A beverage brewer, comprising: a brewing chamber; a container, disposed within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by a beverage brewer, the container comprising: a receptacle configured to receive the brewing material; and a cover; wherein the receptacle includes a base, having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the base is disposed a predetermined distance above a bottom surface of the brewing chamber, and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base, wherein the receptacle has at least one passageway that provides fluid flow from an interior of the receptacle to an exterior of the receptacle; wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and wherein the container is adapted to accept input fluid through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway; an inlet port, adapted to provide the input fluid to the container; and a needle-like structure, disposed below the base; wherein the predetermined distance is selected such that a tip of the needle-like structure does not penetrate the exterior surface of the base. view more

The beverage brewer of claim 5, wherein the container is reusable.

A beverage brewer including a brewing chamber configured to receive a brewing cartridge, an inlet port adapted to provide an input fluid, and a needle-like structure fixed in a bottom of the brewing chamber and adapted to puncture a shell of the brewing cartridge to carry an outflow of brewed beverage from the brewing cartridge and arranged to avoid puncturing filtering material containing brewing material disposed inside the shell, the improvement comprising: a container configured to replace the brewing cartridge, the container positionable within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by the beverage brewer, the container including: a receptacle configured to receive and support the brewing material, and a cover; wherein the receptacle includes: a passageway providing fluid communication between an interior of the receptacle and the brewing chamber, a base, having an interior surface and an exterior surface and configured to avoid contact with the needle-like structure, and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base and configured to avoid contact with the needle-like structure; wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and wherein the container is adapted to accept the input fluid from the inlet port through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway. view more

The beverage brewer of claim 18, wherein the container is reusable.