Caffeinated Coffee-Flavored Cereal

Abstract

The present application describes coffee-flavored ready to eat cereal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ready-to-eat cereal product having a coffee flavor. 
     
     
         2 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , which is coated with a composition comprising a coffee extract or coffee powder. 
     
     
         3 . The cereal product according to  claim 2 , wherein the coffee extract or coffee powder has a flavor chosen from the group consisting of latte, cappuccino, espresso, hazelnut, mocha, amaretto, chocolate, chocolate raspberry, irish cream, vanilla, almond, butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon, crème de menthe, and kahlua. 
     
     
         4 . The cereal product according to  claim 2 , wherein the coffee extract or coffee powder is caffeinated. 
     
     
         5 . The cereal product according to  claim 2 , wherein the caffeine is present from about 50 mg to about 500 mg per 100 g of the cereal. 
     
     
         6 . The cereal product according to  claim 2 , wherein the coffee extract or coffee powder is decaffeinated. 
     
     
         7 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , comprising sugar. 
     
     
         8 . The cereal product according to  claim 7 , wherein the sugar is present from about 5 to about 50 grams per 100 g of the cereal. 
     
     
         9 . The cereal product according to  claim 8 , wherein the sugar is present from about 10 to about 45 grams per 100 g of the cereal. 
     
     
         10 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , wherein the coffee flavor is attained by artificial coffee flavoring. 
     
     
         11 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , wherein base product is made from rice. 
     
     
         12 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , which has substantially same shape, structure and texture as crisped rice. 
     
     
         13 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , which is shaped substantially in the form of a coffee bean. 
     
     
         14 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , which has a shiny surface. 
     
     
         15 . The cereal product according to  claim 1 , which has a floury surface. 
     
     
         16 . A process for preparing a ready-to-eat cereal product of  claim 1  comprising:
 (i) preparing a base cereal product by extruding a mixture of flour and slurry which comprises coffee extract or coffee powder, and 
 (ii) applying a coating of the slurry onto the surface of the base cereal product to yield a coated cereal product. 
 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the amount of slurry as a percent of coating slurry plus base product is about 35% to about 60%. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the amount of slurry as a percent of coating slurry plus base product is about 40% to about 55%. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the slurry comprises about 15% to about 60% by weight coffee extract. 
     
     
         20 . A process for preparing a ready-to-eat cereal product of  claim 1  comprising: preparing a powdery composition comprising coffee extract, and applying a coating of the powdery composition onto the surface of the cereal to yield a coated cereal product.