Bean To Bar Making - Getting Started (the process from equipment & ingredients to roasting & refining)
This lesson goes over the process of making chocolate using a melanger/refiner. This lesson involves learning what you need and need to do to make the actual chocolate. Please note this does not include tempering the chocolate (forming it into bars) as this is quite involved in and of itself and requires a separate lesson.
FAQ
+ What's Covered?
Everything you need to know about making chocolate. We will discuss why you wish to make bean-to-bar chocolate, what your goals are, and how to get started. We will also go over what you need to know which can include the following: sourcing cacao, other ingredients, going over necessary equipment, sorting cacao, roasting, winnowing, refining into chocolate, aging, and storing. You will specify when you book if there is anything in particular you wish (or wish not to) cover during your session.
Keep in mind this will not include tempering the chocolate and forming it into bars. This requires its own session as it can be quite involved, especially if you never attempted it before. However, if you have and wish to breifly discuss it, we certainly can.
This is the booking to make if you need to have an overview of how to make chocolate yourself. This is great if you have not yet started making chocolate, or if you have and feel lost or confused and need to better organize what it is you really need.
+ How Long Should I Book?
The booking starts at 1 hour. If you wish to just go over the first part such as finding the right equipment, cacao, and ingredients, 1 hour should suffice.
If you wish to go over the entire process (equipment, ingredients, using the refiner) and you have no experience at all, I recommend 1.5-2 hours.
If you feel you need longer, feel free to add more time when you book in 30 minute increments.
+ What Equipment Do I require?
If this is just a Q&A, then you don't require any equipment. If you want to get an idea of what sorts of equipment you may need, check out my chocolate making 101 page. Don't worry, you won't need everything listed, but it just offers you options. We can discuss what you need, and what you can use that you may already have.
If you wish to do a walk-through in real-time, let me know when you book and I will be sure you have what you need to get started.
+ Is This Good For Beginners?
Yes!