Coenraad van Houten

Early Life and Family Background

Coenraad Johannes van Houten, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on March 15, 1801, played a very important part in chocolate production. His father, Casparus van Houten, set up a chocolate factory at Amsterdam in 1815 and thereby established the family business in the chocolate sector.

The Invention of the Cocoa Press

In 1828, Casparus van Houten Sr. patented a hydraulic press that could successfully press cocoa butter out of roasted cocoa beans. This reduced the cocoa butter content by nearly half, which was left as a “cake” that could be milled into cocoa powder. This revolutionized the production of less fatty drinking chocolate and provided cocoa butter for more edible eating chocolate, which formed the basis of the modern chocolate industry.

The Dutch Process: A Major Innovation

Building on his father’s discovery, Coenraad van Houten created a process known as “Dutching” or the “Dutch process.” It involved treating the cocoa powder with alkaline salts, such as potassium or sodium carbonates, to neutralize the acidity and remove the bitterness. The alkalization process also resulted in a water-soluble cocoa, which made the cocoa smoother and less bitter-tasting. Dutch-processed cocoa is darker in color and less bitter in taste compared to natural cocoa.

Impact on the Chocolate Industry

The union of the hydraulic press and the Dutch process made chocolate production a more affordable and more acceptable food for the masses. The ability to produce cocoa powder and isolate cocoa butter enabled the production of solid chocolate items. Interestingly, in 1847, the English chocolate maker J. S. Fry & Sons produced what is now considered the first chocolate bar, a feat made possible by the van Houtens’ breakthroughs.

Business Expansion and Global Reach

In 1835, Coenraad van Houten married Hermina van Houten (unrelated) of Groningen. In 1850, he transferred his production from a Leiden windmill to a steam factory at Weesp, opening the company’s markets to England, France, and Germany. His son, Casparus Johannes van Houten (1844–1901), joined the business in 1865 and participated in the marketing and extension of the reach of the brand across the globe. Company advertisements appeared far and wide in Europe and America, and the name Van Houten became famous.

The Van Houten Legacy in Chocolate Manufacturing

Though their products had a revolutionary impact, the van Houtens did not get wealthy from their patents. The patent for the cocoa press ran out in 1838, and other manufacturers could utilize and develop the technology, and thus the technology was widely used in the business. Interestingly, John Cadbury went to Weesp in 1866 to buy a Van Houten press, even though it was not integrated into Cadbury’s production until 1875.

Death and Lasting Influence

Coenraad Johannes van Houten died on May 27, 1887, in Weesp, Netherlands, aged 86. His contribution still stands today in the chocolate-producing business, where the hydraulic cocoa press and Dutch process are the primary methods of chocolate production even today. As each chocolate bar or glass of cocoa is enjoyed, individuals are consuming the work of the van Houtens that made the chocolate products more accessible, palatable, and affordable all around the globe.