Preparation of a beverage suitable for consumption

• US 8,039,036 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Inventors: Steenhof, Vincent Jan, Knitel, Joseph Theodoor
• Primary Examiner(s): Weier; Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/569,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20070071869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,612 Days
• Field of Search: 426/595, 426/433, 426/435, 426/79
• US Class Current: 426/595
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0647 with means to adjust the brewing chamber volume to accommodate different quantities of brewing material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0678 Means to separate the cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber, e.g. grooves or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4496 Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth

Abstract

A method for the preparation of a beverage suitable for consumption such as, for instance, cappuccino, wherein use is made of at least one extraction pad (44) at least filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee (45), and at least one additive holder (32) at least filled with a soluble substance such as a flavoring and/or odorant and/or colorant, more in particular such as an instant and/or liquid creamer (35), the method further having the following method steps: the extraction pad (44) and the additive holder (32) are positioned relative to each other such that they lie clear of each other; hot water is pressed under pressure through the extraction pad (44) and contacted with the soluble substance (35) for obtaining an extract with the soluble substance (35) dissolved therein;—the extract with the soluble substance (35) dissolved therein is fed under pressure to at least one nozzle (28) for obtaining an extract jet; and the extract jet is aimed at an impact surface (16) for obtaining a beverage suitable for consumption with a froth layer, such as cappuccino.

Claims

1. A method for the preparation of a beverage suitable for consumption using at least one extraction pad filled with a product to be extracted, and at least one additive holder filled with a soluble substance, the method comprising:

positioning the extraction pad and the additive holder relative to each other within first and second spaces, respectively, of a collecting chamber using positioning means so that the extraction pad and the additive holder are separated by an intermediate space;

pressing hot water under pressure through the extraction pad and the soluble substance in the at least one additive holder for obtaining an extract with the soluble substance dissolved therein;

feeding the extract with the soluble substance dissolved therein under pressure to at least one nozzle for obtaining an extract jet; and

aiming the extract jet at an impact surface for obtaining a beverage suitable for consumption with a froth layer;

wherein the positioning means includes a bottom on which the extraction pad rests, the bottom having at least one through-flow opening for feeding extract to the additive holder; and

wherein the collecting container is removeably positioned in a receiving space of a container receiving unit, and the container receiving unit includes the impact surface;

wherein the extraction pad and the additive holder are deformable and the intermediate space is configured such that deformation of one of the extraction pad and the additive holder does not cause a deformation of the other of the extraction pad and the additive holder.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

hot water is pressed under pressure through the extraction pad for obtaining the extract; and

the extract is contacted in the additive holder with the soluble substance for obtaining the extract with the soluble substance dissolved therein.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the extraction pad and the additive holder are separated from each other by a separating body provided with at least one passage, while the extract is fed from the extraction pad via the at least one passage to the additive holder.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the separating body is provided with a separating plate comprising a plurality of passages so that the extract is fed to the additive holder at various positions of the additive holder, while at various positions of the additive holder, the additive holder is accessible to the extract.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the collecting container is provided with at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening, while the extraction pad and the additive holder are included in a liquid flow path extending in the collecting container from the inflow opening to the outflow opening, while the hot water is fed under pressure to the inflow opening, the extract with the soluble substance dissolved therein being discharged from the collecting container via the outflow opening.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one outflow opening is in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle.

7. A method according claim 5, wherein the extraction pad and the additive holder are separated from each other by a separating body provided with at least one passage, while the extract is fed from the extraction pad via the at least one passage to the additive holder.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the separating body is provided with a separating plate comprising a plurality of passages so that the extract is fed to the additive holder via the plurality of passages.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the separating plate is included between the extraction pad holder and the additive holder.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the additive holder is provided with an additive pad filled with the soluble substance.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the additive pad is provided with a covering manufactured, at least partly, from filtering paper.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the additive holder is provided with a cup filled with the soluble substance.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the cup is manufactured from a material which bursts open, at least partly, when the extract is supplied.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the extraction pad is provided with a covering which is manufactured, at least partly, from filtering paper.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the impact surface forms part of a bottom of a buffer reservoir, the buffer reservoir being filled by the extract jet with the soluble substance dissolved therein, which extract jet impacts on a liquid surface formed earlier from the extract jet in the buffer reservoir.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the beverage is discharged from the buffer reservoir for consumption.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the impact surface is of roughened design.

18. An apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption, the apparatus comprising:

a container receiving unit having a receiving space and an impact surface;

an assembly configured to be removeably received within the receiving space and comprising;

a deformable extraction pad having a product to be extracted provided therein,

a deformable additive holder having a soluble substance provided therein; and

a collecting container, the collecting container comprising;

an inflow opening;

an outflow opening fluidly connected to the inflow opening via a liquid flow path;

a first space provided in the liquid flow path and configured to receive the extraction pad;

a second space provided in the liquid flow path and configured to receive the additive holder; and

positioning means comprising an extraction pad holder and being configured to position the extraction pad and the additive holder relative to each other such that there is an intermediate space between the extraction pad and the additive holder and such that deformation of one of the extraction pad and the additive holder does not cause a deformation of the other of the extraction pad and the additive holder, the extraction pad holder comprising a bottom configured to support the extraction pad and having at least one through flow opening through which liquid is permitted to flow;

means for feeding hot water under pressure to the inflow opening of the collecting container; and

at least one nozzle;

wherein the container receiving unit and the assembly are configured such that the hot water under pressure fed to the inflow opening passes through the extraction pad and extracts at least some of the product to be extracted to form an extract, the extract passes through the additive holder and dissolves the soluble substance, and the at least one nozzle receives the extract and soluble substance from the at least one through flow opening and provides a jet of the extract and soluble substance directed toward the impact surface.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the additive holder is present downstream of the extraction pad in the liquid flow path.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the collecting container is provided with a bottom and a sidewall while the at least one outflow opening is provided in the bottom.

21. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein in the bottom a plurality of through-flow openings are provided.

22. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least a part of the extraction pad holder can be moved relative to the rest of the collecting container for placing the additive holder in the collecting container.

23. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the positioning means are further provided with a bottom of the collecting container on which the additive holder rests while the extraction pad holder is present in the collecting container at a distance above the bottom of the collecting container.

24. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the assembly is further provided with a separating body provided with at least one passage opening, while the separating body is included between the extraction pad and the additive holder while, in use, the extract is fed from the extraction pad via the at least one passage to the additive holder.

25. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the separating body is provided between the extraction pad holder and the additive holder.

26. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the separating body is provided with a separating plate provided with a plurality of passages so that, in use, the extract is fed via the passages to the additive holder at various positions of the additive holder.

27. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the additive holder is provided with an additive pad filled with the soluble substance.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the additive pad is provided with a covering manufactured, at least partly, from filtering paper.

29. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the additive holder is provided with a cup filled with the soluble substance.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the cup is manufactured from a material which bursts open, at least partly, when the extract is supplied.

31. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the extraction pad is provided with a covering manufactured, at least partly, from filtering paper.