BEVERAGES, BEVERAGE CAPSULES AND PROCESSES OF PREPARATION OF BEVERAGES
The present invention relates to a beverage composition comprising a beverage mix component and a milk powder, wherein at least part of the milk powder comprises caseins and whey proteins wherein the milk powder has a mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 pm as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a process for producing and dispensing such a beverage composition. A capsule holding such a composition is also taught.
1 . A beverage composition comprising a beverage mix component and a milk powder, wherein at least part of the milk powder comprises caseins and whey proteins such that, the milk powder upon reconstitution in an aqueous medium comprises casein-whey protein/fat aggregates and wherein the milk powder has a mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 μm as measured by laser diffraction.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the beverage mix component is selected from the group consisting of coffee, tea, fruit, herb, cocoa and combinations thereof.
3 . The composition of claim 1 further comprises sugar, maltodextrin, flavors and texturizers.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the beverage mix component is coffee and wherein the beverage comprises coffee and milk powder in the ratio of 1:2 to 1:12.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the beverage mix component is cocoa and wherein the beverage comprises cocoa and milk powder in the ratio of 1:3 to 1:6.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the mean diameter value Dv50 of the reconstituted milk powder defined ranges from 1 μm-30 μm.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the mean diameter value Dv50 of the reconstituted milk powder defined ranges from 5-10 μm.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the milk powder is selected from the group consisting of a semi-skimmed, skimmed and whole milk powder.
9 . A process for preparing a beverage composition comprising a beverage mix component and a milk powder, wherein at least part of the milk powder comprises caseins and whey proteins such that, the milk powder upon reconstitution in an aqueous medium comprises casein-whey protein/fat aggregates and wherein the milk powder has a mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 μm as measured by laser diffraction, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a liquid milk concentrate at temperature below 25° C.;
b) adjusting pH between 5.7 and 6.4;
c) heat treating the composition at 80-150° C. for 3-300 seconds;
d) cooling the composition below 70° C.;
e) drying the composition after step d to get a milk powder; and
f) mixing soluble beverage mix component with the milk powder obtained in step e.
10 . A beverage capsule containing a beverage composition comprising a beverage mix component and a milk powder, wherein at least part of the milk powder comprises caseins and whey proteins such that, the milk powder upon reconstitution in an aqueous medium comprises casein-whey protein/fat aggregates and wherein the milk powder has a mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 μm as measured by laser diffraction.
11 - 14 . (canceled)