Typical known methods for producing large quantities of concentrated
extracts from solid raw materials such as ground, roasted coffee are not
ideally suited to producing high quality coffee extracts that are rich in
flavor and fragrance, and which maintain the varietal characteristics of
the roasted coffee from which they are produced. The current invention
provides filtration methods e.g. reverse osmosis or nanofiltration for
producing such high quality concentrated extracts from more dilute
extracts via solvent removal. The invention provides methods that have
sufficient flexibility and scalability to be used for a wide variety of
applications, including for producing industrial--scale quantities of
extracts for the food and beverage industry. The invention provides
methods and apparatus that can produce highly concentrated, "gourmet
quality" extracts for use as flavoring agents, beverage concentrates, and
fragrances. The solvent--reduced, concentrated extracts produced
according to the inventive solvent removal methods can be advantageously
used for applications where high quality coffee extracts, with a high
concentration of soluble coffee solids, for example of at least 6 wt.
%-40 wt. %, and a high level of retention of varietal flavor and
fragrance characteristics are desired.