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Castro overflowing with Valentine's gift ideas

By Meredith May and Julian Guthrie Updated 9:24 am PST, Thursday, February 13, 2014

Tiny shop produces oodles of truffles

If it's 5 a.m. on a weekday in the Castro, Santos Euan is already up to his elbows in cocoa powder inside his tiny shop on 18th Street.

He handcrafts 100 pounds of truffles a week at Five Star Truffles, where he is the owner and only employee, using imported French chocolate and recipes that his mother taught him in Yucatán, Mexico.

Euan makes 25 flavors, everything from vegan coconut to Jim Beam honey maple. He also takes customer suggestions, such as cayenne caramel.

He sells 20 truffles for $16, 40 for $30 , and 80 for $60. He will ship orders larger than 8 pounds. Jim Beam recently purchased 20,000 truffles.

"My mom taught me to love chocolate," Euan said. "I would grind it in the kitchen, and she made the best hot chocolate."

Euan now serves hot chocolate to customers - just the way his mama made it.

- Meredith May

Five Star Truffles: 4251-A 18th St. (415) 552-5128.

Spike's Coffee & Teas: Traditional candy counter with sweets of yesteryear:

[email protected] [email protected]

no Liquor Flavors ) dark chocolate , espresso , caramel , lemon , raspberry , earl grey , orange , coconut , hazelnut , cayenne caramel , peanut butter , dark cayenne , black & white , vanilla chocolate

liquor flavors ) cognac , tequila , rum coco , hazelnut liquor , almond liquor , bourbon whiskey , bourbon honey , raspberry liquor , grand marnier , cream the menthe ,
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vegan chocolate truffles , orange & dark chocolate

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hand made

Our Mission

Castro overflowing with Valentine's gift ideas

By Meredith May and Julian Guthrie Updated 9:24 am PST, Thursday, February 13, 2014

Tiny shop produces oodles of truffles

If it's 5 a.m. on a weekday in the Castro, Santos Euan is already up to his elbows in cocoa powder inside his tiny shop on 18th Street.

He handcrafts 100 pounds of truffles a week at Five Star Truffles, where he is the owner and only employee, using imported French chocolate and recipes that his mother taught him in Yucatán,

Learn More

chocolates

Mexico.

Euan makes 25 flavors, everything from vegan coconut to Jim Beam honey maple. He also takes customer suggestions, such as cayenne caramel.

He sells 20 truffles for $16, 40 for $30 , and 80 for $60. He will ship orders larger than 8 pounds. Jim Beam recently purchased 20,000 truffles.

Learn More

truffles

"My mom taught me to love chocolate," Euan said. "I would grind it in the kitchen, and she made the best hot chocolate."

Euan now serves hot chocolate to customers - just the way his mama made it.

- Meredith May

Five Star Truffles: 4251-A 18th St. (415) 552-5128.

Spike's Coffee & Teas: Traditional candy counter with sweets of yesteryear:

Learn More

five star chocolate

Welcome to Let's Cafe

Today's Special: Five Star Truffles and Coffee

Bonnie Wach Published 4:00 am, Sunday, July 22, 2007 On a recent backpacking trip to the Sierra, which without going into detail I will merely describe as "adventurous," I was reminded of two things: One is that exposing one's hindquarters in the woods is no laughing matter, especially after an active mosquito hatch. Another is that, no matter how much of a wilderness experience you crave, no matter how badly you desire to get back to nature, you should never, ever let yourself be convinced that you can do without good coffee and good chocolate.

These two items, I believe, are more crucial for survival of the species than freeze-dried turkey tetrazzini, trail mix and Therm-a-Rest mats combined. Most certainly they are essential for survival of the husband, who risks life and limb by putting even the most innocuous of questions to the decaffeinated, cacao-less wife. He will not make that mistake again.

Anyway, not long after this revelation, I was driving down Divisadero Street when I spied a sign that completely summed up my core belief system. A no-nonsense marquee that read simply: Five Star Truffles and Coffee

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five star truffles

Fans of XOX will recognize Gorce's style here - truffles no bigger than the tip of your thumb, covered in dark chocolate and dusted in cocoa powder or hazelnuts or coconut. But (aside from the prices) there are also a few distinct Made by Hand. I screeched to a stop and pulled a U-turn.

