Brasil
EUA
Paraguai
The ideal moisture content for fine or specialty cocoa beans should range between 6% and 8%, according to the MAPA.
With Easter approaching — a time when chocolate consumption increases significantly — the quality of cocoa production becomes even more critical. Focused on this market, Motomco introduces the CONNECT, its newest grain moisture meter. Suitable for various crops, this device is a portable, automatic, and highly accurate solution that delivers fast and reliable results in just a few seconds.
The correct moisture level of cocoa beans is one of the most important factors to ensure their quality and market value. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA), the ideal moisture content for fine or specialty cocoa beans should range between 6% and 8%.
Currently, Brazil holds the sixth position among the world’s largest cocoa producers, with the states of Pará and Bahia standing out. In the 2023/2024 harvest, the country produced about 296 thousand tons, accounting for approximately 5% of global production.
During the cocoa processing stages — including harvesting, fruit opening, fermentation, drying, and storage — the moisture content directly impacts the quality of the beans.
“Over-drying can result in fragile and unevenly sized beans, which are harder to process and incur additional costs. On the other hand, excess moisture compromises the product’s safety and quality,” warns Roney Smolareck, agronomist engineer at Motomco.
According to him, one of the main criteria evaluated by the industry is the flavor of the bean, which can be negatively affected by errors in moisture control.
“Rancid and unpleasant flavors are signs of processing failures, often caused by inadequate moisture levels,” adds the agronomist.
For Manoella Rodrigues da Silva, from the Marketing Department at Loc Solution — the company that owns the Motomco brand — the CONNECT comes to fill an important gap in the market.
“It’s a complete solution for those seeking efficiency and quality. With the CONNECT, cocoa producers and buyers can monitor the precise drying point of the beans and avoid losses caused by out-of-standard moisture levels,” says Manoella.
She also highlights that, with the rising demand for cocoa derivatives and increasingly strict quality standards, moisture control has become a strategic step for producers, cooperatives, and retailers.
“Besides cocoa, the CONNECT also serves various other grains, making it a versatile tool for field operations,” she points out.
About Motomco – The Motomco brand of grain moisture meters is a reference in several agricultural regions of Brazil. Originally from Canada, Motomco is the national leader in this segment. More information is available at motomco.com.br.
