Abstract: Various beverage preparation machines having a multi-chambered basket unit are shown. The basket unit can be configured to accept multiple cartridge configurations. For example, some embodiments are configured to receive a first cartridge configuration in a first chamber of the basket unit and a second configuration in a second chamber of the basket unit. In various embodiments, the basket unit can rotate to allow selective accessibility of the first and second chambers. This can facilitate loading the cartridges into the appropriate chamber, such as loading the first cartridge configuration into the first chamber and the second cartridge configuration into the second chamber.

Abstract: A process and system is shown for obtaining a dry milk formula, having (a-i) ultrafiltration of an animal skim milk composition having 70-90 wt % casein and 10-30 wt % whey proteins, based on total protein, and (a-ii) ultrafiltration of an animal whey composition having 0-25 wt % casein and 75-100 wt % whey proteins, based on total protein; or (a-iii) ultrafiltration of a mixture of the compositions of (a-i) and (a-ii), (b) removing polyvalent ions from the UF permeate originating from step (a-i) and/or (a-ii) or (a-iii) to obtain at least one softened UF permeate; (c) combining the at least one softened UF permeate with a UF retentate to obtain a combined product; and (d) drying the combined product to obtain a dry milk formula.

Abstract: A cold brew coffee filtration assembly having a closure. The closure includes a first side and a second side. The first side has a first coupling member configured to couple the closure to a first container. The second side has a second coupling member configured to couple the closure to a second container. A filter is between the first and the second coupling members. A support member supports the filter and defines an air channel extending through the support member and across the filter. A tube is configured to be connected to the support member and extend from the first side of the closure to a bottom of the first container when the first container is coupled to the first side of the closure, the tube further defining the air channel.

Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus, systems, and methods of use for producing beverages. The apparatus includes components and methods for facilitating beverage production applying water or other liquid in combination with a brewing substance and controlled aeration and pressurization of a mixing vessel or column. The aeration of the water and brewing substance can be accomplished with a vacuum system, a positive pressurization system, and a combination of such systems. The apparatus, systems, and methods can be used with a variety of beverage making devices such as a device which might be used to controllably produce volumes of beverage to a reservoir. The methods include controllable aeration and pressurization of the vessel for brewing which may include controlling extraction time, steep time, active controllable agitation of the brewing substance, as well as other brewing characteristics, features, and actions.

Abstract: In one respect, the invention is a coring machine for removing portions of food item blanks, the coring machine including a plate assembly for holding the food item blanks and a pair of coring assemblies, each having a plurality of coring bits that are aligned with passages in the plate assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a creamer composition, e.g. for use for addition into a coffee beverage, having good physical and chemical stability, in particular the invention relates to a liquid creamer composition including protein, oleosomes and optionally oil. The invention also relates to a beverage composition including the liquid creamer composition, and a method of making it.

Abstract: An oven tray rack for insertion into a food rack assembly is provided having upwardly and inwardly extending food holders and downwardly and inwardly extending grease deflectors for diverting grease to a center area of the tray rack and preventing grease from dripping onto food on lower tray racks.

Abstract: A brewer for brewing beverages in a brew basket, such as loose coffee or tea, is provided, where the flow of water to the brew basket alternates between water brewing phases and steam brewing phases during a single brew cycle, resulting in comparatively higher temperatures of water in the brew basket than conventional brewers. The frequency and duration of the water brewing phases and steam brewing phases during a brew cycle can be electronically controlled according to one or more predetermined programs. A reinforcing band is also provided for the lighted brew basket interior to strengthen the brewer head bowl in this area, and a single cup insert is also provided.

Abstract: Shown is a method of making a coffee concentrate, and a coffee concentrate obtainable by the method. The method involves primary and secondary extraction, with split tapping of the primary extract into a first and second primary draw off. The extraction is conducted under such conditions as to satisfy a minimum mass transfer Fourier number, and a minimum ratio of the extraction yield of the first primary draw-off to the extraction yield obtained in all extraction sections.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating articles having porous outer surfaces. The method includes steps of: providing a decontamination chamber; conveying the articles through the decontamination chamber at a predetermined speed wherein the speed is selected such that the articles are disposed in the decontamination chamber for a predetermined period of time; providing a source of sterilant vapor, the source providing the sterilant vapor at a temperature within a predetermined acceptable temperature range and at a concentration within a predetermined acceptable concentration range; conveying a sterilant vapor from the source of sterilant vapor to the decontamination chamber; and exposing the articles to the sterilant vapor. The predetermined period of time and the predetermined acceptable concentration range of the sterilant vapor are selected such that the sterilant vapor does not penetrate the porous outer surfaces of the articles.

Abstract: A method includes introducing at least one of a whole product or a milled product (e.g., corn) to an airflow (e.g., using a gravity hopper), directing the airflow into one or more accelerators, separating a first fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product from a second fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product in the one or more accelerators. For example, corn germ, starch, and bran components can be separated from one another.

