> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # TheChocolateLife::LIVE – Downscaling Chocolate Production Case Study - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-downscaling-chocolate-production-case-study/ - Published: 2022-11-28T16:46:51.000Z - Updated: 2022-11-29T15:24:09.000Z - Description: Episode 70 streams Tue, Nov 29th from 12:00~13:00 EST. - Author: TheChocolateWire - Tags: Live Stream, The Wire Most of the time, since I started TheChocolateLife in January 2008, whenever the discussion of scaling production has come up, it’s always been about scaling **up**. ***Never*** about scaling down. Often (but certainly not always), a chocolate maker starts a small chocolate business using one or more small melangers (\~35kg max batch size is where I would draw the line at small) and they find out that the machines they’ve purchased can’t meet demand. The questions then are about how to scale up production in a way that’s cost-effective and efficient. And, often, the answers to those questions is not straightforward as doubling refining capacity may reveal that it’s also necessary to increase roasting, cracking/winnowing, and/or tempering capacity as well. The discussion of increasing refining capacity may also entail thinking about using a different technology – Universals, roll refiners, ball mills, or some combination. So it was an interesting contrast for me when I visited the new Cocoa Supply/Chocolatier S.A. factory in Duran (a suburb of Guayaquil) as a guest of Leila Carvajal – to see an exercise in scaling down production from 300MT/mo. [Cocoa Supply - Wholesale Sustainable Cacao Products and Specialty IngredientsQuality and Sustainable Cacao and Specialty Ingredients for bakeries, restaurants, manufacturers, and chocolatiers.![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-8qz67461x9/product_images/favicon%20CS.png?t=1659449238)Wholesale Sustainable Cacao Products and Specialty Ingredients![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-8qz67461x9/images/stencil/500x500/products/209/538/maracuya_1__53276.1627584039.jpg?c=2)](https://cocoasupply.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) The CocoaSupply factory represents a strategic rethink of the entire family business – which can trace its roots to cacao farms in Catarama during the Gran Cacao era through a factory originally built in the 1970s by Leila’s father, Jose. In this episode I will take a look at some of the issues that prompted the strategic rethink as well as take participants on a tour of the new facility. --- ### **Galleries** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/16---PlantExterior-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/15---OldPressRoom-Large.jpeg) Exterior Cafiesa entrance; Old press room ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/00---OutisdeBeanReception-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/01---OutsideBeanCleaner-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/02---OutsideBeanTransport-Large.jpeg) Exterior CocoaSupply: Bean reception/processing; Bean cleaner/destoner; Bean transport ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/03a---RoasterSideView-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/03---PreRoaster-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/04---CrackerWinower-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/05---CrackerWinnower-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/06---Shells-Large.jpeg) Side view & output end of bean roaster; Bauermeister cracker/winnower; Modified output – single nib fraction + fines. Shells. ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/07---BeanTransportLiquorGrinding-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/08---LiquorGrinding-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/09---LiquorFiltrationa-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/10---LiquorBufferTanks-Large.jpeg) Transporting roasted nib to next stage; Liquor grinding; Liquor filtering; Liquor buffer tanks. ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/11---CocoaButterPress-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/12---PressCakeKibblerGrinder-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/13---FilterPressesHoldingTanks-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/14---DeodorizingPlant-Large.jpeg) Cocoa butter press; kibbling and grinding; filter presses and holding tanks; deodorizing plant. ## Live Stream Links ### **Watch/Participate on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn.** [Visit TheChocolateWire Channel on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIN8M30NdPJ5WAl41g5VWWw?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [My LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fthechocolatelifelive-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7002752167870660608-oYYu?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop) [TheChocolateLife page](https://www.facebook.com/TheChocolateLife/) (on Facebook) live event --- ### **Hashtags** #CocoaSupply #TheChocolateLifeLIVE #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- 💡 ***Have thoughts to share or questions to ask?*** Leave them in the comments.