Apparatus and Method for Brewed and Espresso Drink Generation
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an input mechanism that is configured to receive requests to produce brewed beverages;
a controller that is configured to control the performance of a plurality of chemical or mechanical processes, each of which contributes to the production of a brewed beverage or a component thereof;
wherein in response to receiving a request to produce a specified brewed beverage through the input mechanism, the controller is configured to effect the production of the specified brewed beverage, wherein producing the specified beverage comprises performing one or more of the plurality of chemical or mechanical processes; and
wherein in effecting the production of the specified brewed beverage, the controller is further configured to effect an adaptive application of one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the one or more chemical or mechanical processes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus that generates brewed beverages by performing one or more chemical and/or mechanical processes may receive requests to produce specified brewed beverages. The apparatus may include a master controller that initiates and controls performance of the chemical and/or mechanical processes to produce the specified beverages. The master controller may adaptively apply one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the chemical or mechanical processes to accelerate the process or to achieve a desired qualitative or quantitative characteristic for a beverage or a component thereof. The adaptive application of one or more process accelerators may be dependent on a multiple-variable process profile developed for the process and/or a specified beverage. For example, the pressure in a steam wand and/or the depth of the wand may be varied during a process to froth milk in order to produce frothed milk having a desired temperature.
119 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an input mechanism that is configured to receive requests to produce brewed beverages; a controller that is configured to control the performance of a plurality of chemical or mechanical processes, each of which contributes to the production of a brewed beverage or a component thereof; wherein in response to receiving a request to produce a specified brewed beverage through the input mechanism, the controller is configured to effect the production of the specified brewed beverage, wherein producing the specified beverage comprises performing one or more of the plurality of chemical or mechanical processes; and wherein in effecting the production of the specified brewed beverage, the controller is further configured to effect an adaptive application of one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the one or more chemical or mechanical processes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
performing by a computer; receiving a request to produce a specified brewed beverage; effecting the production of the specified brewed beverage, wherein producing the specified beverage comprises performing one or more chemical or mechanical processes; and effecting the presentation of the specified brewed beverage subsequent to completion of the production of the specified brewed beverage; wherein effecting the production of the specified brewed beverage comprises effecting an adaptive application of one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the one or more chemical or mechanical processes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that when executed on one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform:
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receiving a request to produce a specified brewed beverage; effecting the production of the specified brewed beverage, wherein producing the specified beverage comprises performing one or more chemical or mechanical processes; and effecting the presentation of the specified brewed beverage subsequent to completion of the production of the specified brewed beverage; wherein effecting the production of the specified brewed beverage comprises effecting an adaptive application of one or more process accelerators during the performance of one of the one or more chemical or mechanical processes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification