News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by helsinkiandrew on Saturday November 20, 2021 @06:29AM (#29287150)
Does this have much of a market? I mean coffee is about the beans and the machine/method used to make it, and doing it yourself can be a quick and enjoyable experience.

Isn't chocolate more about the flavours added and manufacturing process (although the upper end does talk about the source of the beans) - having a favourite bar or tasting different bars from different skilled artisanal producers.

Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by samwillis on Saturday November 20, 2021 @06:33AM (#29287169)
There will always be a market for an expensive bulky kitchen gadget that takes up space in a cupboard and only comes out twice a year!

I would sacrifice that cupboard space for one, although it would need to be a little cheaper. I’m sure competitors will come out with their own versions.

Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by CocoTerra on Tuesday November 23, 2021 @11:46PM (#29327002)
Thanks for the support, Sam. We hope to give you more than a couple reasons to pull it out of the cabinet!

Regarding price, the initial CocoTerra release is priced in the range of other new, breakthrough appliances. We expect that there will be a variety of price points over time, as we expand our product line and ramp our volumes.

Hopefully, we can make you into a chocolate maker.

Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by telesilla on Saturday November 20, 2021 @10:45AM (#29289055)
>an expensive bulky kitchen gadget that takes up space in a cupboard and only comes out twice a year!

Looking at you, every Dutch person and their deep fryer.

Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by ycombinete on Saturday November 20, 2021 @07:41AM (#29287571)
Definitely. My friend has a toaster that only toast hotdog sausages and rolls, and he loves it.
Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by SyzygistSix on Saturday November 20, 2021 @07:27AM (#29287486)
No. Chocolate is also very much about the beans and finding the roast that best brings out the flavors in them, then figuring out what the best use for them is; a blend, a single origin bar, milk chocolate, chocolate with something else or a flavor added?

Like coffee, the best chocolate does not need flavors added to it, although that can certainly be fun.

source - I was a chocolate maker for a small, high quality chocolate company in the US.

Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by h2odragon on Saturday November 20, 2021 @09:30AM (#29288365)
Seems to me its all the breadth of beer with funkier, faster fermentation; and more opportunities to involve technology.

So few other home uses for that kind of grinding and milling machinery, tho. I'm trying to think up anything else this could be turned to, and coming up with soaps, fireworks and flash powders, inks, paints, and pigments. Nothing food grade or wider niche.

Home-made Brazil and cashew nut butters, maybe? now worse cleaning than chocolate, surely.

Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by simtel20 on Saturday November 20, 2021 @10:45AM (#29289056)
I flirted with the idea of getting a melanger for making peanut butter and tahini at home, but my blender hasn't burned out yet (yay blendtec) so I haven't needed to explore this with any urgency. If anyone can recommend a way to make home nut butters and tahini with less heat than a blender I'd love to know.
Re:Tabletop Chocolate Factory by ectopod on Saturday November 20, 2021 @11:23AM (#29289423)
I've made peanut butter with my pestle and mortar. It didn't take long, but I was making small quantities.