How to Make Big Batches of Cannabis Infused Oil with The LEVO C

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links where I may earn commission from qualifying purchases. Information presented on this post is intended as a personal and professional representation of my views on food, nutrition, and cannabis. This post is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed and personalized medical advice or care. Please consult your physician or health care provider before making cannabis infusions.

What is the LEVO C?

If you've been following my blog or social media for some time, you may know that I frequently use cannabis infusion devices to make homemade cannabis oils, foods, and beverages. I have been using the LEVO II for the past few years and it's become my go-to device for all things infusion! So when LEVO came out with the LEVO C, I was super excited to give their new product a try and I wanted to provide my honest review. Please note that LEVO did send me the LEVO C and this post is sponsored, however I ALWAYS speak truthfully about any product that I am affiliated with. After all, I wouldn't be affiliated with a brand if I did not truly believe in them or use their products frequently! If you're interested in getting a LEVO C or LEVO II, be sure to use my code CANNABINISTACO for 10% off any LEVO product! This includes all the accessories that LEVO sells too, such as butter molds, MCT oil, and much more!

LEVO II (left) vs. LEVO C (right)

What Are Cannabis Infusions?

Cannabis infusions is a broad term that encompasses cannabis infused foods, beverages, oils, tinctures, topicals, and much more. In simple terms, it basically means anything that is infused with cannabis. It may also be referred to as cannabis edibles. With the legalization of cannabis in certain states and countries in recent years, cannabis infused products have increased in popularity in dispensaries across the world. Some examples of cannabis products include cannabis gummies, cannabis chocolate, cannabis infused sparkling waters, CBD oil, cannabis tinctures, and much more.

Aside from accessing cannabis infused products at a retail store, many cannabis enthusiasts will create their own cannabis infusions at home. DIY cannabis infusions at home may sound a little intimidating at first, but if you follow my guide on how to create the best infusions and practice a few times, you'll become a mini-pro in no time! While I won't call myself an expert, I've probably made cannabis infusions over hundreds of times and have had both very successful and failed infusions. My motto is that practice makes perfect, and sometimes it just takes trial and error to master a craft. So if you're sitting there and reading this feeling a little intimidated, don't you worry! This article will guide you step by step on how to make the best cannabis infusions in the comfort of your own home, with the all-new LEVO C.

How Do Cannabis Edibles Work?

I've always been a fan of cannabis infused products for three reasons:

• I much prefer to ingest my cannabis versus inhaling because I have concerns about the side effects of combustion and inhalation of smoke over long periods of time
• I really enjoy the onset, duration, and experience of cannabis infused products. Edibles are known to have a longer onset and duration time compared to other consumption methods like vaping or smoking. However, I personally prefer this for my own lifestyle! I love the gradual onset from edibles and how they last the entire night for me up until when I'm about to head to bed. However, note that everyone may experience a different onset and duration time as it can depend on a variety of factors (ie. stomach fullness, tolerance to edibles specifically in regards to how your liver digests 11-hydroxy-THC). Note that if you consume edibles with THC, you are actually experiencing the effects of 11-hydroxy-THC and not THC as the enzymes in your liver convert THC. 11-hydroxy-THC is known to have a stronger effect than THC. Another thing to note is that edibles don't always work for everyone. Some people lack the enzymes in their liver required to digest THC.
• I love the taste! Although I love the taste of smoking cannabis because of the terpene aromas, I do prefer to consume cannabis especially if it's in the form of a food or beverage! The fact that I can make cannabis infused pastas, smoothies, baked goods, just makes my mouth water!

Digital scales are a great way to measure the weight of you cannabis. Opt for a scale that can read increments of 0.1g for more precise and accurate weighing.

How to Make Cannabis Infused Oils with the LEVO C

In order to make cannabis edibles at home, you first need to make cannabis infusions. In this article, I'm going to explain how to make cannabis infused oils or butters with the LEVO C in just 4 simple steps! Use my code CANNABINISTACO for 10% off any LEVO device, including the all-new LEVO C!

