DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
Panasonic Inverter Technology Microwave, 2.5 cubic feet.
Forum Activity for @Solis Lujan
Posted in: Opinion
Panasonic Inverter Technology Microwave, 2.5 cubic feet.
DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
APW replied and said that the linked food warmer's temperature range is 70-180 F. So, it looks like it should work well for chocolate melting.
DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
I realize you don't need a stable temp.
The question is: "How long will it take for any given approach to melting chocolate take to melt X weight to desired temp?" This melter might be real fast - too fast, in fact in that it will melt far more chocolate than you need far more quickly than you need to a temperature much higher than you need.
If so, then whatever money you're saving on the equipment you're losing in increased energy costs.
Or maybe not. There could be ways to much more closely monitor the equipment, but it won't be "set and forget" especially at the beginning.
DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
Thanks Clay. Definitely good points. I've got an email in to them. I'll post their reply when I get it. I'm mostly looking for something to pre-melt chocolate to load into my tempering machine--not really hold it at temp once melted.
DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
To everyone looking to shave a few bucks off a purchase, capital acquisition costs are only a small part of the total cost picture, or total cost of operation (TCO).
Operating a piece of equipment can cost more than buying it.
If one piece of equipment is less energy efficient than another, then it may make more sense to buy the more expensive piece of equipment as it will be cheaper in the long run
Ben - the unit you're looking at is a food warmer. It wants to hold food above 150F. That's real high for chocolate. I'd contact the company (or the web site) and ask them what the bottom end of the range on the thermostat is. Even is 150F is okay, you'll pay more to keep it at that temp than at 120F - and it will cost more in the long run, even if you saved a few bucks up front.
DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
I don't have any experience with that melter, but have been thinking about getting this food warmer to use as a chocolate melter:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/apw-wyott-w-3v-12-x-20-countertop-food-warmer-120v/135W3V%20%20%20%20%20%20120.html
Has anyone used one of these? How did it work?
DessertsHouse.com Chocolate Melter
Posted in: Opinion
Does anyone have any experience with these melters? They seem to be a great price at less than $500 for an 18kg chocolate melter.
I just want to make sure I'm not throwing money at a melter that won't hold a stable temp.
Thanks!
updated by @George Trejo: 04/19/15 22:29:56
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
Have you tried making your bark thin and sprinkling the inclusions onto it? Like mendiants, very large mendiants.
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
Take the bloomed bark, warm it back up to melt out the chocolate, sieve it to get out the inclusions, and use the chocolate you've collected. Just watch for any needed changes in temper if you get enough oils from nuts or other sources.
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
Do you temper the chocolate before you make the ganache? I've learned that ganache needs to be made with tempered chocolate to get the proper consistency.
Thanks
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
You can make chocolate caramels, nuts, fruit and all. Also make a ganache filling.
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
In the machine? or only by hand?
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
It depends on a few things- if there's only a small amount that bloomed, I will usually chop it up and use it as samples. I don't think people can tell when it's chopped into pieces, and it doesn't really affect the flavor. If it's a large amount, I will melt it down and re-temper (by hand, not in the machine). This doesn't work for everything- for example, dried fruit can burn during the melting process. But for most of my barks, it's been fine.
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
So, I have a question related to this, what do you do with the bark after it has bloomed? You do you re-temper it with all the ingredients in it or do you use it for sampling (which I have seen at some shops I visited while doing research for opening my shop) I have some bark that bloomed and I don't know what to do with it. I can't bring myself to sample it because of the look of it and I don't know if it will work trying to temper it manually. Any ideas or thoughts?
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
I have this problem sometimes when the ingredients I am adding to the choc are too cold, I would warm the ingredients you are adding slightly like you say.
