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DIFF Subclass Not Allocatable
A23F

COFFEE; TEA; THEIR SUBSTITUTES; MANUFACTURE, PREPARATION, OR INFUSION THEREOF

Introduced: September 1968

Description

A23F covers the manufacture, preparation, and infusion of coffee, tea, and their substitutes, encompassing processing methods, equipment design, and ingredient formulations. This includes roasting, grinding, and blending of coffee beans; tea leaf processing and extraction techniques; and production of coffee and tea substitutes derived from alternative plant materials. The classification addresses both industrial-scale production systems and household preparation apparatus, as well as composition of ready-to-consume or instant products derived from these beverages.

Additional Content IPC

Glossary

alkaloid alkaloids stimulant xanthine drugs caffeine, theobromine and theophylline contained in coffee beans and/or tea leaves coffee coffees 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 substitute 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 or rye. decaffeination process of removing the alkaloid caffeine from coffee beans or tea leaves herbal tea tisane ptisan herbal teas tisanes ptisans 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 teas stimulant product or beverage made from the leaves of the traditional tea plant (Camellia sinensis) tea substitutes tea substitute 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) or rose hips (Rosa canina); cf. "herbal tea".

Limiting references

Synthetic spices, flavouring agents or condiments, e.g. synthetic tea flavours Synthetic coffee flavours Machines for cleaning, blanching, drying or roasting fruits or vegetables, e.g. coffee Coffee mills

Of 3 combined children, 2 exist in both systems.

1 codes are CPC-only extensions.

Note: 1 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.

2 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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  • A23F 2200/00 Special features 2nd only CPC only CPC only

Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Class A23,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH RU 6,158
  2. NESTLE CH 4,562
  3. NESTEC CH 3,354
  4. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 2,699
  5. DSM IP ASSETS (DUTCH STATE MINES IP ASSETS) NL 2,320
  6. SUNTORY HOLDINGS JP 1,926
  7. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,804
  8. CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 1,653
  9. CARGILL US 1,588
  10. REPUBLIC OF KOREA (RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION) KR 1,314

Top Applicants (CPC)

Class A23,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. NESTLE CH 5,075
  2. NESTEC CH 3,916
  3. DSM IP ASSETS (DUTCH STATE MINES IP ASSETS) NL 2,558
  4. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 2,196
  5. SUNTORY HOLDINGS JP 2,133
  6. CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 1,842
  7. CARGILL US 1,708
  8. REPUBLIC OF KOREA (RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION) KR 1,341
  9. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,279
  10. MARS US 1,161