1. The cacao powder production line begins with the roasting of cacao beans. Roasting not only enhances the flavor but also removes moisture and undesirable off-flavors. Cacao beans are put into the roasting machine, which circulates hot air around them.
2. After roasting, the cacao beans need to be separated from their shells. The peeling machine is responsible for this step. The heat from roasting makes it easier to remove the outer shells without damaging the precious inner nibs. Once the beans are peeled, you are left with the cocoa nibs, which are the heart of chocolate production.
3. The next stage in the cocoa powder production line involves the colloid mill. This machine finely grinds the cocoa nibs into a liquid state known as cacao liquor. The colloid mill uses precise mechanical processes to ensure the cacao particles are reduced to the desired size, releasing the natural cacao fat, cacao butter, in the process.
4. Separating the cacao solids from the cocoa butter is essential to create cocoa powder. The cacao liquor is placed in a cocoa butter pressing machine, where tremendous pressure is applied to extract the cacao butter. This process yields two products: cacao butter and a solid cake-like substance called cacao cake.
5. The cocoa cake, a dry and crumbly substance, must be further processed. The cacao cake crushing machine breaks it down into smaller particles, which can be used for various purposes.
6. The final step in cocoa powder making machine involves grinding the cocoa cake into a fine powder. This crushing machine ensures that the cocoa particles are uniformly reduced to the desired fineness, producing the familiar cocoa powder we use for baking, making chocolate products, and preparing cocoa beverages.
7. The process of cacao beans from their raw form to a fine powder is incomplete without proper packaging. The cocoa powder packing machine efficiently fills and seals packages, ensuring that the product remains fresh and free from contaminants. These packages can range from small sachets for home use to large bulk containers for commercial clients.