Making bark with a tempering machine
Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques
Hi friends,I just got my first tempering machine- a Chocovision X3210 (the 10lb one). I want to use it to make my barks, which involve adding different ingredients (nuts, pretzels, etc) to the tempered chocolate. Recently I've had some issues with this- the chocolate will be perfectly tempered, I'll throw in the ingredients, stir, pour out onto sheets, and spread, and then when it sets it gets streaky and bloomed. It doesn't happen every time, but it happens enough. I started to add the ingredients at the end of the tempering process but before the chocolate is totally tempered and that seems to work better. But my question is, how can I do this with a tempering machine? I don't want to put anything but chocolate into the machine, of course. Should I warm up the ingredients slightly so they're not at room temp? Should I take the chocolate out of the machine a few degrees shy of being tempered? Any help would be appreciated!
updated by @Chocolate Luv: 04/11/25 09:27:36
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
From what I have learned, a tarea of cacao land where my wife is born produces 1-3 quintales (100 pounds) per year with most producing 1. 30,000 pounds (300 quintales) of dry cacao beans will get you $1,650,000 pesos or about US$43,000. Sanchez, unfermented was getting RD$5,500 per quintal in July and may be a little higher today due to rise of cacao on the international market. After you pay for your labor, transportation (vehicle and mule) and the capacity to dry, my guess is you end up with about US$25,000. These are raw numbers and feel free to pick at them. I am sure additional costs are not included. So net profit. You sure will not live high on the hog managing 300 tareas. Most farmers have less and some have more. All have other forms of income or ways to provide for the family.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
You are right. Let me correct my numbers. I looked up the new Dominican minimum wage and they vary and the rural worker 10 hours a day is listed around 200 pesos a day. I know that the average worker gets 2000 pesos a week for a 5 day week. A Dominican will not work for $200 pesos a day and is the reason why Haitians are taking over much of the manual labor force. Thank you correcting me.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
Thomas,
i was addressing the worker...worker, not farm owner.
I don't ubderstand your math. If the worker receives US$5.25 per day, it seems difficult to arrive at
US$210 per month. 210/5.25=40 days per month? Do day labors work every day...7 days per week?
normal work weeks are 5.5 days that would earn US$ 28.87 per week or US$115.00 per month.
Workers in Brazil work 44hr weeks, holidays and Sundays are 2X normal salary and night service is 1.5
times normal salary.
Is the US$25000 gross or net profit?
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
Cacao plantations are generally considered sustainable environmentally speaking if chemicals are not used? The areas in the DR will cacao are very forested and allow for complimentary crops to be grown for personal consumption. Plantanos, bananas yucca, and other root vegetables, citrus mango and zapote to name a few are found scattered all over the place with and around the cacao.
From a cultural perspective. I find the cacao regions to generally be better off economically, are organized, have good schools and access to health care. Those that own a decent amount of land travel to the US when they want and are often leaders in their communities. They tend to take care of each other and everyone does their part. I would argue that cacao areas that I am associated with in the Dominican Republic are sustainable. The income provided to these areas by cacao production is their base.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
The minimum wage in the Dominican Republic is listed at RD$4,900. That is inaccurate information. In May of 2011 it was raised and the campo worker minimum wage is about RD$200/day, about US$5.25. That comes out to about RD$8000 a month or about US$210. They way it works in the area I work is that people are available as day labors for the busy times. Each cacao producer generally have their trusted employees who work full-time on aspects of running a farm and harvesting other products. These trusted employees almost become part of the family and are often related in some manner. My guess is that a 300 tarea cacao farm (60 acres) will bring about US25,000 a year in profits with a land value of US$70,000-100,000. It is a lot of work and then you need to have fermentation and dryers if you do not sell it wet.
So who are we talking about getting the fair price for their labor and investment, the farmer/worker or the worker/employee?
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
i agree with jim,
sustainable should be for the workers, sustainable should be as well for the land/nature.
we notice that more and more people knows about fair trade and also understand that fair trade doesn't always mean "sustainable".
I think that the world of chocolate is ready for a new change: too many organization requiring money for a "stamp", too many different ones.
