VORTECH provides cocoa processing equipment for converting cocoa pods, cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, and cocoa cake into cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder.

From individual machines to complete cocoa processing plants, we can configure the production line according to your raw material, required capacity, target product, automation level, and available factory space.

• Complete Cocoa Processing Solutions
• Flexible Production Capacity
• Food-Grade Processing Design
• Custom Equipment Configuration

Complete Equipment for Cocoa Processing Plant

A cocoa processing plant normally combines several operations rather than relying on a single machine. Depending on the starting material and final product, the line can include pod opening, drying, roasting, shell removal, grinding, butter pressing, cake crushing, and powder milling.

VORTECH can configure these sections as individual processing units or integrate them into one continuous cocoa production line.

Cocoa Pod Opening Section

For factories processing fresh harvested cocoa pods, pod opening is the first stage of production.

This section opens cocoa pods and helps separate the beans from the outer shell, preparing the raw material for fermentation, drying, and subsequent processing.

Cocoa Pod Breaking Machine

The cocoa pod breaking machine provides a faster alternative to manual pod opening for commercial cocoa processing.

Main Functions:

• Opens cocoa pods continuously
• Reduces manual handling
• Supports efficient bean separation
• Suitable for different processing capacities

Cocoa Bean Drying & Roasting Section

Before grinding, cocoa beans normally require controlled drying and roasting.

Drying reduces moisture and improves storage stability, while roasting develops the characteristic cocoa aroma and prepares the beans for shell removal and grinding.

Main Equipment

• Cocoa Bean Drying Machine
• Cocoa Bean Roasting Machine
• Cooling Equipment
• Material Conveying System

Cocoa Bean Drying Machine

The cocoa bean drying machine removes excess moisture from fermented or wet cocoa beans under controlled processing conditions.

Stable drying helps prepare the beans for storage and roasting while reducing problems caused by excessive moisture.

Suitable For

• Fresh fermented cocoa beans
• Small cocoa processing plants
• Industrial cocoa production
• Pre-roasting moisture control

Cocoa Bean Roasting Machine

The cocoa bean roasting machine heats cocoa beans evenly before peeling and grinding.

Roasting conditions can be adjusted according to bean characteristics, production capacity, and the flavor profile required for downstream cocoa products.

Processing Advantages

• Uniform bean heating
• Adjustable roasting conditions
• Continuous or batch configurations
• Easy integration with downstream equipment

 

Cocoa Bean Peeling Section

After roasting and cooling, cocoa beans enter the shell removal stage.

The purpose of this section is to separate the outer cocoa shell from the nib, producing cleaner cocoa nibs for grinding.

Cocoa Bean Peeling Machine

The cocoa bean peeling machine combines breaking, shell separation, and material classification according to the required processing configuration.

It helps reduce shell contamination in the cocoa nibs and improves the stability of subsequent grinding.

Main Features

• Efficient shell separation
• Stable nib recovery
• Adjustable processing capacity
• Suitable for continuous production

Cocoa Nib Grinding Section

Cocoa nibs must be finely ground before cocoa butter can be separated.

During grinding, the cocoa nib structure is broken down and converted into cocoa liquor or cocoa paste, which becomes the intermediate material for cocoa butter, cocoa cake, chocolate, and other cocoa products.

Required Equipment

• Cocoa Nib Grinder
• Cocoa Liquor Grinding Machine
• Storage Tank
• Transfer Pump

Cocoa Grinder Machine

The cocoa grinder reduces roasted cocoa nibs into a smooth cocoa liquor.

Different grinding configurations can be selected according to the required particle size, processing capacity, and downstream production requirements.

Applications

• Cocoa liquor production
• Cocoa paste production
• Chocolate processing
• Cocoa butter production

Cocoa Butter Pressing Section

For cocoa powder production, part of the cocoa butter must be separated from the cocoa liquor.

A cocoa butter press applies pressure to the cocoa liquor, producing liquid cocoa butter and solid cocoa cake for further processing.

Cocoa Butter Press Machine

The cocoa butter press machine is designed for commercial separation of cocoa butter from cocoa liquor.

The pressing parameters can be configured according to processing capacity and the desired characteristics of the cocoa cake.

Output Products

Cocoa Butter

Can be collected for chocolate, confectionery, food, cosmetic, and other downstream processing.

Cocoa Cake

Used as the raw material for cocoa cake breaking and cocoa powder grinding.

Cocoa Cake Crushing & Powder Grinding Section

Pressed cocoa cake is normally too large and compact to feed directly into a fine grinding system.

It first needs to be broken into smaller pieces and then processed into cocoa powder with the required particle size.

Required Equipment

• Cocoa Cake Breaking Machine
• Cocoa Powder Grinding Machine
• Powder Sieving Machine
• Powder Collecting System

Cocoa Cake Breaking Machine

The cocoa cake breaking machine reduces compressed cocoa cake into smaller and more uniform particles.

This makes material feeding more stable and reduces the processing load placed on the downstream grinder.

Benefits

• Uniform material feeding
• Reduced large cake pieces
• Easier downstream grinding
• Suitable for continuous processing

Cocoa Powder Grinding Machine

The cocoa powder grinding machine processes broken cocoa cake into fine and uniform cocoa powder.

Grinding equipment can be selected according to required fineness, hourly capacity, powder characteristics, and final application.

Suitable Products

• Natural cocoa powder
• Alkalized cocoa powder
• Beverage cocoa powder
• Bakery cocoa ingredients
• Chocolate ingredients
• Industrial cocoa powder

Planning a Cocoa Powder Processing Plant?