Abstract: A method and system for removing foreign grains from oat grains to establish gluten-free oats, i.e., oat grains having gluten levels below 20 ppm and, more preferably, below 10 ppm, relies upon performing various mechanical differentiation operations on a combination of grains, including oats and foreign, or gluten containing, grains. The mechanical differentiation operations can be arranged in series or in a combination of series and parallel operations. The various operations preferably include width grading and multiple length grading steps, as well as an aspirating steps, as well as a potential debearding step. The resulting oats can be used to make a wide range of gluten-free oat food products, including cereal and granola products.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mixing device (1) having: —a whipper housing (2), a rotor (3) and a back wall (4), the whipper housing and the back wall forming a whipper chamber in which is lodged the rotor, —the whipper housing having a beverage inlet (11) and a beverage outlet (7), —a drive shaft (41) for driving the rotor, said drive shaft being supported by the back wall, —the rotor presenting a radial back surface (33) facing the whipper housing back wall (4) and a radial front surface (32) opposed to the radial back surface —the whipper housing having a front wall (21), said front wall facing at least a part of the radial front surface (32) of the rotor, and wherein the whipper housing front wall (21) presents bumps (5) elevating from the surface (211) of the front wall, the upper surface (51) of each bump being flat and the edges (52) of said upper surface being sharp.

Abstract: Coffee makers with features for rapid and/or multiple extraction processes, and associated systems and methods, are shown. A representative method for brewing coffee includes placing ground coffee on a filter element of a brew chamber, directing heated water into the brew chamber and in contact with the ground coffee and, during a first phase, brewing coffee in the brew chamber without subjecting the coffee to a pressure differential of at least 150 torr between the brew chamber and a coffee chamber to which the brew chamber is coupled, the coffee chamber having a capacity of 200 mL or more. The representative method further includes, during a second phase, extracting the coffee from the brew chamber through the filter element and into the coffee chamber via a pressure differential of at least 150 torr between the brew chamber and the coffee chamber.

Abstract: A method for washing fish flesh to remove water soluble sarcoplasmic proteins includes producing a mixture by combining wash water with fish flesh having sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins, wherein the wash water removes some of the sarcoplasmic protein from the fish flesh; depositing the mixture on a screen separator. The wash water having sarcoplasmic proteins is separated from the mixture while a speed of the screen separator and a speed of the mixture at the interface with the screen separator remains about equal and reducing or eliminating shear forces at the interface between the screen separator and the fish flesh. Thus, washed fish flesh fish flesh with an increase in a percent of myofibrillar protein retained in the fish flesh is produced.

Abstract: In a device for infusing a gas from a gas source into a liquid beverage, a beverage container defines an interior for holding the liquid beverage therein. A venturi mixing device has a liquid inlet port in fluid communication with the beverage container, a gas inlet port in fluid communication with the gas source and a discharge port. The venturi mixing device is configured to infuse the gas received from the gas source into liquid beverage received from the beverage container. A faucet is in fluid communication with the discharge port of the venturi mixing device and is configured to dispense the liquid beverage infused with the gas.

Abstract: A disposable brewing device including an inner compartment formed at least partly by a liquid-permeable material and having an entrance opening for introducing liquid into said brewing device, the disposable brewing device also including aroma material contained within the inner compartment and an outer compartment forming a brewing container, where the brewing container is formed by a liquid-impermeable material, where the inner compartment is integrated within the outer compartment and the outer compartment further includes a discharge arrangement including an exit opening through which the liquid exits the brewing device, where a liquid-impermeable barrier is arranged between the at least one inner compartment and the exit opening substantially blocks the aroma material and liquid in the inner compartment from passing directly from the at least one inner compartment and out through the exit opening, when the liquid is poured out of the exit opening.

Abstract: There is a process which can pasteurize in-shell chicken eggs to inactivate pathogens when present which includes all strains of salmonella and all strains of viruses that historically have been known to exist within chicken eggs and currently are known to be evolving into new and separate strains which may cause large quantities of human illnesses unless countermeasures are developed and employed. One such countermeasure is provided through pasteurization of the subject in-shell eggs through pasteurization involving concurrently a secured environment together with a protocol which enables total inactivation of the targeted pathogens whether bacterial or viral without risk of recontamination.

Abstract: Assemblies, machines, systems, and methods for the generation of superheated are discussed A steam super-heat assembly is employed for generating superheated steam for the preparation of coffee-based beverages. The assembly includes a body that includes an internal cavity, a heating element that includes heating surfaces positioned within the internal cavity, and a flow path within the internal cavity. The body also includes an input that enables fluid access into the internal cavity and an output that enables fluid egress out of the internal cavity. The heating element heats the heating surfaces of the heating element. The flow path enables fluid to flow from the input, through the internal cavity of the body, and to the output of the body. The heating surfaces form a portion of the flow path. When the fluid flows through the internal cavity, the fluid is in direct physical contact with the heating surfaces.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treatment of an alcoholic beverage, particularly beer or wine, for removing ingredient(s) causing undesirable sulfury and/or fatty flavor(s), by contacting the beverage with a composition having a polymer-hydrogen peroxide complex, wherein the polymer is derived from at least one N-vinyl lactam monomer, and wherein the hydrogen peroxide is present in an amount from about 1% by weight to about 50% by weight of the complex. Provided further is a method of treatment of an alcoholic beverage to remove at least (a) at least one ingredient causing at least one undesirable sulfury and/or fatty flavor, and (b) at least one ingredient causing colloidal haze, including contacting the beverage with a composition described herein. Provided furthermore is an alcoholic beverage obtained by the method(s) of treatment described herein.