Process for countercurrent extraction of coffee

In a process for extracting roast and ground coffee material in a countercurrent extraction apparatus having a plurality of cells interconnected in series, wherein an extraction liquid is passed downstream from one cell to a next adjacently positioned cell in the series and through the coffee material contained in each cell in countercurrent fashion to obtain an extract from the coffee material, and wherein extract is obtained from at least one cell in the series and is subjected to evaporation at a temperature reduced from a temperature employed for extraction in the extraction cells, the improvements comprising:

• obtaining a first extract having a temperature above 150.degree. C. from an extraction cell, flash evaporating the first extract at a temperature reduced from 150.degree. C. to obtain a first extract product, heating the first extract product to a temperature sufficient for extraction of coffee material contained in a downstream extraction cell and introducing the heated extract product into the downstream cell adjacent the cell in the series from which the first extract was obtained;
• and
• obtaining a second extract from an extraction cell which is positioned in the series at least one cell downstream from the cell from which the first extract was obtained and which is positioned prior to a last downstream cell in the series, flash evaporating the second extract to obtain a second extract product, heating the second extract product to a temperature sufficient for extraction of coffee material contained in a downstream extraction cell and introducing the heated second extract product into the downstream cell adjacent the cell in the series from which the second extract was obtained;
• and
• wherein the second flash evaporation is carried out at a temperature higher than the first flash evaporation.