Treating soluble coffee
The present invention provides a method for treating soluble coffee, the method comprising: providing a soluble coffee powder; providing a coffee oil in an amount of from 0.5 to 4 wt % relative to the soluble coffee powder; providing water in an amount of from 1 to 3 wt % relative to the soluble coffee powder; and mixing the soluble coffee powder with the coffee oil and then with the water.
1. A method for surface treating a soluble coffee powder, the method comprising:
providing a soluble coffee powder;
providing a coffee oil in an amount of from 0.5 to 4 wt. % relative to the soluble coffee powder;
providing water in an amount of from 1 to 3 wt. % relative to the soluble coffee powder;
mixing, at a temperature of from 10 to 40° C. and prior to reconstitution of the surface-treated soluble coffee powder with an aqueous medium to form a beverage, the soluble coffee powder with the coffee oil provided in the amount of from 0.5 to 4 wt. % relative to the soluble coffee powder, the mixing of the soluble powder with the coffee oil being effective to apply the coffee oil to a surface of the soluble coffee powder to provide an oil layer coating on the soluble coffee powder; and
mixing, at a temperature of from 10 to 40° C., after the mixing of the soluble coffee powder with the coffee oil, and prior to the reconstitution of the surface-treated soluble coffee powder with the aqueous medium to form the beverage, the soluble coffee powder including the oil layer coating with the water provided in the amount of from 1 to 3 wt. % relative to the soluble coffee powder, the mixing of the soluble coffee powder including the oil layer coating with the water being effective to apply the water to a surface of the oil layer coating of the soluble coffee powder to provide the surface-treated soluble coffee powder, the surface-treated soluble coffee powder being configured to form the beverage when reconstituted in the aqueous medium.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coffee oil comprises Coloma oil and/or spent ground oil.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coffee oil is in an amount of from 0.8 to 2 wt. % relative to the soluble coffee powder.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the water is added in an amount sufficient to provide a final moisture content of the surface-treated soluble coffee powder of from 2.5 to 6 wt. %.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is carried out with substantially no agglomeration of the surface-treated soluble coffee powder.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a D90 of the surface-treated soluble coffee powder does not substantially increase.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the water is added to the soluble coffee powder including the oil layer coating as a spray during the mixing.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the mixing steps is carried out at about room temperature.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface-treated soluble coffee powder is spray-dried coffee powder.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface-treated soluble coffee powder is a foaming soluble coffee powder and/or comprises finely ground roasted coffee particles.
11. The method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising a step of grinding or milling the surface-treated soluble coffee powder.
12. The method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising packaging the surface-treated soluble coffee powder.
13. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the final moisture content of the surface-treated soluble coffee powder is about 5 wt. %.