CPC Definition - Subclass A23F

Last Updated Version: 2025.01
COFFEE; TEA; THEIR SUBSTITUTES; MANUFACTURE, PREPARATION, OR INFUSION THEREOF
Definition statement

This place covers:

Coffee and tea beverage products, including coffee substitutes (e.g. chicory-based) and herbal teas or other infusion beverages produced by steeping botanical material in hot water; commercial processes for making such products

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Picking of tea

A01D 46/04

Picking of coffee

A01D 46/06

Chocolate, confectionery or ice-cream containing coffee or tea

A23G

Foods, foodstuffs or non-alcoholic beverages, not otherwise provided for; Preparation or treatment thereof

A23L

Non-alcoholic beverages

A23L 2/38

Synthetic tea flavours

A23L 27/20

Synthetic coffee flavours

A23L 27/28

Foods containing plants extracts additives, e.g. tea or coffee

A23L 33/105

Machines for cleaning, blanching, drying or roasting fruits or vegetables, e.g. coffee

A23N 12/00

Shaping or working of foodstuffs, not fully covered by a single other subclass, e.g. agglomerating, granulating or tabletting

A23P

Coffee or tea pots

A47G 19/14

Tea infusers, e.g. egg-shaped infusers

A47G 19/16

Tea or coffee pot cosies

A47G 19/20

Apparatus for making beverages, e.g. coffee or tea; vending machines for tea or coffee

A47J 31/00, A47J 31/40

Coffee mills

A47J 42/00

Cosmetic preparation containing material of vegetable origin

A61K 8/97

Medicinal preparations containing plant material from tea or tea substitutes or from coffee or coffee substitutes

A61K 36/00, A61K 36/28, A61K 36/742, A61K 36/82

Physical or chemical processes or apparatus in general, e.g. boiling, extraction or filtration

B01

Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package, i.e. filling tea bags

B65B 29/02

Attaching, or forming and attaching, string handles or tags to tea bags

B65B 29/04

Disposable containers or packages with contents which are infused or dissolved in situ

B65D 85/804

Disposable tea bags

B65D 85/808

Chemical compounds, e.g. alkaloids such as caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, or their preparation as such

C07, C08

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Alkaloid

The stimulant xanthine drugs caffeine, theobromine and theophylline contained in coffee beans and/or tea leaves.

Coffee

Stimulant product or beverage made from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, which come from a plant of the genus Coffea, e.g. Coffea arabica or Coffea canephora.

Coffee substitutes

Coffee substitutes (solid or liquid) are non-coffee products normally without caffeine, used to substitute coffee while preserving its taste. Grain coffee and other substitutes can be made by roasting or decocting various organic substances. Common ingredients include acorn, barley and malt, beech nut, chicory root, corn, fig and rye.

Decaffeination

Process of removing the alkaloid caffeine from coffee beans or tea leaves.

Herbal tea, tisane, ptisan

Any Camellia sinensis-free product or beverage prepared by hot water infusion of plant material, usually leaves but also including fruits, flowers and possibly even bark or other parts. Herbal teas are belonging to the group of tea substitutes.

Tea

Stimulant product or beverage made from the leaves of the traditional tea plant (Camellia sinensis).

Tea substitutes

Tea substitutes (solid or liquid) are non-tea products, i.e. not coming from the traditional tea plant (Camellia sinensis), e.g. mate (Ilex paraguariensis), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), rose hips (Rosa canina), etc.; cf. herbal tea.

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used as synonyms:

  • "Lyophilisation" and "freeze-drying"
Tea; Tea substitutes; Preparations thereof (preservation of tea, tea substitutes or herbal tea A23B 85/00)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Preservation of tea, tea substitutes or herbal tea

A23B 85/00

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

tea

camellia sinensis

tea substitute

non-camellia sinensis composition intended for producing a beverage by steeping in hot water

Treating tea before extraction (reducing or removing alkaloid content A23F 3/36); Preparations produced thereby (tea extract preparations A23F 3/16)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Tea harvesting methods, e.g. for producing morning tea; Withering or wilting; Bruising; Deactivation of enzymes in leaves (fixation or kill-green); Sweltering or yellowing; Drying; Aging or curing

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Tea extract preparations

A23F 3/16

Reducing or removing alkaloid content

A23F 3/36

Fermentation with addition of microorganisms or enzymes
Definition statement

This place covers:

Post-fermentation of dried, rolled leaves (Puer tea).

