Forum Activity for @Richard Foley

A lot of Acid

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

I would say look for better quality beans. If using over fermented beans and without the ability to truly conch properly you have a big challenge. Ideally, starting with carefully and properly fermented beans, as well as quality fine flavor beans, will make your process more forgiving. This is why the big manufacturers can use all kinds of lesser quality beans, they have highly sophisticated equipment, and conches to deal with these issues, and they are professional blenders, so when they run into acidic or vinegar acids, they can deal with it easier. Small producers trying to conch and refine in a melanger don't have that benefit, and using single origin beans makes you vulnerable to fluctuations beyond your control. We find in our test kitchen that the better our beans, the better our results. Get yourself a fermentation chart so you can compare your beans against the chart for proper fermentation. There are roasting charts also that can assist. I believe at the end of the day, bean quality and fermentation and drying are very important. UWI cocoa research unit has some very interesting studies on fermentation worth reading. They even introduced other types of fruit pulp into fermentation boxes and were able to really see the flavor change impact. Also, the importance of getting beans into fermentation boxes within 12 hours is also very important. Anyway, so many different opinions and theories out there...we all have so much to learn and it's all so much fun.

A lot of Acid

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Thank you Sebastian for your insight, I'll keep the lid off and let it conche for ~36-48 hours. And will add baking soda after 36 hours(If it still smell bad). Like 1/2 teaspoon? I'm making a 400 g batch.

At the beginning of next month I'll be visiting the farm down south to see how they grow it. Will post pictures

Thank you Sebastian!

A lot of Acid

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Just noticed your location. Do you have any insight as to how the beans were dried (or better yet, any influence over how they're dried?). Which country are the beans coming from (i'm assuming they're in your region..)

A lot of Acid

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

You're quite likely not doing anything wrong; what you're seeing is the result of fermentation, which generates lots of organic acids - and may have been left to go longer than it probably should have. Remember that there's no 'right' way to ferment beans - this farm you're working with may very specifically be targeting acidic beans, as that may be what someone has directed them to do in the past for a specific flavor profile, be it alone or in a blend. Or it could be that they screwed up. Hard to say w/o more details. You've got a few options you could try, i think:

1) Roast at a lower temperature, for a longer period of time. You might even consider wetting the beans a bit and trying to steam off the acetic acid by azeotroping it. I probably wouldn't start with that, but it might be something to try at a later time of other approaches don't give you what you want.

2) Take the lid off your melanage, and let it melange for 3x as long. Acetic is a fairly low molecular weight organic acid - you can tell this because you can smell it. If it wasn't, you couldn't smell it. It wants to go away. You're trapping it in by keeping the lid on, and the longer you let the cycle go, the more opportunity it will have to escape. Also consider heating environment (keep it below 160F) as heat has a direct impact on volatility.

3) Try adding a little bit of baking soda to your batch. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a very weak base. You've got some acid present. Give the two a chance to dance and neutralize one another. You'll have to play with the levels, but i'd start very low.

A lot of Acid

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

All of those haven't been tempered yet, and right now it smell acidic and unwelcoming. :S

A lot of Acid

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Hi! I really need advice.

I keep on having problems of making chocolate that taste acidic. I've made 7 batches so far.

Each with different temperature, mostly either short high or long low.

Especially the long low roast a little more than half way I get this scent of acidness and at the end resulted in a little bit of a burned brownie smell.

Many roast I would get this nice smell of chocolate aroma.

But despite all these roasting which turns up to be smelling either nutty or chocolaty smell, every batch I pour into the melanger, I would get this instant rush of acidic smell, and when it turn liquid I add in sugar I tried 70%, 62% 60% 52%(with milk powder) first 2 batch I'm surprise to see that after 6 hours I would get this fine chocolate already, but I let it run until 12 hours. All the batch after that are 20-25 hours. After conching I would pour it into a container and let it settle a bit and store it into the fridge for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, still some acidic taste.

May I know what I did wrong. The ingredient are only beans and sugar, I have no access to lecithin or cocoa butter at all.

I mostly keep the lid on, because I let it run over night, and it make a lot of mess when open. I sometimes use the hair dryer like 5-10 minutes.

I also look at the farm that supply the beans and it is certified by the local research center for quality.

What could be wrong? The conching time is not enough? More hair dryer? Longer and hotter roast? Need to open the lid?

Thank you in advance for all of your advices.

updated by @Panod: 04/11/25 09:27:36

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

I was looking for classes preferably in NJ that would one day make me a Chocolate Jedi but unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything.

