Setting up a Commercial Kitchen for Making Chocolates (Steven Browns)

Different kinds of artisanal chocolates have gained popularity in the market. These chocolates have provided individuals with the opportunity to enjoy doing what they love the most. It is making various kinds of chocolate delectable and yet not having to compete with the multinational candy corporations that exist. Most of the states do not allow making any kind of food in the home. Most of the chocolate makers have their own set-up that needs to be catered to. Before beginning with the business, it is important that cooking area be set up at a viable location. The following are some of the steps that need to be taken when setting up required kitchen.

The first step in building a commercial kitchen for chocolate making is to find out from the various state governments the licenses needed to produce the required food in the area. These kitchens have to follow multiple mandates and therefore the individual should be aware of multiple licenses that would be needed to obtain the health inspection. This usually takes time and therefore needs to be properly attained as cancellation of a license would stop the production immediately.

The second step in this entire process is to build a space for the commercial kitchen. It needs stove and electric burners. However, even if the kitchen has to function properly, even for a gas connection, there has to be certain licenses that need to be met. There should be enough space for tempering of the chocolate. Associated with this place, there needs to be specific table for molding and packaging the finished chocolates. If the entrepreneur does not have sufficient capital to invest in the kitchen, it is wise to consider a lease option wherein it would act as a business incubator. The space can then be altered once the necessary capital is acquired from different investors.

The third step is finding the appropriate suppliers. Since it is an artisanal chocolatiers it is important to find fine grade suppliers of the same. More often than not, cacao bean suppliers are located in different geographical locations. It is important that the chocolate be sourced from farms that do not use forced or child labour, by employers who pay fair wages, and suppliers that adhere to the rules of industries. Depending on the requirement of the chocolates, the fine grade and superior grade cacao beans suppliers can be approached. Fine grade chocolate is made of Criolla and Trinitario cacao plants. This is grown in Antilles and since it is pricey, the entrepreneur can always opt to buy bulk chocolate as an alternative. The most easily available is the Forastero variety of cacao bean. The bulk chocolate can be bought from various candy supply retailers and baking shops.

The fourth step is in buying the equipments that are needed to make the chocolate. This can be bought in wholesale. The materials would include a tempering stone, packaging, candy molds, double boilers and quality candy thermometer. These are bought from a baking, candy or any chocolate supply company. Sometimes the chocolate need cream, fresh nuts, delicate edible decorative items, fresh fruits and sugar, all these can be bought from the local supermarket. However, storing these perishable items is sometimes difficult and there may be the need of a bigger refrigeration system. Buying locally would also be cost effective, as it would save shipping charges.

The last step is setting up the commercial kitchen for the maximum efficiency. There is the need of multiple stations. This would include stations for melting, tempering, pouring into molds, making truffles and packaging the rest. The tempering stations should be located away from all heat stations, as this would melt the chocolate. The packaging station should be placed near the molding station. The chocolates need to be packaged immediately after being removed from the molds. Handling the chocolate too much would lead to melting and eventually destruction of the taste.

The author thinks that commercial kitchens would need certain aspects that need looking into. If it were for making various artisanal chocolates, it would need certain specific things for the restaurant.