Çiğ köfte machine: a guide to choosing the right one
Dirhemi dirhemine.
For the çiğ köfte maker or business owner looking for a çiğ köfte machine, we’ve gathered the most frequently asked questions on one page: what the machine does and doesn’t do; how to read capacity and weight; what to look for in hygiene, molds, installation and price.
Çiğ köfte kneading machine or pressing machine?
Two different jobs, two different machines. A çiğ köfte kneading machine kneads the bulgur, paste and spices and prepares the mix. A çiğ köfte pressing machine , on the other hand, takes the ready mix, turns it into köfte of identical weight with a hand-pressed look and places them on the belt. Most shops have already solved kneading; it is pressing that causes the queue and the aching wrists.
ANATOLIA FORM DİRHEM 25 is a pressing machine: you put the mix from your kneading machine straight into the 4 kg hopper and the machine does the rest. If you want to set up a complete line together with a kneading machine, Yüksel Grup also designs custom machinery; write to us.
- Kneading: prepares the mix (separate machine)
- Pressing: turns the mix into köfte of the same weight (DİRHEM 25)
- Both together: a hands-free production line
Filling the hopper with mix
Ask six questions when buying a çiğ köfte machine
Settle these six points before looking at a price list; you are the one who will be using the machine for years.
1. Capacity: how many köfte an hour?
Convert your daily kilos into a number of köfte. With the standard mold the DİRHEM 25 presses 2 köfte every 1.5 seconds, 4,800 an hour; at 25 g each, that is 120 kg an hour. It finishes an 80 kg day in 40 minutes.
2. Weight: always the same?
Weight variation determines your portion cost. With mold pressing every köfte comes out at 25 g (±2 g); the köfte doesn’t change when the apprentice does. Custom molds are made for any weight from 17 g to 100 g.
3. Hygiene: what are the body and mold made of?
Surfaces in contact with food must be stainless steel and food-grade material. The DİRHEM 25 has an all-stainless-steel body and a special food-grade plastic mold; the hopper is removed and washed with foam.
4. Mold: for packs or for dürüm?
The mold fitted to the same machine determines the product: the standard mold gives köfte for packs, the dürüm mold gives 100 g, 18 cm köfte for lavash wraps. You change the mold, not the machine.
5. Certification: CE and patent?
A CE certificate shows the machine is built to the safety regulations; it is required in inspections and for export. The DİRHEM 25 is CE certified (S0031912EC) and its design is patented.
6. Service: can you reach the manufacturer?
Buy the machine from its manufacturer, not from an importer. We design and build the DİRHEM 25 ourselves in Ankara İvedik OSB; for molds, spare parts and service you talk directly to the factory.
From a single shop to a production facility
The neighbourhood çiğ köfte shop: the machine handles the lunch queue while the master looks after the customers. In a shop pressing 50–100 kg a day, the machine finishes the job in under an hour.
The wholesale producer: packaged çiğ köfte needs a weight standard and a counter record. The daily counter shows how many köfte have been pressed; speed is set on the PLC screen.
Branch chains and franchises: the same köfte in every branch. As long as the mold is the same, the branch in İstanbul and the branch in Ankara produce köfte of the same weight.
What determines the price of a çiğ köfte machine?
Three things determine the price: the machine itself, the molds you choose and the delivery terms. The standard mold comes with the machine; the dürüm mold and custom-weight molds are separate items. Installation and operator training can be done at our factory or on your premises.
We don’t publish the price on the website, because mold and delivery options vary from business to business. Fill in the order form or message us on WhatsApp; we’ll tell you which molds you need for your daily production and give you the current price and delivery time the same day.
ANATOLIA FORM DİRHEM 25
What people ask about the çiğ köfte machine
If your question isn’t answered here, message us on WhatsApp; we reply the same day.
Çiğ köfte machine, forming machine, pressing machine — which name is right?
They all describe the same kind of machine; only the name changes from seller to seller. What matters is what it does: a machine that prepares the dough is a kneading machine, while a machine that turns ready dough into pieces of the same weight is a forming (pressing) machine. The DİRHEM 25 is the second kind.
How many köfte an hour does the çiğ köfte machine press?
With the standard mold the ANATOLIA FORM DİRHEM 25 presses 2 köfte every 1.5 seconds, 4,800 an hour; at 25 g per köfte, that is roughly 120 kg of mix an hour. With the dürüm mold it produces 1 per second, 3,600 köfte an hour.
Do you also make a çiğ köfte kneading machine?
The DİRHEM 25 is a pressing machine; it doesn’t knead, it turns kneaded mix into köfte of the same weight. If you need a complete line including a kneading machine, Yüksel Grup also designs and builds custom machinery; tell us what you need and we’ll plan it together.
Does the machine’s köfte look hand-pressed?
Yes. We based our R&D on hand-pressed çiğ köfte; the köfte comes out with a fingerprint-like texture. The difference is that every one has the same weight and the same shape.
Can I set the weight to match my own köfte?
The standard mold gives 25 g (±2 g). On request we design custom molds for any weight from 17 g to 100 g; for dürüm, a mold giving 100 g, 18 cm long köfte is ready. The machine stays the same; only the mold changes.
What infrastructure does it need to run?
A normal 220 V socket and a compressor supplying 6–8 bar compressed air. No three-phase power or special installation is needed. The machine is placed on a level floor, the hose and plug are connected and the hopper is filled.
How long does cleaning take?
At the end of the day, loosen the clamps on both sides of the hopper, lift it out and wash it with foam; wipe the mold with a damp sponge and clean the belt. The all-stainless-steel body is wiped with a dry cloth. Daily cleaning is a matter of a few minutes.
How much does the çiğ köfte machine cost?
The price depends on the machine, the molds chosen (standard, dürüm, custom) and the delivery terms. We give you the current price the same day via the order form or WhatsApp; if you tell us your daily production, we’ll also tell you which molds you need.
Where can I see the machine, and what about warranty and service?
We show the machine running at our factory in Ankara İvedik OSB; if you’re far away, watch our video page. We are the company that makes the machine: for molds, spare parts and service you deal directly with the factory. Operating, cleaning and maintenance instructions are on the machine as labels in three languages.
See the çiğ köfte machine in action
Come to our factory in Ankara İvedik OSB and let’s try the machine with your own mix; we’ll discuss price, mold and delivery face to face. If you’re far away, message us on WhatsApp.