U.S. patent application number 16/857832 was filed with the patent office on 2020-08-06 for self-foaming ready to drink beverages.
The applicant listed for this patent is Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.. Invention is credited to Deepak Sahai, Alexander Sher.
Application Number | 20200245635 16/857832 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004782887 |
Filed Date | 2020-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200245635 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sahai; Deepak ; et
al. |
August 6, 2020 |
SELF-FOAMING READY TO DRINK BEVERAGES
Abstract
A container stores a main liquid component that contains a
dissolved gas, preferably nitrous oxide, separately from a foam
initiator component that is at least one of a powder, a liquid or a
concentrate. A dispensing part of the container, such as a
dispensing lid, can contain the foam initi-ator component. The foam
initiator component is dispersed and dissolved into the main liquid
component to form a foaming ready to drink beverage. The foam
initiator component comprises a portion of the ingredients of the
ready to drink beverage. Combination of the foam initiator
component with the main liquid component not only results in foam
generation in the contain-er without any mechanical energy input
additional to the opening of the container but also forms the ready
to drink beverage.
Inventors: |
Sahai; Deepak; (Dublin,
OH) ; Sher; Alexander; (Dublin, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Societe des Produits Nestle S.A. |
Vevey |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004782887 |
Appl. No.: |
16/857832 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14905142 |
Jan 14, 2016 |
10667540 |
|
|
PCT/US2013/050440 |
Jul 15, 2013 |
|
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16857832 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F 2215/0022 20130101;
B01F 15/0087 20130101; A23V 2002/00 20130101; A23F 3/30 20130101;
B01F 3/04446 20130101; A23L 2/40 20130101; A23F 3/163 20130101;
A23F 5/243 20130101; A23F 5/36 20130101; B65D 81/34 20130101; A23L
2/56 20130101; B65D 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A23F 3/16 20060101
A23F003/16; A23L 2/56 20060101 A23L002/56; A23F 3/30 20060101
A23F003/30; A23F 5/24 20060101 A23F005/24; A23F 5/36 20060101
A23F005/36; B65D 1/04 20060101 B65D001/04; A23L 2/40 20060101
A23L002/40; B65D 81/34 20060101 B65D081/34; B01F 3/04 20060101
B01F003/04; B01F 15/00 20060101 B01F015/00 |
Claims
1. A ready to drink beverage comprising: a foaming initiator
component comprising a medium selected from the group consisting of
a powder and a liquid; and a main liquid component comprising
dissolved gas, the foaming initiator component stored separately
from the main liquid component, the beverage formed by addition of
the foaming initiator component to the main liquid component.
2. The ready to drink beverage of claim 1, wherein the main liquid
component comprises water in which selected from the group
consisting of nitrous oxide (N20), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and a
combination thereof is dissolved.
3. The ready to drink beverage of claim 1, wherein the foaming
initiator component comprises a coffee ingredient selected from the
group consisting of a soluble coffee powder and a coffee
concentrate.
4. The ready to drink beverage of claim 3, wherein the main liquid
component comprises coffee aroma.
5. The ready to drink beverage of claim 1, wherein the foaming
initiator component comprises a tea ingredient selected from the
group consisting of a soluble tea powder and a tea concentrate.
6. The ready to drink beverage of claim 1, wherein the foaming
initiator component comprises a fruit ingredient selected from the
group consisting of a fruit powder and a fruit concentrate.
7. The ready to drink beverage of claim 1, wherein the foaming
initiator component comprises a cocoa ingredient selected from the
group consisting of a cocoa powder and a cocoa concentrate.
8. A foaming ready to drink beverage formed by dispensation of a
foaming initiator component from a dispensing part of a container
into a main liquid component comprising dissolved gas and stored in
the container separately from the foaming initiator component, the
foaming initiator component comprising a medium selected from the
group consisting of a powder and a liquid.
9. A container comprising: a foaming initiator component comprising
a medium selected from the group consisting of a powder and a
liquid; and a main liquid component comprising dissolved gas and
stored in the container separately from the foaming initiator
component, the container configured to dispense the foaming
initiator component into the main liquid component upon opening of
the container, and dispensation of the foaming initiator component
into the main liquid component forms a foaming ready to drink
beverage in the container.
10. The container of claim 9, comprising a dispensing part that
stores and dispenses the foaming initiator component.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIMS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/905,142 filed Jan. 14, 2016, which is a U.S. national
stage application under 35 USC .sctn. 371 of International Appl.
