Chop the chocolate into small, even pieces
Fill a saucepan with 1 to 2 inches of water
Bring the water to a gentle simmer over low heat
Place a heatproof bowl over the saucepan without touching the water
Add the chocolate to the bowl
Stir the chocolate frequently with a dry spatula
Remove the bowl from the heat when the chocolate is mostly melted
Keep stirring until the chocolate is smooth
Avoid letting any water or steam get into the chocolate
Use immediately or keep warm over very low heat