Abstract: Various automated and semi-automated beverage preparation systems and methods are shown. The beverage preparation system can include a container assembly configured to receive beverage, such as a milk. The container assembly can be configured to receive a flow of steam, air, or additional gasses and vapors to heat and/or aerate the beverage residing therein. The container assembly can include a temperature sensor configured to monitor the rate of heating, and automatically adjust the heating and aeration parameters accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to creamers for food products such as coffee and tea. In particular, the invention relates to a liquid creamer including casein based protein, pea protein, gellan gum, bicarbonate, citrate and oil. Further aspects of the invention are a beverage including a liquid creamer and a process for preparing a liquid creamer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk soft cheese product including the steps of a) Providing a first milk base, b) Optionally subjecting the first milk base to a concentration step to obtain a concentrated first milk base, c) Adding a first starter culture including at least one EPS producing lactic acid bacterium strain, d) Fermenting the concentrated first milk base for a period of time until a target pH is reached to obtain an EPS-containing fermented milk composition, e) Mixing the EPS-containing fermented milk composition with one or more other ingredients, if any, selected from the group consisting of a milk fat composition, a second fermented milk composition and one or more additives, to obtain a fermented milk mixture, and f) Subjecting the fermented milk mixture to heat treatment to obtain a fermented milk soft cheese product.

Abstract: Methods for producing an activated pectin-containing biomass composition are provided. The method includes (A) mixing a starting pectin-containing biomass material including an insoluble fiber component and an insoluble protopectin component with an aqueous solution of an alcohol to form a mixture; (B) activating the starting pectin-containing biomass material to form an activated pectin-containing biomass material comprising the insoluble fiber component and a soluble pectin component by subjecting the starting pectin-containing biomass material to (i) an activating solution formed by adding acid to the mixture to adjust the pH of the mixture within the range from at or about 0.5 to at or about 2.

Abstract: Method and device for freezing food items in a gradual process, where the food items are first put through under-cooling before the food items are placed in a container or receptacle for freezing. The method and device are particularly suitable for freezing freshly slaughtered and bled fish for later processing.

Abstract: A brewing arrangement and a portable coffee machine, the portable coffee machine includes a main body, a coffee receiving cup, and a brewing arrangement including a brewing assembly having a brewing chamber, and a powder pressing assembly for pressing coffee powder in the brewing chamber, wherein after the coffee powder in the brewing chamber is pressed by the powder presser, the powder pressing assembly is detached from the brewing assembly, and the brewing assembly is then assembled between the main body and the coffee receiving cup, so as to allow boiled water in the main body to be pumped into the brewing assembly to brew the coffer powder, so as to provide liquid coffee product which is collected by the coffee receiving cup under the brewing assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a halophilic Bacillus polyfermenticus KMU01 strain producing salt-tolerant gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and the halophilic Bacillus polyfermenticus KMU01 strain according to the present invention (KCTC11751BP) producing a halophilic gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, wherein, when food is fermented using the strain of the present invention, it can be utilized in foods with high salt concentration, and fermented foods having excellent flavor and various peptides can be prepared by high enzyme activity that decomposes protein binding.

Abstract: A beverage product including a mixture having a dissolved oxygen content of less than 500 parts per billion, the mixture including hops flavor, and water and no sweeteners and no calories. The beverage product has the hoppy flavor is infused from hops in the water 2-3 hours. The oxygen content is less than 100 parts per billion. The mixture is carbonated. An anaerobic environment in the mixture does not include alcohol. The beverage does not include yeast. A ratio of floral flavors to earthy flavors is increased as compared to longer infusion times.

Abstract: A cold brew coffee maker has a water cleaning system connected to a water source; a water pump connected to the water cleaning system, and connected to the pressurized-water storage tank for storing a filtered water in the tank; and a coffee brewing module connected to the pressurized-water storage tank and including: a detachable brewing cup detachably secured to a fixing bracket, a solenoid valve formed between the brewing cup and the pressurized-water storage tank, and a switch panel formed in the main body; whereby upon starting of the pump to suck and filter a feed water, a filtered pressurized water less than 30 degrees centigrade will be delivered into the tank and upon actuation of the switch panel to open the solenoid valve, the pressurized water will be ejected into the cup for brewing coffee.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting a beverage material including the steps of a) at least partially filling a first extraction chamber with an extractable beverage material; b) conveying at least one extraction fluid through at least said first extraction chamber to provide an extract; c) modifying said extraction fluid temperature before conveying extraction fluid through at least said first extraction chamber at a second extraction temperature to provide a secondary extract. The invention further provides an apparatus for preparing a beverage.

Abstract: The patent discloses halophilic bacteria and a method for fermenting fish paste, belonging to the technical field of solid-state fermentation of aquatic products using microorganisms. Four kinds of screened halophilic bacteria were used as mixed starter culture to produce fish paste. The effects of the ratio of mixed starter culture, inoculation amount, fermentation temperature, fermentation time and salinity on fish paste were studied by determining physical and chemical indexes and performing sensory evaluation. The fish paste has the characteristics of high safety, low salinity, high flavor and nutrition value. This method of fish paste processing needs short fermentation time. The fermented products of fish paste with better flavor can be obtained by using the mixed starter culture.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the operating parameters of espresso coffee machines, including: a filter-holder body configured to be associated with a water dispensing nozzle of an espresso coffee machine; said body internally defining a chamber for the passage of the water dispensed by said nozzle; a filling element arranged in said chamber and having a cavity for the passage of the water dispensed by the nozzle towards an outlet duct; a water outlet terminal element associated with said filter-holder body downstream of said chamber and defining said water outlet duct; and reading means for the water pressure and temperature values passing from the chamber to the outlet duct; said reading means include at least one pressure reading device operatively engaged with said water outlet terminal element and at least one temperature reading device operatively engaged at said cavity obtained in the filling element.

Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant-based glutamic acid rich protein composition and method of making the same. The composition provides a spectrum of amino acids, including an abundance of glutamic acid. The composition is free of the antibiotics and growth hormones associated with animal-sourced proteins and does not require amino acid supplementation to achieve high levels of glutamic acid. In some aspects, the composition is obtained from coffee beans, including defatted green coffee beans.

Abstract: A packaged coffee product with oxygen dissolved therein along with milk and/or sweeteners in the sealed packaging is provided. Preferably, the pH of the product is 4.6 or greater, preferably 5.0 or greater. The coffee product may be hot or cold brew coffee and may have other gasses such as nitrogen and/or carbon-dioxide in the sealed container. Ideally, there is oxygen in both the headspace and liquid portion of the beverage in order to inhibit C. bot growth without requiring retort processing. Preferably, the calorie count is in the range of 0.5-9 calories per ounce.

Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of a mass of particulate plant material having the step of determining the density of a mass of particulate plant material, wherein the mass of particulate plant material is prepared from a plant seed, from a coffee bean and/or by grinding a plant material. The invention also relates a system or apparatus for measuring the density of a mass of particulate plant material, wherein the system or apparatus has an experimental vessel having a void configured to retain a mass of particulate plant material therein, volume determination is configured to determine the volume occupied by a mass of particulate plant material that has been disposed within the void of the experimental vessel.

Abstract: A food processing device or food storage device (70), having: a chamber (72) for housing a foodstuff (42) to be processed or stored; and a nutrition/ingredient analysis system (30), having: an electromagnetic radiation source (32); a radiation guide (34) for guiding the electromagnetic radiation based on total internal reflection (attenuated total reflection, ATR), wherein the radiation guide comprises an input (36) coupled to the electromagnetic radiation source (32), an output (38), and a sensing surface (40) between the input and output for placing against a foodstuff to be analyzed, wherein the sensing surface (40) is for contact with the foodstuff (42); a detector (44) for detecting guided electromagnetic radiation at the output of the radiation guide; and a filter arrangement (46) for wavelength filtering the guided electromagnetic radiation reaching the detector, wherein the filter arrangement includes a plurality of optical bandpass filters (46a, 46b), and the plurality of filters are selectively mova

Abstract: A vacuum chambered beverage producer with an upper hopper and a lower hopper stacked together to create separate sealed chambers. The upper hopper has a flavor adjustment valve and the lower hopper has a flavor adjustment valve attached near drain holes which can be adjusted to open or close to any size of diameter to increase or decrease the strength and flavor of a finished flavored beverage produced therein. The lower hopper has a breather trough, a recessed area generally located on the bottom of the lower hopper, so that it can fit onto various sizes of receptacles making it universal to many applications. The stackable beverage producer further having a removable lid with a hole generally located in the middle of the lid with a lid hole cover that opens or closes the hole to any size of diameter, and a removable base used in the storage mode.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing chamber includes a housing, an agitator, a motor assembly and a rigid plate. A housing of the agitator and a housing of the motor assembly can each include a set of magnetics disposed therein and magnetically coupled so as to provide magnetic coupling between the motor assembly and the agitator. The mixing chamber is configured to receive a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a liquid, such as water, to form a carbonated fluid. The carbonated fluid can be dispensed from the beverage carbonation system as a beverage.

Abstract: Described are compositions and methods relate to stable, high-payload, non-porous enzyme-containing coated granules with improved resistance to activity loss during steam pelleting.