Controlled delivery of caffeine from high-caffeinated coffee beverages made from soluble powder

Abstract

A controlled caffeine delivery system in a single serving sachet made of a rupturable material, characterized in that the sachet provides a high-caffeinated soluble coffee beverage powder. This beverage powder comprises (a) conventional caffeine-containing coffee solids, and (b) additional caffeine containing solids from a natural source other than (a) in an amount sufficient to improve palatability if a beverage prepared by adding water to the powder. Thus, a beverage can be prepared that contains at least 80 to no more than 115 mg caffeine such that consumption of a single serving of the beverage by a person provides a plasma caffeine level in the person that is above 1.25 mg/l for at least 2 to 4 hours following consumption of the beverage.

1 . A controlled caffeine delivery system in a single serving sachet made of a rupturable material, comprising a high-caffeinated soluble coffee beverage powder providing a liquid beverage upon reconstitution with water, the soluble coffee beverage powder comprising, 
 (a) conventional caffeine-containing coffee solids, and    (b) additional caffeine containing solids from a natural source other than (a), wherein the beverage contains at least 80 to no more than 115 mg caffeine.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage contains 80 to 110 mg caffeine.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sachet contains between 5 and 30 mg of powder and a single serving of a beverage that has an acceptable taste is prepared by combining between 150 and 250 ml water with the sachet contents.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising from about 10% to about 50% w/w of conventional coffee solids and about 0.01 to about 10% w/w of one or more additional caffeine containing solids from a natural source other than conventional coffee solids.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the additional caffeine containing solids are selected from the group consisting of tea extracts, guarana extracts, decaffeinated tea extracts or decaffeinated coffee extracts.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  comprising one or more flavanols, the flavanols and caffeine being present in a weight ratio of 1:0.02 to 1:1.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a component selected from the group consisting of aromas, flavors, vitamins of and minerals.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a vitamin premix.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a component selected from the group consisting of a sweetener, a whitener, and a flavor.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the powder ingredients are present in the sachet in a homogeneously mixed condition.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conventional caffeine-containing coffee solids are present in an amount of from about 10% to about 30% by weight, the additional caffeine containing solids are present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight and include decaffeinated coffee solids, decaffeinated tea extracts, or a mixture thereof, and the powder further contains from about 10% to about 30% by weight of a coffee whitener, from about 50% to about 70% by weight of a sweetener.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the components a) and b) are packaged in a sachet that is separated from the sachet that contains remaining components of the system so that the consumer has the option of forming a black coffee beverage or not.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  characterized wherein the single serving is packaged in multiple sachets that each contain a portion of the serving with each sachet containing a known amount of caffeine.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the multiple sachets are packaged in a larger container for sequential formation of beverages over time.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the beverage is prepared by the addition of 150 to 250 ml of a liquid to the powder.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water and milk.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein consumption of a single serving of the beverage by a person provides a plasma caffeine level in the person that is above 1.25 mg/l for at least 2 to 4 hours following consumption of the beverage.  
   
   
       18 . A method for delivering a controlled amount of caffeine to a person in need of or desirous of receiving same by forming a beverage from the contents of the sachet and a liquid, followed by consumption of the liquid by the person comprising the steps of providing a controlled caffeine delivery system in a single serving sachet made of a rupturable material, comprising a high-caffeinated soluble coffee beverage powder providing a liquid beverage upon reconstitution with water, the soluble coffee beverage powder comprising, 
 (a) conventional caffeine-containing coffee solids, and    (b) additional caffeine containing solids from a natural source other than (a), wherein the beverage contains at least 80 to no more than 115 mg caffeine.    
   
   
       19 . A method for preparing a beverage that can deliver a controlled amount of caffeine to a person in need of or desirous of receiving same wherein the person obtains the caffeine amounts by consuming the beverage that is prepared by mixing the contents of the sachet and a liquid comprising a high-caffeinated soluble coffee beverage powder providing a liquid beverage upon reconstitution with water, the soluble coffee beverage powder comprising, 
 (a) conventional caffeine-containing coffee solids, and    (b) additional caffeine containing solids from a natural source other than (a), wherein the beverage contains at least 80 to no more than 115 mg caffeine.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage contains 85 to 100 mg caffeine.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conventional caffeine-containing coffee solids are present in an amount of from about 10% to about 30% by weight, the additional caffeine containing solids are present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight and include decaffeinated coffee solids, decaffeinated tea extracts, or a mixture thereof, and the powder further contains from about 10% to about 30% by weight of a coffee whitener, from about 50% to about 70% by weight of a sweetener, and a coffee aroma, a flavor, vitamins, minerals, guarana extract and a flavanol, each present, in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 5%.