Patent · US Expired

Process for treating coffee beans with enzyme-containing solution under pressure to reduce bitterness

US4904484A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 1988
Grant dateFeb 27, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC12Y302/02001
  • WIPO fieldFood chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for treating green or partially roasted coffee beans to improve flavor and reduce bitterness in the resulting roast and ground coffee product is disclosed. The green or partially roasted beans are treated with a solution containing cell-wall-digesting, cell-storage-component-digesting or phenol oxidase enzymes under a pressure of at least about 250 psi. The treated beans are then dried, roasted to their final roast color and ground in a conventional manner to provide roast and ground coffee products having "Toddy"-like aroma and flavor. Sugars and foodgrade bases can also be included in the enzyme-containing solution to enhance the level of desirable coffee aroma and flavor components.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.