Chocolate Beverage Composition Using Sinking Cocoa Solids for White Foam

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chocolate beverages prepared with instant chocolate beverage compositions often result in foams that are discolored due to the presence of cocoa powder or chocolate, which detracts from the authentic experience of having a white foam similar to those found in coffee shops.

Innovation Solution

A chocolate beverage composition comprising a foaming creamer and discrete cocoa solids with a density greater than water, where the cocoa solids are in a non-powdered form and have less than 15% fat, allowing them to sink and dissolve slowly, thereby maintaining a white foam on the beverage surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

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

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechocolate flavourVSAvoidfoam discoloration
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the cocoa component into discrete cocoa solids that are physically separated from the foaming creamer. The cocoa solids are provided as discrete particles with specific density characteristics (greater than water) and fat content (less than 15wt%), allowing them to settle at the bottom while the creamer forms white foam on top. This spatial segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing chocolate flavor from cocoa solids without foam discoloration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the harmful effect of cocoa powder on foam appearance by removing the powdered form and replacing it with discrete cocoa solids. The cocoa solids are taken out from the foaming process entirely, allowing the foam to form independently without cocoa particles, thus eliminating discoloration while preserving chocolate flavor in the beverage body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If cocoa powder is mixed with foaming creamer in instant preparation, then the beverage can be prepared conveniently, but the foam adopts unsightly discolouration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of preparationVSAvoidfoam discoloration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention maintains convenience by providing a single instant preparation package, but segments the contents into discrete cocoa solids and foaming creamer that remain physically separate. This allows the creamer to foam independently without cocoa powder contamination, eliminating discoloration while preserving the convenience of instant preparation. The discrete nature of the cocoa solids prevents them from mixing with the foam-forming creamer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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, while ensuring the cocoa solids dissolve at the bottom, maintaining the beverage's chocolaty flavor without discolouring the foam.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the cocoa solids have a density in the range of from 1.5g/cm3 to 2.0g/cm3

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity: Density Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a foaming creamer and discrete cocoa solids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoam formation: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP2503900B2A beverage composition
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 KONINK DOUWE EGBERTS BV
  • EP2503900B2 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2503900B2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

A chocolate beverage composition is provided having a white, non-discoloured foam on its surface. The chocolate beverage composition includes a foaming creamer and discrete, substantially non-powdered cocoa solids. The composition may be suitable for forming a beverage on the addition of a hot or cold liquid. The composition may also include a sweetening agent, a flavouring agent, a thickener, or a whitener. A beverage dispensing container of the beverage composition is also provided and may be in the form of a cartridge, sachet, pod or capsule and may be used with a beverage dispensing machine..Methods of forming the beverage composition are also provided.