Patent ID: 7087258
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: A23F

Abstract:
1. A process for producing roasted coffee, or a surrogate therefor, in powder form from seeds selected from the group consisting of seeds obtained from coffee plants, barley, rye, oars, and wheat, the process comprising the steps of: grinding said seeds into a powder of a predetermined grain size; drying said powder down to a predetermined moisture content; continuously feeding a stream of said powder into a roaster comprising a cylindrical tubular body provided with a heating jacket for maintaining the inner wall of said body at a temperature of at least 180° C., with inlet and discharge openings for the powder to be roasted and the roasted powder, respectively, and with a bladed rotor rotatably mounted inside said cylindrical body, the blades of said rotor being helically ranged and oriented to drive the powder to be roasted from said inlet opening to said discharge opening, the bladed rotor of said master being rotated at 500 to 1000 RPM, roasting said powder, with formation of a thin and turbulent dynamic layer in said powder in said roaster and driven by said rotor blades towards the discharge opening of said roaster in heat exchange relationship with the roaster heated wait said blades concurrently mechanically working the powder grains in said thin and turbulent dynamic layer, and continuously discharged a stream of roasted powder and the fumes from the roasting process.