Instant Coffee Manufacturing

Instant coffee was invented in the seventeen hundreds by the British. However, the first manufacturing

technique was developed over 150 years later by the Japanese. The primary reasons developing instant

coffee were: a reduction in the product volume would allow for easier storage and transportation,

increased shelf-life and preservation of excess coffee. As the demand for instant coffee increased, coffee

manufactures devised their own methods of instant coffee production. Today, there are two main

methods available: freeze-drying and spray-drying techniques.

Instant coffee made from freeze drying is a very intense process and requires more time and also capital

investment. However, the taste of freeze dried coffee is more like that of a freshly brewed cup of coffee

than spray dried coffee. However, spray drying is a lot more cost effective and quicker.

Production of instant coffee using spray drying begins with grinding the coffee beans and then passing

softened water through various hot columns of the ground beans. The mixing between this hot water

and ground coffee beans eradicates

unwanted gases and improves the flavor.

Next, the solution is cooled and then sent

to filtration to increase concentration.

Before going into the dehydration phase,

the gases present in the coffee mixture are

altered yet again, in order to enhance the

aroma and flavor.

Finally, the coffee solution is converted to

powder form by putting the product

through a spray dryer. From the image, you

can see that the coffee extract is subject to

air heated by an indirect gas fired air

heater, in order to evaporate the water. An

indirect air heater is used in order to

preserve the flavor of the solution, as

indirect heating does not subject the coffee

mixture to the products of combustion, like

a direct fired air heater. The dry coffee

particulates then collect at the bottom of

the chamber and are ready to be sprayed

even more with aromas and then sent to

packaging.

For more information on indirect heating of products, please visit Stelter & Brinck at

http://www.stelterbrinck.com/indirect-fired-air-heaters.htm or call 513-367-9300.

Keywords: indirect air heaters, coffee production, spray dryer, coffee flavoring, instant coffee

manufacturing, coffee beans