Beverage composition useful in beverage capsules

Abstract

The present invention relates to beverage compositions useful in beverage capsules and their preparation, particularly to beverage compositions comprising roast and ground coffee and dried coffee extract obtained by extracting coffee at a temperature below 60° C. Such capsules are useful for the preparation of coffee beverages in beverage preparation machines.

1 . A beverage composition comprising
 roast and ground coffee, and   a dried coffee extract obtained by extracting roast and ground coffee with water at a temperature below 60° C.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight between the amount of roast and ground coffee to dried coffee extract is between 20:1 and 1:10. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight of the amount of roast and ground coffee to dried coffee extract is between 10:1 and 1:5. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage composition of  claim 1 , wherein dried coffee extract is obtained by extracting roast and ground coffee with water at a temperature between 2° C. and 40° C. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage composition of  claim 1 , wherein coffee extract obtained by extracting roast and ground coffee with water at a temperature below 60° C. has not been subjected to membrane filtration. 
     
     
         6 . A beverage capsule for a beverage preparation apparatus, the beverage capsule comprising a beverage composition comprising roast and ground coffee and a dried coffee extract obtained by extracting roast and ground coffee with water at a temperature below 60° C. 
     
     
         7 . A method of producing the a beverage composition, the method comprising:
 i) roasting and grinding coffee beans;   ii) extracting roast and ground coffee beans with water at a temperature below 60° C., and drying the liquid extract; and   iii) mixing the roast and ground coffee of step i) and dried coffee extract of step ii).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio by weight of the amount of roast and ground coffee to dried coffee extract being mixed in step iii) is between 20:1 and 1:10. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio by weight of the amount of roast and ground coffee to dried coffee extract being mixed in step iii) is between 10:1 and 1:5. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the roast and ground coffee beans are extracted at a temperature between 2° C. and 40° C. in step ii). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the coffee extract obtained by extracting roast and ground coffee beans with water at a temperature below 60° C. is not subjected to membrane filtration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the drying in step ii) is performed by a step selected from the group consisting of freeze drying, spray drying, roller drying, belt drying, oven drying, vacuum oven drying and vacuum belt drying. 
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled)