Process to prepare a liquid coffee concentrate with reduced acrylamide content by resin treatment

A process for producing a liquid coffee concentrate, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) subjecting roasted and ground coffee to an aroma recovery process to obtain:
• (i) a high aromatic aqueous coffee extract, the high aromatic aqueous coffee extract having a ratio of 2,3 butanedione to ethylguaiacol of more than 30:1;
• and
• (ii) a first dearomatized roasted and ground coffee;
• b) subjecting the first dearomatised roasted and ground coffee to an initial aqueous extraction at a temperature of from 140° C. to 170° C. to obtain a further aqueous coffee extract and a second dearomatised roasted and ground coffee;
• c) subjecting the second dearomatised roasted and ground coffee to an aqueous extraction at a temperature of from 200 to 260° C. to obtain a low aromatic aqueous coffee extract having a first acrylamide content, the low aromatic aqueous coffee extract having a ratio of 2,3 butanedione to ethylguaiacol of less than 30:1;
• d) contacting the low aromatic aqueous coffee extract with a carbon and/or silica based resin with adsorptive function to provide a low aromatic aqueous coffee extract having a second acrylamide content;
• and
• e) combining the low aromatic aqueous coffee extract having a second acrylamide content, the high aromatic aqueous coffee extract, and the further aqueous coffee extract to provide a liquid coffee concentrate,
• wherein the second acrylamide content is lower than the first acrylamide content;
• wherein the aroma recovery process involves contacting the roasted and ground coffee with steam and obtaining the high aromatic aqueous coffee extract from the steam.