Hello all! I've been a member for a while, and maybe even posted a few times back a few years ago when I first started. My focus waned a bit, but it was snapped back into place this past weekend at the NW Chocolate Festival.
I live in the Pac Northwest. I am a traffic engineer by day and I wear many "hobby" hats. My wife is always pushing for ways to make those hobbies into businesses, and chocolate is the one that might click.
I'm still searching for the beans that I as a maker will want to work with moving forward. Thus far I roast in my oven, crack and make liquor with a Champion, winnow via hair-dryer and a large vase, melange with a CocoaTown (but I just got a Premier), and temper by tabling.
Being an engineer I think I can design a winnower and a tempering machine... well, just a temperature-controlled bowl to start. I'll be working on both in the coming months.
It is good to be actively thinking about chocolate again, and I can't wait to fire up the Premier and start grinding out some chocolate! (pun intended).
