Malena Lopez-Maggi

Founder and creative director of The Xocolate Bar, an award-winning Berkeley artisan chocolate company. Twenty years of experience bringing original chocolate concepts from idea to market, combining flavor development, visual design, sourcing, packaging, and customer education.

Professional experience

The Xocolate Bar · Berkeley, California
Founder & Creative Director | 2006–2026

• Developed hundreds of original recipes and product designs using natural ingredients and organic, fair-trade chocolate.
• Directed product development, recipe creation, sourcing, packaging, visual identity, marketing, and client relationships.
• Oversaw chocolate production, staff training, customer education, and custom commissions.
• Expanded wholesale distribution to nearly 400 boutiques nationwide.
• Created custom chocolate projects and public programming for museums, universities, corporations, and cultural organizations.

Selected collaborations and commissions

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco · KQED · American Craft Council · Chabot Space & Science Center · Mills College Art Museum · Meta · Maker's Mark · Sandra Cisneros book-launch collaboration

Chocolate education and curriculum

Tamalpais Community Education — Developed and taught The Chocolate Snob's Guide to Tasting, Single-Origin Chocolate, and An Edible History of Chocolate.

• Chabot Space & Science Center: Chocolate-based flavor and color perception programming.
• American Craft Council: Food-safe moldmaking and chocolate process demonstration.
• Mills College Art Museum: Centennial chocolate buffet and participatory food/art programming.

Education and professional training

• MFA, Studio Art — Mills College, 2015, summa cum laude
• BA, Studio Art — Mills College, 2013
• UC Davis — Food Science short course
• Melissa Coppel Chocolate & Pastry School — Professional chocolate production training

Selected recognition

• 2007 — San Francisco International Chocolate Salon, Best in Show
• 2020 — Good Food Award, Cacao Fruit Jam
• 2023 — San Francisco International Chocolate Salon, Best New Product (Faux Brie / Chocuterie)
• 2025 — USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice, #7 Best Chocolate Shop in the U.S.

For chocolate consulting inquiries: founders@xocobar.com