Chilled N2 infused beverage dispensing system and method to prepare and dispense a chilled N2 infused beverage
A system and method to prepare and dispense a N 2 or N 2 /CO 2 gas infused chilled beverage is provided. The beverage may be any non-carbonated liquid and in one embodiment the beverage is coffee. The dispensed N 2 or N 2 /CO 2 gas infused chilled coffee has a unique appearance and enhanced flavor and aroma. The system may be provided as a self-contained unit.
1. A method for dispensing a chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage, comprising:
charging a noncarbonated beverage to a beverage tank which is in liquid communication with a liquid/gas contactor unit through a beverage pump;
chilling the noncarbonated beverage to a temperature of from 30 to 40° F.;
feeding a supply of N 2 to the liquid/gas contactor unit, beverage pump and to the beverage tank through one or more secondary regulators;
adjusting the one or more secondary regulators to supply the N 2 at a pressure of from 20 to 70 psi at the liquid/gas contactor unit and beverage pump;
pressurizing the beverage tank to 10-12 psi;
pumping the chilled noncarbonated beverage from the beverage tank through the beverage pump to the liquid/gas contactor unit;
contacting the chilled noncarbonated beverage with N 2 in the liquid/gas contactor unit to dissolve the N 2 in the chilled noncarbonated beverage to obtain the chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage; and
dispensing the chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage through a beverage faucet at a controlled rate to a receiver.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the noncarbonated beverage is coffee.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlled rate of dispensing of the chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage is from 0.1 to 5 ounces of beverage per second.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein chilling the noncarbonated beverage in the beverage tank comprises placing at least the beverage tank in a cooling unit.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the noncarbonated beverage is coffee and the coffee is chilled to 34 to 37° F.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a content of N 2 in the chilled nitrogen-infused coffee is from 20 to 50 ppm.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a dispensing rate of the chilled nitrogen-infused coffee is from 0.1 to 2 ounces per second.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising blast chilling a hot noncarbonated beverage to prepare the noncarbonated beverage charged to the beverage tank.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing the chilled noncarbonated beverage through a strainer and/or filtration unit prior to entry to the liquid/gas contactor unit.
10. A method for dispensing a chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage, comprising:
charging a noncarbonated beverage to a bag-in-box beverage container which is in liquid communication with a liquid/gas contactor unit through a beverage pump;
chilling the noncarbonated beverage to a temperature of from 30 to 40° F.;
feeding a supply of N 2 to the liquid/gas contactor unit and beverage pump through one or more secondary regulators;
adjusting the one or more secondary regulators to supply the N 2 at a pressure of from 20 to 70 psi at the liquid/gas contactor unit and beverage pump;
pumping the chilled noncarbonated beverage from the bag-in-box beverage container through the beverage pump to the liquid/gas contactor unit;
contacting the chilled noncarbonated beverage with N 2 in the liquid/gas contactor unit to dissolve the N 2 in the chilled noncarbonated beverage to obtain the chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage; and
dispensing the chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage through a beverage faucet at a controlled rate to a receiver.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the noncarbonated beverage is coffee.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controlled rate of dispensing of the chilled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage is from 0.1 to 5 ounces of beverage per second.
13. The method of claim 10 further comprising chilling the noncarbonated beverage in the bag-in-box beverage container in a cooling unit.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the noncarbonated beverage is coffee and the coffee is chilled to 34 to 37° F.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a content of N 2 in the chilled nitrogen-infused coffee is from 20 to 50 ppm.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a dispensing rate of the chilled nitrogen-infused coffee is from 0.1 to 2 ounces per second.
17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising blast chilling a hot noncarbonated beverage to prepare the noncarbonated beverage charged to the bag-in-box beverage container.
18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising passing the chilled noncarbonated beverage through a strainer and/or filtration unit prior to entry to the liquid/gas contactor unit.