet tooth and decided to try everything.

The Queen of Hearts Cream Puff has sweet yet tarty flavour of raspberry mousse to balance out the generous topping of earl grey cream. The raspberry mousse spills out of the crispy, crunchy cream puff shell upon your first bite, a satisfying wave of flavour blending the earl grey cream, earl grey whipped ganache and raspberry mouse.

For those who fancy their sweets caffeinated, try the Vietnamese Coffee Cream Puff, and of course, if you appreciate floral notes, the Lychee-Rose Cream Puff would be our recommendation. It is important to consider all the sensory stimuli that are incorporated into the presentation of a food item, and Beta5’s cream puffs will make your eyes light up, feel substantial in your hands, invite you to enjoy the scent before finally biting into the creamy filling to satisfy your taste buds.

If you are enjoying your treats at the cafe, remember to try one of the cafe’s beverages; we opted for a latte from 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters and a Hot Chocolate created with an exclusive 66% Dark Chocolate Blend to ensure we tried a balanced option and a sweeter is better option.

At this point we were already exclaiming how we had met our sweets quota for the day, but we couldn’t forget about the croissants beckoning for us to take them home from the display case, and so in addition to all the sugary treats we already had, we brought home more treats to try (over the next several days!)

If you are like us, you will find it hard to leave empty-handed, even if you had already enjoyed a cream puff (or two) while you were at the cafe. Personally, I may have skipped lunch just so I could enjoy the Twice-Baked Strawberry Mochi Croissant at the office. There is something oddly satisfying about biting into a buttery, flaky croissant and having the flakes make a mess.

Visit

409 Industrial Ave, Vancouver

(604) 669-3336

shop.beta5chocolates.com