Device for continuously decaffeinating raw coffee

A device for continuously decaffeinating raw coffee that is subjected to various treatment stages, including a first treatment stage where the raw coffee is preswollen by a swelling fluid that is added to the raw coffee and further stages where caffeine is extracted from the coffee by an aqueous extraction fluid and adsorbed in a preloaded adsorbent, the device comprising:

• a first extractor including at least one cell for use in the first treatment stage for receiving the raw coffee that is to be preswollen, said cell being defined by a bottom and a plurality of side walls, a substantial part of two of said side walls extending towards one another whereby an angle is formed between the two sides to thereby define a wedge-shaped cell;
• said first extractor further including a plurality of extraction cells including a last extraction cell, each of the extractor cells and the at least one cell having a receiving chamber located below and associated with the respective cell with a perforated bottom being positioned between the cells and their associated receiving chambers, the adjoining receiving chambers being separated from one another by a partition, said first extractor comprising a rotary extractor whereby said extraction cells and said at least one cell are adapted to be rotated with respect to their associated receiving chambers, said extraction cells being positioned downstream from the at least one cell in the direction of rotation of said cells and each of said extraction cells having a wetting device associated therewith for wetting the coffee contained therein, each of said receiving chambers being in mutual fluid communication with one another to form a countercurrent of extraction fluid whereby extraction fluid from one receiving chamber is fed to the receiving chamber positioned upstream with respect to the direction of rotation of said cells so that caffeine-rich extract can be fed as the swelling fluid to the at least one cell.