Table-top Conching Machine??

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ezekiel Holliday on August 19, 2009 at 11:02am

The reasoning is to ensure that all material is exposed to the balls. It is possible to use less media and a smaller ball mill if the cocoa mass is circulated through the the balls. I've considered this. But, I haven't found an affordable method of pumping cocoa.

Permalink Reply by Duffy Sheardown on August 20, 2009 at 10:10am

I think the advantages of ceramic balls is their light weight and lower level of friction - useful in a bearing but probably less so here?
How do you clean out a ball mill? Would you do it thoroughly after every batch, when you change bean types or when?
In the mean-time I shall call a machinist friend and see about getting granite rollers made. I know he could do it but the question is whether we could get the granite and how expensive it would be. At least you could control the dimensions and get the central holes very accurate, making bearing replacement a cinch.

Permalink Reply by Ezekiel Holliday on August 20, 2009 at 11:39am

I'm not sure how the cleaning process is normally handled. I'd think the ball mill would mainly be cleaned when changing types of chocolate.

Permalink Reply by ramya on April 26, 2012 at 12:05am

if you use small ratio of milling  meadia it takes longer time but not too small quantity one third will do.  instead of simple ball mill a forced meadia mill like atrition mill gives better result, and it is not that complicated.

Permalink Reply by Ezekiel Holliday on August 21, 2009 at 12:37pm

I'm back to considering a ball mill. I've found a source for 52100 Chrome Steel grinding media for only $2.89/lb - 2.13/lb.

This means that to grind 10lb of cocoa liquor, the cost is only $139. Or, to step up to 25lb, the cost would be about $345. This is a lot more reasonable than the prices I've had before.

The one concern I have with going to a ball mill is conching. From what I understand, a bill mill will not perform the conching. Any suggestion on conching?

Permalink Reply by Andal Balu on December 20, 2009 at 11:22pm

CocoaT basic and Deluxe Melangers can be used to grind cocoa nibs for 24 hours (basic) and 48 hours or more (for Deluxe) are the modified Ultra grinders to handle the cocoa nibs for extended time. You can find more details at www.cocoatown.com

Our Grindeurs (grinder+ melangeur bombination) are for grinding 30 lbs to 65 lbs of cocoa nibs at a time. Grindeurs have a gear motor to reduce the wear on the belts and also to extend the life of the machine as a whole.

Permalink Reply by Robert Stout on January 8, 2010 at 1:13am

Does anybody have advice about using a lid while conching with the Spectra 10? I'd like to use the lid as a way of bottling up the heat but I'd also like the "volatiles" and acid to evaporate. Will the lid interfere with acid evaporation? It's currently -7F where I live so the indoor temperature isn't getting much above 65F. Suggestions? Unnecessary worry? Thanks

Permalink Reply by Frank Schmidt on January 8, 2010 at 9:12am

Hello Robbie,
Did you see my post at this Group on a cheap conching booth made of "blue board" for an unheated workshop?

As to your question of keeping the lid on your Spectra 10, it seems as though the volatiles and acid will evaporate regardless of conching with or without the lid. Do you have condensation on the lid when it is used? If not, that would tell me that anything released from the cocoa mass during conching is leaving the bowl and going into the atmosphere. Just my opinion. I never leave the lid off my Ultra when using it.

Also, if your Spectra 10 vents heat out the bottom, you might place it on a cotton T shirt or towel, kind of as a mat so as to retain some heat in the bowl and raise the mass temperature in cold weather. You should be able to get the mass temp up to 100 degrees F and keep it there or higher during the entire process with a "booth" and small space heater as pictured on this site.

All the best in your efforts.
PS Where do you get your beans? What country of origin?

Permalink Reply by Robert Stout on January 8, 2010 at 9:30am

Thanks for the advice Frank,
I saw your booth a while back. I was mid conch and it was kind of late at night so I was lacking the energy to be handy. I ended up just leaving the lid on and everything seemed to be fine. The only time I ran into an issue is when I set up a small fan to blow on the motor. Due to the round shape of the motor casing, the airflow was wrapping all the way around and hitting the conching bowl. Decidedly, I turned off the fan and kept the lid on.

I'm about to temper the chocolate before I head off to work. So far it tastes ok. It was a pretty bitter bean to begin with. I got this small amount from a guy in Florida that is importing Haitian criollo. I'll let you know if the chocolate tastes any good.

Permalink Reply by Andal Balu on January 8, 2010 at 1:21pm

Hi all,

We wish you a Very Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year!

I need a favor. Does anybody have a video of the Ultra grinding the cocoa nibs into chocolate? We are exhibiting the Ultra melanger and the Grindeur models in the Fine Chocolate Industry Association meeting in San Francisco on 1/16/10. We thought it will be nice to show the video in the background. We will give credit to the company or the person providing the video. Can anybody help?

Do any of you have our bigger commercial size ECGC Grindeurs and can supply the video?

Thanks!
Andal Balu, Cocoatown.com

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page