A method of making cheese comprising the steps of preparing a paste-like emulsified homogenous pre-cheese mixture, heat treating the pre-cheese mixture of step cooling the pre-cheese mixture of step renneting and filling the pre-cheese mixture of step, characterised in that in step and/or step the pre-cheese mixture is cooled down to a temperature of 41 to 60° C. A related cheese making apparatus, a method of filling and portioning, and pre-cheese mixtures are also disclosed.