Rolling or shredding tea leaves
Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:

CTC

Crush, Tear, Curl; Cut, Twist, Curl

Tea preparations, e.g. using additives (flavouring A23F 3/40)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Leaf tea compositions per se, which may contain non-flavouring additives.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Tea compositions characterised by flavouring additives

A23F 3/40

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Instant tea compositions

A23F 3/30

Herbal tea compositions not based on Camellia sinensis

A23F 3/34

Tea extraction; Tea extracts; Treating tea extract; Making instant tea
Definition statement

This place covers:

Extraction of non-water soluble tea constituents, using e.g. solvent.

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Extraction of water soluble tea constituents

A23F 3/18

Isolation of tea flavour

A23F 3/40

{Liquid or semi-liquid tea extract preparations, e.g. gels or liquid extracts in solid capsules}
Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

tea juice

juice obtained by pressing fresh or partly processed tea leaves

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:

RTD

Ready-to-Drink

Extraction of water soluble tea constituents ({A23F 3/166 takes precedence; } isolation of tea flavour or tea oil A23F 3/42)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Brewing, steeping, infusing or extracting leaf tea material with hot or cold water or with a polar solvent.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Addition of, or treatment with, enzymes or microorganisms

A23F 3/166

Isolation of tea flavour or tea oil

A23F 3/42

Removing unwanted substances ({A23F 3/166 takes precedence; } reducing or removing alkaloid content A23F 3/38)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Removing unwanted substances other than caffeine from tea extracts or infusions.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Addition of, or treatment with, enzymes or microorganisms

A23F 3/166

Reducing or removing alkaloid content

A23F 3/38

by freezing out the water
Definition statement

This place covers:

Freeze concentration.

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Freeze-drying

A23F 3/26

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

freeze concentration

tea extract is cooled down to form ice crystals, which are then separated

by lyophilisation
Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used as synonyms:

  • "Lyophilisation" and "freeze-drying"
by spraying into a gas stream
Definition statement

This place covers:

Spray drying.

Tea substitutes, e.g. matè; Extracts or infusions thereof
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Mixtures of camellia sinensis with herbal tea constituents

A23F 3/14

Reducing or removing alkaloid content; Preparations produced thereby; Extracts or infusions thereof
Definition statement

This place covers:

Decaffeinated tea.

Tea flavour; Tea oil; Flavouring of tea or tea extract (synthetic tea flavours A23L 27/20)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Synthetic tea flavours

A23L 27/20

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Flavourings for non-alcoholic beverages

A23L 2/56

{by solvent extraction; Tea flavour from tea oil}
Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

stripping

removing volatile constituents from tea leaves by passing a hot gas (e.g. steam) through the leaves

Treating green coffee; Preparations produced thereby (roasting A23F 5/04; removing unwanted substances A23F 5/16; reducing or removing alkaloid content A23F 5/20; extraction A23F 5/24)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Coffee processing steps prior to roasting, including harvesting, washing, drying, fermentation, mucilage removal, hulling, polishing, sorting, grading and aging steps; extracting constituents from coffee cherry fruit or non-roasted coffee beans.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Roasting

A23F 5/04

Removing unwanted substances

A23F 5/16

Reducing or removing alkaloid contents or caffeine

A23F 5/20

Extraction

A23F 5/24

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Grinding non-roasted beans

A23F 5/08

Washing apparatus for coffee cherries and beans

A23N 12/02

Treating roasted coffee; Preparations produced thereby (removing unwanted substances A23F 5/16; reducing or removing alkaloid content A23F 5/20; coffee extraction, making instant coffee A23F 5/24)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Processes for treating roasted coffee.

All roasted coffee compositions, except flavoured roasted coffee composition. Those roasted coffee compositions may be characterised by e.g. physical properties such as particle size distribution, density or moisture content.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Removing unwanted substances

A23F 5/16

Reducing or removing alkaloid contents or caffeine

A23F 5/20

Coffee extraction, making instant coffee

A23F 5/24

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Flavoured roasted coffee composition

A23F 5/46

{Treating in vacuum or with inert or noble gases; Storing in gaseous atmosphere; Packaging}
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Capsules, pads, pods or cartridges for use in coffee making machines

B65D 85/804

using additives, e.g. milk or sugar; Coating (flavouring A23F 5/46)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Roast coffee compositions containing additives; coated roasted coffee beans.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Flavouring

A23F 5/46

Removing unwanted substances (reducing or removing alkaloid content A23F 5/20)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Reducing or removing alkaloid contents or caffeine

A23F 5/20

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Removing mucilage

A23F 5/02

Reducing or removing alkaloid content; Preparations produced thereby; Extracts or infusions thereof
Definition statement

This place covers:

Removal of caffeine and decaffeinated coffee.

