Beverage portioned package for preparing a foamy beverage from soluble powder

Abstract

A beverage portioned package for preparing a beverage in an extraction device of which the package is held or clamped between a water supplying part and a receiver of the device. The package has a first surface for the water to be forced to flow there through under pressure when the package is held or clamped in the device; a second surface for the flow of beverage to be forced to flow there through so to be collected in the receiver, wherein the package contains a portion of water-soluble beverage material and a portion of a filler. The filler comprising water insoluble material adapted to maintain the extraction pressure above the pressure created by the sole resistance of the first and second surfaces when the package is emptied of said soluble material.

1 . A beverage portioned package for preparing a beverage in an extraction device in which the package is held or clamped between a water supplying part and a receiver of the device, comprising: 
 a first surface for receiving water and allowing the water to flow into and through the package under pressure when the package is operatively associated with the extraction device to form the beverage; and    a second surface that allows for the beverage to flow therethrough so that the beverage can be collected in the received of the device,    wherein the package contains a water-soluble beverage material in an amount sufficient to form the beverage and a filler; with the filler comprising a water insoluble material adapted to maintain extraction pressure of the beverage above that which is created by the sole resistance of the first and second surfaces when the package is emptied of the water-soluble material.    
     
     
         2 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the filler is present in an amount sufficient to form a pressure resistance bed.  
     
     
         3 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure resistance bed extends through the entire package.  
     
     
         4 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure resistance bed comprises discrete pieces of the filler in the form of powder, particulates, granules, flakes, fibers or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure resistance bed comprises at least one continuous porous piece in the form of a web, a mat, a compacted piece, a sintered piece, a foam or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises a water-absorbent material.  
     
     
         7 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 6 , wherein the filler has water-absorbent properties that are sufficient to provide a water absorbency rate of the package of at least 200%.  
     
     
         8 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the filler includes cellulose, organic or inorganic fiber, fresh ground coffee, spent ground coffee or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio or water-soluble powder to filler is between 1:0.5 and 1:10 by volume.  
     
     
         10 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio or water-soluble powder to filler is between 1:1 and 1:6 by volume.  
     
     
         11 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble powder comprises coffee and is present in an amount that provides at least 10 to 40 weight percent of the total coffee solids in the final beverage.  
     
     
         12 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble material includes soluble coffee powder, milk powder, a creamer substitute powder or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the filler contains a soluble or water extractable substance for aromatizing or flavoring the beverage.  
     
     
         14 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 12 , wherein the soluble or extractable substance is an aroma, coffee, an artificial flavor or a natural flavor.  
     
     
         15 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces are walls made of a water-permeable material.  
     
     
         16 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second surfaces are made of filter paper sheets.  
     
     
         17 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second surfaces are disk-shaped sheets manufactured from filter paper and interconnected adjacent their peripheral edges, with the interconnected parts of the sheets forming an annular sealing seam to allow the package to be held in the extraction device.  
     
     
         18 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces are solid or semi-solid walls which are pre-opened or are made of a pierceable material.  
     
     
         19 . The beverage portioned package of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second surfaces are made of plastic, a metal, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         20 . In a method of making a foamed beverage from a soluble beverage-forming material in a beverage portioned package that is processed in an extraction device, the improvement which comprises providing the package with a filler therein, with the filler comprising a water insoluble material adapted to maintain extraction pressure of the beverage above that which is created by the sole resistance of the package to facilitate formation of a foam on the beverage that is dispensed from the extraction device.