Niro is strongly associated with the technologies of liquids and solids processing of instant coffee, tea and cocoa. Our core competences include:

Extraction Concentration Centrifugal separation Filtration Aroma preservation Drying Agglomeration/granulation Powder handling Special expertise is offered within the supply of plants for manufacturing heat sensitive aroma-based consumer products.

For more than 50 years, Niro has been developing its coffee technology, and great emphasis has been placed on maintaining a leading position within coffee processing.
More than 160 plants have been delivered world-wide for instant coffee alone.

The Fast Instant Coffee, or Battery FICTM extractor

The latest double extraction technique features in the Niro coffee processing system. With this system, water is introduced at two different stages so as to decrease the overall extraction time while producing two completely separate extract fractions (aroma and hydrolysis). It is a continuous process featuring batch operated multi-extraction percolators. With the design and operation of the double extraction plant, a superior aroma profile is achieved. This also makes it ideal for canned coffee production.

The total extraction time is 1½ - 2 hours, compared with conventional extraction systems where the total extraction time is typically 3 - 4 hours.

Concentration of the coffee extract is done in lenient processing conditions in equipment designed specially for coffee. Technologies available are freeze concentration, evaporation and membrane filtration.

Lower view of a Fluidised Spray Dryer - FSDTM, producing spray dried instant coffee

Spray drying is the most economic method of producing soluble coffee. The feed to the spray dryer is a mixture of concentrated aroma and hydrolysed fractions, with the preserved aroma components added. In order to maximize aroma retension, drying of the extract takes place under conditions that maintain low powder temperatures. Different types of spray dryers can be used for drying of instant coffee. Bulk density and colour control is possible by means of in-line gas mixers. Inert gas is injected into the feed system just prior to the nozzle atomizer used in the spray drying system.

In cases where spray dried powders require further agglomeration, an additional process stage is used involving powder wetting, afterdrying and cooling. Control of weeting is carried out with water and/or saturated steam in an agglomeration chamber equipped with a rotating impacter. The agglomerates are then dryed and cooled in the attached fluid bed, followed by sieving and packing. Fines and oversize fractions are reprocessed within the agglomeration plant.