Edward L Whaley

Title: Edward L. Whaley: Coffee-Processing Inventor

Introduction

Edward L. Whaley is an inventor associated with Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Procter & Gamble Company. His patent work includes a process designed to improve coffee’s taste and aroma through staged roasting and treatment of the beans. Whaley is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

One of Whaley’s listed inventions, “Process for Treating Coffee Beans to Make a Better-Tasting Coffee,” describes a method that partially roasts green coffee beans before treating them with either an alkaline solution or a coffee-bean extract solution. The beans are then roasted further to produce a finished coffee with specified color characteristics.

The process calls for partial roasting until the beans reach a Hunter a-color between about 3 and 9, followed by treatment in a solution. The preferred treatment involves soaking the beans for about 2 to 24 hours at temperatures between approximately 65°F and 120°F. A final roasting step brings the beans to a Hunter L-color between about 16 and 24.

The patent also describes a roast-and-ground coffee composition containing volatile and nonvolatile compounds. Its specified volatile compounds include ketones, diketones, aldehydes, methyl esters, furans, phenolics, and substituted pyrazines. The composition is characterized by a defined flavor-related measure and a Hunter L-color of no more than 24.

Career Highlights

Whaley’s documented patent contribution focuses on coffee processing and product characteristics. The described method combines controlled roasting with solution treatment, aiming to influence the flavor and aroma of the resulting coffee.

Collaborations

Whaley is associated with The Procter & Gamble Company. His listed coworkers include Steven J. Kirkpatrick and James P. McCarthy.

Conclusion

Edward L. Whaley’s patent work reflects an applied approach to coffee innovation, using carefully controlled bean treatment and roasting to target improved taste and aroma.