No. PCT/US2013/050440 filed Jul. 15, 2013. The entire contents of
the above-referenced applications are hereby expressly incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to food and
beverage products. More specifically, the present disclosure
relates to self-foaming ready to drink ("RTD") beverages formed by
a main liquid component and a foam initiator component and also
relates to methods for making same and containers that form and
contain same.
[0003] Foam is considered a highly desirable attribute for
beverages such as espresso coffees or for cappuccino- or
frappe-style coffee and milk beverages. Consumers drinking foamed
beverages enjoy the additional aesthetic and taste characteristics
that accompany beverages having a foamed topping. However,
providing foamed products in a ready-to-drink ("RTD") form, when
the beverage is typically sold and consumed in its own container,
such as a bottle, a can or the like, is difficult. Foamed beverages
such as a cappuccino or frappe for which a consumer can enjoy a
nice foam head are typically prepared using a foam-generating
apparatus with an external energy input. A foamed RTD beverage with
high quality and stable foam that can be consumed from the RTD
bottle or a can is not known.
[0004] A typical foaming RTD beverage can be like beer, where
release of gas while pouring of the beverage generates the foam.
Other carbonated RTD beverages can behave similarly when poured
into another container; nevertheless, these beverages do not
generate a foam head while in the RTD container. Another approach
to make a foamed RTD beverage that can be enjoyed from its
container would involve shaking the container to form a foam head.
However, the amount of foam generated with this approach is
dependent on the extent of shaking and may not be a preferred
option for most consumers.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure provides self-foaming ready-to-drink
foaming beverages and also provides methods for making same and
containers that form and contain same. The beverage can be a foamed
beverage such as a cocoa malt, a coffee, a cappuccino, a latte, a
macchiato, an espresso, a foamed chocolate milk, a foamed tea, a
foamed fruit drink or another type of foamed beverage.
[0006] In a general embodiment, a container is provided. The
container includes: a foaming initiator component comprising a
medium that is a powder or a liquid; and a main liquid component
comprising dissolved gas and stored in the container separately
from the foaming the main liquid component upon opening of the
container, and dispensation of the foaming initiator component into
the main liquid component forms a foaming ready to drink beverage
in the container.
[0007] In a related embodiment, the container includes a dispensing
part that stores and dispenses the foaming initiator component. The
dispensing part can be a lid of the container.
[0008] In a related embodiment, the main liquid component includes
water in which a gas selected from the group consisting of nitrous
oxide (N.sub.2O), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and a combination
thereof is dissolved.
[0009] In a related embodiment, the main liquid component includes
at least one of sugar, a sweetener or a flavor.
[0010] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a coffee ingredient that is a soluble coffee powder or a
coffee concentrate. The main liquid component can include coffee
aroma.
[0011] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
comprises a tea ingredient that is a soluble tea powder or a tea
concentrate. The main liquid component can include tea aroma.
[0012] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a fruit ingredient that is a fruit powder or a fruit
concentrate.
[0013] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a vegetable ingredient that is a vegetable powder or a
vegetable concentrate.
[0014] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a dairy ingredient selected from the group consisting of a
dairy powder, a dairy concentrate, and a combination thereof.
[0015] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a non-dairy ingredient that is a non-dairy powder or a
non-dairy concentrate.
[0016] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a cocoa ingredient selected from the group consisting of a
cocoa powder or a cocoa concentrate.
[0017] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a sugar or sweetener ingredient that is a sugar or
sweetener powder or a sugar or sweetener concentrate.
[0018] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a mixture of ingredients that is a mixture of powders or a
mixture of concentrates.
[0019] In another embodiment, a method of making a foaming ready to
drink beverage is provided. The method includes: storing a mam
liquid component and a foaming initiator storing the foaming
initiator component separately from the main liquid component, the
foaming initiator component comprising a medium that is a powder or
a liquid, the foaming initiator component stored in a dispensing
part of the beverage container that dispenses the foaming initiator
component into the main liquid component to produce the foaming
ready to drink beverage in the container. The dispensing part of
the container can be a lid of the container.
[0020] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes an ingredient selected from the group consisting of coffee
solids, tea solids, cocoa solids, fruit flavored solids, coffee
concentrate, tea concentrate, cocoa concentrate, fruit concentrate,
and combinations thereof.