If anyone comes up with a fair priced -sustainable for the worker and for the land- "stamp" it would be very good. but only one, not one for germany, one for Usa one for Asia ect... just one, world wide that is sustainable for the farmers.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
Clay, I am reluctant to use the term sustainability when referring to cacau. I am more prone to apply the word to cacao workers. Far too long we have wrung our hands and searched for way to obtain cocoa beans that meet some imaginary standard. It is not the trees that suffer from abusive producers and governments, ITS THE WORKER!!!! Take a look at the salaries for selected cocoa producing countries. Does this look sustainable to you?
The Harkin-Engel Protocol made a watered down attempt to protect children that were working in cocoa plantations, but, I hear very little mention of the thousands of adult workers who are working for pennies a day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_by_country
Benin 30,000 CFA francs (46) per month
Bolivia 647 Bolivian bolivianos (66) per month
Brazil R$ 545.00 about US$ 348.39 per month, paid 13 times a year one monthpaid vacation plus 8.5% retirement deposit
Burkina Faso 30,684 CFA francs (47) a month in the formal sector; does notapply to subsistence agriculture 182,000
Chile Chilean pesos (258) per month for workers aged 1865 ;
Columbia 535,000 Colombian pesos (207) a month (2011);
Costa Rica 131,907 Costa Rican colones (186) a month
Ivory Coast it varies by occupation, with the lowest set to 36,607 CFA franc (56)
Dominican Republic 4,900 Dominican pesos (91)
Ghana Ghanaian cedis (1.95) a dayGuatemala Guatemalan quetzales (4.78) per day for agricultural work
Indonesia 1,410,000 rupiah (116) per month in Papua; as low as 675,000rupiah per month in West Java
Madagascar 70,025 Malagasy ariary (25) per month for nonagriculturalworkers; 71,000 ariary per month for agricultural workers[9]
Mexico 54.47 pesos (3.49) in Zone C (all other states)
Nigeria 18,000 naira (81) per month, nationally (with a 13 month year as the lawmandates an extra month's pay for the Christmas holiday)
Peru 550 Peruvian nuevos soles (139) per month[52]
Sao Tome 650,000 So Tom and Prncipe dobras (27) per month for civil servants
Is this Fair Trade? Is this good for natural habitat? Is this good for the rain forest? Is this organic? It;s time we look past the glitzy organizations with certified backgrounds and insist that the actual producers are treated in a SUSTAINABLE manner.
Jim Lucas
Jim Lucas
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
Good question. Being back in my hometown in Gascony, watching the October sun set on the yellow-leafed vines that were harvested last month, and that were already planted around here by the Romans 2000 years ago, I guess the obvious notion of sustainable cocoa ought to be: a cultivation of cocoa that could be sustained for many centuries, while nurturing the local community, its people and its culture.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
While UTZ may be less well known (to some) than FLO, RA, and others, the question is really about your feelings about the definition of sustainable.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
We see a lot of UTZ cacao in Vietnam (in fact most of our current chocolate line comes from UTZ cacao), but because the certification is either unknown or associated to huge industrial actors (Mars, Cargill...) we haven't bothered indicating that our chocolate is 'UTZ certified'; having said that, if the certification is done reasonably, which I haven't checked in detail, to exclude obviously non environmentally-friendly or exploitative practices, I say why not, because what we see on the ground is UTZ farmers getting a premium without the well-known (on this forum at least) drawbacks of the costly, cumbersome Fair Trade or Organic certification process, which are just beyond the reach of any individual Vietnamese farmer.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
After spending a little time on the UTZ website, it is unclear how they are different or the same from fair trade and or organic. From the little I know about what goes on the DR, it appears as if the farmer cooperatives have went the fair trade route and the larger producers may use the UTZ track, Roig for instance in the DR. Rizek and Munne seem to be happy with the organic label. These large producers and processors of cacao have set up quality operations. You see a number of the Roig associated farms with sign in the campos near Castillo. The farmer cooperatives work primarily with the smaller farmers in much the same manner, while trying to get to the same level of control and quality.
