PROCESS OF BREWING TEA LEAVES CONTAINED IN A CAPSULE

• US 20110250333A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Ozanne, Matthieu
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/435
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/002 following a specific operational sequence, e.g. for improving the taste of the extraction product
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3623 Cartridges being employed with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed

Abstract

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine with a capsule comprising an enclosure containing tea leaves comprising the steps of: a) introducing water in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure, then b) letting the tea leaves soak, then c) introducing water in the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered, wherein water is continuously introduced in the capsule from the beginning of step a) until the end of step b).

Claims

1. Process for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine using a capsule comprising tea leaves comprising the steps of:

a) introducing hot water delivered from a pumping and heating member in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure;

b) letting the tea leaves soak;

c) introducing hot water into the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered; and

continuously delivering water from the pumping and heating members during the three steps and continuously introduced in the capsule from the beginning of step a) until the end of step c).

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein during step b) the hot water is delivered from the pumping and heating member at a soaking flow of at least 20 ml/min.

3. Process according to claim 2, wherein during step b) the water is delivered from the pumping and heating member at a soaking flow comprised between 20 and 80 ml/min.

4. Process according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of water introduced during step a) is less than the internal volume of the capsule.

5. Process according to claim 1, wherein water is introduced at a temperature of between 30 and 95°

C.

6. Process according to claim 1 using a capsule comprising:

an enclosure containing tea leaves,

a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of the enclosure, and

an overflow wall that is located in a path of the brewed liquid after a filtering wall and comprises at least one overflow aperture.

7. Process according to claim 1 wherein the filtering wall extends from below a median horizontal plane passing through the enclosure when the capsule is positioned so that the overflow aperture is located above the plane.

8. A beverage production system comprising:

beverage ingredient containing capsules comprising an identification member; and

a beverage production machine for receiving the capsules, comprising reading means for reading the capsule identification member in order to read information thereof and control means connected to the reading means and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine in response to the read information,

the identification member provides instructions to the machine for brewing tea leaves according to a process comprising the steps of;

a) introducing hot water delivered from a pumping and heating member in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure;

b) letting the tea leaves soak;

c) introducing hot water into the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered; and

continuously delivering water from the pumping and heating member during the three steps and continuously introduced in the capsule from the beginning of step a) until the end of step c).

10. A beverage production system according to claim 8 wherein the capsules comprise:

an enclosure containing tea leaves,

a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of the enclosure,

an overflow wall that is located in a path of the brewed liquid after a filtering wall and comprises at least one overflow aperture.

11. A beverage production system according to claim 10, wherein the filtering wall extends from below a median horizontal plane passing through the enclosure when the capsule is positioned so that the overflow aperture is located above the plane.

9. A beverage production system according to claim wherein the machine-readable information is selected from the group consisting of:

the temperature of the water, the values of the water flows of steps a), b) and/or c), the number of stirring periods in step b), the time length of the steps a), b) and/or c) and combinations thereof.

12. Process for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine using a capsule comprising tea leaves comprising the steps of:

a) introducing hot water delivered from a pumping and heating member in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure;

b) letting the tea leaves soak;

c) introducing hot water into the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered; and

continuously delivering water from the pumping and heating member during the three steps and at least partially sent to waste during step b).

13. Process according to claim 12, wherein during step b) the hot water is delivered from the pumping and heating member at a soaking flow of at least 20 ml/min.

14. Process according to claim 13, wherein during step b) the water is delivered from the pumping and heating member at a soaking flow comprised between 20 and 80 ml/min.

15. Process according to claim 12, wherein the quantity of water introduced during step a) is less than the internal volume of the capsule.

16. Process according to claim 12, wherein water is introduced at a temperature of between 30 and 95°

C.

17. Process according to claim 12 using a capsule comprising:

an enclosure containing tea leaves,

a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of the enclosure, and

an overflow wall that is located in a path of the brewed liquid after a filtering wall and comprises at least one overflow aperture.

18. Process according to claim 12, wherein the filtering wall extends from below a median horizontal plane passing through the enclosure when the capsule is positioned so that the overflow aperture is located above the plane.

19. A beverage production system comprising:

beverage ingredient containing capsules comprising an identification member;

beverage production machine for receiving the capsules, comprising reading means for reading the capsule identification member in order to read information thereof and control means connected to the reading means and designed to control the operation of the beverage production machine in response to the read information,

the identification member provides instructions to the machine for brewing tea leaves according to a process comprising the steps of;

a) introducing hot water delivered from a pumping and heating member in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure;

b) letting the tea leaves soak;

c) introducing hot water into the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered; and

continuously delivering water from the pumping and heating member during the three steps and at least partially sent to waste during step b).

20. A beverage production system according to claim 19, wherein the machine-readable information is selected from the group consisting of:

the temperature of the water, the values of the water flows of steps a), b) and/or c), the number of stirring periods in step b), the time length of the steps a), b) and/or c) and combinations thereof.

21. A beverage production system according to claim 19, wherein the capsules comprise:

an enclosure containing tea leaves,

a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of the enclosure,

an overflow wall that is located in a path of the brewed liquid after a filtering wall and comprises at least one overflow aperture.

22. A beverage production system according to claim 19, wherein the filtering wall extends from below a median horizontal plane passing through the enclosure when the capsule is positioned so that the overflow aperture is located above the plane.