CAPITOL
CHOCOLATE
faq

A. Capitol Chocolate Fountains, established in 2003, is a woman owned business. We are the largest provider of commercial chocolate fountain rentals for the greater Washington DC Metropolitan area. We feature an imported Belgian chocolate with all our rentals.

A. Yes. We are located in Manassas off the 234 Bypass. Our address is 11510 Robertson Drive. We meet with clients by appointment only. Call us at (703) 369-7378 to set up an appointment or arrange for a tasting.

A. Unlike home-based and smaller fountain companies, we have an office location with a high temperature commercial washing system; the CMA Dishmachines model CMA-180. We begin by rinsing the fountains in our 3 compartment sink and follow with a cycle in the CMA 180 which washes then sanitizes.

A. Proper cleaning is essential. Home-based fountain rental companies often rely on their home dishwasher to clean their fountains. The fountain tops will not fit adequately in a home dishwasher nor will they provide the water temperature (155°F) to sanitize and remove bacteria. Manufacturers state low water temperatures don’t provide enough heat to clean dishes properly. Our CMA 180 washes at 155°F-160°F and rinses at 180°F-195°F. You can be certain the fountain you rent from us is properly cleaned.

A. Because we use a superior chocolate! Ours is an imported Belgian chocolate. We don’t purchase our chocolate from retail stores, box stores or from the internet. Our chocolate does not come in individual pouches but in cases of 22, 30 and 50 lbs. While other companies use domestic chocolate for their clients, we prefer imported Belgian chocolate for ours.

A. Yes, it is. It is important to us that our customers have the best quality chocolate available. We operate on a small margin compared to other companies that use an inferior chocolate thereby lowering their cost. Be sure to ask if the fountain company you are considering using offers an imported Belgian chocolate at no additional charge with their fountains.

A. NO! We offer milk, semi sweet and white imported Belgian chocolate standard with all of our fountains.

A. NO! Our chocolate is made specifically for use in chocolate fountains and does not require the addition of anything to flow smoothly.

A. Yes. All our chocolate is certified Kosher Dairy. We can provide Kosher Pareve chocolate if requested. Kosher certificates are available upon request.

A. Small – 10 lbs. Medium – 20 lbs. Intermediate – 25 lbs. Large – 30 lbs. We believe you should know how much chocolate is included with your fountain! When comparing fountain companies be sure to ask exactly how much chocolate they include. Some don’t mention this at all while others mention they include “enough” for the number of guests expected. Additional chocolate, if necessary, may be purchased and added to the fountain.

A. There are several possibilities. If you are working with a hotel, caterer or event site, they generally will provide them. Some locations will allow us to provide dipping items and others will not due to liability issues. Some places will allow you to bring your own dipping items. In any event, please check with your hotel, caterer, event site or planner to determine which option will work best for you.

A. A drip shield, made of food grade stainless steel, attaches to the base of the fountain. It extends the drip area 3 ¾ inches making a nicer presentation and shortening the distance from a dipped item to the plate. We include a drip shield with all our fountains at no additional charge. Be sure to ask if the fountain company you are considering using offers a free drip shield.

A. Our attendants are attired professionally. They wear tuxedo shirts, bow tie, vest and/or jacket and black pants. While other companies dress in polo shirts and/or aprons for their clients, we prefer a more polished presentation for ours. If the client requests, our attendants can dress more casually to blend in with a particular theme.

A. We currently offer 4 different fountain sizes. Additional sizes may be planned in the near future. Please refer to our Rentals and Services page for specific information about each size.

A. Up to 2 hours of continuous running time is included. This is plenty of time for your guests to indulge in our delicious Belgian chocolate. If necessary, additional running time may be added for an additional charge.

A. A signed contract and a 50% deposit. The balance is due 14 days prior to your event date.

A. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, cash or personal check.

A. A standard 120 volt grounded outlet is required for the fountain. If other items such as smoothie machines, cappuccino machines, spotlights, speakers, etc. are in use, you will want to have a dedicated power source for the fountain so that circuits are not overloaded.

A. We require a strong sturdy table capable of holding 100 lbs. Folding card tables are not recommended. In addition, our experience has shown that a round table may look nice but a rectangular table is preferred. Guests can pick up their plate, select their dipping items as they pass by and proceed to the fountain. This process eliminates congestion and allows each guest access to all dipping items.

A. No. We don’t recommend it for several reasons. Main concerns are flying bugs, wind, outdoor temperature and chocolate temperature. For those having receptions or parties under a tent, we require the tent have sides which are lowered and a temperature that will remain consistent throughout the event.

A. No. We believe in offering every client the best value possible. That means offering consistent pricing to everyone. Imagine how you would feel if you found out that a friend paid less than you did. We want all of our clients to be treated equally and fairly.

A. We serve the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. We will travel outside the area (Annapolis, Baltimore, Frederick, MD as well as Fredericksburg, Warrenton, Culpepper, VA) for a small travel fee.