Since 2018, Ryan Koussouji has been the head chocolate maker at the shop, which his parents, Scott and Carrie, opened in November 2014. Scott’s parents, Ted and Joy, closed their Ohio-based shop, the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory, in August—but not before passing everything they knew to their son and grandson.
“So many of these recipes have just been passed down,” Ryan said.
One of those recipes is the Texas Turtle, which consists of pecan halves dipped in caramel and covered in milk or dark chocolate in the shape of a turtle. The turtles, which can also be salted to make “sea turtles,” make up the centerpieces of Copper Kettle’s gift boxes.
Some recipes, however, are more modern and inspired by customer tastes. Carrie told the story of their marshmallow melts, which were at first served sliced into bricks. But customers preferred Ryan’s presentation of them—which looks more like an amorphous blob.
“It was really funny—we put out the ones that were all sliced nicely and the customers were like ‘Hmm, no, I like [Ryan’s]!’” Carrie said.
Customers can purchase individual treats or gift boxes of various sizes. Holiday specialties include peppermint bark, cordial cherries and assorted gift boxes.
Copper Kettle found a welcoming home in Cy-Fair. Scott and Carrie were drawn to the neighborhood by its trees and its friendly residents, and the family settled in.
Copper Kettle is donating $5 for every order of its almond toffee bricks to a local charity. The family has also gotten directly involved in the community, with Scott and Ryan running in local triathlons and Ryan coaching a local lacrosse team.
When COVID-19 struck, Copper Kettle did not have to worry about employees since Scott, Carrie and Ryan are the only ones running the business. However, with a lockdown in place and Easter 2020 approaching, they adapted by implementing pickup orders. Another result of the pandemic has been supply chain disruption, and Ryan said the shop has experienced delays.
Moving forward, Ryan plans to upgrade his existing equipment and workspace. He said he would like to open more storefronts in Cy-Fair.
15014 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. 145, Cypress. 281-547-7878. www.copperkettlechocolates.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun.-Mon.
