Everyone loves chocolate, right? It’s the perfect mix of sweet and bitter, and the combinations of ingredients that go beautifully with it are endless.

(Ever try bacon chocolate? I have and I’m hesitant to admit for fear of being judged that, yes, it is indeed quite good.) Have you ever wondered where this decadent treat comes from, or what it is exactly? Have you ever wondered what it is that makes you feel so good when eating it or if it is bad for you like the rest of the desserts we love so much? Well, I recently had the privilege of speaking with the corporate events planner, Rodolfo Espinal Martinez, at MarieBelle; a famous chocolate shop located in Soho, New York that describes itself as “a unique pleasure” and “an experience no chocolate-lover should miss.” Rodolfo was kind enough to answer a few questions for me and help me come up with some interesting chocolate facts that will help turn regular chocolate consumers into chocolate connoisseurs.

Love your coffee, but not sure about the caffeine?  Let’s take a closer look at coffee and caffeine and what you can do to have the best of both worlds.

What is caffeine?

Caffeine is the coffee plant’s natural defense against insects and pests native to tropical coffee growing regions. Caffeine can be found on the coffee plant’s leaves, cherries and seeds, which once roasted become coffee beans as we know them. Caffeine is extracted from the seeds or green coffee beans via various decaffeination processes, and is later added to soft drinks, cosmetics and over-the-counter medications for its stimulant properties.