Inside the shop, I found a deceptively bare-bones operation - a few perfunctory tables and chairs and a large glass case filled with decadent-looking bite-size chocolate morsels. A handwritten menu posted on the wall listed more than a dozen varieties of truffles at prices (90 cents each; $16 for a box of 20) that seemed downright ridiculous, considering that we live in the rarefied world of artisan chocolate, where 3-ounce bars go for upward of $5.

The shop is the love child of Santos Euan, a genial and tireless man who immigrated to San Francisco 10 years ago from Oxkutzcab in the mountains of Yucatan, Mexico. After a couple of years working in various restaurants, Euan landed a job at XOX Truffles in North Beach, apprenticing for seven years under well-known trufflemaker Jean-Marc Gorce. In November, he decided to strike out on his own, and with the help of partner Julio Quintanilla, he opened Five Star.

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differences.

"I tried to put my original touch on these. I tried a lot of different recipes and methods to bring out the flavors," Euan says. "It takes a long time to make truffles - two days to make one batch, and everything has to be perfect."

Euan's most popular truffle, caramel, takes nine hours just to cook the caramel, which must be cooled at room temperature. If the conditions are too hot, too cold or too humid, the consistency is ruined.

One bite, and you understand why this consistency is so important. Under a sprinkling of cocoa powder and a delicate jacket of Cacao Barry dark chocolate, the caramel is so intensely creamy and soft, so rich and smooth, you wonder if you've ever really tasted caramel before.

Other marvelous flavors include strawberry (made with a fruity ganache infused with strawberry liqueur), espresso, blackberry, cognac, citron lemon, coconut and the subtly smoky Earl Grey. Like XOX, Five Star also offers a few vegan choices, including soy orange and dark chocolate.

As for the other half of the menu, the coffee, it's fresh-roasted Graffeo, which Euan brews with as much care as he crafts his truffles. He also makes a truly sublime cup of cocoa - heavy on the chocolate and with steamed milk - that has developed a following all its own.

Euan hopes to expand his business soon with a Web site and the addition of Mitchell's ice cream. In the meantime, he can be found behind the counter greeting customers, rolling chocolates, pouring good, strong coffee - and upholding my belief system.

Five Star Truffles and Coffee: 411 Divisadero St., San Francisco; (415) 552-5128.

Hours: 7:00 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Prices: Truffles are 90 cents each, $16 for 20, $30 for 40, $60 for 80. Free coffee with box of chocolates; free truffle with order of coffee.

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The three main varieties of the cocoa plant are Forastero, Criollo, and Trinitario. The Forastero is the most widely used variety comprising 80 to 90% of the world production of cocoa. Cocoa beans of the Criollo variety are rarer and considered a delicacy. Trinitario which is widely grown in Trinidad is a hybrid between Criollo and Forastero varieties. It is considered to be of much higher quality than Forastero as it gives a higher yield and is more resistant to disease.

Our Special chcolate

Do you like chocolates? There is nobody on this earth who doesn't like chocolates. Everybody gets excited by just hearing the word "Chocolate". It is such a magical word. Irrespective of age groups, everybody loves to eat chocolate. A piece of chocolate is enough to bring happiness on your dear one's face. But do you know how are chocolates manufactured? I was excited to know about the process and collected some information. Some of you might be aware that chocolates are manufactured from the Cocoa beans of the Cocoa tree. The beans are processed and the chocolates are made. Today I'm discussing about the Cocoa Tree or Chocolate Tree.

Upcoming Flavored Food

Cocoa Tree or scientifically called Theobroma cacao is a small evergreen tree native to the deep tropical regions of the Americas. The seeds also called cocoa beans are used to make cocoa mass, cocoa powder, bakery products, ganache and chocolate.

Let's Take A chocolate

The chocolate tree is a small tree and grows as an understory species in the rainforest. So it can tolerate partial sun conditions. Most standard potting mixes are fine for the chocolate plant. It needs good drainage with a pH of 5 to 6. The chocolate tree is easy to grow in pots but it needs a bit of room to produce fruit. Cocoa Plants are generally grown from seed and need 3-4 years to reach fruiting size. The tree reaches 5 to 6 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 1.5 to 2 feet. A large, sunny and warm spot is needed to grow a Cocoa tree. A Cocoa plant requires a warm growing area with the temperature above 15°c. The flowers are produced on the woody trunks and branches in clusters.

