Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a cheesemaking process, and for identifying certain stages of the process, are disclosed. The system includes a sonic sensor, along with a processor that will receive, from the sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in the cheesemaking process. The processor will use the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process. The processor will generate a signal when the cut point is reached. Optionally, before this happens the processor also may use the speed of sound to identify a flocculation point in the cheesemaking process.

Abstract: A system for monitoring processing of a fluid receives one or more characteristics of the fluid and uses those characteristics to determine specific gravity of the fluid and a level of processing activity of the fluid. The processor will cause a display device to output a dynamic representation of the specific gravity of the fluid as well as the determined level of processing activity. In some embodiments, the processing activity may include fermentation, as that of a beverage. If so, the dynamic representation of the determined level of processing activity may include a fermentation tank with a dynamically changing cavity. Displayed characteristics of the cavity will change as the determined level of the fermentation increases.