Aroma recovery process
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsZenon Ioannis Mandralis, Scott Westfall, Kenneth A. Yunker
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Abstract
A process for the recovery of aroma components from coffee. A slurry of coffee grounds in an aqueous liquid is subjected to stripping for stripping aroma components from the slurry. The stripping is carried out using gas in a substantially counter-current manner to provide an aromatized gas containing aroma components. The aroma components are then collected from the aromatized gas. The aroma components may be added to concentrated coffee extract prior to drying of the extract. The coffee powder produced has much increased and improved aroma and flavor and contains higher levels of furans and diketones.
Claims21
A process for recovery of aroma components from coffee, the process comprising:
- providing a slurry of coffee grounds in an aqueous liquid at a temperature of about 80.degree. C. to about 99.degree. C., the slurry having a solids content of about 1% to about 30% by weight;
- stripping aroma components from the slurry using gas in a substantially counter-current manner for providing an aromatized gas containing aroma components;
- and
- collecting aroma components from the aromatized gas.
A process for the production of an aromatized coffee powder, the process comprising:
- providing a slurry of coffee grounds in an aqueous liquid at a temperature of about 80.degree. C. to about 99.degree. C., the slurry having a solids content of about 1% to about 30% by weight;
- stripping aroma components from the slurry using a gas in a substantially counter-current manner for providing an aromatized gas containing aroma components;
- collecting the aroma components from the aromatized gas;
- extracting soluble coffee solids from coffee grounds and concentrating the extracted soluble coffee solids for providing a concentrated coffee extract;
- combining the concentrated coffee extract and the collected aroma components for providing and aromatized extract;
- and
- drying the aromatized extract for providing the aromatized coffee powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.