Every cocoa processing project has different requirements.

Before configuring your equipment, our engineers can evaluate several key factors:

• Starting raw material
• Required production capacity
• Final cocoa product
• Target powder fineness
• Available workshop dimensions
• Utility conditions
• Automation requirements
• Packaging specifications

Based on these parameters, VORTECH can recommend suitable equipment and design the processing sequence for your plant.

Cocoa Powder Line Customized by Fineness

Different downstream applications require different cocoa powder particle sizes.

The grinding and classification section can therefore be configured according to the required fineness. The existing VORTECH page currently divides powder requirements from relatively coarse industrial powder through standard and fine grades to ultra-fine applications.

Cocoa Powder Grade	Typical Fineness	Typical Applications
Coarse Powder	60–100 mesh	Industrial ingredients, further processing
Standard Powder	100–200 mesh	Bakery, chocolate, general food processing
Fine Powder	200–300 mesh	Beverage mixes, instant powders
Ultra-Fine Powder	300+ mesh	Fine formulations and specialty applications

Actual grinding configuration should be selected according to the material properties and final product requirements.

Custom Cocoa Processing Plant Solutions

VORTECH provides more than individual cocoa machines.

For complete processing projects, the equipment configuration can be planned together with material transfer, processing sequence, factory layout, automation, powder collection, and packaging.

Custom Equipment Selection

Equipment can be selected according to:

• Cocoa raw material condition
• Required hourly output
• Final cocoa product
• Target fineness
• Processing method

This helps avoid selecting oversized or undersized machines for the production line.

Cocoa Plant Layout Design

Equipment layout has a direct influence on material flow and daily operation.

We can arrange the processing sections according to your available workshop dimensions, equipment size, operating space, and material movement direction.

Layout Planning Includes

• Equipment positioning
• Material flow direction
• Maintenance clearance
• Conveying arrangement
• Processing section connection
• Packaging area planning

Food-Grade Equipment Design

For food-processing applications, equipment contacting cocoa materials can be configured with suitable food-contact materials.

Equipment design also considers accessibility for cleaning, material discharge, maintenance, and regular inspection.

Automation Options

Different cocoa processors require different levels of automation.

VORTECH can provide:

• Manual feeding systems
• Semi-automatic production lines
• Automatic conveying
• Central electrical control
• Automatic powder handling
• Automatic weighing and packaging

Automation can be selected according to production capacity and labor conditions.

Installation & Commissioning Support

For complete cocoa processing projects, we can provide technical assistance throughout equipment installation and commissioning.

Support can cover:

• Installation guidance
• Equipment connection
• Startup inspection
• Production adjustment
• Operator guidance
• Maintenance instructions

Cocoa Processing Plant Capacity Options

Rather than using one fixed line configuration for every factory, cocoa equipment should be selected according to required output and future production plans.

The current Vortech page uses small, medium, and large production-line configurations, ranging approximately from 100 kg/h to 2,000 kg/h.

Plant Type	Capacity	Automation	Recommended For
Small Cocoa Processing Line	100–300 kg/h	Semi-Automatic	Startups and small processors
Medium Cocoa Processing Line	300–800 kg/h	Semi / Automatic	Growing cocoa factories
Large Cocoa Processing Plant	800–2,000 kg/h	Automatic	Commercial bulk production

The final configuration should still be determined by the starting material and the required finished cocoa product.

What Cocoa Products Can the Line Produce?

Depending on the equipment configuration, one cocoa processing plant can support several finished or intermediate products.

Cocoa Nibs

Produced after roasting, cracking, and shell separation.

Cocoa Liquor

Produced by finely grinding cocoa nibs.

Cocoa Butter

Separated from cocoa liquor through pressing.

Cocoa Cake

The solid material remaining after cocoa butter extraction.

Cocoa Powder

Produced by breaking and grinding cocoa cake.

This allows processors to configure either a dedicated cocoa powder line or a more complete cocoa product processing plant.

Why Choose VORTECH for Your Cocoa Processing Project?

Flexible Line Configuration

Select individual machines or build a complete cocoa processing line according to your existing production setup.

Different Capacity Options

Equipment can be configured for startup projects, expanding factories, and commercial-scale cocoa processing.

Process-Based Equipment Selection

Machines are selected according to actual processing stages instead of simply combining unrelated equipment.

Customized Factory Layout

Production lines can be adapted to available workshop dimensions and required material flow.

Complete Project Support

Technical support can cover equipment selection, process planning, installation, commissioning, operation, and future upgrades. The existing page also emphasizes complete project planning, installation, maintenance, and equipment upgrading services.

FAQ

What raw materials can your cocoa processing equipment handle?

The production line can be configured for cocoa pods, fermented cocoa beans, roasted cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, cocoa liquor, or cocoa cake depending on your required process.

Can I purchase only one cocoa processing machine?

Yes. Individual equipment can be supplied for roasting, peeling, grinding, butter pressing, cake crushing, or powder grinding.

Can you provide a complete cocoa powder production line?

Yes. A complete solution can include raw material preparation, roasting, peeling, grinding, cocoa butter pressing, cake breaking, powder milling, sieving, conveying, and packing.

Can the production capacity be customized?

Yes. Equipment specifications and line configuration can be adjusted according to the required hourly output and factory conditions.

Can cocoa powder fineness be adjusted?

Yes. Grinding and sieving equipment can be configured according to the required final powder particle size.