Temperature-controlled beverage brewing

• US 8,621,982 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Inventors: Nosler, Zander, Hulett, Randy, Wyer, Jorah, Baum, Michael, Allison, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinrich, Samuel M
• Application Number:
  US13/764,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20130156904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 992/89.R, 992/91, 992/99, 99300-315, 426432-435
• US Class Current: 99/289.R
• CPC Class Codes: A23F 5/262 the extraction liquid flows through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/007 for brewing on a large scale, e.g. for restaurants, or for use with more than one brewing container
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/06 Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/20 having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• 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 31/42 Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the brewing of beverages from a liquid, such as water, and a flavor base, such as tea, cocoa, or coffee. Specifically, aspects of the present disclosure enable the brewing of beverages with a level of precision that can yield a uniform taste from cup to cup, and at a rapid rate. In one embodiment, a liquid is heated in a reservoir to a predetermined temperature. Prior to brewing a beverage with the liquid, the liquid may be passed through a temperature control unit to cool the liquid to a desired brewing temperature. By utilizing such a temperature control unit, the brewing temperature can be varied on a per-beverage basis. Moreover, utilization of a temperature control unit can enable the liquid to be brought to a desired brewing temperature relatively rapidly.

Claims

1. A method for brewing beverages at a desired temperature, the method comprising:

receiving a liquid of a first temperature from a reservoir;

determining an amount of additional liquid of a second temperature required to cool the received liquid to the desired temperature;

mixing the received liquid with the determined amount of additional liquid;

transporting the mixed liquid to a brew chamber containing a flavor base; and

removing from the brew chamber a beverage brewed from the mixed liquid and the flavor base.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flavor base comprises at least one of tea, cocoa, or coffee.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the brewed beverage from the brew chamber comprises passing the brewed beverage through a filter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the filter comprises an outlet and one or more ribs arranged to direct a brewed beverage that is passed through the filter towards the outlet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of the additional liquid comprises sensing a temperature of at least one of the received liquid or the additional liquid.

7. A machine for brewing beverages, the machine comprising:

a brew chamber having an opening to receive a flavor base;

a reservoir to heat liquid to a first predetermined temperature, and to provide the heated liquid to the brew chamber;

a temperature control unit disposed between the reservoir and the brew chamber and operable to cool the liquid from the reservoir to a second predetermined temperature; and

a piston disposed in the chamber and operable to force a beverage brewed from the liquid and the flavor base out of the chamber.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a heat exchanger operable to cool the liquid from the reservoir based on a heat exchange with a second liquid.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein said heat exchange does not mix the liquid from the reservoir with the second liquid.

10. The machine of claim 7, wherein the temperature control unit is operable to:

determine at least one of a temperature of the liquid from the reservoir or a temperature of an obtained second liquid; and

mix the liquid from the reservoir with the second liquid based at least in part on the determined temperature.

11. The machine of claim 7, wherein the temperature control unit is operable to:

mix an amount of the liquid from the reservoir with an amount of a second liquid;

sense a temperature of the resulting mixed liquid; and

adjust at least one of the amount of the liquid from the reservoir or the amount of the second liquid based at least in part on the sensed temperature.

12. The machine of claim 7 further comprising a piston disposed in the brew chamber and operable to force the brewed beverage out of the brew chamber.

13. The machine of claim 12 further comprising a wiper operable to sweep the flavor base off of the piston.

14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the wiper is in fixed attachment with a filter for separating the flavor base and the brewed beverage.

15. The machine of claim 7 further comprising a filter, wherein the filter comprises:

an outlet; and

one or more ribs arranged to direct the brewed beverage, when passed through the filter, towards the outlet.

16. A method for brewing beverages at a desired temperature, the method comprising:

receiving a liquid of a first temperature from a reservoir;

passing the liquid through a temperature control unit operable to cool the liquid from the reservoir to a second temperature;

transporting the liquid to a brew chamber containing a flavor base; and

removing from the brew chamber a beverage brewed from the liquid and the flavor base.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the temperature control unit comprises a heat exchanger operable to cool the liquid from the reservoir based on a heat exchange with a second liquid.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said heat exchange does not mix the liquid from the reservoir with the second liquid.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein passing the liquid from the reservoir through a temperature control unit comprises:

obtaining a second liquid;

determining at least one of a temperature of the liquid from the reservoir or a temperature of the second liquid; and

mixing the liquid from the reservoir with the second liquid based at least in part on the determined temperature.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein passing the liquid from the reservoir through a temperature control unit comprises:

mixing an amount of the liquid from the reservoir with an amount of a second liquid;

sensing a temperature of the resulting mixed liquid; and

adjusting at least one of the amount of the liquid from the reservoir or the amount of the second liquid based at least in part on the sensed temperature.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein removing the brewed beverage from the brew chamber comprises actuating a piston disposed in the brew chamber and operable to force the brewed beverage out of the chamber.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising sweeping the flavor base from the piston.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein sweeping the flavor base from the piston comprising actuating a wiper operable to sweep the flavor base off of the piston.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wiper is in fixed attachment with a filter for separating the flavor base and the brewed beverage.