Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for aromatizing a food substrate, comprising the steps of: placing a particulate solid food substrate in a vessel; cooling the vessel with a cryogenic fluid; mechanically fluidizing the food substrate by mixing at a tip speed of at least about 200 ft./min., to provide an absorbent bed thereof having a porosity of at least about 0.73; and contacting the fluidized, cooled bed of food substrate at a temperature below about -100° F. with gaseous food volatiles at a rate of at least about 42 ft. 3 /hr. per ft. 3 of food substrate, whereby the food volatiles condense on and are adsorbed by the food substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for aromatizing a food substrate, comprising the steps of: placing a particulate solid food substrate in a vessel; cooling the vessel with a cryogenic fluid; mechanically fluidizing the food substrate by mixing at a tip speed of at least about 200 ft./min., to provide an absorbent bed thereof having a porosity of at least about 0.73; and contacting the fluidized, cooled bed of food substrate at a temperature below about -100° F. with gaseous food volatiles at a rate of at least about 42 ft. 3 /hr. per ft. 3 of food substrate, whereby the food volatiles condense on and are adsorbed by the food substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluidized bed of food substrate has a porosity of at least about 0.81.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the tip speed is from about 400 to 1000 ft./min. and wherein the volatiles are flowing at a rate of from about 500 to 2000 ft. 3 /hr. per ft. 3 of food substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature during said contacting step is below about -150° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of cryofying the food substrate prior to said cooling and fluidization steps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of equilibrating the aromatized food substrate after said contacting step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of adding unaromatized food substrate after said contacting step and prior to said equilibration step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the food substrate comprises a coffee substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid is liquid nitrogen.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for aromatizing a coffee substrate, comprising the steps of: placing a particulate solid coffee substrate in a vessel; cooling the vessel with a cryogenic fluid; mechanically fluidizing the coffee substrate by mixing at a tip speed of at least about 200 ft./min. to provide an absorbent bed thereof having a porosity of at least about 0.73; and contacting the fluidized, cooled bed of coffee substrate at a temperature below about -150° F. with gaseous coffee volatiles at a rate of at least about 42 ft. 3 /hr. per ft. 3 of coffee substrate, whereby the coffee volatiles condense on and are adsorbed by the coffee substrate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for aromatizing a coffee substrate, comprising the steps of: placing a particulate solid coffee substrate in a vessel; cooling the vessel with a cryogenic fluid; mechanically fluidizing the coffee substrate by mixing at a tip speed of at least about 200 ft./min. to provide an absorbent bed thereof having a porosity of at least about 0.73; and contacting the fluidized, cooled bed of coffee substrate at a temperature below about -150° F. with gaseous coffee volatiles at a rate of at least about 42 ft. 3 /hr. per ft. 3 of coffee substrate, whereby the coffee volatiles condense on and are adsorbed by the coffee substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the coffee substrate is selected from the group consisting of roast and ground coffee, flaked coffee and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the coffee substrate comprises an edible oil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of cryofying the edible oil prior to said cooling and fluidization steps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein the edible oil is coffee oil.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to claims 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein the volatiles comprise grinder gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of adding unaromatized coffee substrate after said contacting step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of cryofying the coffee substrate prior to said cooling and fluidization steps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the cryogenic fluid is liquid nitrogen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the coffee substrate is soluble coffee.