"Ok, thanks for clarifying. The design of the Cocoatown grinders are what's driving me to look at pre-grinders to begin with.
It looks like the peanut butter machines are single pass types, more similar to an espresso grinder, so there…"
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Mike
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Pre Grinders and particle size
Started this discussion. Last reply by Mike May 3. 10 Replies 0 Likes
Hi All,I'm considering adding a pre-grinder to my set up (probably a nut butter type), but I'm wondering if any one out there already using one can tell me what particle size you get after a single…Continue
Selmi users in Southern California?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Mike Sep 1, 2011. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Hi all, posting to ask if there are any of you in the Southern California area that use a Selmi tempering machine who would be willing to let me see it in action in person. I'm very interested in…Continue
Revolution x3210 Temperer
Started this discussion. Last reply by Cathy Kuepfer Jul 7, 2011. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Hi, has anyone had a problem with their x3210 software freezing during a tempering cycle? Mine seems to do it all the time such that I've only got 2 successful batches run all the way through a…Continue
Dealing with mold release marks
Started this discussion. Last reply by Mike Feb 17, 2010. 15 Replies 0 Likes
I'm finding that all of my 1 oz bars are getting mold release marks once they are set up. I'm positive they are the artifact of slow/uneven cooling (as per some good tips/advice from a member here),…Continue
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Brad Churchill replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"My refiners are like MacIntyre's - a horizontal drum with blades that rotate and scrape the inside of the drum.
For the most part, all of the nibs are ground, however there is a 4 inch guillotine spout at the bottom where nibs get…"
Mike replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"Thanks for all the replies. I guess I can't get around straining, but I am still interested in the time savings I'd get with the pregrinder + cocoatown set up. I'm making around 100 lbs a week, and that will go up if I can…"
Thomas Snyder replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"I think I read on chocolate alchemy that the champion's cutter wheel needs to be replaced every 250-300 lbs of beans. It's not impervious to damage, it's just plastic and steel.
"
Brad Churchill replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"I have a champion juicer. I had it before I started making chocolate, and used it all the time. I think it cost me something like $350 CDN. When I first started "pre-grinding" my nibs, the burs were sharp. Within…"
Clay Gordon replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"Brad -
Are you sure there's NO benefit? I my experience, it's a lot easier and faster to fill a CocoaTown with liquor than it is using nib. Also, because of the pre-grind step, batches tend to need to spend less time in the CocoaTown to…"
Brad Churchill replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"Mike;
Grinding your nibs prior to putting them into the cocoatown mill, will not eliminate the need to strain your chocolate. It is an imperfect device. I use conche/refiners specifically designed for making chocolate, and we ALWAYS…"
Mike replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"Thanks Ben and Sebastian for your replies. Ben, thanks for posting the video link, I'd seen it before and it does look like peanut butter, but I'd like to know if chunks come through, or if the paste is a uniform particle size. …"
Sebastian replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"Depends a great deal on the specifics - what type of pre grinder? how's it configured? what are you running through it (EXACT %'s), your % fat in your paste, how big your particles are to begin with (ie 1000 um sugar will…"
Ben Rasmussen replied to Mike's discussion Pre Grinders and particle size"I don't know the particle size, but I'd imagine it's similar to what you'd get running peanuts through it. It's kind of a thick, chunky paste. To get an idea of the consistency, see this video from Dandelion…"
Mike posted a discussionPre Grinders and particle size
Hi All,I'm considering adding a pre-grinder to my set up (probably a nut butter type), but I'm wondering if any one out there already using one can tell me what particle size you get after a single pass through? Is it the same particle size you'd get running peanuts through it?Thanks,MikeSee More
Mike replied to Janice Fillmore's discussion Wanted: 100-140 lb melter and #20 gas stove with copper pots in the group Classifieds - For Sale or Wanted"I have a 125 lb savage bros melter if you're interested. email oka-road-mail-@-yahoo-.-com (remove hyphens)
thanks,
Mike"
Clay Gordon replied to Mike's discussion Wanted: Used 20--60 lb grinder/refiner in the group Classifieds - For Sale or Wanted"Mr Larsen - Can you please confirm members who might not be too familiar with roll mills in numbers > 2 whether or not this 5-roll mill work from nib or if it has to be in paste form, first.
My understanding is that they don't work from nib.…"
B. Larsen replied to Mike's discussion Wanted: Used 20--60 lb grinder/refiner in the group Classifieds - For Sale or Wanted"Hi Omar, I have a 5 roll Lehmann Mill for sale. It has not been used for about 4 years and may need the roll grinded.
651 V
Lehmann
Model: 3545
Produced: 1950s
16X40 ROLLS
75 Horsepower
I am looking for $9500."
Mike replied to Bob Aman's discussion Chocolate Panning, process and equipment"Wondering if you can offer some advice---I just started playing around with panning, and I am not able to get the coated centers (coffee beans, in my case) to polish. I'm using the kitchen aid attachment, and each half has two metal ribs…"
Mike replied to Mike's discussion Wanted: Used 20--60 lb grinder/refiner in the group Classifieds - For Sale or Wanted"I got a Cocoatown ecgc 40......it does what it should but the build quality is poor (belt shreds itself, nuts and bolts come loose, glue inside the bowl peels up and gets into batches, etc.) Also, the company doesn't know what kind of oil to…"
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- Dark, Milk, White?
- Dark
- Most memorable chocolate experience:
- making it for the first time from scratch
- My favorite chocolate is:
- still looking for it
Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 5:28am on December 17, 2011,
Ruth Atkinson Kendrick said… Hi Mike. Sorry this is late--'tis the season. ruth (at) sweetchocolot (dot) com.
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