Difference between Couverture chocolate and Compund - Quick Reads

At the most simple level, Couverture is real chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa butter, while Compound is a chocolate-like product, often brightly coloured, made with vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter. 

Couverture is high-quality chocolate used by fine chocolatiers and pastry chefs because of its superior taste, texture, and appearance. Compound chocolate is a versatile and cost-effective alternative to couverture chocolate that is widely used in both home baking and commercial food production. It can be chocolate-flavoured and coloured brown to look like chocolate or it can be brightly coloured for visual impact.

Composition

Couverture chocolate has a high percentage of cocoa butter (usually around 30-40%). It contains cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar but its defining characteristic is the higher ratio of cocoa butter. This high cocoa butter content gives couverture a smooth and creamy texture, enhancing the overall mouthfeel of the finished product. 

Compound is made with vegetable fats (such as palm kernel oil or hydrogenated oils) instead of cocoa butter. It typically contains cocoa powder or chocolate flavouring, vegetable fats, sugar, and other ingredients like emulsifiers. 

Fat Content

For something to be legally called "chocolate", the only fat in the ingredients can be cocoa butter. Couverture's high cocoa butter content contributes to a more luxurious and rich flavour and a smooth mouth-feel. Cocoa butter is the most expensive ingredient in couverture, which is why couverture costs more. 

Compound uses cheaper fats like vegetable, coconut, or palm oils. As a result, it is much less expensive than couverture, it has a different texture, often slightly waxy or greasy, and a less pronounced chocolate flavour compared to couverture chocolate. You can feel the waxy finish in your mouth when you eat Compound. You can't miss it.

What we use

At Amorio we use couverture chocolates in all our baked goods. This helps in the rich flavour and smooth feel of the chocolate.