Warm the almond milk: Add almond milk to a small saucepan over medium heat. Warm until steaming, not boiling.
Whisk in cocoa: Sift in the cocoa powder to avoid lumps. Whisk steadily until it dissolves and the mixture looks smooth.
Add sweetener and salt: Stir in maple syrup (start with 1 tablespoon) and a pinch of sea salt.
Taste and adjust sweetness.
Melt in dark chocolate: Add chopped dark chocolate. Whisk until fully melted and silky. Keep the heat gentle to prevent scorching.
Finish with flavor: Remove from heat.
Stir in vanilla extract and any optional spices or espresso powder.
Serve hot: Pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream or a sprinkle of cocoa if you like.
For iced: Let it cool 15–20 minutes, then pour over a tall glass of ice. Taste and sweeten slightly more if needed, since ice dilutes flavor.