Process for preparing microporous structured soluble coffee product
AssigneeGeneral Foods Corporation
InventorDaniel E. Dwyer, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A freeze-dried soluble coffee product in the form of particles or granules and having a microporous structure is prepared by prechilling a metal plate in a liquid refrigerant, immersing the plate in aqueous extract of coffee solids, reimmersing the plate in a liquid refrigerant, removing the frozen particles in the form of flakes from the plate, grinding and freeze-drying the flakes to produce frozen extract particles with reduced entrainment losses. The product so prepared has a unique porosity and is capable of sorbing, retaining and releasing volatile aromatic compounds.
Claims6
A process for preparing a microporous structured freeze-dried coffee product comprising:
- (a) prechilling a metal plate in a liquid refrigerant maintained at a temperature of -195.degree. to -73.degree. C.;
- (b) quickly immersing the plate in an aqueous extract or solution of coffee solids where a thin layer of the extract adheres to and becomes frozen on the plate;
- (c) reimmersing the plate, on which the frozen coffee extract is adhering in said liquid refrigerant;
- (d) removing the frozen extract from the plate and collecting the frozen extract in the form of flakes;
- (e) grinding the flakes to produce particles;
- and
- (f) freeze-drying the frozen extract particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.