US3767418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for upgrading green coffee
Assignee: General Foods Corp
•
Filing: 1971-09-28
•
Granted: 1973-10-23
•
Expires: 1991-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved process for upgrading green coffee by contacting green coffee with water and subjecting the mixture to elevated temperatures under pressure has been discovered. The key to the present invention is to control the moisture content of the green coffee and the steam pressure contacting the coffee, thus avoiding undue expansion of the coffee bean by introducing coffee and water into a vessel pressurized by steam such that expansion is inhibited during the treatment. Expansion of the beans on discharge from the pressure vessel is also minimized by avoiding a sudden release of pressure when the beans are discharged from the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 A Stefanucci
- 👤 G Ponzoni
- 👤 M Protomastro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 where the amount of water is effective to produce a moisture content of 45 to 55 percent by weight of the wet coffee.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein one part green coffee is contacted with 0.4-1.2 parts water and the mixture is subjected to a pressure of 70 to 110 p.s.i.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the coffee is retained in the vessel for from about 1 to about 5 minutes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the vessel is a continuous pressure vessel wherein the coffee is conveyed from a feed end to a discharge end, the coffee being introduced through a pressure lock at the feed end and discharged through a pressure lock at the discharge end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the coffee and water are mixed together in the pressure lock at the feed end of the vessel and rapidly introduced into the pressure vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 in which an external source of steam is employed to directly contact the green coffee in the vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the steam pressure is produced by indirect heating of water present in the vessel sufficient to produce the steam pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 which further includes drying the steamed coffee to a stable condition prior to roasting the coffee.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the wet steamed green coffee is air dried to below 15 percent moisture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2712501A
Cited
US2833653A
Cited
US3088825A
Cited
US3106470A
Cited
US3589912A
Cited
US3595668A
Cited
US3640726A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |