Abstract: A soluble coffee product which has the appearance of roast and ground coffee particles. The product is produced by a process in which a coffee extract is frozen, comminuted into particles, freeze-dried, and darkened. During the process, the particles are separated into an oversize fraction of size greater than about 1.1 mm (16 US Standard mesh), a fines faction of size less than about 0.87 mm (20 US Standard mesh), and a middle fraction of size between the oversize fraction and the fines fraction. Then, the middle fraction is separated into a by-pass fraction and a major fraction, the by-pass fraction forming 2 to 20% by weight of the middle fraction. The major fraction and the fines fraction are then combined and the particles in the combination are darkened. The darkened particles and the by-pass fraction are then combined to provide the soluble coffee product.

Abstract: A brew basket is disclosed for use with conventional coffee makers of the type found in offices, hotels and restaurants. The brew basket is configured to receive ground coffee in the form of a compressed wafer and provides increased extraction of coffee solids from compressed coffee wafers and a significant reduction in extraction time. The basket has a relatively shallow profile and is dimensioned so that when the brew basket is mounted on the coffee maker, substantially the entire upper surface of the compressed wafer disposed in the brew basket is wetted by the hot water discharged from the spray head of the coffee maker. In addition the basket is dimensioned to maintain a water level in the brew basket sufficient to at least partially submerge the compressed wafer during extraction, to further increase extraction efficiency.