Reducing or removing alkaloid content from coffee extract
Definition statement

This place covers:

Removal of caffeine from liquid or dried coffee extract.

Extraction of coffee (isolation of coffee flavour or coffee oil A23F 5/48); Coffee extracts (with reduced alkaloid content A23F 5/20); Making instant coffee (methods of roasting extracted coffee A23F 5/06)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Infusions and extracts of roasted coffee.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Methods of roasting extracted coffee

A23F 5/06

Reducing or removing alkaloid contents or caffeine

A23F 5/20

Isolation of coffee flavour or coffee oil

A23F 5/48

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Extracts from coffee cherries or non-roasted coffee beans

A23F 5/02

Adding ingredients to non-alcoholic beverages

A23L 2/52

Foods containing plants extracts additives, e.g. tea or coffee

A23L 33/105

Cosmetic preparation containing material of vegetable origin

A61K 8/97

Constituents isolated from coffee extract and used for medicinal purposes

A61K 36/742

{Liquid, semi-liquid or non-dried semi-solid coffee extract preparations; Coffee gels; Liquid coffee in solid capsules (A23F 5/246 takes precedence)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Ready-to-drink coffee beverages in e.g. cans or bottles; liquid coffee extract concentrates.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Addition of, or treatment with, enzymes or microorganisms

A23F 5/246

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:

RTD beverage

Ready-to-drink beverage

Extraction of water soluble constituents {(A23F 5/246 takes precedence)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Brewing, steeping and infusion methods for producing a coffee beverage from roasted coffee beans.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Addition of, or treatment with, enzymes or microorganisms

A23F 5/246

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Extraction of constituents from coffee cherries or non-roasted coffee beans

A23F 5/02

Isolation of coffee flavor or coffee oil

A23F 5/48

by freezing out the water
Definition statement

This place covers:

Freeze or chill concentration; cryogenic methods in which a cryogenic gas is sprayed onto liquid coffee extract.

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Freeze-drying

A23F 5/32

Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

freeze or chill concentration

coffee extract is cooled down to form ice crystals, which are then separated

by lyophilisation
Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents, the following words/expressions are often used as synonyms:

  • "Lyophilisation" and "freeze-drying"
by spraying into a gas stream
Definition statement

This place covers:

Spray drying.

Further treatment of dried coffee extract; Preparations produced thereby, e.g. instant coffee ({A23F 5/246 takes precedence; } removing unwanted substances A23F 5/18; flavouring A23F 5/46)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Instant coffee products.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Removing unwanted substances

A23F 5/18

Addition of, or treatment with, enzymes or microorganisms

A23F 5/246

Flavouring

A23F 5/46

using organic additives, e.g. milk, sugar
Definition statement

This place covers:

Instant coffee mixtures containing organic additives such as milk powder, whitener, creamer, sugar, sweetener and foaming agents, including instant cappuccino products.

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Coffee whitener compositions

A23C 11/00

{comprising ground coffee or ground coffee substitute particles}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Mixtures or blends of instant coffee with ground roasted coffee (substitute).

using inorganic additives
Definition statement

This place covers:

Instant coffee mixtures, including instant cappuccino products, containing inorganic additives, e.g. foaming agents.

Coffee substitutes
Definition statement

This place covers:

Coffee substitutes, typically based on roasted chicory, roasted cereals or guarana, for preparing a beverage by adding hot water for brewing or infusion; any beverage product explicitly described as a coffee substitute or analog.

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Treating roasted coffee using additives

A23F 5/14

Treatment of dried coffee extract using organic additives comprising ground coffee or ground coffee substitute particles

A23F 5/405

Non-alcoholic beverages

A23L 2/38

{Flavouring with flavours other than natural coffee flavour or coffee oil}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Flavouring with artificial or natural substances that do not have a coffee flavour or aroma or that cannot be obtained naturally from coffee.

{by distillation from beans that are ground or not ground, e.g. stripping; Recovering volatile gases, e.g. roaster or grinder gases}
Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

stripping

removing volatile constituents from coffee beans by passing a hot gas (e.g. steam) through the beans

{by distillation, e.g. stripping the extract; Recovering volatile gases, e.g. during concentration}
Glossary of terms

In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

stripping

removing volatile constituents from coffee extract by passing a hot gas (e.g. steam) through the liquid or dried beans