Ballrat Granite Melanger

Ballrat Granite Melanger type 160 Melangeur is a vintage chocolate grinding machine. It has two giant revolving granite rollers on top of a revolving granite slab. The intense grinding action of the heavy rollers tearing across the slab as they rotate converts the cocoa nibs (roasted bean pieces) to a thick oily paste and finally a thick liquid. Heat is added to the machine to facilitate the liquefaction. The resulting thick cocoa bean liquid is called cocoa "liquor" and is over 50 percent fat. It is either used at this stage for cocoa butter pressing or is mixed and re-ground with sugar in the Melanger to make chocolate.

"The information above is based on the manufacturer's catalog and might be subject to some alterations."