Patent Application
20090041893
The present invention relates to a coffee-like drink or coffee substitute, and more particularly to a beverage that is produced with the Cacao (Cocoa) bean, which provides a healthier alternative to coffee.
Over the course of many decades the world and the U.S. has become a major consumer of coffee. The main reason for the consumption of coffee is to give the individual a rush, or energy boost which is due to the caffeine content of coffee. Over the years there has been much advancement in the field of dietary science that has raised concerns over the usage of caffeine. Caffeine is by nature a vassal constrictor. That means that the effects of caffeine usage results in decreased blood flow in the body. Caffeine also can raise an individual's blood pressure. Caffeine is also highly addictive, and is habit forming. Prolonged intake of caffeine can result in serious health risks.
To overcome these health risks, a substitute beverage is needed which provides the consumer with a similar taste, aroma and stimulation without the harmful effects of caffeine.
Some coffee drinkers turn to a decaffeinated coffee to avoid the harmful effects of caffeine and in some cases even the excessive stimulation provided by the high levels of caffeine found in standard coffee. However, since the above mentioned stimulation effect derived from the consumption of such levels of caffeine found in a standard coffee is important to many coffee consumers, there must be a stimulant of some type in a commercially successful alternative drink in order to give the consumer the desired energy boost.
Another of the key components that contributes to the coffee drinking pleasure is the aroma. There are few if any coffee substitutes that have a similarly appealing aroma. Such a similar aroma would be conducive to the commercial success of a coffee substitute.
Even more importantly that aroma, a similar tasting product to coffee is an issue that has been a difficult for other coffee substitutes to attain. Many coffee drinkers pride themselves as connoisseurs of the rich taste of coffee. In order to truly be successful in obtaining a significant market share among the many currently available coffee substitutes, an alternative having a similar taste is needed.
The present invention is directed to a coffee-like drink including the roasted granular brewable coffee-like dry product and the method of their manufacture. The invention provides to the consumer a stimulant called Theobromine. Theobromine is known to provide milder stimulation, but with a longer lasting effect than that of caffeine. But possibly more importantly, and in contrast to caffeine, Theobromine is a vassal dilator. This means that an individual that ingests Theobromine would have more blood flow throughout the body. This effect has been confirmed in recent studies of Theobromine which have shown that it has an effect on the body of lowering blood pressure. Additionally, the husks of the Cacao bean have been shown to possibly contain other anti-carcinogenic properties.
Additionally the incident inventive coffee-like drink has a remarkably appealing aroma in not only the brewing stage of the process to make the drink, but also in the roasting stage of this process as well.
And more importantly this product, unlike many other substitute coffee products, is remarkably similar in taste to coffee. In fact it has been described by many in taste tests as more flavorful, or more robust in taste, and is also much healthier for anyone who drinks it.
Surprisingly whole cacao beans are the prime ingredient for this product. Historically, cacao beans have been used for centuries for the source of cocoa liquor and powder from which a well known chocolate drink has been manufactured. However, the distinctive chocolate taste of that drink is achieved by processing cacao beans from which the husks have been removed into a cocoa liquor composed of the fats (cocoa butter) and other bean solids (cocoa powder). Multiple additional steps and additives are required in that known process in order to obtain the familiar cocoa drink, cocoa baking powder, or chocolate.
The raw cacao beans used in this unique process are extracted from pods from the cacao tree as a composition of moist pulp material and raw whole beans. This composition is then typically covered and allowed to ferment to reduce the bitterness of the bean. This fermentation process can be eliminated by separating the whole beans from the pulp immediately and proceeding directly to the drying process. The typical sun drying of either fermented or unfermented whole cacao beans usually takes a few days and is required to lower the moisture content of the whole raw cacao beans to a level sufficient to prevent mold or spoilage during subsequent storage and/or shipment. Dried raw cacao beans can be easily obtained in either a fermented or unfermented state. The preferred embodiment of this invention utilizes fermented dried whole cacao beans, however if a more bitter taste is desired unfermented dried raw cacao beans can be used. Even though the beans are preferably fermented they will still be considered herein as being raw, and will be referred to as such.
As shown in
Since the amount of husk material has a significant effect on the coffee-like features of aroma and taste and even possible health benefits, the inventive process optionally allows some control of these features by either adding or removing significant amounts or portions of husk material at any of a number of steps in the process as shown in
After cooling, the roasted cacao beans are then ground into a brewable granulated cacao substrate. Preferably this granulated cacao substrate includes the husk material from the dried whole cacao beans. The presents of a significant portion of the cacao bean husks during this grinding process help to prevent the unwanted development or separation of cacao fats or liquors resulting in a paste-like substance as is an intermediate step in the prior art cocoa powder manufacturing process. Instead the roasted cacao beans including husks and optionally additional portion of roasted husk material is ground by similar means as used to grind coffee beans and with a much the same desired consistency of the resultant brewable coffee-like dry product. The preferred method of grinding utilizes a means which avoids the creation of excess heat that could cause this unwanted cocoa butter separation. One method which is effective in producing a desirable dry granular cacao substrate is a high speed impact type pulverizing grinder. However, many typical grinding means as known in the coffee industry are also effective in obtaining an adequate dry substrate. When grinding the Cacao beans, it is important to note that different levels of granulation can be used to prepare the bean to be brewed as required by various different coffee brewing methods.
Brewing the granulated cacao substrate or product can be accomplished in many different manors to create the inventive coffee-like drink or coffee substitute. Standard drip or auto-drip coffee makers can be used to brew the beverage. As well, percolators and espresso machines are perfectly acceptable means of brewing this beverage. As this product is an alternative to coffee, it is also an alternative to all of the coffee variations, such as espresso, and all of the different forms that a coffee like substance can be brewed into. Also, and for obvious reasons, any known method for pre or post processing coffee drinks or products such as freeze drying or other means of delivery and or packaging are like wise applicable to this coffee-like product or drink.
At this point, the coffee-like drink made from whole cacao beans can now be consumed as is or mixed with a variety of different sweeteners and creamer type substances, to enhance the flavor of the product toward individual tastes.
