METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COCOA PRODUCTS
Provided are processes for producing cocoa-containing compositions by comminution of cocoa beans and/or portions thereof, systems for carrying out such processes and products produced therefrom.
1 . A process for producing a cocoa-containing composition, comprising:
comminuting cocoa beans at a temperature below a melting temperature of cocoa butter in the cocoa beans.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa beans comprise roasted, alkalized or unroasted whole cocoa beans, shelled cocoa beans, cocoa nibs, cocoa bean shells, cocoa bean embryos, cocoa bean cotyledons or combinations of any thereof.
3 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the cocoa beans to a temperature of 15° C. or less.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein comminuting the cocoa beans occurs in a classification mill.
5 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the cocoa beans with liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide chips, or combinations of any thereof.
6 . A product produced by the process of claim 1 .
7 . The product of claim 6 , having a fineness at 75μ of at least about 99%.
8 . The product of claim 6 , wherein a mean particle size of the product is less than about 40 μm.
9 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the cocoa-containing composition with a cocoa powder, a cocoa butter or a combination thereof.
10 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising packing and storing the cocoa-containing composition at a temperature below a melting temperature of cocoa butter in the composition.
11 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising shipping the cocoa-containing composition at a temperature below a melting temperature of cocoa butter in the composition.
12 . A system for producing a cocoa-containing composition, comprising:
cocoa beans; and
means for comminuting the cocoa beans at a temperature below a melting temperature of cocoa butter in the cocoa beans.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the means for comminuting the cocoa beans comprises a classification mill.
14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a cooler configured to cool the cocoa beans before the cocoa beans are fed into the means for comminuting the cocoa beans.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the cooler comprises liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide chips or combinations of any thereof.
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the means for comminuting the cocoa beans maintains the cocoa beans at a temperature of 15° C. or below.
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein components of the system are contained a room maintained at a temperature of 15° C. or below.
18 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a conche configured to receive comminuted cocoa beans.
19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising:
a mixing vessel, a refining roller or a combination thereof;
wherein the mixing vessel, the refining roller or the combination thereof is configured between the means for comminuting the cocoa beans and the conche.
20 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising comminuted cocoa beans in a powdered form.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the comminuted cocoa beans have an iron content of less than 250 ppm.
22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the comminuted cocoa beans have a fineness at 75 microns of at least 99%.
23 . A chocolate liquor powder comprising:
comminuted cocoa beans;
the chocolate liquor powder having an iron content of less than 250 ppm;
the chocolate liquor powder having a fineness at 75 microns of at least 99%;
the chocolate liquor powder being at a temperature below a melting temperature of cocoa butter in the cocoa beans.
24 . The chocolate liquor powder of claim 23 , having an iron content of less than 200 ppm.
25 . The chocolate liquor powder of claim 23 , wherein particles of the chocolate liquid powder have a fineness at 10 microns of greater than about 10%.