A method and system for preparing coffee includes roasting green coffee beans, thereby resulting in roasted coffee beans; grinding the roasted coffee beans, thereby resulting ground coffee; and degassing carbon dioxide from the ground coffee.

A container is disclosed for packaging and storing coffee. The container may take the form of a tube with an open top end and a closed bottom end, where the top may be covered with a cap. The coffee inside the tube may be soluble coffee. The tube may be made with a variety of materials such as polylactide or polypropylene.

One embodiment of an apparatus with mobile reusable airtight container assembly (10) which utilizes pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas for long term preservation of the freshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds in terms of aroma and taste, utilizes a system of an electronic controller (250), pressure switch (170), gas delivery valve (180), check valve (50) and vent valve (160) to create a pressurized environment of inert gas or CO2 gas and low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations within the airtight container assembly (10). An airtight lid (20) with pressure seal (220) covers the airtight container assembly (10) and creates a reusable system whereby the user can remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans or grounds as often as needed in order to brew coffee without degrading the long term freshness of the roasted coffee beans or grounds stored within the airtight container assembly (10). A two stage opening mechanism (40) prevents uncontrolled opening of the airtight lid (20) while the airtight container assembly (10) is pressurized. The check valve (50) enables the mobile aspect whereby the airtight container assembly (10) can be removed from and replaced back on a control system (260) as many times as desired by the user, while maintaining the optimum storage condition of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas with low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations.

One embodiment of an apparatus with mobile reusable airtight container assembly (10) which utilizes pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas for long term preservation of the freshness of roasted coffee beans or grounds in terms of aroma and taste, utilizes a system of an electronic controller (250), pressure switch (170), gas delivery valve (180), check valve (50) and vent valve (160) to create a pressurized environment of inert gas or CO2 gas and low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations within the airtight container assembly (10). An airtight lid (20) with pressure seal (220) covers the airtight container assembly (10) and creates a reusable system whereby the user can remove a portion of the roasted coffee beans or grounds as often as needed in order to brew coffee without degrading the long term freshness of the roasted coffee beans or grounds stored within the airtight container assembly (10). A two stage opening mechanism (40) prevents uncontrolled opening of the airtight lid (20) while the airtight container assembly (10) is pressurized. The check valve (50) enables the mobile aspect whereby the airtight container assembly (10) can be removed from and replaced back on a control system (260) as many times as desired by the user, while maintaining the optimum storage condition of pressurized inert gas or CO2 gas with low residual oxygen and moisture concentrations.

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.

An apparatus for accelerated or controlled degassing of roasted coffee. The apparatus comprises a container for receiving and retaining roasted coffee, a source of inert gas in fluid communication with the container, and a controller. The controller includes a timer and a valve. The valve is operatively associated with the source of inert gas and has an open and a closed position. When in its closed position the valve restricts the flow of inert gas into the container. When in its open position the valve permits the flow of inert gas into the container such that the inert gas displaces at least a portion of the gas in the container. The timer causes the valve to cycle between its open and closed positions at predetermined time intervals. The flow of inert gas can also be controlled through the use of a gas sensor in communication with the interior of the container.

A coffee degassing method is disclosed. A diffusion gas is supplied into a degassing tree in an bin containing roasted coffee. The degassing tree is in the roasted coffee. Carbon dioxide is diffused from the coffee with the diffusion gas. Carbon dioxide and the diffusion gas are exhausted from the bin. Another method of coffee degassing is disclosed. A diffusion gas is supplied into a degassing chamber in a bin containing roasted coffee. The degassing chamber is in the roasted coffee. Carbon dioxide is diffused from the coffee with the diffusion gas. Carbon dioxide and the nitrogen are exhausted from the bin.

Packaging assembly for the transport of coffee in the form of roasted beans, comprising: at least one impermeable bag, impermeable at least to oxygen and water vapour; said at least one impermeable bag being flexible and sealable in a watertight manner to prevent the introduction of fluids or gases; at least one unidirectional valve sealingly applied to said at least one impermeable bag which only allows gas to escape from the impermeable bag preventing the entry of gas into the impermeable bag, wherein said at least one unidirectional valve makes it possible to achieve an over-pressure inside the impermeable bag variable from 3 to 60 mbar.

A container is provided having an open top end defining an access opening into an interior storage volume. A peripheral rim surrounds the access opening. A flexible membrane is sealed to the peripheral rim and a valve is attached to the membrane for venting gases from the interior of the container body. An overcap is provided to cover the access opening and be retained in the container rim adjacent the membrane. A bottom surface of the body of the overcap includes a continuous surface pattern thereon, with the surface pattern creating a plurality of gaps that define a continuous passageway along the bottom surface to the periphery of the overcap.