Process for providing customized varieties and strengths of fresh-brewed coffee on demand

• US 6,726,947 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adam Ekonomon, Jeannette L. Knudsen, Folgers Coffee Company The (The J. M. Smucker Company)
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Gutwein, Roger William, Connor, Christopher Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Weier, Anthony J.
• Application Number:
  US09/638,566
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 426/433, 426/594, 426/432
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/243 Liquid, semi-liquid or non-dried semi-solid coffee extract preparations; Coffee gels; Liquid coffee in solid capsules A23F5/246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/26 Extraction of water-soluble constituents A23F5/246 takes precedence
• 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 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/41 of liquid ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

An improved process for providing an individually customized fresh brewed coffee beverage on demand by a consumer, in a wide range of variety and strength. Said brewing process for making relatively large quantities of fresh brewed coffee beverages (in particular customized as to desired variety, body, character and/or strengths) as chosen by multiple individual consumers just prior to their consumption, with the system being easy to use by the consumer or other individual (i.e., restaurant wait staff) obtaining the customized beverage. Further, maintenance of the equipment requires only a small amount of personal attention by the owner/operator of the equipment. “Delayed dilution” of a concentrated extract to provide a beverage brewing system which immediately (upon customer selection) provides selective dilution (based on individual consumer'"'"'s selections) of a fresh brewed coffee extract after the extract has been allowed to brew and held as an extract before dilution.

Claims

1. A process of forming a strength customized coffee beverage from a brewer, comprising:

brewing a coffee extract;

storing the coffee extract in the brewer for no more than forty-eight hours; and

diluting the strength customized coffee beverage from at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer, wherein dilution of the coffee extract occurs after the coffee extract has been stored in the brewer for from about five minutes to about forty-eight hours.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the coffee extract has a brew solids of less than about 10%.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the coffee extract has a brew solids of less than about 5%.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the coffee extract has a brew solids of less than about 4%.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the coffee extract has a brew solids of less than about 3.5%.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the coffee extract has a minimum brew solids of greater than about 1.2%.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the coffee extract has a minimum brew solids of greater than about 1.5%.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the coffee extract has a minimum brew solids of greater than about 2.0%.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein a weight ratio within the coffee extract of water to dry, roast and ground coffee is from about 5:

1 to about 24;

1.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the weight ratios within the coffee extract of water to dry, roast and ground coffee is from about 8:

1 to 13;

1.

11. The process of claim 1 providing an additional step of selecting desired characteristics of the customized coffee beverage.

12. The process of claim 11, providing an additional step of diluting the coffee extract in accordance with the desired characteristics chosen for the customized coffee beverage.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein the coffee extract may be diluted with water in a ratio of from about zero to about 1:

15.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein the step of diluting the coffee extract occurs starting from about five minutes after the brew of the coffee extract up to about forty-eight hours after the brew of the coffee extract.

15. The process of claim 11 providing an additional step of mixing the coffee extract in accordance with the desired characteristics chosen for the customized coffee beverage.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the step of mixing the coffee extract occurs starting from about five minutes after the brew of the coffee extract up to about forty-eight hours after the brew of the coffee extract.

17. The process of claim 11 providing an additional step of filtering the coffee extract in accordance with the characteristics chosen for the customized coffee beverage.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the step of filtering the coffee extract occurs starting from about five minutes after the brew of coffee extract up to about forty-eight hours after the brew of the coffee extract.

43. The process of claim 1 wherein the coffee beverage is brewed with an amount of water ranging from 1100 milliliters to 4500 milliliters.

44. The process of claim 1 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer occurs starting at fifteen minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the of the coffee extract.

45. The process of claim 1 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer occurs starting at thirty minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

46. The process of claim 1 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer occurs starting at forty-five minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

47. The process of claim 1 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer occurs starting at one and one-half hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

48. The process of claim 1 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer occurs starting at four to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

49. The process of claim 1 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the brewer occurs starting at six hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

19. A process of forming a coffee beverage from a beverage brewing system, comprising:

brewing a coffee extract;

storing the coffee extract in the beverage brewing system for no more than forty-eight hours; and

diluting the coffee beverage from at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system, wherein dilution of the coffee extract occurs after the coffee extract has been stored in the beverage brewing system for from between forty-five minutes to no more than forty-eight hours.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein the coffee beverage is customized.

21. The process of claim 19 wherein the coffee beverage is strength customized.

22. The process of claim 19 wherein the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system is prepared starting at one and one-half hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

23. The process of claim 22 wherein the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system is prepared starting at four hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

24. The process of claim 22 wherein the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system is prepared starting at six hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

25. The process of claim 19 wherein the coffee beverage is brewed with an amount of water ranging from 1100 milliliters to 4500 milliliters.

26. A process of forming of coffee beverage from a beverage brewing system, comprising:

brewing a coffee extract with an amount of water ranging from 1100 milliliters to 4500 milliliters;

storing the coffee extract in the beverage brewing system for no more than forty-eight hours; and

diluting the coffee beverage from at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system, wherein dilution of the coffee extract occurs after the coffee extract has been stored in the beverage brewing system for from about five minutes to about forty-eight hours.

27. The process of claim 26 wherein the coffee beverage is customized.

28. The process of claim 26 wherein the coffee beverage is strength customized.

29. The process of claim 26 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at fifteen minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

30. The process of claim 26 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at thirty minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

31. The process of claim 26 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at forty-five minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

32. The process of claim 26 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at one and one-half hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

33. The process of claim 26 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at four hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

34. The process of claim 26 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at six hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

35. A process of forming a strength customized coffee beverage brewing system for no more than forty-eight hours;

and

diluting the strength customized coffee beverage from at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system, wherein dilution of the coffee extract occurs after the coffee extract has been stored in the beverage brewing system for from about five minutes to about forty-eight hours.

36. The process of claim 35 wherein the coffee beverage is brewed with an amount of water ranging from 1100 milliliters to 4500 milliliters.

37. The process of claim 35 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at fifteen minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

38. The process of claim 35 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at thirty minutes to no more than forty- eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

39. The process of claim 35 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at forty-five minutes to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

40. The process of claim 35 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at one and one-half hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

41. The process of claim 35 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at four hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.

42. The process of claim 35 wherein dilution of at least a portion of the coffee extract stored in the beverage brewing system occurs starting at six hours to no more than forty-eight hours after brew of the coffee extract.