What does "Sustainable" mean to you, when it comes to cocoa?
Posted in: Opinion
Mars just announced that many of its products in the Netherlands will be UTZ certified starting February 2012.
Accompanying the announcement was the following "definition" for sustainability.
Sustainable cocoa means that it is produced using humanitarian agriculture techniques that are environmentally friendly and offer cocoa farmers a better price.
Please share your thoughts on this definition.
updated by @Clay Gordon: 04/11/15 17:52:15
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
They aren't doing anything new, and in my opinion they are still missing the boat.
Choklat's been making personally selected truffles fresh per ordernow for over 3 years and has been very successful at it. Maison offers a few varieties, where as the 468 combinations that can be ordered through our website still dwarfs their offering.
The only difference right now is that we don't deliver outside of our immediate geographic area, whereas they do.
As far as I'm concerned Nestle' is playing catch up, and only serves to validate my business model of giving people what they want, as opposed to whatwe "think" they want, or what flavour happens to appeal to us as chocolatiers on any given day.
That's just my opinion.
Cheers
Brad
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
So far with our shop we meet 2 types of people. Those who buy chocolate in a grocery store, and those who seek out something better, maybe more personal. However that personal is usual not something that's going back and forth electronically but something where you can talk with another person and have real input or knowledge exchange.
To some slice of demographic that currently likes buying ferrero rocher, or other marketed global products this might speak to them with a sense of faux personalization. Like a Sky mall product.
Usually I don't see many of these people, so I'm not really sure if this will gain traction for those looking for a real product. It might be something you'd get as a present but after a few rounds it would fall into disuse.
They might be a real business with a marketing budget that dwarfs anything I can imagine and a production facility that probably looks like something out of a sci-fi novel. Proofs in the product and all that though.
The nice things about endeavors like these is you can find some gems in the rough and if they pan out for that scale there might be some trickle down thoughts that can be integrated into your own business. Always fun to watch and learn.
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
Extract from an e-news article published 2008:
"Nestl today announced the establishment of the Chocolate Centre of Excellence, the company's first R&D facility entirely dedicated to the development of premium and luxury chocolate. . .
The establishment of the new Chocolate Centre of Excellence is a further sign that Nestl sees luxury and premium products as one of its key strategic areas with above-average growth and profit potential over the coming years. . . It also explains Nestl's partnership with Belgian luxury chocolatier Pierre Marcolini who will provide inspiration to the team in Broc for some of the company's future chocolate ranges."
Maison Cailler chocolate factory is located in Broc, Switzerland:
Link to Maison Cailler & Chocolate Factory article!
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
I quickly checked the web-site (perhaps it's not the correct one), but the Maison Caillier site (ch) looks quite old fashioned to me, with the Swiss Alps etc. To be honest, I don't see how they are going to play a leading role in the way people consume chocolate. In the coffee industry companies like Stumptown, Intelligentcia Coffee really "Rock", very different from the old swiss chocolate school. So, to be honest, I don't understand what they actually want, company marketing is not in line with the company believes.........and that is not going to be very convincing, a camera in Ecuador won't make much of a difference.
Best regards
Rodney
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
Brian, you seriously want me to believe that you are not interested one iota in knowing the chocolate personality of Lady GaGa? Or Justin Bieber?
Snap.
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
seems like the people that want nestle chocolate can get it just about anywhere. and people who want fine chocolate with distinctive flavors can get that in more and more places. i don't know if the 2 cross over like this. but if the chocolate is truly great it will probably sell.the facebook stuff is kind of creepy. maybe i'm just a prematurely grumpy old guy but its enough with the facebook and trying to assimilate my list of friends into my every minute decision. i'm over it, i will not be logging the chocolate personalities of anyone.
