The present invention relates to a device and a method for producing flavoured food foams, foams thus obtained, as well as packages adapted to contain products for obtaining such foams.
As an example, the quality enhancement of coffee is taken into consideration, being understood that what is exposed can be applied to many other products of the food chain.
It is known that there are many systems on the market for making coffee enhancing its quality. The most significant is the well-known cappuccino. There are indeed different methods and equipment allowing the emulsification of milk with steam and air, creating the foam combined with coffee to create a cappuccino.
There are also instant coffees that are sometimes supplemented with powdered milk producing a different taste than the more traditional one.
There is also coffee in capsules or pads that can be used by way of specific machines, though often expensive and complicated.
In this wide scenario of existing methods and solutions, some of which exemplified above, the present invention has the expressed object of providing a simple and inexpensive device and method for obtaining aromatic foams.
This object is achieved, according to the invention, with the device and the method having the features of the attached independent claims 1 and 7, respectively.
Another object of the invention is to impart a more pleasant taste to food in general and particularly to coffee and milk.
This object is achieved with flavoured foams according to claim 8, obtainable by said device and method.
A further object of the invention is to provide packages of simple construction and easy to use adapted to contain the products for obtaining the flavoured foams according to the invention.
This object is achieved with the features of claim 12.
The food products scenario, beyond the coffee sector, is very broad and allows applications for other possible uses of the present invention leading to the classification of compatible or complementary flavours to be combined with the foodstuffs themselves.
Some examples can be honey foams to pair with cheeses, salty foams to pair with savory vegetables, mushroom-flavoured foams, saffron-flavoured foams and foams with many other flavours that the market may require from time to time depending on the eating habits that every community may have.
The flavoured food foams according to the invention are obtainable by mixing in the presence of steam a specific liquid composition B) and a specific foamable composition A), in form of powder or gel, based on milk protein and containing a substrate (base) for incorporating flavours.
The liquid composition B) comprises a base salt or a weak organic acid able to produce gas as a result of an acid-base reaction, respectively, with a weak organic acid or a base salt contained in said foamable composition A).
From the above mentioned reaction the production of gas is obtained, such as carbon dioxide, which, once freed, is “trapped” in the protein network that is created during the expansion phase.
In particular, to achieve the result according to the present invention, the chemical formulation of the composition A), in powder form, and of the liquid composition B) shall be structured as follows:
A1) foamable composition, in powder form comprising a powder base for incorporating flavours formed by:
When the composition A) is in the form of gels, the compositions A) and B) are preferably formulated as follows:
A2) foamable composition in gel form comprising a gel base for incorporating flavours formed by
The two above-mentioned phases A), B) (solid or gel phase and liquid phase) are to be formulated and proportionated to each other so as to react with appropriate timing in order to achieve and stabilize the foam under the influence of steam.
In particular, the compositions A1) and B1) must be dosed in a weight ratio of 1:3-1:4, preferably 1:6, while the compositions A2) and B2) must be dosed in a ratio of 1.5:1-2.5:1, preferably 2:1. In both cases, the time of development and stabilization of the foam is about 10″. By varying the proportions timing can be lengthened or shortened.
Both the gel formulation and the powder formulation are completed by the following elements contained in the foamable composition A):
The device (50) for producing flavoured food foams, according to the invention comprises a steam supply pipe (1) from a boiler (2) and ending with a substantially vertical tube (5) in a container (6) acting as reactor, which can contain a mixture of a liquid composition B) and a foamable composition A) in form of powder or gel, said reactor (6) having an axially symmetrical concave inner surface and being tightly connected to the device (50), said tube (5) being closed at the free end thereof, which is spaced from the bottom of the container and provided with side holes (8) for the exit of steam, the flow of which is upwardly oriented by the concave wall of the reactor (6) producing turbulence.
The method for forming flavoured food foams comprises the steps of:
Additional features of the invention will become more clear from the following detailed description, referring to embodiments purely illustrative and therefore not limiting, as detailed in the attached drawings, in which:
a is a schematic plan view of an open blister package designed to store the products for producing flavored foams according to the invention;
b is a side view of the package of
c is a side view of the package of
a and 5b are respectively a plan view and a side view of a further embodiment of the package.
The products A) and B) for obtaining flavoured food foams according to the invention are packaged in impermeable single-dose double-pocket containers in order to be kept separate and mixed just before use.
As shown in
The volume of the two valves 19 provides a free space that allows to shake the product, if necessary, to better dissolve it.
The two valves 19 and the intermediate diaphragm are held together by heat-sealing 22, whereby the components must be heat-sealable one to the other.
After the two products have been mixed and the eventual subsequent shaking has been accomplished, the package can be tear opened at an appropriate zone or opened by cutting the edge with scissors. Operational solutions can be different according to techniques already in use on the market.
The packaging may occur in the presence of a mixture of nitrogen ensuring a lower air humidity and therefore a better preservation and stability of products over time.
A second type of package is shown in
In the embodiment according to
A steam supply pipe 1 which comes from a boiler 2, equipped with a weighted safety valve 3, in which the weight determines the pressure, leads the steam to an axially rotating cock 4 that when opened allows the passage of steam into a vertical tube 5 which enters a rigid container 6 acting as a reactor. The vertical tube has a defined length and stops at a precise distance from the bottom of the reactor, it is closed at the bottom and is equipped with horizontal side holes 8 for the exit of steam. The device has a water loading tube 14 provided with a system that avoid to exceed a predetermined level of water leaving space for the expansion of steam. This system consists of a floating valve 15 that closes the tube.
The tube 14 is equipped with a funnel-shaped container 16 in the upper portion thereof to facilitate filling by placing the device under a water faucet and a screw cap 17 to open and close said tube.
The vertical steam tube 5 has an outer diameter of 8 mm and an internal one of 6 mm while the two steam exit holes 8 have a diameter of 1.5 mm, the distance from the bottom of the reactor is 6 mm and steam jets strike the concave surface of the reactor which at that point is tilted around 45° at a distance of about 15 mm upwardly orienting the flow and generating rotational turbulence as indicated by the arrows 12. The above mentioned values must be intended with a tolerance of ±10%.
The distance of the holes 8 from the bottom of the reactor, the curvature of the concave reactor coaxially to the steam tube, allowing the expansion of said steam gradually yielding the heat of condensation causing the reaction, the space between the tube and the wall of the reactor and the exit rate of the steam are defined for generating the best turbulence and optimum condensation of the steam at the moment when it releases heat to create foam.
The reactor, in which the reaction takes place, having a cup shape, is partially transparent and shaped at the upper rim with segmented projections 9 allowing quick connection by rotation around the vertical axis on the prominent part of the device.
The reactor 6 is of an interchangeable type to allow for easier use with the different flavours without cleaning operations.
The transparency of the reactor is necessary for visually checking the creation of foam therein and that the reaction is completed in order to stop the flow of steam at the right time before the foam converts to caramel, melts and decomposes. A sign 11 that indicates the level on the transparent part is convenient for determining the moment in which the foam reaches the predetermined maximum volume.
The rotating cock 4 is an approved start system for each cycle opening the steam supply valve coming from the boiler which can be separated or integrated into the system with a stop screw 13, which allows adjusting the opening to the exact point to optimize the cycle.
Of course the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above and illustrated in the attached drawings, but to it there may be made many changes in detail within the reach of a technician skilled in the art without going beyond the scope of the invention itself defined herein by the attached claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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MI2010A000111 | Jan 2010 | IT | national |