Step 1: Choose your cannabis flower, carrier base, and desired potency

Before I make any cannabis infusion, I always think about the purpose of my infusion - what am I planning to use this infusion for? Is it for sublingual consumption, is it to cook with, is it to add to drinks, or am I trying to make a topical? Once I determine that, then I can think about the desired potency I want for my end product. Maybe I want to make a topical, so I'll need to make it more potent for dermal application. Or maybe I'm looking to make a low-dose oil for everyday use. Or maybe I want to make cannabis brownies that are more potent for special occasions. From there, I will use an online calculator to determine how much cannabis flower and carrier base (oil or butter) that I will need to use in order to achieve my desired potency per dose.

Step 2: Decarboxylate your dried cannabis flower in the LEVO C

The most important step of making cannabis infusions is actually not the infusion part (despite what the name might make you believe), it's actually the decarboxylation process aka activation. Decarboxylation of cannabis is the process in which heat is appleid to THCA and CBDA (the cannabinoids present in dried cannabis flower) which then converts these compounds to THC and CBD, the psychoactive compounds that are generally desired in cannabis edibles and infused products. If you do not decarboxylate your cannabis, you will not get the "high" from THC or the desired effects from CBD.

The LEVO C makes decarbing cannabis flower super easy! All you have to do is place your dried cannabis flower into the jumbo herb pod, place it inside the glass canister, place the silicone lid back on top of the glass canister, place the glass canister on the hot plate, and select the ACTIVATE setting. The main benefit of the LEVO C is that it can decarboxylate up to 1oz (28grams) of cannabis flower - which is 4x the capacity of the LEVO II herb pod! This is perfect for infusiasts who love more potent infusions, or are looking to decarb more flower at once.

The LEVO C also has a standardized decarboxylation setting which consistently decarbs cannabis at 240F for 45 minutes. This is the default setting and cannot be customized. Normally you'd think that no customization = no good, however in this case, I actually think it's a good thing because it creates a standardized process which gives you more consistent infusions. But if you are someone that likes to decarb at a lower or higher temperature, this might be something to consider.

LEVO C Jumbo Herb Pod (Left) vs. LEVO II Herb Pod (Right)

Step 3: Infuse the cannabis with your carrier base in the LEVO C

Once the cannabis flower is finished decarbing, add oil or butter of choice into the glass canister, up to 1 litre! The glass canister of the LEVO C holds up to 4x as much oil / butter as the LEVO II reservoir, making it the perfect solution for large batches of infused oil.

The LEVO C offers customizable infusion temperatures and durations up to 10 hours long. Personally, I don't think that infusing for long periods of time makes a huge difference in the potency of the infusion, as the decarb process is more important in releasing the desired cannabinoids. I like to infuse my oils at 170F for 1-3 hours (depending on how much time I have). Usually I'll infuse for 2 hours.

Step 4: Store and use your cannabis infusions

Once your infusion is complete, remove the lid and jumbo herb pod and pour your cannabis infusion into a glass storage container, dropper bottles, or glass bottle. Dark coloured glass is preferable to minimize oxidation of cannabinoids, but if you don't have, simply store your container in a dark cool spot and avoid sunlight. Allow your cannabis oil to cool before sealing the lid. I like to label my infusions with the dosage and the day that it was made by using sticky labels or a sticky note.

After infusing, store your cannabis oil in a glass container.

Is The LEVO C Worth It? Which LEVO Should You Get? (LEVO C vs. LEVO II Review)

Photo Credit: LEVO Oil

All in all, I was very impressed with the new LEVO C. It was very intuitive, easy to clean, easy to use, and it got the job done. I immediately tried the infused oil to cook some mushrooms and it was quite potent! I can definitely see myself using the LEVO C very often, especially for days when I'm looking to infuse large batches whether it be for making oils for other people, or simply refreshing my inventory of oil at home! Below I will break down the pros and cons of the LEVO C, and compare it against the LEVO II based on key features and functionalities.

