<p>After 4 years, there is now another option for refining your chocolate. Well, not so much another option, as it is still a Melanger, but another company has noticed us home chocolate makers (and Santha) and decided to modify (motor ventilation) and offer their ‘Wet Grinder’ for sale as a Chocolate Melanger. And this one has a 1 year warranty, so I am quite pleased by that.</p>
<p>For those unfamiliar with what the Melanger is for (is there anyone?) once your cocoa beans have been passed through the Champion, this piece of equipment is used to reduce the grit from the sugar you will add. During our tests we have verified that if you get your nibs very clean, this Stone Melanger will also grind the nibs to liqueur, saving the Champion step. Personally I find it a bit tedious for a large batch because you can only add a few ounces at a time, but the choice is yours.</p>
<p>Does it do a better job than the competition (the version by Santa)? It’s a matter of perceptive I think. It has some pro’s, some con’s and some things that don’t seem to make a difference.</p>
<p>The Melanger has two 3# black granite “stone” rollers that rotates at 120 rpm on a granite slab. This creates tremendous shear and reduces the particles of sugar and cocoa to the smoothness we expect in modern chocolate, somewhere in the 1-30 micron range. Please read the Grinding section about how to use it and it’s limitations. Please note, the bowl is <span class="caps">NOT</span> dishwasher safe. The stone are also conical, and not cylindrical like the Santha/Spectra stones. Does this make a difference? I haven’t seen one in the finished chocolate. The conical stones do seem to run a bit smoother and bog down a little less, but for small amounts of chocolate (2 lbs and less) they fling up the liqueur onto the sides a bit and make quite the mess. One of this Melanger’s quirks.</p>
<p>Instead of a nut and spring, this one locks down in place by an arm over the bowl that also half blocks the bowl. I find it a little less convenient than the open design of the Santha, but maybe it is simply different. On a very positive note, the support shaft and interior hardware for the wheels are all steel – no plastic to break. The slot the shaft goes into (in the arm) is plastic, but so far seems to be holding up ok. Actually, all this (one piece lock down, steel shaft, lighter wheels) makes handling this Melanger a bit easier. You can just reach in and lift shaft, wheels and all out without getting your hands covered in chocolate. Bonus point Ultra.</p>
<p>Finally, to give a bit more detail, these come with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty. I like the fact they are standing behind their unit and backing it this way. Between the steel parts and the warranty, the price is a little more than the Santha, but not too much more.</p>
<p>So what is the same?</p>
<p>They have 110 V, 1/4 hp motors<br />
They hold the same amount of chocolate (8-10 lbs)<br />
They refine in about the same time.<br />
They look a lot a like.<br />
The bowl is not dishwasher safe.</p>
<p>What is better?</p>
<p>Steel parts.<br />
Lighter wheels.<br />
Easier handling.<br />
1 year household use warranty (defect only, not consumables like belts).<br />
In limited tests it seems to grinds nibs into liqueur a little better and faster.<br />
A little quieter</p>
<p>What is worse?</p>
<p>It is a little more expensive.<br />
The half cover is a little awkward.<br />
You can’t taste the chocolate easily with it running.<br />
It flings chocolate a bit due to the cant of the wheels.</p>
<p>Do I like the Santha or Ultra better? You tell me. I am still undecided.</p>
<p>And a few final details.</p>
<p>There are two models available. The one pictured (Deluxe) has a wheeled stand and an extra fan on the bottom for even extra motor cooling. The Basic model has only ventilation holes for cooling (plus the interior motor fan). Why the difference? Ultra tested out the Deluxe model first and later determined the Basic model would also do the job. And I simply decided to offer them both. Both do the job. Neither overheat. Your call.</p>
<p>All prices include shipping and are applicable to the 48 contiguous <span class="caps">USA</span> States and Canada. Please choose the model appropriate to your location. If you are not in the 48 states, please don’t order as I will just have to cancel it. Thanks and here’s to more choices.</p>2006-10-08T16:12:14-07:00chocolate-melanger-by-ultra3890512Equipment2008-10-31T09:09:21-07:00Chocolate Melanger by Ultra2010-01-13T06:06:01-08:00Ultra
After 4 years, there is now another option for refining your chocolate. Well, not so much another option, as it is still a Melanger, but another company has noticed us home chocolate makers (and Santha) and decided to modify (motor ventilation) and offer their 'Wet Grinder' for sale as a Chocolate Melanger. And this one has a 1 year warranty, so I am quite pleased by that.
For those unfamiliar with what the Melanger is for (is there anyone?) once your cocoa beans have been passed through the Champion, this piece of equipment is used to reduce the grit from the sugar you will add. During our tests we have verified that if you get your nibs very clean, this Stone Melanger will also grind the nibs to liqueur, saving the Champion step. Personally I find it a bit tedious for a large batch because you can only add a few ounces at a time, but the choice is yours.
Does it do a better job than the competition (the version by Santa)? It's a matter of perceptive I think. It has some pro's, some con's and some things that don't seem to make a difference.
The Melanger has two 3# black granite "stone" rollers that rotates at 120 rpm on a granite slab. This creates tremendous shear and reduces the particles of sugar and cocoa to the smoothness we expect in modern chocolate, somewhere in the 1-30 micron range. Please read the Grinding section about how to use it and it's limitations. Please note, the bowl is NOT dishwasher safe. The stone are also conical, and not cylindrical like the Santha/Spectra stones. Does this make a difference? I haven't seen one in the finished chocolate. The conical stones do seem to run a bit smoother and bog down a little less, but for small amounts of chocolate (2 lbs and less) they fling up the liqueur onto the sides a bit and make quite the mess. One of this Melanger's quirks.
Instead of a nut and spring, this one locks down in place by an arm over the bowl that also half blocks the bowl. I find it a little less convenient than the open design of the Santha, but maybe it is simply different. On a very positive note, the support shaft and interior hardware for the wheels are all steel - no plastic to break. The slot the shaft goes into (in the arm) is plastic, but so far seems to be holding up ok. Actually, all this (one piece lock down, steel shaft, lighter wheels) makes handling this Melanger a bit easier. You can just reach in and lift shaft, wheels and all out without getting your hands covered in chocolate. Bonus point Ultra.
Finally, to give a bit more detail, these come with a 1 year manufacturer's warranty. I like the fact they are standing behind their unit and backing it this way. Between the steel parts and the warranty, the price is a little more than the Santha, but not too much more.
So what is the same?
They have 110 V, 1/4 hp motors
They hold the same amount of chocolate (8-10 lbs)
They refine in about the same time.
They look a lot a like.
The bowl is not dishwasher safe.
What is better?
Steel parts.
Lighter wheels.
Easier handling.
1 year household use warranty (defect only, not consumables like belts).
In limited tests it seems to grinds nibs into liqueur a little better and faster.
A little quieter
What is worse?
It is a little more expensive.
The half cover is a little awkward.
You can't taste the chocolate easily with it running.
It flings chocolate a bit due to the cant of the wheels.
Do I like the Santha or Ultra better? You tell me. I am still undecided.
And a few final details.
There are two models available. The one pictured (Deluxe) has a wheeled stand and an extra fan on the bottom for even extra motor cooling. The Basic model has only ventilation holes for cooling (plus the interior motor fan). Why the difference? Ultra tested out the Deluxe model first and later determined the Basic model would also do the job. And I simply decided to offer them both. Both do the job. Neither overheat. Your call.
All prices include shipping and are applicable to the 48 contiguous USA States and Canada. Please choose the model appropriate to your location. If you are not in the 48 states, please don't order as I will just have to cancel it. Thanks and here's to more choices.
2006-10-08T16:12:14-07:00manual09685852continue8Basic Melanger by Ultra1399.003890512truetrueBasic Melanger by Ultra2008-12-12T06:20:20-08:002006-10-08T16:12:14-07:00manual010031082deny8Deluxe Melager w/ stand and extra fan2499.003890512truetrueDeluxe Melager w/ stand and extra fan2008-12-12T06:20:20-08:002006-10-08T16:12:14-07:00manual011816382deny8Basic Ultra Melanger (Canada)3439.003890512truetrueBasic Ultra Melanger (Canada)2008-12-12T06:20:20-08:002006-10-08T16:12:14-07:00manual011816402deny8Deluxe Ultra Melanger (Canada)4539.003890512truetrueDeluxe Ultra Melanger (Canada)2008-12-12T06:20:20-08:002006-10-08T16:12:14-07:007416892138905122008-12-12T06:20:20-08:00http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0001/0103/products/ultra.jpg?12682764502006-10-08T16:12:14-07:007416952238905122008-12-12T06:20:20-08:00http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0001/0103/products/wheels.jpg?12682764502006-10-08T16:12:14-07:007417062338905122008-12-12T06:20:20-08:00http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0001/0103/products/top.jpg?12682764502006-10-08T16:12:14-07:007417082438905122008-12-12T06:20:20-08:00http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0001/0103/products/gap.jpg?12682764502006-10-08T16:12:14-07:007417122538905122008-12-12T06:20:20-08:00http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0001/0103/products/splatter.jpg?1268276450