Foaming coffee composition
The present invention provides a foaming instant coffee composition comprising particles having a bulk density of from 0.16 to 0.45 g/cm 3 , said particles comprising a continuous phase comprising an instant coffee matrix and a non-continuous phase comprising particles of a foamable component containing a gas.
1. A process for preparing a foaming instant coffee composition comprising the steps of:
i. mixing particles of a foamable component with an aqueous coffee extract to form a coffee mixture;
ii. before the particles of the foamable component have dissolved, freezing the coffee mixture;
iii. granulating the frozen coffee mixture; and
iv. forming the foaming instant coffee composition by removing water by sublimation, wherein the foaming instant coffee composition includes a continuous phase comprising an instant coffee matrix and a non-continuous phase comprising particles of the foamable component containing a gas, the non-continuous phase being entrapped within the instant coffee matrix.
2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the particles of the foamable component are cooled to 5° C. or less prior to mixing with the aqueous coffee extract.
3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the particles of the foamable component are cooled in liquid nitrogen.
4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous coffee extract has a coffee solids content of at least 40 wt %.
5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous coffee extract is cooled to 0° C. or less prior to mixing with the particles of the foamable component.
6. The process according to claim 1 wherein the particles of the foamable component are mixed with the aqueous coffee extract for 2 minutes or less prior to freezing.
7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the foaming instant coffee is freeze-dried.
8. The process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of injecting a gas into the aqueous coffee extract prior to mixing with the particles of the foamable component.
9. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of slab freezing the coffee mixture prior to granulating.
10. A process for forming a foaming freeze-dried instant coffee composition comprising the steps of:
cooling an aqueous coffee extract to a temperature of less than about 5° C.;
cooling particles of a foamable component to a temperature of less than about 5° C.;
mixing the particles of the foamable component with the aqueous coffee extract to form a coffee mixture;
before the particles of the foamable component have dissolved, freezing the coffee mixture;
removing water by sublimation from the coffee mixture to form the foaming freeze-dried instant coffee composition, wherein the foaming freeze-dried instant coffee composition includes a continuous phase comprising an instant coffee matrix and a non-continuous phase comprising particles of the foamable component containing a gas, the non-continuous phase being entrapped within the instant coffee matrix.
11. The process according to claim 10 wherein the aqueous coffee extract has a coffee solids content of at least 40 wt. %.
12. The process according to claim 10 wherein the particles of the foamable component are mixed with the aqueous coffee extract for 2 minutes or less prior to freezing.
13. The process according to claim 10 further comprising the step of injecting a gas into the aqueous coffee extract prior to mixing with the particles of the foamable component.