Chocolate Beverage Composition for White Foam Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chocolate beverage compositions fail to produce a white foam when prepared at home, as cocoa powder or chocolate dissolves and discolours the foam, detracting from the beverage experience.

Innovation Solution

A chocolate beverage composition comprising a foaming creamer and discrete cocoa solids in a non-powdered, extruded form with a density of 1.5g/cm³ to 3g/cm³, allowing the cocoa solids to sink and dissolve slowly, while the creamer forms a white foam.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cocoa powder is included in an instant chocolate beverage composition, then chocolate flavor is obtained, but the foam obtains undesirable discoloration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechocolate flavorVSAvoidfoam discolouration
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage composition is segmented into distinct phases: hydrophobic cocoa particles remain separate from the hydrophilic foaming creamer and aqueous liquid. This segmentation prevents cocoa powder from being entrained in the foam while still providing chocolate flavor in the beverage body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A hydrophobic coating or treatment acts as an intermediary between the cocoa particles and the aqueous environment. This intermediary layer causes the cocoa particles to repel water and remain excluded from the foam structure, allowing white foam formation while maintaining chocolate flavor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If chocolate is included in place of cocoa powder, then chocolaty flavor is obtained, but the low density causes foaming and discolouration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechocolaty flavorVSAvoidfoam stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The physical parameters of the cocoa particles are changed through hydrophobic treatment, increasing their contact angle with water and decreasing their effective density in the aqueous phase. This parameter change ensures particles sink or remain suspended below the foam layer rather than rising into it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The beverage forms a composite structure with distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases. The hydrophobic cocoa particles form one phase while the hydrophilic foaming creamer forms another, allowing each component to perform its function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If cocoa solids are mixed with foaming creamer in instant preparation, then convenience is obtained, but the foam adopts unsightly discolouration

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidfoam discolouration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful property of hydrophilicity is extracted from the cocoa particles through hydrophobic treatment. This extraction allows the cocoa to be conveniently mixed with creamer while preventing the discolouration problem that would normally occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition effectively produces a beverage with a white foam that mimics the appearance of professionally made foamed beverages, maintaining the chocolate flavor without foam discolouration.

Implementation Method 1

the cocoa solids are present as particles having a diameter of from 1.5 to 4.5mm and have a density in the range of from 1.5g/cm³ to 3g/cm³

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity:

Implementation Method 2

allowing the cocoa solids to sink and dissolve slowly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 3

the creamer forms a white foam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP2781165B1A beverage composition
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 KONINK DOUWE EGBERTS BV
  • EP2781165B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2781165B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

The present invention relates to a chocolate beverage composition comprising: a foaming creamer; discrete cocoa solids, wherein substantially all of the cocoa solids are in a non- powdered form; a sweetening agent; and the cocoa solids are a coextrusion with the sweetening agent.