Edible coloring composition

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid coloring composition comprising of a coffee solution or coffee extract and an ink vehicle. The coloring composition is suitable for use as an ink in a non-impact printing device, including an ink jet type printer. The composition is composed of edible components. The invention further provides a process for applying a design to a food substrate, comprising of providing a non-impact printing device, wherein the ink cartridge or external container contains the coloring composition of the invention.

1 . A liquid coloring composition comprising: a coffee solution or coffee extract and an ink vehicle, wherein said coloring composition is suitable for use as an ink in a non-impact printing device, including an ink jet type printer and is composed of edible components. 
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises one or more of the following: humectants, rheology controlling agents, wetting agents, antioxidants, pH adjusting agents, foam control agents, antimicrobial agents, and natural or artificial colorants, fixation agents or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said vehicle is water and one or more of the following: humectants, rheology controlling agents, wetting agents, dispersants, antioxidants, pH adjusting agents, foam control agents, antimicrobial agents, and natural or artificial colorants, fixation agents or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said coffee solution is the primary color imparting agent of the ink. 
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the vehicle contains 3% to 30% by weight of coffee solution. 
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said coffee solution in the liquid ink vehicle is obtained from ground coffee beans, by extraction. 
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 6  wherein said coffee beans can be from various blends of coffee beans according to the desired flavor and coloring hue. 
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said coffee ink preferably contains coffee components that are soluble in water or in the liquid vehicles. 
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 7  wherein the coffee components are in the form of submicron particles obtained from the coffee beans. 
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the ingredients in said ink are selected from Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) ingredients or edible ingredients. 
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein said humectants suitable for the present coffee ink are selected from a group comprising glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 200, polyethylene glycol 400, polyethylene glycol 600, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein said rheology control agents are selected from a group comprising polyssacharides such as arabinogalactans, guar gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, arabic gum, karaya gum, tragacanth gum, alginate gums, from proteins such as whey proteins BSA, beta-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, casein, seed proteins; cellulose ethers such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; and cellulose carboxylates such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein said pH adjusting agent, acid or base, is applied to maintain the pH of the ink composition in the range of from about 4.5 to about 10.0, preferably in the range of from about 5.0 to about 7.0. 
     
     
         14 . A composition according to  claim 13  wherein said bases are selected from a group comprising ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and ammonium bicarbonate and acids are selected from a group comprising edible acids such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid and fumaric acid. 
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 14  wherein said pH adjusting agent is used in an amount ranging from about 0.0001% by weight to about 1.0% by weight of the ink composition. 
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein said antimicrobial agents (biocides) are selected from a group comprising benzoate salts, sorbate salts, and the like, preferably potassium sorbate; and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (methyl paraben). 
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein said wetting agents are selected from a group comprising ethoxylated sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), ethoxylated sorbitan mono stearate (Tween 60), lecithin, (e.g., epikuron 200) phosphatidylcholine or lysophosphatidylcholine, polyglycerol esters or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 17  comprising 0.001 to 1.0% by weight of said wetting agent. 
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 2  comprising colorants selected from a group comprising edible dyestuffs; caramel (E 150), E-151 (CI food black 1), E-131, E 132 (CI blue 5, CI blue 1). 
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 2  comprising 0.1-3% of a fixation agent selected from a group comprising edible polymers including polysaccharides: arabinogalactans, guar gum, carboxy methyl cellulose, propylene alginate locust bean gum, xanthan gum, arabic gum, karaya gum, tragacanth gum, alginate gums, and proteins: soybean or whey proteins, BSA, beta-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin and casein or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A process for applying a design to a food substrate comprising of providing a non-impact printing device wherein the ink cartridge or external container contains a coloring composition of  claim 1 , and applying said coloring composition from said printing device to the food substrate in accordance to the pattern of the desired design. 
     
     
         22 . A process according to  claim 21  wherein said printing device is selected from a group comprising of bubble jet printers, piezo jet printers, and conventional plotters. 
     
     
         23 . A process according to  claims 21  wherein said food stuff are edible food stuff which can be in the form of foam, liquid, solid or whipped. 
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 23  wherein said food stuff is a coffee beverage. 
     
     
         25 . A process according to  claim 24  wherein said coffee beverage is selected from a group comprising cappuccino, café au lait, espresso and other coffee beverages with frothed milk or cream on top. 
     
     
         26 . A process according to  claim 21  wherein said food stuff is a liquid ice cream product or a milk shake. 
     
     
         27 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein said vehicle is water and one or more of the following: humectants, rheology controlling agents, wetting agents, dispersants, antioxidants, pH adjusting agents, foam control agents, antimicrobial agents, and natural or artificial colorants, fixation agents or mixtures thereof.