[0021] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component
includes a portion of the ingredients of the beverage. The main
liquid component can include the remaining ingredients of the
beverage.
[0022] In a related embodiment, the foaming initiator component 1s
stored in multiple compartments.
[0023] In another embodiment, a method of forming a foaming ready
to drink beverage is provided. The method includes the steps of
opening a container comprising a foaming initiator component
comprising a medium that is a powder or a liquid, the opening of
the container dispensing the foaming initiator component, into a
main liquid component comprising dissolved gas and stored
separately from the foam initiator component in the container, to
form the foaming ready to drink beverage in the container.
[0024] In a related embodiment, the foaming ready to drink beverage
is formed without shaking the container or pouring the beverage
into a different container.
[0025] In another embodiment, a foaming ready to drink beverage is
provided. The beverage is formed by dispensation of a foaming
initiator component from a dispensing part of a container into a
main liquid component comprising dissolved gas and stored in the
container separately from the foaming initiator component, the
foaming initiator component comprising a medium selected from the
group consisting of a powder and a liquid and comprising an
ingredient selected from the group consisting of coffee solids, tea
solids, cocoa solids, fruit flavored solids, coffee concentrate,
tea concentrate, cocoa concentrate, fruit concentrate, and
combinations thereof. The dispensing part of the container can be a
lid of the container.
[0026] An advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a
self-foaming ready to drink beverage. foamed RTD beverage from the
beverage container by simply opening the container, which releases
a foam initiator component from a dispensing lid into a main liquid
component within the rest of the container.
[0027] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to allow a
consumer to enjoy a foamed RTD beverage from the beverage container
by simply opening the container, which releases a foam initiator
component from a dispensing lid into a main liquid component within
the rest of the container.
[0028] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to
provide a foamed RTD beverage without any additional effort from
the consumer besides opening the container, such as pouring the
beverage into another container or shaking the container.
[0029] Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to
provide a foamed RTD beverage in which the foam is generated at the
time of consumption simply by releasing the foam initiator
component into the main liquid component comprising a dissolved gas
such as N.sub.2O and/or CO.sub.2.
[0030] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a
self-foaming RTD beverage in which the foam initiator component
includes a portion of the ingredients of the beverage.
[0031] Still another advantage of the present disclosure is to
store coffee or tea solids or liquid concentrates separately from
the aroma to preserve beverage quality.
[0032] Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to
stabilize coffee or tea aroma at low concentrations.
[0033] Another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a
self-foaming RTD beverage that includes an ingredient with a
nutritional benefit that requires separate storage to maintain
functionality.
[0034] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and
will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of an embodiment of a container
for a self-foaming RTD beverage according to the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] All percentages expressed herein are by weight of the total
weight of the composition unless expressed otherwise. When
reference is made to the pH, values correspond to pH measured at
25.degree. C. with standard equipment. As used in this disclosure
and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the"
include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates
Moreover, all numerical ranges herein should be understood to
include all integer, whole or fractions, within the range.
[0037] As used herein, "comprising," "including" and "containing"
are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional,
unrecited elements or method steps. However, the beverages provided
by the present disclosure may lack any element that is not
specifically disclosed herein. Thus, any embodiment defined herein
using the term "comprising" also includes embodiments "consisting
essentially of" and "consisting of" the disclosed components.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present disclosure relates to
self-foaming ready to drink ("RTD") beverages formed by a main
liquid component 21 and a foam initiator component 22 stored
separately within a container 10, such as a bottle made of a
thermoplastic polyester, preferably a polyester, such as
polyethylene terephthalate ("PET") for example. "Ready-to-drink
beverage" means a beverage in liquid form that can be consumed
without the further addition of liquid. "Main" in reference to the
main liquid component means that the volume of the main liquid
component is greater than the volume of the foam initiator
component.
[0039] The self-foaming RTD beverage can be formed in the container
10. The container preferably contains one or two servings of the
RTD beverage, although larger containers can be used. The container
preferably has a dispensing part 12, such as a lid, that stores the
foam initiator component 22, and the foam initiator component 22
comprises a portion of the ingredients of the RTD beverage. The
foam initiator component 22 stored by the dispensing part 12 is
preferably in the form of a liquid, a powder and/or a concentrate.
Another part 11 of the container 10, such as the container body,
can store the main liquid component 21. For foam formation, the
main liquid component 21 within the container 10 has dissolved
nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and/or another
appropriate gas. The main liquid component 21 can fill the majority
of the interior of the container 10, but the volume of the main
liquid component 21 in the container 10 allows sufficient space 23
for foam formation.
