Provided is a spray drying apparatus comprising a spray nozzle comprising a spray nozzle tip at the distal end of the spray nozzle, a liquid conduit for guiding a liquid to be spray-dried out through the spray nozzle tip, an atomizing component for producing a spray of droplets from the liquid exiting the spray nozzle; a drying gas conduit comprising an outlet for directing a drying gas to dry the spray of droplets; and a drying gas deflector positioned so as to deflect a flow of the drying gas away from the spray nozzle tip.