If you love chocolate and music, Cocoa Legato in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood is a must-visit. Aaron Lindstrom, a lifelong musician and chocolate maker, has created a space where the two passions come together beautifully. Bean-to-bar chocolate crafted from scratch, vegan pastries, Café Vita coffee, and live music performances make every visit a sensory experience. From tasting bars that open like vinyl records to intimate shows that bring Seattle’s music scene alive, Cocoa Legato is more than a café. It’s a celebration of craft, culture, and community.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Please introduce yourself!
Hi, my name is Aaron Lindstrom. I am the owner and the executive chocolate maker for Cocoa Legato. Cocoa Legato is Seattle’s new home for bean-to-bar chocolate and music. We are a bean-to-bar chocolate factory, live music venue, a Café Vita coffee shop, and we also have a small menu as well as freshly baked pastries, all rooted in our chocolate.
Tell us a little bit about your origin story as a chocolate maker.
I’ve been in the chocolate industry for about 15 years. I started with a company called Cho Chocolate in the Bay Area. I also worked at Theo Chocolate in Seattle for almost a decade. I’m a full-time musician as well. I play in seven or eight local projects, and I also lead my own. Chocolate and music have been my whole life, and Cocoa Legato is my attempt to merge the two things I know best into one.
What instrument do you play?
I play guitar and sing in my own project. We’re kind of like an eight-piece soul, rock, funk, folk band. I also play bass in six or seven projects, whether it’s in the studio or live.
How did your experience at Theo Chocolate shape Cocoa Legato?
At Theo, I created the factory experience, a virtual chocolate tasting program, and even a kid’s book. I spent a lot of time interacting with people, learning what they love in chocolate and what they don’t. That gave me the energy to start something like this. One highlight at Theo was making a chocolate bar with Pearl Jam. Seeing fans get excited about music and chocolate together sparked the idea that I could merge these worlds into something really special.
Tell us about the chocolate.
We are a bean-to-bar chocolate factory, meaning we make chocolate completely from scratch, from bean to bar. Most of our chocolate comes from Colombia. I’m Colombian, and I wanted to honor my heritage. That said, Peruvian cacao is amazing, so we source some beans from Peru as well.
Every bar is designed to feel like opening a vinyl record. The back lists tasting notes, chocolatey, nutty, creamy, fruity, bright, so you know what to expect. Inside, you’ll find liner notes and album credits for who made the chocolate. Each bar also has a QR code that links to a Seattle-based musician, female, queer, or BIPOC, paired specifically with that chocolate. The idea is that as the chocolate spreads, the music spreads too.
When did you open the brick-and-mortar? How long did it take?
We’ve been open for four months. We just hit that milestone last week. The project took two years of planning and a year and a half of construction.
Why Greenwood?
I looked at many places around Seattle, but this spot was completely vacant, no walls, minimal electricity, little plumbing. It gave us the chance to build from scratch, walls, windows, stage, plumbing, everything. The neighborhood has been amazing. On opening day, we had a line down the street and around the block. We’ve already developed a great group of regulars. Greenwood’s been incredibly welcoming.
What can first-time visitors expect?
Chocolate! We have samples of all our bars on the wall, so you don’t have to guess if you like something before buying it. You can come in just to taste chocolate and leave if you want. My hope is that you come back and buy a bar eventually. Every corner of this place is unique, from our beautiful mural designed by a local artist to the bathrooms. All of our pastries are fresh and vegan. We have coffee, chocolate drinks, and the chocolate chip cookies have been called the best in the city.
What is the most popular beverage?
Our sipping chocolate is the most popular. It’s a four-ounce cup of pure liquid chocolate. You can also do chocolate flights, sampling Colombian and Peruvian chocolate, our Café Vita espresso, and sparkling water. People often enjoy a cookie with a chocolate flight while listening to music and spending an afternoon here.
Tell us about your live shows.
We built a full live music venue. All the walls are sound treated, and we installed sound panels on the ceiling. Live music happens Fridays and Saturdays. Soon we will open up an open mic night. We host R&B, folk, and jazz. The shows are intimate, like a house concert. We want the audience up close. The space is designed so you can’t hide in the back. While the show is happening, we roast cocoa beans, so the whole place smells like chocolate. You can enjoy coffee, a chocolate drink, watch chocolate being made, and listen to Seattle’s talented musicians.
Why do you believe it is important to support small businesses?
Supporting small businesses matters. With the current economic climate, people still choose to spend thoughtfully. Visiting small queer-owned, Latino-owned, or local businesses helps support good intentions and the people behind the business. Every dollar spent here makes a difference.
Can you tell us about your chocolate factory tours?
Tours happen Mondays and Wednesdays. Guests can walk through the entire chocolate factory, learn about bean-to-bar chocolate, taste chocolate, and enjoy curated music from local artists. Most people don’t know where chocolate comes from, so these tours educate and delight.
What are some other small businesses you love?
Our neighbors at Hummus Cafe make incredible food and have been a guiding light while opening Cocoa Legato. Easy Street Records is another favorite and a huge inspiration.
Anything else you’d like to share about Cocoa Legato?
We make really good chocolate, showcase great music, and run a small but passionate team. Come support Latino- and queer-owned businesses, enjoy amazing chocolate, and explore Seattle’s thriving music scene. Cocoa Legato and other local companies like Spinnaker Chocolate are keeping Seattle’s chocolate legacy alive.