Process for making reduced density coffee
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsSteven J. Kirkpatrick, Richard W. Bertagna, Roger W. Gutwein
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Abstract
This invention relates to an improved process for preparing reduced density roast coffee beans. The improved process comprises predrying green coffee beans to a moisture content of from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight, fast roasting the beans, and cooling the roasted beans. The resulting roasted beans have a Hunter L-color of from about 14 to about 25, a Hunter .DELTA.L-value is less than about 1.2 and a whole roast tamped bulk density of from about 0.28 to about 0.38 g/cc. The resulting roast coffee beans are more uniformly roasted than traditional reduced density coffee beans.
Claims11
A process for producing reduced density roasted coffee beans comprising the steps of:
- (a) first, drying green coffee beans to a moisture content of from about 0.5% to about 7% by weight, wherein the drying is conducted at a temperature of from about 70.degree. F. to about 325.degree. F. for at least about 1 minute;
- then
- (b) roasting the dried beans at a temperature of from about 350.degree. F. to about 1200.degree. F. for from about 10 seconds to not longer than about 5.5 minutes;
- and then
- (c) cooling the roasted beans, wherein the resulting roast beans have:
- (1) a Hunter L-color of from about 14 to about 25;
- (2) a Hunger .DELTA. L-color of less than about 1.2;
- and
- (3) a whole roast tamped bulk density of from about (0.27 to about 0.38 g/cc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.