Soluble Coffee Powder Gold Appearance via Unidirectional Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Soluble coffee products lack a premium appearance, which is essential for enhancing consumer experience and visual identity, as regulations restrict the use of colored pigments, and existing technologies have not effectively addressed the visual enhancement of soluble coffee.
Innovation Solution
A process involving unidirectional freezing and drying of coffee extracts with low total solids content to produce a soluble beverage powder with a gold appearance, characterized by a color difference ΔE from gold below 100 and specular reflection, achieved by forming plates of dried coffee in separated parallel layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If colored pigments are added to improve the appearance of soluble coffee, then the visual appeal is enhanced, but regulatory compliance is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes the natural golden color and specular reflection properties already present in coffee extract, removing the need for added pigments. By concentrating and preserving these inherent optical properties through controlled drying processes, the invention achieves visual enhancement while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes physical parameters (drying conditions, extract concentration, particle morphology) to enhance the natural optical properties of coffee powder. By controlling parameters such as water activity, particle size, and layer structure during drying, the patent amplifies the inherent golden appearance and metallic sheen without adding any colored substances.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional drying methods are used, then the production process is simple, but the coffee powder lacks a premium gold appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary concentration of coffee extract to achieve optimal total solids content (20-40%) before drying. This pre-treatment step ensures that the subsequent drying process produces particles with the desired golden appearance and specular reflection, while keeping the overall process relatively simple and avoiding complex multi-stage procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific drying parameters including total solids content (20-40%), water activity (0.20-0.35), and drying temperature to generate particles with enhanced golden color and metallic sheen. These parameter adjustments transform conventional drying into a process that simultaneously achieves simplicity and premium visual appearance.
3Productivity
If the coffee extract has high total solids content, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the gold appearance and specular reflection are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and optimizes the total solids content parameter to a specific range (20-40%) that balances drying efficiency with visual appearance. Within this range, the drying process remains sufficiently efficient while the resulting particles exhibit optimal golden color and specular reflection properties, resolving the trade-off between productivity and appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using maximum concentration for fastest drying, the patent employs a partial concentration approach (20-40% total solids), which is sufficient to achieve good drying efficiency while preserving the optical properties needed for golden appearance. This avoids the excessive concentration that would compromise visual appeal.
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 process results in a coffee powder with a luxurious gold appearance and specular reflection, effectively enhancing the visual identity of soluble coffee products without violating regulatory standards, thereby improving consumer perception and experience.
Implementation Method 1
freezing the coffee extract having a total solids content of less than 25% by unidirectional freezing
Implementation Method 2
drying the frozen coffee extract
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a soluble beverage powder of dried coffee extract. In particular to a soluble coffee powder having a gold appearance. Further aspects of the invention are a powder mix for preparing a beverage and a process for making a soluble beverage powder.