To build a foundational understanding of solventless extraction and its unique benefits, we need to cover the core principles, methods, and advantages of this extraction technique.
Solventless extraction refers to methods used to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis without the use of chemical solvents like butane, ethanol, or CO2. Instead, it relies on mechanical and thermal processes to separate trichomes from the plant material.
Anatomy of Trichomes:
Trichomes are the resin glands of the cannabis plant, where cannabinoids and terpenes are concentrated. They come in three main types:
Bulbous: The smallest, less significant for extraction.
Capitate-sessile: Medium-sized and slightly more productive.
Capitate-stalked: The largest, richest in cannabinoids and terpenes.
High-quality solventless extractions focus on preserving capitate-stalked trichome heads.
How Solventless Extractions Work:
Temperature, timing, and pressure work together to release trichome resin without introducing solvents.
The goal is to preserve the plant’s full-spectrum cannabinoid and terpene profile while minimizing contamination.
Benefits of Solventless Extraction:
Purity: No chemicals or residues.
Safety: No risk of flammable solvents.
Flavor: Retains the full terpene profile for rich aromas and effects.
To master the ice water hash-making process, from preparation to post-processing.
Preparation:
Gather materials:
Ice hash bags: 220-micron wash bag, smaller micron bags (160, 120, 73, 45, 25).
Insulated drum or bucket.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) water.
Ice, scraper, parchment paper.
Arrange filtration bags in descending micron order inside a clean drum or bucket.
Use approximately 4.5 kg of ice per 18.9 liters of water.
Initial Soak (30 minutes):
Place cannabis material into the 220-micron wash bag and secure it.
Add layers of ice and pour cold RO water to the ice level.
Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes to freeze the trichome heads on the plant material.
Agitation (20–30 minutes):
Stir gently with a clean paddle:
Avoid harsh stirring, which can release chlorophyll and plant matter.
For higher quality: Agitate for 20 minutes.
For higher yield: Extend agitation to 30-40 minutes.
Maintain cold water temperatures to prevent dissolving plant material.
Filtering and Collection:
Sequentially remove each filtration bag, starting with the largest micron size:
Rinse hash in each bag with cold RO water to ensure all trichomes collect at the bottom.
Gently scrape the collected hash onto parchment paper.
Store the extracted hash separately based on micron size.
Drying and Curing:
Spread hash thinly on parchment paper and into a freeze dryer for 24–72 hours.
Household freezers can work, however they do take longer which risks more oxidation and degradation of the product. For household freezers and fridges use the fridge to dry the hash for the first 72 hours. Followed by the freezer.
For long-term storage, vacuum-seal and cure hash in a cool, dark place for 1–2 months to enhance resin profiles. This product is called "Piattella"
Micron Bag Tips:
Collect the 73 and 120-micron bags for the highest quality hash (full melt).
Use the 45-micron bag for lower-grade extracts suitable for edibles or pressing into rosin.
Water Quality:
Test the pH and mineral content of RO water to ensure purity.
Mechanical Agitation Tools:
Explore automated washers for larger-scale production.
Always keep the ice and water as cold as possible to avoid plant contamination.
Sanitize all tools and bags before use to maintain cleanliness.
To learn how to create pure, golden kief with precision and efficiency.
Preparation:
Materials:
Dry sift screens of varying micron sizes.
Parchment paper, scraper, and containers for storage.
Cannabis trim or sugar leaves.
Freeze cannabis material for 1–2 hours to make trichome heads brittle.
Sifting Methods:
Manual:
Place trim onto the screen and use a clean card to brush material in circular motions.
Allow kief to fall through the screen and collect on parchment paper.
Mechanical:
Use a dry sift tumbler to automate the process, rotating the material gently to release kief.
Refining and Collection:
Repeat the sifting process through finer screens to remove plant debris.
Gather kief from parchment paper and transfer it into a sealed container for storage.
For maximum purity, use progressively smaller screens.
Work in a cold environment to improve trichome separation.
To master rosin extraction from flower, kief, and ice hash.
Flower Rosin:
Use dense, trichome-rich buds. Breaking them a part before placing in your filter bag. Packing the filter bag as best as you can.
Temperature: 180–220°F.
Press Time: 1–3 minutes.
Place buds in a 90 micron filter bag between parchment paper and press with consistent high pressure.
Kief Rosin:
Collect kief in a pre-press mold to form a uniform puck.
Temperature: 140–190°F.
Press Time: 90 seconds–5 minutes. (90 seconds for the highest quality, and 5 minutes for a higher yield. Many choose to meet in the middle around 3 minutes of press time.)
Gradually apply pressure to avoid blowouts.
Hash Rosin:
Grate hash into a powder-like consistency before pressing and try to mold the pouch to be as even as possible prior to pressing.
Temperature: 140–180°F.- Increasing slowly throughout the press.
Note: starting at a lower temperature to slowly warm up the pouch, while slowly increasing temperature is ideal. Gradually increasing both temperature and pressure. This is why manual rosin presses are best for hash rosin. Too high of pressure and you risk squeezing out too much fats, and unwanted material.
Note: You should always experiment at the various temperature ranges with small amounts first before pressing a large amount. Quality is always key, and some hashes may press too dark in the 180f range, making 140 - 160 much more desirable.
Press Time: 1–5 minutes. (1 minute for the highest quality, and 5 for a higher yield. Many choose to meet in the middle around 3 minutes of press time.)
A second press on your rosin filter bag can be done, but be warned that the quality is greatly reduced. This product can still be good for edibles or tinctures.
Adjust pressure slowly to prevent material blowouts.
For curing rosin, try jar-tech (curing in glass jars at low temperatures).
Note: The glass jars do not need to be large, in fact the closer in size to your material the better. This reduces air in the jar which dries out your rosin.
To master the cold cure Piattella method for creating exceptional solventless hash.
Starting Material:
Use high-quality, full-melt ice water hash.
Preparation:
Microplane, grind or sieve hash into fine granules for even curing.
Note: A brand new BPA free coffee grinder is actually the preferred method of ours for this.
Cold Curing:
Place hash in a sealed glass jar.
Temperature: 5–15°C (41–59°F).
Allow to cure for 7–14 days, monitoring texture and terpene development.
Keep temperatures consistent for optimal results.
Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels during curing.
Quizzes:
Test knowledge on optimal extraction temperatures and micron sizes.
Identify correct trichome maturity for extraction.
Assignments:
Submit videos or photos of your extraction setups for our teachers to analyze and discuss.
Complete hands-on exercises analyzing trichome images for readiness.
Recap the importance of technique and quality starting material.
Explore scaling methods for personal or commercial production.
Contact 4Trees Cannabis Building to talk with a teacher, receive additional consulting and advanced training.