Nestlé’s new Maison Cailler brand
Posted in: News & New Product Press (Read-Only)
According to the press release :
Nestl has created a new luxury brand that delivers fresh chocolates, tailor-made for individual tastes.
Actually, that's not the case.If you take a closer read through the release, it's a two-step process.
- You get a tasting box, rate the selections, and return the ratings.
- You get a custom selection of chocolates, not actual chocolate recipes tailor-made
That said, it's part of a much broader initiative that has the potential (if it's successful, if consumers care, do people associate Nestl with a luxury brand (Hershey couldn't do it with Scharffen Berger, et al) to influence chocolate marketing globally.
Your thoughts on the program, its chances for success, and how it might have an impact on the chocolate business generally - and your business in particular?
Some more from the release:
Maison Cailler is a response to the changing times we live in, Mr Lacroix explains.
People are looking for more personalised products and services, and they are increasingly purchasing these online."
We will be able to fine tune the Maison Cailler offering according to consumer feedback, he continues.
Although the five main chocolate personalities will never change, soon we will be able to identify nuances. The goal really is to be as personal as possible.
People can register to set up a personal account on the Maison Cailler website; importing their Facebook contacts and logging the chocolate personalities of their friends.
They will also be able to post questions to the Maison Cailler team.
The Maison Cailler website, which works on all digital devices, will stream live footage from webcams in the chocolatiers kitchens; from the Molson; and from the fields where the cows who provide the factorys milk graze.
There will even be live footage from a cocoa farm in Ecuador.
We are showing consumers that we are a real business, with real people, who work here every day making chocolate for them to enjoy, adds Mr Lacroix.
updated by @Clay Gordon: 12/13/24 12:16:07
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
Don't know if this will work, came across this DIY temperer on youtube
How to build a large capacity home chocolate tempering machine
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
I have looked for a better replacement and found a similar gear motor through Acklands Grainger. However, the shaft length is different, and I had to weld an extension to the end to make it fit the ACMC. Unfortunately the only decent option is to order new motors from ACMC.
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
Do you know if this (DMD4LL07) is still an active part number? I just tried to locate one and cannot find it. I just had my second motor go out. Such a bummer, and I'd like to have something more stable if I'm gonna spend the money to fix it. Just ordered another plastic gear motor in the meantime.
Thanks!
-Brandon
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
i appreciate it! I ordered an exact replacement and had it up and running in about 15 minutes. It was a quick fix. I want to look into the motor Brad mentioned though, because I can only expect another 3 yrs out of this new motor and I like to think that a 700 dollar machine should run longer than that. I may just try to build one from scratch.
Thanks a lot and expect more questions from me...
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
Dayton makes a motor that works (Acklands Grainger sells them), and uses metal gears. Model DMD4LL07. The problem with the ACMC motors is that the gear boxes are plastic, and they ALL strip. (I have 6 of those machines and all of them have had the motors replaced).
The holes for the screws even fit with the Dayton motor..
It's 3rpm slower than the ACMC motors, but that doesn't seem to make a difference.
HOWEVER....
You will need to weld on a small extension to the shaft coming from the gear box and shape it to fit the collar that turns the bowl. I did that as a test with one of my machines, and the motor hasn't failed since.
Hope that helps.
Brad
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
When I had an ACMC, the temp control went out. I called the company and they had me send it back to them. They charged $100 and sent me a totally new melter. If they are still in business, you might call them first.
ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).
Posted in: Opinion
Okay, so in our shop, we have a couple of large Hilliards tempering pots and one ACMC pot used only for tempering white chocolate. Its motor has recently burned out. I need to replace it and would like to know if anyone has a recommendation for either a better motor or a specs to ask for when calling a company for a replacement.
I'd like to say, before this discussion gets into a "you need a better temperer," I know this and plan to do so, but can't shelve this temperer just yet.
Thanks for any info you can share in replacing this motor.
updated by @Brandon Buckner: 04/10/15 05:56:42