COMPOSITE MATERIAL HAVING A COMPONENT OBTAINED FROM THE SILVER SKIN OF THE COFFEE CHERRY AND PORTION CAPSULE COMPRISING SAID COMPOSITE MATERIAL

Abstract

A beverage, particularly coffee, is prepared using a portion capsule. The portion capsule has a base element for receiving an extraction product. Further, a method for producing the portion capsule, a composite material able to be produced particularly efficiently in the setting of producing coffee portion capsules, and a method for producing the composite material. The composite material includes a component produced from silver skins of coffee cherries. The portion capsule includes the composite material.

Claims

1. A portion capsule comprising a base element forming an interior space bounded by an outer wall, the base element comprising an opening, and the base element comprising a composite material, and wherein a component of the composite material is produced from coffee cherry silver skins.

2. The portion capsule according to claim 1, further comprising a capsule cover, the capsule cover being attached or attachable along a circumferential edge of the opening and wherein the base element and the capsule cover comprise the composite material.

3. The portion capsule according to claim 1, wherein the composite material is biodegradable.

4. The portion capsule according to claim 1, wherein the composite material comprises a plastic component comprising polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polylactide (PLA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and polylactide (PLA).

5. The portion capsule according to claim 1, wherein the base element is cup-like and has a rectangular, particularly square, basic shape.

6. A method for producing a portion capsule, the portion capsule comprising a base element and the method comprising the following steps: providing a composite material reshaping the composite material into the base element wherein a component of the composite material is produced from coffee cherry silver skins.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the silver skins are separated from the coffee beans during roasting of the coffee beans, wherein the silver skins are fed to a processing line for producing a base element and wherein the roasted coffee beans are fed to a processing line for producing an extraction product.

8. A composite material for portion capsule, a first component of the composite material being a plastic, characterized in that a second component of the composite material is produced from coffee cherry silver skins.

9. The composite material according to claim 8, wherein the composite material is biodegradable.

10. The composite material according to claim 8, wherein the first component comprises polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polylactide (PLA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and polylactide (PLA).

11. A method for producing a composite material for portion capsules according to any claim 8, wherein the first component and the second component are compounded.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the steps separating silver skins and coffee beans comminuting the silver skins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0121] Embodiment examples of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing figures, wherein:

[0122] FIG. 1 shows a portion capsule;

[0123] FIG. 2 shows a base element of a portion capsule according to FIG. 1;

[0124] FIG. 3 shows a capsule cover of a portion capsule according to FIG. 1, matched to a base element according to FIG. 2;

[0125] FIG. 4 illustrates a method for producing a coffee portion capsule ready for consumption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0126] Identical reference numerals in the figures indicate identical or analogous elements.

[0127] The example portion capsule 1 according to FIG. 1 includes a base element 11 in the form of a cup (having a cup axis 15) and a capsule cover 21 attached thereto along a circumferential flange 14, together forming an outer capsule wall and defining an interior capsule space. The base element 11 forms a slightly domed capsule base 16 and a circumferential side wall 12, as is per se known.

[0128] The base element 11 and capsule cover 21 are produced from a composite material compounded from a component obtained from silver skins of the coffee cherry and from a plastic component having a bonding agent admixed therein. The plastic component is Ecovio® from BASF. The bonding agent is Licocene PP MA 7452.

[0129] The capsule cover 21 is attached to the base element 11 in a known manner, for example by means of ultrasonic welding or potentially by gluing.

[0130] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the base element 11. The base element 11 is cup-like and has a square basic shape. That is, the base element substantially has the shape of a cube, one of the six sides of the cube being missing and forming an opening 13. Extraction product can be introduced into the interior space of the base element and thus into the interior capsule space via the opening.

[0131] In the embodiment shown, the circumferential edge 14 to which the capsule cover 21 can be attached, the rounded edges, and at most slightly domed sides deviate from the shape of a cube.

[0132] FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the capsule cover 21. In the embodiment shown, the cover is made of the same composite material having the same thickness as the base element 11.

[0133] The capsule cover 21 includes a circumferential flange 22 matched to the edge 14 of the base element 11, so that the capsule cover 21 can seal off the base element 11 in a fluid-tight manner when appropriately attached.

[0134] FIG. 4 shows schematically a method for producing a portion capsule ready for consumption. In addition to the use according to the invention of the silver skins, various optional features are shown in the schema.

[0135] The method shown starts with providing coffee cherries. Coffee beans (seeds of the coffee cherries) are obtained from the same. After obtaining the coffee beans, the silver skin still encloses the coffee beans.

[0136] In a next step, the coffee beans are roasted. Because the coffee beans expand at the start of the roasting process, the silver skins burst away from the coffee beans.

[0137] The silver skins are separated from the coffee beans in a next step and then comminuted, dried (not necessary, depending on the roasting process), and at most de-oiled. That is, a material obtained from the silver skins is produced and is suitable as a component in a compounding method and as a component of a composite material.

[0138] The “silver skin component” is mixed (compounded) with a plastic component, preferably a biodegradable plastic component such as Ecovio®, and further additives for improving the properties of the resulting composite material.

[0139] The resulting composite material is then used for forming the base element 11 and optionally the capsule cover 21 and/or other elements of the portion capsule. The resulting composite material is particularly suitable for use in an injection molding process or for thermoforming.

[0140] The roasted coffee beans from which the silver skins have been separated are also processed further, thus producing the extraction product.

[0141] The coffee beans are particularly ground and at most decaffeinated.

[0142] In a further step, the extraction product thus obtained is filled into the base element thus produced.

[0143] Finally, the base element 11 filled with the extraction product is closed off by means of the capsule cover 21 produced during the method or provided, for example by means of ultrasonic welding.

[0144] After closing off, the portion capsule 1 is available and ready for consumption.

[0145] Further steps, or intermediate steps, particularly applying impermeable layers, particularly diffusion inhibiting layers, cleaning steps, applying labels, etc. are conceivable.