Forum Activity for @Steve3

Hands-on Bean-to-bar Chocolate School: Curriculum, Cost, and more

Posted in: Chocolate Education

Data such as supplier information is readily available from sites like panjiva, importgenius, etc. that provide import/export details for much less than $5k; sometimes it is even free.

http://www.greatexportimport.com/buyer-ftcg_enterprises_inc/826888/ningbo_new_tang_intl_trading_co_l

Providing a fee-based business mentoring service may be a better approach for you, Brad. There are lots of business issues not specific to bean-to-bar that many start-ups need guidance in. Marketing, branding, hiring, negotiating, customer service, etc.

Regards,

Steve

Washing Beans after Ferment

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Interestingly ADM received a patent in 2011 for washing cocoa beans to improve their "quality". Perusing the patent, it appears no small amount of effort was directed in this endeavour so it fairly represents the state of the art. But the beans subjected to this treatment were full of mould, toxins, contaminants, etc. I don't know why they would be considered for use in chocolate production in the first place.

http://www.google.com/patents/US20110229616

Washing Beans after Ferment

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Hi Tom,

Historical sources offer mixed opinions about washing fermented beans; there does not seem to be a good/bad consensus. The benefits of washing are a cleaner break (which you have seen), and faster drying which is good for limiting mould. The disadvantages are a more fragile shell which can be more easily damaged during handling, and deterioration of aroma although this influence may vary with cacao variety. Also in some cases growers may find no economic benefit to washing if they are not compensated likewise for their efforts. See Cocoa (Hall, 1914) p. 212 for a discussion.

http://archive.org/details/cocoacons00hallrich

Also, see Cocoa: cultivation, processing, analysis (Chatt, 1953) p. 95 for a specific reference to Samoan beans as having good results with washing.

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?u=1&num=95&seq=115&view=image&size=100&id=mdp.39015002015454

Questions about the Savy Goiseau Automatic Guitar

Posted in: Geek Gear - Cool Tools

Pavoni makes a similar automatic cutter as well as a manual one. You may wish to obtain a quote from them too. Let us know how it goes!

http://www.pavonitalia.com/gestore.php?var0=eng&var1=Products&var2=MACHINES&var3=Cutter_units