Abstract: A coffee degassing device is disclosed and method. The coffee degassing device comprises a coffee bin and a hollow tree within the bin. The hollow tree has an opening in communication with the interior of the coffee bin. The tree provides an exit path for carbon dioxide off-gassing from the coffee. The device may have a diffusion gas supply conduit. The diffusion gas supply conduit is in communication with the hollow tree and is configured to supply nitrogen, or another diffusion gas, to the degassing tree for accelerating the degassing of coffee.

Abstract: A coffee densifier is disclosed. The coffee densifier comprises an elongated chamber, a densifier motor, a shaft, a plurality of densifier members, a discharge door actuator, a densifier motor load sensor, and a controller. The plurality of densifier members are fixed to the shaft and configured to polish a plurality of coffee particles of the ground coffee within the elongated chamber when the plurality of densifier members are rotated by the shaft through the ground coffee within the mixing chamber. The controller configured to signal the discharge door actuator to move the discharge door to increase or decrease a density of the ground coffee exiting the chamber through the discharge opening when the densifier motor load is outside a predefined densifier motor load operating range.

Abstract: A method of controlling coffee density exiting from a coffee densifier is disclosed. The method includes the steps of feeding a ground coffee into a mixing chamber having a discharge door. A mixer motor load on a mixer motor driving mixing members agitating the ground coffee in the mixing chamber is measured. The discharge door is moved when the mixer motor load is outside a predefined mixer motor load operating range.

Abstract: A novel process for grinding limestone to a predetermined particle size distribution is disclosed. The process comprises feeding a feedstock of limestone to a roll grinder having a pair of opposing rotating rolls having a smooth surface, the rolls being separated by a predetermined nip or gap and having a predetermined circumferential velocity, and grinding the limestone between the rolls to a particle size distribution including particles in a range of about 75% to about 90% by weight greater than 200 mesh to produce a limestone product. Optionally, particles larger than about 14 to 16 mesh are removed, in a separator, and refed to the roll grinder.

Abstract: A grinder for coffee beans, comprising a hopper, two grinding burrs arranged for relative rotation about a vertical axis, and a chamber defined by walls including an outer wall and a lower plate, which has two outlets. At each outlet, a flexible blade mounted to such outlet closes such outlet until coffee grounds in the chamber are pressed downwardly with sufficient force to flex the blade. A rotor arranged to sweep in the chamber has portions having inclined faces whereby grounds being swept tend to be downwardly pressed. Each outlet is configured to direct grounds downwardly and radially. The outer wall is relieved to define two spiral configurations countering tendencies of the grounds to rotate as an annular mass.

Abstract: A coffee grinder useful in business offices or small restaurants. A hopper for coffee beans has an outlet in its lower wall. A motor is mounted vertically within the hopper. A stationary grinding burr and a rotatable grinding burr, which is driven by the motor via a vertical shaft extending through the outlet, cooperate to grind such beans into smaller grounds and to expel such grounds radially and horizontally between the burrs. A wall having an aperture surrounds the burrs and prevents such grounds from being expelled except through the aperture. A deflector mounted to the wall, outside the aperture, deflects such grounds downwardly in a concentrated stream.

Abstract: A coffee grinder-mixer assembly and method for alternatively producing high yield coffee and regular yield coffee comprising a grinding head, an elongated mixer box, a first elongated shaft mounting auger means and supported for rotation in the mixer box, second elongated shaft concentric with the first shaft for rotation relative to the first shaft, a plurality of paddles mounted on the second shaft, and means for alternatively co-rotating and counter-rotating the first shaft and the second shaft, relative to the other, thereby alternatively to produce high yield and regular yield coffees.