Method and apparatus for consumable powder reconstitution and frothing
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsBeli R. Thakur, Juan J. Gonzalez, Hanspeter Pleisch, David Casey Guerrera, Stephen Daniel Westfall, Alexander A. Sher
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reconstituting consumable powder(s) with a liquid to provide a food liquid such as milk, cappuccino-type beverage, or soup with or without froth. The powder is introduced into a container and pre-wetted by an intersecting liquid spray. Further mixing occurs in the container. The container may have additional liquid streams feeding into the container for increased mixing. This food liquid can then be aspirated by the Venturi effect by steam generation to produce a frothed/aerated food liquid.
Claims24
A method of reconstituting consumable powder to form a food product, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a powder into a container;
- pre-wetting said powder to form a pre-wetted powder by introducing a wetting liquid stream into said container such that said wetting liquid stream intersects in mid-air with said powder as said powder is introduced into said container;
- and
- mixing said pre-wetted powder to form a food liquid reconstituted from said powder by introducing a mixing liquid stream into said container, said mixing liquid stream being distinct from said wetting liquid stream;
- wherein said pre-wetting takes place before said powder contacts said container.
A method of reconstituting a consumable powder to form a frothed food product, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a powder into a container;
- pre-wetting said powder to form a pre-wetted powder by introducing a wetting liquid stream into said container such that said wetting liquid stream intersects in mid-air with said powder as said powder is introduced into said container;
- mixing said pre-wetted powder to form a food liquid reconstituted from said powder by introducing one or more mixing liquid streams into said container combining said food liquid with steam, said one or more mixing liquid streams being distinct from said wetting liquid stream;
- and
- frothing said food liquid by way of a Venturi effect device;
- wherein said pre-wetting takes place before said powder contacts said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.