WO1996014757A1

WO1996014757A1 - Vitamin-enriched coffee and process for making same

Info

Publication number: WO1996014757A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/014859
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard E. Stallings; Sidney Rich; Timothy Tullich
Original assignee: Stallings Richard E
Priority date: 1994-11-15
Filing date: 1995-11-14
Publication date: 1996-05-23
Also published as: AU4160596A

Abstract

A vitamin-enriched coffee is made by blending powdered, water-soluble vitamins with ground coffee to form a homogeneous blend suitable for brewing. Alternatively, the vitamin-enriched coffee is obtained by wetting whole coffee beans with a vitamin-containing solution, and thereafter drying the whole coffee beans. The vitamin-carrying beans may then be ground and brewed in the conventional manner.

Description

VITAMIN ENRICHED COFFEE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME Background Of The invention

The present invention is directed generally to nutritionally enriched coffee products and to processes for making such coffee products. More particularly, the present invention is directed to ground coffee or whole bean coffee having nutrients added in a form that will permit their transfer into the brewed coffee for ultimate consumption by the consumer. In recent years there has been an increasing awareness of the benefits attributable to a diet rich in essential nutrients or vitamins. It is now well recognized that minimum daily requirements of various vitamins are essential to long term health. So too, medical research has shown that consumption of certain vitamins may not only improve health generally, but may reduce the risk of specific illnesses as well.

As a result, food processors and nutritionists have sought to add vitamins to a variety of food products such as breakfast cereals, breads, milk and juices. The present invention addresses this same goal, and provides to coffee drinkers a readily available source of basic and widely recommended vitamins.

finmniwrγ nf jhe Invention The present invention is directed to prebrewed coffee products that are vitamin-enriched in a manner that will result in the vitamins being present for ultimate consumption with the brewed coffee. In one embodiment of the invention, coffee beans are first roasted and ground in the conventional manner, and thereafter dried powdered vitamins are mixed with the ground coffee to form a dry, ground coffee and vitamin blend. Preferably, the powdered vitamins are mixed with the ground coffee within a short time after grinding of the coffee beans while the oils of the ground coffee have the ability to act as a binder.

In another embodiment of the invention, the coffee beans are first roasted and the vitamins are mixed with or applied to the whole, roasted beans in a solution. The coated or saturated whole coffee beans are subsequently dried, leaving the vitamins on the dried roasted beans. Upon ultimate grinding, the vitamins will again be present in the ground coffee. In either embodiment, the vitamins are either initially water soluble or are processed, prior to mixing with the ground on whole bean coffee, to make them water soluble.

Brief Description Of The Drawings The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a block diagram flow chart showing the process for manufacturing vitamin-enriched coffee in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 2 is another block diagram flow chart showing another process for manufacturing vitamin-enriched coffee in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Bm^*»f»<^*iime t

In accord with one embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically depicted in FIGURE 1, coffee beans are first roasted and ground in any conventional manner to provide a particulate, ground coffee. Any coffee bean may be used, and various roasting and grinding equipment and processes well known in the coffee arts may e employed. Preferably, the whole coffee beans are ground in a plate grinder with a resulting particle size distribution conforming approximately to the following analysis, using Tyler screens: approximately 8% retained on a #8 sieve, approximately 65% retained on a #28 sieve, with approximately 27 passing through as a fine powder. The ground coffee preferably has a weight so that about 2800 particles make up one gram.

The vitamins employed in the practice of this embodiment are preferably in dry powder form and are either water soluble or processed to form a compound that is water soluble. For the purpose of the present invention, the term ^•■vitamin" is intended to mean any dietary supplement well known in the art intended to enhance metabolic functions. These vitamins are readily available as powders or may be easily converted into powders using conventional grinders or mills. Preferably, the vitamins are reduced to powders having a size range of less than 100 microns, and more preferably in the range of 20 to 70 microns. As shown in FIGURE 1, the ground coffee beans and powdered vitamins are mixed to provide a homogeneous coffee-vitamin blend. This mixing may be achieved in any conventional food mixer suitable for use with particulate and powdered materials. It is preferable that the dry powdered vitamins and ground coffee be mixed shortly after the coffee beans are ground to take advantage of the ground coffee's natural oils which act to bind the coffee grounds and powdered vitamins.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, it is also desirable to match the specific gravity, weight, and/or particle size of the ground coffee with that of the powdered vitamins to help prevent settling and separation of the individual constituents during shipment and storage.

Finally, of course, the blended mixture must be packaged, and any conventional packaging may be employed. However, packaging which tends to create a vapor seal or lock is preferred to maintain freshness and vitamin potency.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted by the block diagram flow chart of FIGURE 2. In this embodiment, the powdered vitamins are mixed with a solvent, preferably propylene glycol and water, forming a liquid vitamin solution. This solution, in turn, is sprayed onto the whole coffee beans. Alternatively, the vitamin solution and whole coffee beans may be mixed together to allow absorption of the solution into the beans. Thereafter, the solution saturated beans are dried and packaged.

A typical vitamin formulation that may be used per one ounce serving of coffee, in either ground or whole bean form, includes: - 5 -

Ingredient Amount ( in iB-miqmiiia)

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) 78 .000

Folic Acid 0 .520 Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin Bl) 1 .950

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 2, .125

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) 2. .600

Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) 0. .008

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) 25. ,000 Biotin 0. .300

Calcium Pantothenate 13. .043

Vitamin E 60. 000

Sodium Chloride 0. 429

Carrageenan 0. 025

The sodium chloride and carrageenan are added to facilitate the dissolution of the one or more of the listed vitamins.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A composition for use in making a nutritionally- enriched brewed coffee, comprising: ground coffee beans; and at least one powdered, water-soluble vitamin; said ground coffee beans and said powdered vitamin being blended to form a generally homogeneous mixture.

2. A composition for use in making a nutritionally- enriched brewed coffee, comprising: whole coffee beans carrying at least one water-soluble vitamin.

3. A process for making a vitamin-enriched coffee, comprising: grinding whole bean coffee to form ground coffee; mixing at least one powdered, water-soluble vitamin with said ground coffee to form a ground coffee and vitamin blend; brewing said blend with hot water to form a coffee beverage containing said vitamin.

4. A process for making a vitamin-enriched coffee, comprising: providing whole coffee beans; wetting said beans with a solution containing at least one water-soluble vitamin; drying said beans to obtain dried coffee beans carrying said vitamin; guiding the vitamin carrying beans to form a ground coffee and vitamin blend; and brewing the blend with hot water to form a coffee beverage containing said vitamin.