Forum Activity for @Adam Kavalier

For Sale- Bean to Bar Tempering Machine- Washington, DC

Posted in: Classifieds F/S or Wanted

Thanks! Just sent you an email with more details

For Sale- Bean to Bar Tempering Machine- Washington, DC

Posted in: Classifieds F/S or Wanted

Thanks, just sent you an email with those details.

For Sale- Bean to Bar Tempering Machine- Washington, DC

Posted in: Classifieds F/S or Wanted

For sale, FBM Continuous Tempering Machine built specially for bean to bar craft chocolate

Unica 25kg working bowl tempering machine

Single-phase with the craft chocolate upgrade, stronger auger and motor for ease with viscous chocolate

Pneumatic depositing head (heated) with 2 dosing plates

         1 plate for generic three cavity molds

         1 plate for generic four cavity molds

updated by @Adam Kavalier: 06/29/23 16:49:02

Thanks David! That's very helpful, I've been looking into modifying a regular meat grinder, and it wasn't going to be easy. Would you be willing to share the battery-powered rotisserie drive and drive adaptor you find to work?

This is such a helpful hack, manual winnow feeding is not as much fun as it used to be

Thanks!

Hi David,

Great winnow feeder! I had been thinking about using a meat grinder for this purpose but have not been able to get around modifying the thick metal screen that holds the auger in place on all meat grinders. If this were kept in place the nibs and shells would backup into the machine and not exit. How do you keep the auger in place while at the same time removing the metal screen?

Many thanks for any suggestions!

Making cocoa liquor

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

Greetings all,

I'm looking for a way to make cocoa liquor from nibs to feed my santha grinder. After much investigation I purchased a spice grinder which grinds nibs into powder, but this also seizes up the Santha. Even when the ground powder is warmed it does not melt into liquor. Perhaps I need a different type of grinder, maybe one that produces more of a shearing grind rather than a rotor with blades which produces only powder.

I'm trying to avoid the use of cacao butter so I'm looking for some way to make cacao liquor ready for the santha grinder. Any suggestions?

Many thanks!

Adam

updated by @Adam Kavalier: 04/19/15 05:04:04

pregrinders

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

Great, thanks for the info Cheebs

pregrinders

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

How do you go about tightening the belt? Where did you get a fiberglass belt (I'm working with the spectra 10)?

pregrinders

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

Hey Dylan,

Cool video! The grain mill looks like a nice and economical way to make liquor.

Thanks!

pregrinders

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

Thanks Cheebs,

I tried nibs directly but not warmed, the instrument seized up. So if you warm the nibs and allow the cocoa butter to soften the Santha can grind without any issue?

pregrinders

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

Greetings all,

I was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on pregrinders. I have been using the champion juicer which is slow and messy. I see that INNOmix offers the Surya Mixer Grinder (which looks to be the same as the CocoT mini Pregrinder but about $20 less at INNOmix ( http://www.innoconcepts.com/ )), as well as four other models: The pigeon kitchenmate, pigeon kitchenmate 2, pigeon special, and the pigeon special plus. These four other models have a larger capacity than the Surya Mixer Grinder/CocoT mini which can only take 2 cups at a time.

I'm trying to find a pregrinder for less than $200 that can grind 4+ cups at a time. Does anyone have experience with these grinders or others that are within these specs? Any insight is much appreciated!Thanks!

updated by @Adam Kavalier: 04/09/15 09:43:16

Chocolate Bar Packaging Options - Your experience and feedback

Posted in: Opinion

Hi Eileen,

Have you had any luck finding vendors for your packaging specifications? The packaging manufacturers and distributorsthat I have found only do high volume, I haven't found anyone making less than tens of thousands of packaging materials at a time. I am also looking for either lightweight cardboard or heavyweight paper wrappers, as well as chipboard boxes to display the wrapped bars. If you or any other chocolate life members have any leads they would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Adam