GB1308249A - Process for treating green coffee - Google Patents

Abstract

1308249 Treating green coffee beans GENERAL FOODS CORP 17 June 1970 [20 June 1969] 29477/70 Heading A2B A method of treating green coffee to remove undesirable flavour and aroma constituents comprises heating green coffee beans for 1-5 mins. in a pressure vessel with water vapour at a pressure of 50-140 p.s.i.g. and a temperature of at least the temperature of saturated steam at the vessel pressure, and relieving the pressure on the beans to less than 8 p.s.i.g. before discharging the beans from the vessel, by venting vapours at a rate to prevent substantial expansion of the beans. The amount of water vapour contacting the beans is sufficient to penetrate the beans but insufficient to raise the moisture content of the treated coffee to above 45% by wt. of the final wet coffee. The process may be carried out in a continuous manner wherein the beans are mixed with water in an inlet pressure lock, fed into an externally heated digester to which steam may be added, and discharged via an outlet pressure lock wherein the vapours are vented. The treated beans may then be roasted and ground.