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Hi Richard,

I'm interested in learning about the classes on Bean to Bar. I went to your website and found that the class is offered in California. Do you have any classes in NY-tri-state area? Please kindly supply the upcoming class schedule.

Thanks

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

We are starting a series of monthly classes at Qzina Instiute in Irvine, Ca. Starting from known and visited farms, our beans are carefully selected for true quality fine flavor, and proper fermenting and drying is assured. We recently installed the latest equipment from BLT so we can produce 30 lb batches for up to four attendees who will go from start to finish over two days. We have plenty of material from the cocoa research unit at the University of West Indies, including fermentation grading charts, roasting analysis, and our corporate chef will lead not only a course in physical manufacturing, but also informative sessions on the origins of chocolate, fine flavor beans, and attendees will enjoy a tasting experience featuring various chocolate produced from different farms we have sourced beans from. We would love share our technical manufacturing experience with other enthusiasts and ourselves learn from our guests. We have the country's top chcolate bean to bar facility with fully equipped chocolate, pastry, and testing equipment for measuring viscosity (Brookfield), particle size, and more. Guests leave with 5 lbs of tempered and molded chocolate in 227 gram bars, and 6 gram tasting pieces. We are having so much fun. Last week we made pure Hawaiian (Forastero) and then pure Nacional/ Ariba from Peru..... Amazing flavors coming each week. We have classes once per month... Contact me for a schedule if interested.

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

lots and lots of places do confections training - i was approaching the question from a bean -> bar perspective. If he'd like more general confectionery training, there's hundreds of places to go for that...i may have misunderstood.

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Check out Jomart Chocolate. They offer a individual class that you can design with them. I think it was $240, so it isn't cheap and it looks like they focus on confections. Has anyone attended the La Maison workshops? They buy their base already made so they may have a video or something, but it appears to be more of a tasting.

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Thanks All! I did check out the website for ecole chocolat and it seems pretty great. If you come across anything else in nyc, i'd love to hear about it. Thanks!

Vidya

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Depends on what the choices of microbrews are at the local pub afterwards 8)

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Sebastian;

If I host a course, will you be a guest speaker?

Cheers

Brad

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

It's been my experience that there are very few schools out there - ZDS in Germany does a bit of it, but not many others. Not many people have the full breadth and depth of knowledge to span the full range of ingredients (cocoa, milk, sugar, emulsifiers, flavors) as well as processes and how they interact. Might be an opportunity for some enterprising person to try to assemble an educational event targeted to specific needs.

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

If you can connect with the TCL members from NYC they can help guide you. A few I know are Brady Brelinski, George G (I forget her screen name here... maybe runnerNYC?), David Arnold, Adrienne Henson. They're all very helpful.

There are also online classes you can take. Oh, what is the name of that well known school? echole chocolate? or something along those lines.

NYC area chocolate class (bean to bar)

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Hello - I'm in NYC and I'm looking for a good chocolate making class anywhere close to the area that not only gives me some hands on experience making chocolate but also helps me better understand the entire process of how chocolate is made (from the cacao to the bar etc. ) Does anyone have any suggestions? The only comparable thing i've found so far is at the La Maison du Chocolat.

Thanks!

Vidya

updated by @Vidya Murthy: 04/10/15 14:07:56

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

For cleaning molds. I clean only if

A. I have a problem which shows up on the chocolate or

B. It is a seasonal mold that is being put away till next year. I wash in warm soapy water and rinse in an acid (vinegar would work but I use citric acid because I have it on hand) and air dry.

As for polishing there is corn cobb media that is made for polishing plastics and comes in 50 lb bags. I have a homemade "tumbler" (basically a drum on rollers). I put the molds inside and roll it over and over (plan to put a motor on it one day) and the corn cobb grit polishes and removes all traces of oil.

In regular use lightly warm the molds with your heat gun just enough to cause the film to liquefy before lining the molds. Don't worry it would take a whole lot longer to over heat the mold than most people would have patience for. Play the air over the mold maybe 5 at a time and then fill. I got this from Jean Pierre Wybau in a Seminar I attended in Montreal@ Callebaut Academy. It works wonders. If anything shows up after that you need to wash.

Also for the heat gun. Get a retractable cord and mount it on the ceiling of your shop and adjust it so it is just over your head. reach up pull it down use and tug and let it go back up over your head. Keeps the counters clear and gun accessable and never accidently droppped on the floor

Hope it helps

Dave

updated by @david ghobril: 01/19/15 00:31:40

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Hi Ashley, I've used that method for years, but I'm looking for detailed instructions on using the sodium hydroxide method. I have no employees, dozens of molds, and I work in a 7'x9' space that makes heatguns impossible without making the temperature skyrocket. Hence the need for a faster, simpler technique. The previous discussions on using sodium hydroxide (lye) would work much better for me and I have almost gotten it down, but I'm looking for more those more experienced in the method to give me some more detailed insight. Thank you for sharing your method though, I appreciate it.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

This is how I was taught to clean polycarbonate molds:1) clean each cavity with a cotton ball and vinegar2) wipe each cavity dry with cotton ball or make up applicator3) use heat gun to lightly warm cavities then polish wtth a foam/cotton make up applicator. (Extremely careful not to hear too much, can ruin mold. Just want warm to the touch.)(Only use steps one and two as needed, if colored cocoa butter is seen.)I only use hot water to wash molds about once every 5-10 batches.I've always had success with this method. I wouldn't be comfortable using anything stronger than vinger as a cleaning agent.FYI I was also taught to always apply a thin coat of cocoa butter, either colored or plain, to ensure shine. We also put the mold in the freezer after capped to restrict the chocolate so it comes out of the mold super easy.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Has anyone developed a system that cleans their molds on a regular basis, and would you explain in detail how you go about it? I work in a home kitchen with a double stainless steel sink and use powdered food grade lye with mixed results. Should the washing (soaking) water be cool, like with soap-making? (This cuts down drastically on the fumes.) How much time in the lye bath? How much lye in the bath? No scrubbing in the bath, but in the rinse, or no? When scrubbing, what to scrub with?

I put 3/4 of a cup of crystals in a sink full of hot water. I had two windows open and it was not enough to vent the fumes from the hot water. I will use a n95 mask from now on, along with chemical gloves and goggles. I soaked six molds for 15-20 minutes then rinsed for about a minute in a clean, HOT, rinse water; no scrubbing. A couple of the molds came out with CB film still on them, the others appear clean so far.

Please, if you have clearer instructions, I would be most appreciative. It takes longer for me to buff all of my molds than to fill them with chocolate and ganache, and I don't have the luxury of a dishwasher or employee. This technique would save my butt. Thank you!

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Sorry - should have done a little more research before posting.

The FDA said essentially the same thing as the lab guy.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Hi Brad,

I can't find anything like this from any of our commercial vendors. I did find it at a local Chemical Supply company, but it's what they call "Technical Grade".

Do you know if this would be safe for molds?

The lab guy there said - off the record - that he thought it would be fine if rinsed well.

Would you share the brand name for the product you're using?

Thanks a lot,

Tom

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

I once had difficulty getting my molds clean. However I bought a standard Bosch dishwasher which has a disinfectant cycle that gets hotter than most dishwashers. I believe that the heat factor is important for the complete elimination of the cocoa butter. I use Cascade Advanced Power liquid and voila... clean molds. Immediately when washing and rinsing are finished I hand dry them with a soft cotton cloth which both dries them and polishes them. The results are fantastic! I use primarily molds with smooth shapes and get excellent shine.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Hi All,

being absent for a while..busy re-locating my factory.

We buy SH directly from a chemical factory in liquid for (40% concentration), the crystals are just 100% pure so you need to be careful with the amount used and take enormous precautions while handling it!

We fill our sink with hot water and add SH, we soak for a while the molds and then rinse in hot water while gently scrubbing. Our results are not yet 100% but we are happy with it so far.

We are going to test a higher solution (till water turn pink as per Brad instruction)

Definitely is a matter of creating a "recipe":

X % SH @X% concentration for X amount of Liter of Hot water...

Let's see who can crack this mystery of cleaning!!!

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Greased Lightning leaves a scent on your molds so don't use it. I tried it on a mold I never use. Dawn and water got rid of the film.
I'll try Sodium Hydroxide again later.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Tried it again with very very hot water and doubling the lye and I still have a film, just not as thick. I wish I had access to whatever solution you're using Brad, as I just have food grade lye, and now I'm out of that. A few questions:

Do you soak your molds in the Sodium Hydroxide solution for some amount if time or do you just swish them around in it?

I'm rinsing the molds in a bucket of hot water. Maybe I want to run hot water from a sprayer?

I'm using a solution of 5 oz Sodium Hydroxide to 15 pints of water, or about 2% Sodium Hydroxide. Clearly that's not enough. What % do you think your solution comes out to?

I can't get any food grade lye around here, I have to order it. I can get pure Sodium Hydroxide crystals, but I don't know if it's food grade or what that means. It's sold as a drain cleaner. But if I rinse it, SH should be gone either way. Do you think that's safe?