Price

The LEVO C retails for $399 CAD / $299 USD and the LEVO II retails for $499 CAD / $399 USD. The price difference of $100 isn't extreme but it is worth mentioning. If budget is a concern, opt for the LEVO C. It definitely gets the job done and will save you $100. You can also save further by using my code CANNABINISTACO for 10% off any LEVO device. In my opinion, the extra $100 you pay for the LEVO II is for the drying setting (which the LEVO C does not have) and the ability to customize decarb temperatures. This may be handy for when you want to infuse herbs other than cannabis, such as lavender or rosemary, which require different temperatures.

Design

I personally love the design of the LEVO C, maybe even more than the LEVO II! I love the open-concept look of the LEVO C and the glass canister which allows you to see inside the device which is kind of neat. Both devices are ultra-sleek, so it will ultimately depend on which style you prefer. You may want to take the design into consideration if you plan on leaving the LEVO out on your kitchen countertop. The LEVO II comes in one more additional colour than the LEVO C, but generally the colour options are very similar.

In terms of weight and size, they both take up around the same amount of counter space, but the LEVO C is slightly lighter. The LEVO C also has a touch screen (which I found to be a little bit finnicky) while the LEVO II has buttons. Both have digital screens that display the mode and statuses.

Decarboxylation Capabilities

When it comes to the decarboyxlation functionality, both devices do an excellent job of decarbing dried cannabis. However, I think that the LEVO II might give a more even decarboxylation because I noticed that the flower in the LEVO C jumbo herb pod was not fully decarbed when I had it very full. I believe this is due to the fact that the heat from the LEVO C hot plate is coming from the base of the canister, whereas the LEVO II heats up the entire resevoir. My recommendation here would be that for big batch infusions, decarb the flower for 20 minutes and then toss the dried flower in the herb pod so that the flower on the top gets to the bottom of the herb pod, and decarb for the remaining 25 minutes or so.

The LEVO C has a standard default decarboxylation setting at 240F for 45 minutes which cannot be changed, whereas the LEVO II offers a range of temperatures and time durations for the decarb process. Another main difference is that the LEVO C can decarb up to 1 oz (28 grams) of herbs whereas the LEVO II can only decarb up to 1/2 oz (14 grams) if you use two herb pods.

Infusion Capabilities

The infusion process and capabilities between the LEVO C and LEVO II are generally the same from what I’ve observed. Both devices allow you to customize the temperature for the infusion and how long you want to infuse for. The main difference is that the LEVO C infuses 2X as much oil as the LEVO II. The LEVO C can hold up to 1L of oil whereas the LEVO II can only hold 2 cups (about half of the LEVO C).

Cleaning

The LEVO C is much easier to clean because all the components that touch oil and cannabis can be washed via dishwasher. Although the same is generally true for the LEVO II, I find that oil and herb odours can get stuck in the dispenser of the LEVO II and you have to use a cloth to wipe down the inside of the device as oil can drip into the device when you are removing the canister. At the end of the day, both devices are easier to clean up than traditional methods (ie. crockpot, stove pot, etc).

Noise & Odour

Both devices have minimal noise and odour when they’re decarbing and infusing. My recommendation is to always turn on a hood fan and light a candle or essential oils when you are infusing cannabis just to help reduce the odours in your home (if any).

The Verdict

Both devices are excellent tools for decarbing and infusing cannabis to make your own oils, butters, creams, and much more. If you are a frequent cannabis consumer and plan on using these devices a lot, the price is worth it because you will save a lot of money in the long run by not having to buy store bought edibles and oils. Both devices offer warranty as well, which gives you an additional piece of mind.

If you’re someone who likes to make big batches and potent oils, and prefers a “set it and forget it” mentality, I recommend going for the LEVO C. If you’re someone that wants more customization and perhaps are looking to infuse herbs other than cannabis, go for the LEVO II. Whatever decision you make, it will be a good one because LEVO has made both products excellent! Remember to use my code CANNABINISTACO for 10% off any LEVO device.