1 cup strong coffee (or just plain hot water, my preference)
1/4 c milk
175g good quality cooking chocolate
250g butter
1 1/2 c sugar
1/4 c cocoa
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
for the icing
125 g chocolate
25g butter
1 1/2 c icing sugar
1 tbsp cocoa
Simmer water & milk. Add the sugar, chocolate & butter, and stir until melted. Allow to cool (1 hour or 1/2 hour in the freezer).
In a large bowl sift flour, cocoa and baking soda. Beat eggs and vanilla together.
Mix with an electric mixer or a hand mixer until combined. Pour into a baking tin. Turn on oven and place cake in while cold. Bake at 150C for 1 hour.
Ice with chocolate icing and dress with extra shavings of chocolate.
If wishing to cover with chocolate ganache instead combine 250g melted cooled chocolate, and 1/2c (125ml) cream, beat well together.