Mozna Chocolate & Coffee Co. — Restaurant in San Antonio

In San Antonio, a monkey mascot beckons coffee lovers and chocolate aficionados alike to an unassuming storefront on Broadway. Mozna Chocolate & Coffee Co., established in 2015, offers something increasingly rare in today's specialized culinary landscape: mastery of two distinct crafts under one roof.

Unlike the third-wave coffee shops that populate urban centers nationwide, Mozna's appeal lies in its unexpected pairing. The shop produces single-origin chocolate bars using beans sourced from Colombia, India, Mexico, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Vietnam — the culmination of founder Anthony Matulewicz's 18-month global exploration of cacao. These beans make their way from Mozna's factory in Hidalgo, near McAllen, to this San Antonio outpost where they're transformed into bars containing just two ingredients: cacao and cane sugar.

Inside, the industrial-chic space balances exposed ductwork and pendant lighting with warm wooden tables and caramel-colored leather banquettes. Large windows flood the narrow room with natural light, while educational displays about chocolate production line one wall — a hint at the shop's commitment to demystifying the bean-to-bar process.

The menu, scrawled across chalkboards behind the counter, offers standard espresso drinks alongside signature Mozna mochas that showcase their house-made chocolate. A glass case displays chocolate-drizzled croissants, muffins, and cookies, though food options remain secondary to the beverages and chocolate products.

What distinguishes Mozna from competitors is its "Build Your Own Chocolate Bar" experience, where visitors select toppings and design custom wrappers for personalized chocolate bars. This hands-on approach transforms a simple retail transaction into an educational encounter, complete with lessons about cacao's origins and manufacturing process.

"I watched my husband become like a kid in an adult candy shop," one visitor remarked in a recent review, highlighting the childlike wonder the experience often evokes. This playfulness extends to the shop's origin story — the business is named after a fictional chocolate-loving chimpanzee created by the owners to make the experience more accessible and entertaining for younger visitors.

The coffee itself deserves attention, brewed from "award-certified" beans that produce a robust yet smooth cup. Their signature lattes arrive with velvety microfoam, though service can occasionally slow during busy periods with limited staff behind the counter.

Some might find the space restrictive during peak hours, and the pastry selection modest compared to dedicated bakeries. Yet these minor shortcomings hardly detract from Mozna's unique offer: a thoughtfully designed space where specialty coffee and artisanal chocolate production converge.

In a city increasingly defined by culinary tourism, Mozna represents a refreshing departure from the formulaic. It's not simply a coffee shop with good chocolate or a chocolatier that happens to brew coffee. Rather, it's a space where both crafts receive equal reverence, educational opportunities abound, and a cartoon monkey mascot reminds visitors not to take their gourmet indulgences...

I came in the morning of Valentine’s Day with my partner to surprise him with a chocolate bar, mocha, and chocolate croissant. Unfortunately there weren’t any choco croissants and the cashier almost seemed to talk us out of making a chocolate bar, “it’s going to take an hour.” “Ok! No problem!”

She made our mochas (we got a muffin and breakfast sandwich which were good!) Then, we were given were 2 paper cups to put our toppings in. We only had a choice of about 5? Gummy bears that seemed hard, coconut, almonds, a couple others. I was hoping for sea salt? There was no explanation. Then, she put the bar in front of us and told us to put our toppings on from the paper cups. I wish I would’ve seen her put the chocolate in the mold because I didn’t realize there were 8 individual pieces. I may have pressed down an almond in a few?

We waited an hour, which was fine because we had our computers and had work to do. We were given some scratch paper to write down what we wanted on our label but then told the printer was broken so the label was handwritten on a piece of paper and wrapped around the bar. It was cute and I appreciate the effort but when you are paying $16 for an experience, I was hoping for something a little different.

I would come back for a mocha and buy the chocolate again but I was really here for the experience and just didn’t get it that day. Oh well!...

Let me just say this, Monza isn’t just a coffee shop. It’s a vibe. It’s a warm hug in the form of espresso and cocoa. It’s the kind of place where your toddler can destroy you in UNO while you sip one of the best coconut mocha lattes you've had in your adult life. True story.

The interior is dope. It's modern, clean, and cozy all at once, with subtle education about chocolate origins woven into the decor. You’ll walk in for caffeine and walk out knowing where cacao grows and questioning why you didn’t come here sooner.

The drinks are bold, balanced, and made with intention. The pastries? Dangerous. You’ll sit down for “just one” and suddenly be negotiating with your kid over the last bite of ham and cheese croissant like it's a custody hearing.

They’ve got a little reading and game nook that makes this place feel like a second living room, if your living room was curated by someone with good taste and better lighting. It’s not loud, not stuffy, just right. And the staff? All aces. Friendly, fast, and full of solid recommendations.

Whether you're here for work, for a date with your kid, or just hiding from reality with a cup of something strong, Monza delivers.

Shoutout to whoever decided to put a coloring book, tic-tac-toe, and UNO on standby, you're...