[0040] As generally shown in FIG. 2, when the consumer opens the
container 10, a thick foaming beverage 24 is formed by opening the
container 10, preferably immediately after the opening of the
container 10. The opening of the container 10 mixes the foaming
initiator component 22, previously stored in the dispensing part
12, with the main liquid component 21 within the container 10. Such
dispensing lids are commercially available and are used to add
ingredients into a liquid at the time of consumption. Preferably
the foaming is initiated without action by the consumer additional
to the opening of the container 10. For example, opening of the
container 10 can dispense the foam initiator component 22 from the
dispensing part 12 into formation.
[0041] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a solution to
make a foamed RTD beverage that comprises (1) a main liquid
component that contains a dissolved gas, preferably nitrous oxide,
and (2) a foam initiator component that is at least one of a
powder, a liquid or a concentrate and is dispersed and dissolved
into the main liquid component to form a foaming ready to drink
beverage. The foam initiator component can comprise a portion of
the ingredients of the ready to drink beverage, and the main liquid
component can comprise the remaining ingredients of the ready to
drink beverage. The main liquid component comprises a gassed
liquid, such as water in which gas such as nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O)
is dissolved.
[0042] The gassing can be performed at any stage of the beverage
production process. The gas may be injected into the main liquid
component in any suitable way, e.g. by sparging the gas into the
main liquid component through a nozzle designed to form small
bubbles. In a preferred embodiment, the main liquid component is
subjected to pressure during and/or after the injection of the gas,
e.g. to a pressure between 1 and 400 bar, preferably between 2 and
50 bar. The pressure may be created by conveying the main liquid
component through a high pressure pump, and the gas can be injected
into the main liquid component before and/or after the high
pressure pump. The gas injection may be performed in a way so that
the gas is entirely solubilized in the main liquid component, or
the gas may be present in the main liquid component as gas bubbles,
e.g. with a size of 1 to 10 microns.
[0043] Combination of the foam initiator component with the main
liquid component, such as by a storage cap that releases the foam
initiator component into the main liquid component, not only
results in foam generation without any mechanical energy input
(e.g. shaking of bottle or pouring into another container) but also
forms the ready to drink beverage. The presence of particles in the
foam initiator component, such as particles in a powder or
colloidal particles in a liquid or a concentrate, helps the foam
formation. For example, the particles can be in a medium that is a
powder or a liquid, and the liquid can be a concentrate.
[0044] The foaming initiator component can comprise at least one of
coffee solids, tea solids, cocoa solids, or fruit flavored solids.
In an embodiment, the foaming initiator component comprises coffee
solids in a soluble powder or a liquid, and the liquid is
preferably a concentrate. In another embodiment, the foaming
initiator component comprises a soluble tea powder or a tea
concentrate such as any type of tea powder or concentrate.
Non-limiting examples of types of tea include green tea, black tea,
white tea, oolong tea, rooibos tea, chai tea, flavored tea, herbal
tea, fruit tea, and combinations thereof. "Tea" refers to brewable
tea and optionally other ingredients and combinations thereof. The
tea can include the tea of a single tea variety or a mixture of one
or more tea varieties. The tea can be caffeinated or
decaffeinated.
[0045] In an embodiment, the foaming initiator component can
comprise a cocoa component that can be a powder or a liquid, and
the liquid is preferably a concentrate. The cocoa component can
include one or more natural cocoas, alkalized cocoas, or other
cocoa or chocolate based products. In an embodiment, the foaming
initiator component can comprise a fruit component that may include
one or more fruit juices, fruit powders, fruit extracts, fruit
concentrates, fruit flavor crystals, fruit flavored powders, and
the like. The fruit or fruit flavor may be apple, orange, pear,
peach, strawberry, banana, cherry, pineapple, kiwi, grape,
blueberry, raspberry, mango, guava, cranberry, blackberry or
combinations thereof.
[0046] In an embodiment, the main liquid component can comprise a
dairy component that can include one or more dairy ingredients or
dairy substitute ingredients. For example, the dairy ingredients
can be milk, milk powder, skim milk, milk proteins and combinations
thereof. Examples of suitable dairy proteins are casein, caseinate,
casein hydrolysate, whey, whey hydrolysate, whey concentrate, whey
isolate, milk protein concentrate, milk protein isolate, and
combinations thereof. Furthermore, the dairy protein may be, for
example, sweet whey, acid whey, .alpha.-lactalbumin,
.beta.-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, acid casein,
caseinates, .alpha.-casein, .beta.-casein and/or .gamma.-casein.
