Lesson plan
Melanger
A melanger (or melangeur, from French: mélangeur, lit. "blender") is a stone-grinder that is used in chocolate-making. It typically consists of two granite wheels, which rotate inside a metal drum on top of a granite base. Given enough time the wheels can reduce the particles to sizes measured in microns, therefore making a smooth chocolate paste from cocoa beans. Stone grinding tools have been widely used in history to make food. In Mesoamerica, cocoa was ground using a metate. Industrialization in the late 18th century favored the use of larger and water powered machines. The first melanger prototype was invented in 1811 by a French engineer named Poincelet. It was soon adopted all over Europe. In 1819, François Pelletier powered a grinder and a melanger with a steam engine. This allowed him to produce 76 kilos of chocolate in twelve hours, a quantity which typically required 7 workers at the time. In 1826, the melanger was also adopted (and perhaps further developed) by Philippe Suchard in his chocolate factory in Neuchâtel. Nowadays melangers tend to be used by small chocolate manufacturers only. Melangers can be both used as refiners and conches. Tabletop wet grinders are smaller versions of the melanger.
Article summary
A melanger (or melangeur, from French: mélangeur, lit. "blender") is a stone-grinder that is used in chocolate-making. It typically consists of two granite wheels, which rotate inside a metal drum on top of a granite base. Given enough time the wheels can reduce the particles to sizes measured in microns, therefore making a smooth chocolate paste from cocoa beans. Stone grinding tools have been widely used in history to make food. In Mesoamerica, cocoa was ground using a metate. Industrialization in the late 18th century favored the use of larger and water powered machines. The first melanger prototype was invented in 1811 by a French engineer named Poincelet. It was soon adopted all over Europe. In 1819, François Pelletier powered a grinder and a melanger with a steam engine. This allowed him to produce 76 kilos of chocolate in twelve hours, a quantity which typically required 7 workers at the time. In 1826, the melanger was also adopted (and perhaps further developed) by Philippe Suchard in his chocolate factory in Neuchâtel. Nowadays melangers tend to be used by small chocolate manufacturers only. Melangers can be both used as refiners and conches. Tabletop wet grinders are smaller versions of the melanger.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.