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Our Cafe

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The number 4251-A 18 TH ST
FIVE STAR TRUFFLES & coffee in the country

100% hot chocolate

Inside Five Star Truffles, Striving To Satisfy The Castro's Chocolate Cravings

Photos: Brian Ray/Hoodline

Fri. September 25, 2015, 1:11pm

by Brian Ray

@BrianPaulRay

Neighborhoods

Castro, Divisadero

Five Star Truffles has made its home in the Castro since early 2011, ever since the shop moved from its Divisadero location, which would go on to become a controversial Chase bank location.

We recently visited with owner and truffle-maker Santos Euan to learn how he began his career in chocolate, how business has been in the Castro spot, how his recipes and products have evolved over time, and what he looks forward to with his company. Santos Euan showing off the goods

Before Five Star Truffles and his life in San Francisco, Euan spent his younger years in Yucatán, Mexico, where his mother helped him develop a passion for chocolate, he told us. He later made chocolate in Mexico before moving to the States. In San Francisco, Euan worked in a variety of food outlets, working with sushi, coffee, Mexican food, and another chocolate business. (Ed. note: His previous employer, XOX Truffles, has weighed in on that relationship in the comments, below.) Inside Five Star Truffles, Striving To Satisfy The Castro's Chocolate Cravings

Photos: Brian Ray/Hoodline

Fri. September 25, 2015, 1:11pm

by Brian Ray

@BrianPaulRay

Neighborhoods

Castro, Divisadero

Five Star Truffles has made its home in the Castro since early 2011, ever since the shop moved from its Divisadero location, which would go on to become a controversial Chase bank location.

Flavoring in mocha

We recently visited with owner and truffle-maker Santos Euan to learn how he began his career in chocolate, how business has been in the Castro spot, how his recipes and products have evolved over time, and what he looks forward to with his company.

Santos Euan showing off the goods

Before Five Star Truffles and his life in San Francisco, Euan spent his younger years in Yucatán, Mexico, where his mother helped him develop a passion for chocolate, he told us. He later made chocolate in Mexico before moving to the States. In San Francisco, Euan worked in a variety of food outlets, working with sushi, coffee, Mexican food, and another chocolate business. (Ed. note: His previous employer, XOX Truffles, has weighed in on that relationship in the comments, below.)

When he was ready, Euan opened Five Star Truffles in 2006 on the corner of Divisadero and Oak. While the location got a steady flow of reviews and customers, things went sour in 2008. "The economy going down and construction around the area made it hard," Euan recalls.

To add to Euan's headache, he and his business partner parted ways, later leading to issues with their lease agreement and subsequent loss of their space, which later turned into a Chase location. "I looked for about three months to find the new space in the Castro," Euan says. "But it was good to have everything in my name. I was motivated to work hard and make quality truffles."

While things got off to a good start at the current location, the major Castro Street construction project hit hard. "It hurt a lot," Euan remembers. "I lost a lot of money during that time."

Once the project completed, however, things began to slowly improve. "The economy is doing better, but it's always a challenge," he tells us, referring to a business that's highest periods of income are twice a year, with slower periods in-between.

But when his truffles are in-season during Christmas and Valentine's Day, Euan works extra hard to keep an abundant supply ready of the 25 flavors that he typically offers daily. "Those times are crazy, and I make about four times as much of each batch that I normally make. It's great for business."

truffles end coffee

Euan makes a point to perfect his many different flavors, tasting each batch and adjusting ingredients. "I've created entire batches before that I threw away because the flavors weren't right," he explains. "Truffles made with the wrong types of ingredients or with chocolate that has been melted in too high temperatures lead to differences in taste and texture."

While favorites like dark chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut all do well, Euan likes experimenting with new ideas to keep things interesting. His newest flavor, cayenne caramel with coffee, takes him about eight to nine hours to create. "The caramel has to be cooked very slowly and prepared with the chocolate in cool temperatures around 50 degrees," he explains. He uses Ubuntu Columbian Medium Roast in his truffles—the same coffee that can be ordered in the store.