Suitable dairy substitute ingredients include soy proteins, rice
proteins and combinations thereof, for example.
EXAMPLES
[0047] By way of example and not limitation, the following
non-limiting examples are illustrative of various embodiments
provided by the present disclosure.
Example 1
[0048] A self-foaming RTD black coffee can be formed in a container
with a dispensing lid. The main liquid component can be water in
which nitrous oxide gas is dissolved and can include coffee aroma,
and the foam initiator component can be and/or can comprise instant
coffee powder or concentrate. The foam initiator component can be
stored in the dispensing cap, separately from the main liquid
component. At the time of consumption, the coffee powder or
concentrate is released into the water from the dispensing cap to
form the beverage and initiate foaming.
Example 2
[0049] A self-foaming RTD cappuccino-style beverage can be
provided. The main liquid component can comprise water, a dairy
component such as skim milk and/or caseinates, and coffee aroma.
Additionally, other aromas, sweeteners and/or flavorings can be
included in the main liquid component as desired. The main liquid
component is gassed with nitrous oxide (N2O) gas, another gas or a
mixture of gasses to dissolve a sufficient amount of gas for an
appropriate foam level. The coffee is stored in the dispensing lid
in the form of a concentrate or powder.
[0050] At the time of consumption, the consumer opens the
dispensing lid that drops the coffee concentrate or powder into the
main liquid component. This dispensation triggers release of the
dissolved gas in the main liquid component, generating a thick and
creamy foam head in the container. The consumer can thus enjoy a
foamy RTD cappuccino beverage in the container itself.
Example 3
[0051] A RTD cold foaming tea can be provided. The main liquid
component can comprise water, a suitable food grade surfactant such
as Propylene Glycol Alginate (PGA) and/or another surface active
hydrocolloid, and tea aroma. Additionally, other flavorings and
sweeteners can be added to the main liquid component. The main
liquid component is gassed with nitrous oxide (N2O) gas, another
gas or a mixture of gasses. The tea, in the form of a powder or
concentrate, can be stored in the dispensing lid. Opening the
container dispenses the tea powder or concentrate from the
dispensing lid into the main liquid component to trigger release of
the dissolved gas and formation of a foam head in the RTD beverage
container.
[0052] It is well established that storage of coffee or tea solids
separately from the aroma is essential to preserve beverage
quality. Furthermore, the aroma is significantly more stable at low
concentrations. With the self-foaming RTD beverage container
disclosed herein, such as in Examples 1-3, the coffee or tea aroma
is preferably stored as diluted in the main liquid component to be
more stable, and the coffee or tea solids are mixed with the aroma
at the time of consumption, thus providing separate storage as well
as stabilization of the diluted coffee or tea aroma.
Example 4
[0053] The beverage can be a RTD foaming fruit drink and/or a
beverage with an ingredient with a nutritional benefit that
requires separate storage to maintain functionality. In this case,
the main liquid component can comprise water with a suitable food
grade surfactant such as PGA. Other flavorings and sweeteners can
also be present in the main liquid component. The main dispensing
lid can store a fruit flavored powder or concentrate and/or an
ingredient with a nutritional benefit that requires separate
storage to maintain functionality. Opening of the container by the
consumer releases the contents of the dispensing lid into the main
liquid component to trigger release of the dissolved gas and
formation of a foam head in the RTD beverage container. The foamed
RTD beverage can now be enjoyed by the consumer from the beverage
container itself.
Example 5
[0054] A self-foaming RTD cocoa beverage can be provided. The main
liquid component is gassed with nitrous oxide (N.sub.2O) gas,
another gas or a mixture of gasses to dissolve a sufficient amount
of gas for an appropriate foam level. The cocoa is stored in the
dispensing lid in the form of a concentrate or powder. At the time
of consumption, the consumer opens the dispensing lid that
distributes the cocoa concentrate or powder into the main liquid
component. This dispensation triggers release of the dissolved gas
in the main liquid component, generating a thick and creamy foam
head in the container. The consumer can thus enjoy a foamy RTD
cocoa beverage in the container itself.
[0055] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described
herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes
and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its
intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and
modifications be covered by the appended claims.
* * * * *