Coffee capsule

Abstract

A coffee capsule is configured to receive roasted and ground coffee and is suitable for preparing an espresso beverage using pressurised hot water in an espresso machine. It includes a capsule part and a membrane attached thereto. The capsule part is a frustoconical plastics part with a conical side wall and has a top part with a retaining plate integrally formed on the small frustoconical diameter. The retaining plate has at least one perforation zone with perforations that permit the entry of hot water into the coffee capsule. The retaining plate has a contact surface to which an aroma-protection foil completely covering the at least one perforation zone may be attached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coffee capsule, comprising:
 a. a capsule part including a frustoconical plastics part with a conical side wall and a top part with a retaining plate integrally formed on the small frustoconical diameter;   b. a membrane attached to the capsule part, the capsule part and membrane being configured to receive roasted and ground coffee and being suitable for preparing an espresso beverage using pressurised hot water in an espresso machine;   c. wherein the retaining plate having at least one perforation zone defining perforations therethrough, said perforations being configured to permit the entry of hot water into the coffee capsule, wherein the retaining plate having a contact surface; and   d. an aroma-protection foil attached to the contact surface of the retaining plate and configured and disposed to completely cover the at least one perforation zone.   
     
     
         2 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is an annular surface formed on an annular projection integrally formed on the retaining plate. 
     
     
         3 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the aroma-protection foil is an aluminium foil which is able to be punctured. 
     
     
         4 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the aroma-protection foil is an aluminium foil which is able to be punctured. 
     
     
         5 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the aroma-protection foil is removably attached to the contact surface and has an integrally formed pull tab. 
     
     
         6 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the aroma-protection foil is removably attached to the contact surface and has an integrally formed pull tab. 
     
     
         7 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane have aroma-preserving properties. 
     
     
         8 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane have aroma-preserving properties. 
     
     
         9 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 3 , wherein the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane have aroma-preserving properties. 
     
     
         10 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 4 , wherein the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane have aroma-preserving properties. 
     
     
         11 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 5 , wherein the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane have aroma-preserving properties. 
     
     
         12 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 6 , wherein the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane have aroma-preserving properties. 
     
     
         13 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 7 , further comprising a coating having aroma-preserving properties and applied to the frustoconical capsule part and/or the membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 8 , further comprising a coating having aroma-preserving properties and applied to the frustoconical capsule part and/or the membrane. 
     
     
         15 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 9 , further comprising a coating having aroma-preserving properties and applied to the frustoconical capsule part and/or the membrane. 
     
     
         16 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 10 , further comprising a coating having aroma-preserving properties and applied to the frustoconical capsule part and/or the membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 11 , further comprising a coating having aroma-preserving properties and applied to the frustoconical capsule part and/or the membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 12 , further comprising a coating having aroma-preserving properties and applied to the frustoconical capsule part and/or the membrane. 
     
     
         19 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 13 , wherein the coating is sprayed onto the inside of at least one of the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The coffee capsule according to  claim 13 , wherein the coating is sprayed onto the outside of at least one of the frustoconical capsule part and the membrane.