Each truffle is 90 cents, with discounts for larger orders ranging from 20 truffles for $14 to 80 truffles for $48. Euan also offers a variety of boxes and ribbons for gifts.

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Beverages are the other offering at Euan's store. "In addition to the coffee, espresso, and mocha, we offer a variety of Italian sodas and a special hot chocolate made with 100 percent chocolate, rather than using any powder. The powder is fine, but the flavor of the real chocolate makes a difference," he says.

Five Star Truffles has slowly developed a base of regulars who enjoy seeing Euan and catching up with him each day. During our interview, a couple and their son came in to order some Italian sodas. The child practiced some Spanish with Euan while his parents browsed the selection of truffles.

Currently and looking forward, Euan has teamed up with Eat24 to help expand his customer base. "I contacted them to work together and they had already heard of me because the person there had a friend who was a regular of mine," he tells us. "It's been great so far."

With his fifth year in the Castro on the horizon, Euan says that he'll continue to improve his flavors and come up with new ones as he works to grow his business and keep the Castro supplied with chocolate. Five Star Truffles is located at 4251-A 18th St, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00am to 8:00pm, and Sunday from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Learn more about their flavors, prices, and more on their website.

Peaceful Environment

1. Verde SF

1265 Fell St.: Monica Lomas beautifies her flower shop with clear vases containing fresh bunches of fuchsia dahlias, buttercup yellow gerbera daisies, pink and white stargazer lilies and more. She also designs and creates gorgeous bouquets in soothing palettes for weddings and other special occasions. (415) 796-3890. www.verdesf.com.

2. Five Star Truffles

1265 Fell St.: Biting into the cocoa-dusted exterior of one of the dark chocolate truffles reveals a smooth, milky flavored center. This leads to trying another of these handmade treats by Five Star Truffles, which operates a satellite space inside Verde SF. With more than 25 flavors, it's easy to fall in love. (415) 552-5128. www.fivestartruffles.com.

We’ve loved every minute of our journey

Customers Values

Welcome to FIVE STAR TRUFFLES!

When you visit us, you're in for a treat.

Experience our handmade chocolate truffles in more than 25 flavors, including liquor & vegan creations, all gluten free. Also serving unique hot chocolate & specialty coffee drinks. Our truffles are renowned for their freshness and distinctive combination of spices, flavors and aromas.

The perfect gift!

Now creating custom flavored truffles

for special occasions and events.

Now shipping nationwide!

We are located at

4251-A 18th St. San Francisco, CA 94114

Open Mon-fry 7am-8pm-Sat 8A-8P & Sun 8A-6P

PLEASE COME TRY OUR NEW FLAVORS:

Cayenne Caramel -Peanut Butter

-Jim Beam Maple Bourbon

Our Mission

Castro overflowing with Valentine's gift ideas

By Meredith May and Julian Guthrie Updated 9:24 am PST, Thursday, February 13, 2014

Tiny shop produces oodles of truffles

If it's 5 a.m. on a weekday in the Castro, Santos Euan is already up to his elbows in cocoa powder inside his tiny shop on 18th Street.

He handcrafts 100 pounds of truffles a week at Five Star Truffles, where he is the owner and only employee, using imported French chocolate and recipes that his mother taught him in Yucatán, Mexico.

Euan makes 25 flavors, everything from vegan coconut to Jim Beam honey maple. He also takes customer suggestions, such as cayenne caramel.

He sells 20 truffles for $16, 40 for $30 , and 80 for $60. He will ship orders larger than 8 pounds. Jim Beam recently purchased 20,000 truffles.

"My mom taught me to love chocolate," Euan said. "I would grind it in the kitchen, and she made the best hot chocolate."

Euan now serves hot chocolate to customers - just the way his mama made it.

- Meredith May

Five Star Truffles: 4251-A 18th St. (415) 552-5128.

Spike's Coffee & Teas: Traditional candy counter with sweets of yesteryear:

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Click this text to start editing. This block is a basic combination of a title and a paragraph. Use it to welcome visitors to your website, or explain a product or service without using an image. Try keeping the paragraph short and breaking off the text-only areas of your page to keep your website interesting to visitors.