There are large companies that process cocoa beans and produce buttons (about 3 cm in diameter) from cocoa mass. Most artisan chocolatiers make chocolate from these. From bean to bar literally means "from bean to bar" meaning the chocolatier buys the beans, roasts them, and uses them to make chocolate. If you would like to find out how chocolate is made "from bean to bar" at this link Armin of Karuna Chocolate shows us the whole process. Another very good "from bean to bar" chocolatier is my friend Marco Colzani who has a beautiful factory outlet in Carate Brianza, where he also sells his amazing juices and jams.