CAPSULE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF A BEVERAGE AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A CAPSULE

1 . A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, for instance roast and ground coffee, the capsule comprising:

a circumferential first wall,

a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end,

a perforated and/or porous third wall closing the circumferential first wall at an open second end opposite the second wall arranged for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule,

wherein the first, second and third wall enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,

wherein the extractable product in the inner space has particles falling within a preselected distribution by weight,

wherein a 10th percentile of the particle size is 20-60 μm, preferably smaller than 40 μm,

wherein a 50th percentile of the particle size is 400-600 μm, preferably 450-550 μm, and

wherein a 90th percentile of the particle size is 700-1000 μm, preferably 825-950 μm.

2 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the extractable product of the capsule has been, at least partly compacted.

3 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule comprises 4.0-8 grams, preferably 4.9-5.7 grams of roast and ground coffee.

4 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the inner space of the capsule has a volume of approximately 10-14 ml, preferably 11.5-12.5 ml, more preferably approximately 11.8 ml.

5 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the entire inner space is occupied by the extractable product.

6 . The capsule according to claim 2 , wherein the roast and ground coffee is compacted such that the compacted coffee in the inner space comprises a substantially homogenous density.

7 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the third wall comprises an exit filter arranged for draining prepared beverage from the capsule, wherein the exit filter for instance is formed by a woven or non-woven fibrous sheet, such as filtering paper, or a polymeric film provided with a plurality of exit openings.

8 . The capsule according to claim 7 , wherein the exit filter comprises 80 140 exit openings, wherein an opening diameter is between 0.4 mm±0.05 mm and 0.2 mm±0.05 mm, preferably approximately 0.3 mm±0.05 mm.

9 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential wall is substantially rigid.

10 . The capsule according to at least claim 7 , wherein the extractable product of the capsule has been, at least partly compacted, and wherein the capsule comprises an entrance filter, wherein the entrance filter has a flow resistance that is lower than the flow resistance of the compacted extractable product in combination with the exit filter.

11 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the compacted beverage ingredient is provided in a tablet.

12 . The capsule according to claim 11 , wherein the tablet comprises at least one bore extending from the side of the tablet facing the second wall in the direction of the third wall.

13 . The capsule according to claim 11 , wherein the extractable product is compacted into a plurality of tablets, preferably of mutually different packing density.

14 . The capsule according claim 13 , wherein a compaction density increases from the second wall of the capsule towards the third wall of the capsule.

15 . A method for manufacturing a capsule comprising:

providing a capsule having a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, a perforated and/or porous third wall closing the circumferential first wall at an open second end opposite the second wall arranged for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule,

providing a coffee receiving cup comprising the circumferential first wall and one of the second and third wall defining the inner space arranged for accommodating roast and ground coffee which has particles falling within a preselected distribution by weight, wherein a 10th percentile of the particle size is 20-60 μm, preferably smaller than 40 μm, wherein a 50th percentile of the particle size is 400-600 μm, preferably 450-550 μm and wherein a 90th percentile of the particle size is 700-1000 μm, preferably 825-950 μm;

providing an amount of said roast and ground coffee in the inner space of the coffee receiving cup.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the step of providing comprises the step of compacting the amount of roast and ground coffee starting material such that the capsule comprises compacted coffee having the said preselected distribution by weight.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises:

providing a first part of the amount of roast and ground coffee starting material in the inner space;

compacting said first part such that the said first part is compacted;

subsequently providing a further part of the amount of roast and ground coffee starting material on top of the compacted first part in the inner space of the capsule;

compacting the further part.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein a compacted volume of the roast and ground coffee is substantially similar to a volume of the inner space of the coffee receiving cup.

19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the roast and ground coffee starting material is compressed with a compressive pressure of substantially 50-800N, preferably of substantially 400-600N, more preferably about 500N.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the inner space of the capsule has a volume of approximately 10-14 ml, preferably 11.5-12.5 ml, more preferably approximately 11.8 ml.

21 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the compacted roast and ground coffee has a weight of 4.0-8 grams, preferably 4.9-5.7 grams.

22 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the roast and ground coffee starting material has a pouring volume in the range of 600-680 ml per 250 grams of coffee before it is introduced in the capsule.

23 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the roast and ground coffee starting material has a moisture content of 1.0-4.0%, preferably of 1.5-2.2%, more preferably of approximately 1.5%.

24 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein coffee beans for the roast and ground coffee starting material are roasted during approximately 250-1000 seconds, preferably during 450-700 seconds.

25 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein a degree of roast of the roast and ground coffee starting material is in the range of 30-60.

26 . A capsule obtainable by a method according to claim 15 .

27 . A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, the system comprising:

an exchangeable capsule having a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, a perforated and/or porous third wall closing the circumferential first wall at an open second end opposite the second wall arranged for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule; and

an apparatus comprising:

a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid, such as water under a high pressure to the exchangeable capsule,

a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule and

an outlet which, in use is in fluid communication with the capsule for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup.

28 . The system according to claim 27 , wherein the fluid dispensing device is adapted to supply fluid to the exchangeable capsule under a pressure of approximately 4-20 bars, preferably 9-15 bars.

29 . A method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, for instance roast and ground coffee, comprising:

providing an exchangeable capsule having a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, a perforated and/or porous third wall closing the circumferential first wall at an open second end opposite the second wall arranged for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule;

providing an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid, such as water, under a pressure of at least six bars to the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet which, in use is in fluid communication with the capsule for draining the prepared beverage form the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup;

arranging the exchangeable capsule in the receptacle;

supplying the fluid under pressure to the compacted extractable product for preparing the beverage thereby redistributing relatively small coffee particles in the inner space of the capsule such that said coffee particles are located adjacent the exit filter and together with the exit filter provide a flow restriction of the capsule.

30 . The method according to claim 29 , further comprising:

using a system comprising:

a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid, such as water under a high pressure to the exchangeable capsule,

a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and

an outlet which, in use is in fluid communication with the capsule for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup.