Soluble espresso coffee

A process for making a soluble espresso coffee powder comprising the steps of:

• (1) cooling a coffee extract obtained from Robusta beans having a concentration of from about 37 to about 43% ss to a temperature of between about 10.degree. C. to about 15.degree. C.;
• (2) foaming the cooled coffee extract of step (1) by injecting nitrogen gas into the extract at a gas to extract ratio of from about 0.6:1 to 1.4:1 wherein the gas has a pressure which is 10 to 20 psi greater than the pressure of the extract;
• (3) homogenizing the foamed extract of step (2) to attain a foam density of between about 500 to about 750 g/l and a gas bubble size of 5 microns or less;
• and
• (4) spray drying the homogenized extract in a spray drier at a spray pressure of about 700 to about 1000 psi, a drier inlet temperature of about 140.degree. to about 190.degree. C., and a drier outlet temperature of about 90.degree. to about 100.degree. C. for a time sufficient to attain a soluble espresso coffee powder comprising particles having a moisture of about 3 to about 3.5% wherein a majority of void space in said soluble espresso powder is comprised of gas bubbles having a size of 10 microns or less.

A soluble espresso coffee powder which comprises:

• (1) a moisture content of from about 2.5 to about 4.0%;
• (2) a density of from about 0.12 to about 0.22 g/cc;
• and
• (3) wherein said soluble expresso coffee powder which comprises an interior void space which consists of a majority of gas bubbles of 10 microns or less and minority void space in excess of 10 microns such that upon reconstitution with hot water a coffee product with a layer of espresso-type foam is produced.