Recovery of noncaffeine solubles in an extract decaffeination process

摘要

An improved extract decaffeination process. Roast coffee extract is contacted with a water-immiscible organic solvent to form decaffeinated extract and caffeine-containing spent solvent. The spent solvent is contacted with water to form decaffeinated spent solvent and caffeine-containing spent water. The spent water can be concentrated to a caffeine content of from about 7 to about 30% by weight. The caffeine in the concentrated spent water can be crystallized out and then separated from the residual spent water. The noncaffeine solubles present in the residual spent water can then be recovered.