Comments on: Duffy Sheardown – a second UK bean to bar chocolate maker

By: duffy

duffy — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:24:29 +0000

Hi Lindy, Thats is exactly how I started so I can recommend the machines you mention. I’d look for a Champion juicer int he UK though – they are very heavy and the shipping costs could be expensive. Also, you can juice the juicer without the screen on (makes sense when you have one) to break the beans into pieces so you can save on the Crankenstein breaker too. You could put thebeans in a bag and bash them up with a rolling pin too.
Talk to Cocoa Town direct – when I ordered there wer no added shipping costs, making it a very good deal.
Good luck,

Duffy

By: Lindy

Lindy — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:27:42 +0000

Hi Duffy

I’ve been checking out the chocolate Alchemy website, which is very helpful. I’m considering buying the kit from them i.e. the cocoa mill, champion juicer and spectra stone melanger. Do you recommend their kit (it looks and sounds convincing to me)? However, before I do is there any where in the UK I can purchase the kit?

Thanks for your help.

Lindy

By: Andal Balu

Andal Balu — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 07:33:01 +0000

Hi Duffy,

Congratulations on winning the Golden bean award for best Chocolate in the whole world! It is awesone! We wish you more awards and recognition in the future.

Andal Balu

By: RedStar

RedStar — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:04:24 +0000

Hi Sam, I did do the Ecole Chocolate Makers course on_line and although it had some useful stuff in there it wasn’t much help to anyone who actually wanted to start making chocolate. Check out instead the Chocolate Alchemy American web-site for lots of practical advice and also The Chocolate Life – less good on practicalities but some good stuff if you wade through old strands.
Duffy

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:20:39 +0000

I have just read your article. I too would like to become a chocolate maker but the courses are too dear for me. Are your skills self taught. I would like to start a chocolate cottage industry based in Africa. Please advise.

By: Geert Vercruysse

Geert Vercruysse — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:55:42 +0000

Hello Mr. Sheardown,

My name is Geert and living in Belgium, West Flanders and I just received tree bars from your chocolate: Panama, Peru and Dominican Republic.
I’m a chocolatier with my own shop in Kortrijk, near de border with France and I would like to sell your chocolates because I like the way you approach this Fairtraided & Organic way of making chocolates. I love the chocolates made with passion for the community and the people of origin.
Sorry we don’t have this approach with our large companies
Lots of succes and maybe we will meet some day.

Greetings from Belgium
Geert

By: Andal Balu

Andal Balu — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 02:09:32 +0000

Hi Duffy,

Thanks for showing the pictures of our Grindeur (Grinder + Melangeur combo) in making chocolate. If anybody wants these Grindeurs or small scale melangers for their personal use, they can contact us at info@cocoatown.com. We are located in USA and our phone number is 770-594-1815.

Andal Balu

By: RedStar

RedStar — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:00:56 +0000

Hi Humaira,

She deserves a lot of credit. She doesn’t make chocolate (yet…) but does a lot of tasting. Sounds good but tasting 20 different roasted nibs in one evening takes stamina. I wouldn’t be doing this without her, that’s for sure.
Glad you like the bar; there should be a limited edition Venzuela out in January.

Duffy

By: Humaira Ali

Humaira Ali — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:27:53 +0000

Hi Duffy,

Met your lovely wife at the Chocolate Unwrapped fair today and bought some of your Honduran Indio Rojo. Fantastic. I think what you are doing is brilliant and have spread the word by Facebook.

All the best

Humaira

By: Inspired Chocolates

Inspired Chocolates — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:46:47 +0000

I’m loving the idea of “micro-brewery type chocolate makers.” Good luck Duffy.