What's the brand name of the product you use?

What is the film? Is it soap (sodium hydroxide+fat from the cocoa butter=soap)? Can I just polish it off or should I clean the molds with Dawn?

I'm about to try a 4:1 solution of Greased Lightning on one of my molds that has the film. I'll post how it goes.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

1. you didn't use HOT water

2. you didn't use enough Sodium Hydroxide. The water should be pink.

Dry them right after either with compressed air, or a microfibre cloth. They will look like new.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

I got a film on every mold. I don't know what to do next. Clean them all by hand with soap? What went wrong?

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

I used Sodium Hydroxide (lye) today for the first time and it worked pretty good. I used 15 cups of water to 2-1/2oz of pure fod grade lye. I thought the solution would do everything but some crevices on the undersides needed to be lightly scrubbed out. I used a potato brush.

How can I be sure all the washing solution is off the molds? I swish the molds around in clean water I change every 10 molds or so. Is that enough? I'm thinking of running the molds through my diswasher on rinse.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

True this!

I have two halogens in a stove hood. I used to place molds beneath the lights and they would warm. But I noticed that some warmed more or better than others. So now I lay a sheet of Al foil under up to six molds and the halogen lights warm them all very evenly. And, yes, the chocolates have a FANTASTIC shine to them. I really notice a difference when I forget to pre-warm the molds this way.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

You can slightly heat the mold before filling so there aren't any temperature shocks in the chocolate, also gives the chocolate a nice shine (even when it's not polished)

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

All of my molds are polycarbonate. I spray them with lukewarm water until I can see no chocolate remnants. Then I fill the sink with lukewarm water and a little Palmolive and I splash each mold around in the water for a few seconds -- no washcloth or anything else. Then I rinse the molds with reverse osmosis water, rap them on the counter a couple of times, and let them air dry on towels. I have perfectly clean molds with zero water spots. Chocolates release beautifully and I never see any chocolate residue in the cavities themselves. They seem to be slowly but surely building a microscopic CB presence. I also wipe the molds and cavities with a shammy before each use. I've noticed no ill effects at all. But after reading through this thread I worry...

Am I woefully ignorant of something here?

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Thank you very much for all the information that has been shared. Would anyone please share supliers or brands used.
Thank you

Stefano

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

We've been using it weekly on the same polycarbonate molds for 4 years. If it hasn't broken down the mold by now, it never will.

updated by @Brad Churchill: 09/08/15 02:08:04

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

do you mean the products one uses to clean grease and fats from ovens ? it is apretty strong stuff and i am a little puzzled if it is this stuff are you sure it doesn't shorten the moulds' life i am afraid to use it and then to see that something happens to all the moulds!

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Every comment seems to be about cleaning the molds. Could it be that the molds were too cool? I know that's why chocolate sometimes sticks. I was told that molds are supposed to be 80 degrees. I use my warming oven. I also have a surface temp thermometer that is really helpful.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

is somebody using a dishwasher for mold cleaning? it might be a great time saver if possible.

updated by @Domantas Uzpalis: 01/19/15 00:27:29

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Hi All, an update:

my friend (chemical engineer) says that 1 cup per 40 lit (S.H diluited at 40%) is safe (-ish) , just to be careful if in a concentrated form.

As for any "Hydroxide" chemical, there is risks of skin burn.

So if you get in contact with S.H., rinse your skin with running cold water for a good 5-10 min.

if it still burn after 1 hour or longer, just seek medical attention for precautions.

Take care!

Antonino

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Thank Brad,

we buy it directly from a Chemical Company, and we are still trying to figure out how much

S.H. per liter of water.

we started with about 100 ml for ca 25 liter of water , and it works as quick degreaser but the molds have a thin layer of fat still on.

next we are going to try with 250ml and see what happen...

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

The sodium hydroxide solution we use comes already bottled and somewhat diluted. I purchase ours from a commercial food service company, and the bottle states that it's safe for use in food establishments on food equipment for degreasing purposes.

Also, yes, the molds will be "squeaky" clean once washed. You will also find that it makes the water slippery, and the molds hard to hold on to when cleaning.

We have been using it for 3 years now, are regularly inspected by the Canada Food Inspection Agency, AND our local Health Inspectors, and all is just fine.

Cheers

Brad.

Cleaning Chocolate Molds

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, Techniques

Just a quick note of caution, Sodium Hydroxide is used in rat poison and is very dangerous if not used properly. It will definately work for cleaning your molds.