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: Caffeine-containing vegetable materials are decaffeinated by contacting the vegetable materials with a substantially laminar flow of a fatty material having a superficial velocity of at least about 10.times.10.sup.-3 m/sec. Recycling of the fatty material may be also carried out in one or more extraction vessels.