APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR BREWING A BEVERAGE

• US 20130133520A1
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
• Inventors: Hulett, Randy, Koller, Izaak, Shay, Brian, Brown, Harold A., Johnson, Bradley M., Singer, Marc, Webb, James Stocker, Dombey, John R., Drinkwater, Jared, Bowers, Scott Douglas, Riday, Richard Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,314,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/285
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/20 having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3609 Loose coffee being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3619 Means to remove coffee after brewing
• 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 31/404 Powder dosing devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/46 Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/38 Parts or details

Abstract

A system for brewing a desired portion of a beverage, such as a single-cup portion of coffee, is provided. The system may have more than one brew module. The system allows a user to quickly and easily brew a variety of types of single-cup portions of a beverage. In some embodiments, the system may brew a single-cup portion of coffee in a relatively short period of time based on a combination of certain parameters. The system may include an automatic cleaning mechanism such that a user does not need to manually clean components of a brewing machine between brew cycles. The system may also include apparatus configured to substantially prevent steam from reaching grinder components of the system. The system may also include apparatus configured to provide a precise dose of material based on, for example, volume of the material. Methods and apparatus for brewing a beverage are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for brewing a single-cup portion of coffee, the system comprising:

a first brew module comprising a first doser assembly, a first upper subassembly, a first interior subassembly, and a first dispensing portion, wherein the first doser assembly is engaged with the first upper subassembly and is configured to receive one or more hoppers, wherein the first upper subassembly comprises a first wiper assembly for automatically cleaning the upper subassembly after a brew cycle, wherein the first interior subassembly comprises a first piston configured to raise and lower coffee grounds during a brew cycle, and wherein the first dispensing portion is engaged with the first interior subassembly and is configured to provide brewed coffee to a drinking receptacle after a brew cycle;

a second brew module comprising a second doser assembly, a second upper subassembly, a second interior subassembly, and a second dispensing portion, wherein the second doser assembly is engaged with the second upper subassembly and is configured to receive one or more hoppers, wherein the second upper subassembly comprises a second wiper assembly for automatically cleaning the second upper subassembly after a brew cycle, wherein the second interior subassembly comprises a second piston configured to raise and lower coffee grounds during a brew cycle, and wherein the second dispensing portion is engaged with the second interior subassembly and is configured to provide brewed coffee to a drinking receptacle after a brew cycle; and

a third brew module comprising a third doser assembly, a third upper subassembly, a third interior subassembly, and a third dispensing portion, wherein the third doser assembly is engaged with the third upper subassembly and is configured to receive one or more hoppers, wherein the third upper subassembly comprises a third wiper assembly for automatically cleaning the third upper subassembly after a brew cycle, wherein the third interior subassembly comprises a third piston configured to raise and lower coffee grounds during a brew cycle, and wherein the third dispensing portion is engaged with the third interior subassembly and is configured to provide brewed coffee to a drinking receptacle after a brew cycle;

wherein the first brew module, the second brew module, and the third brew module are each configured to brew a single-cup portion of coffee in about 30 seconds or less.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first brew module, the second brew module, and the third brew module collectively define a beverage brewing machine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to brew at least three single-cup portions of coffee simultaneously.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system configured to automatically brew at least six different types of coffee at a given time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first doser assembly, the second doser assembly, and the third doser assembly are each configured to engage two hoppers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first doser assembly, the second doser assembly, and the third doser assembly are each configured to provide a measured dose of material to the upper subassembly based on the volume of the material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wiper assembly, the second wiper assembly, and the third wiper assembly are each configured to automatically clean their respective brew modules in about 30 seconds or less such that the total cycle time for brewing a single-cup portion of coffee and automatically cleaning a brew module is about 60 seconds or less.

8. A system for brewing a beverage, the system comprising at least one brew module comprising a doser assembly, an upper subassembly, and an interior subassembly, wherein the doser assembly is engaged with the upper subassembly and is configured to receive one or more hoppers, wherein the upper subassembly is engaged with the interior subassembly such that the upper subassembly and the interior subassembly interact with each other during a brew cycle, and wherein the at least one brew module is configured to automatically brew a single-cup portion of a beverage.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein she beverage is coffee.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one brew module comprises three brew modules.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more hoppers comprises two hoppers.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one brew module further comprises a wiper assembly configured to automatically clean the at least one brew module.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the system further comprises a grinder subassembly configured to engage with the upper subassembly of the at least one brew module and to grind material, and wherein the at least one brew module further comprises an apparatus configured to prevent steam and condensation from rising and entering a grinder subassembly.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the upper subassembly further comprises a chamber configured to receive ground material and a fan spray of liquid to agitate ground material during a brew cycle.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein doser assembly in configured to provide a measured dose of material to the upper subassembly based on the volume of the material.

16. An apparatus for brewing a beverage, the apparatus comprising at least one brew module configured to brew a single-cup portion of a beverage, the at least one brew module comprising an upper subassembly configured to automatically clean interior components of the at least one brew module after a brew cycle, the upper subassembly comprising a plow and a spray feature, wherein the plow is configured to translate across a surface of the upper subassembly such that the plow is configured to remove debris from the upper subassembly and the spray feature is configured to rinse components of the upper subassembly to automatically clean the at least one brew module after a brew cycle.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the spray feature comprises a first spray feature comprising at least one nozzle, wherein the plow is disposed on a chamber of the upper subassembly, and wherein the apparatus comprises a second spray feature disposed in or near a waste chute of the apparatus such that the second spray feature configured to rinse an inner portion of the chamber.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the spray feature comprises a first spray feature and a second spray feature, the first spray feature and the second spray feature arranged such that an outlet of the second spray feature is disposed in a direction generally opposite of an outlet of the first spray feature.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wiper assembly is configured to automatically clean interior components of the at least one brew module after a brew cycle in about 30 seconds or less.

20. An apparatus for brewing a beverage, the apparatus comprising at least one brew module configured to brew a single-cup portion of a beverage, the at least one brew module comprising an upper subassembly and a chamber configured to receive ground material and configured to engage with a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus such that a face of the nozzle defines an angle between about 5°

and 60°

with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct water to an inner portion of the chamber during a brew cycle to agitate ground material during the brew cycle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the chamber defines a first opening and a second opening, the first opening configured to receive ground material and the second opening configured to engage with the nozzle to direct a fan spray of water to one or more inner sidewalls of the chamber during a brew cycle.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the face of the nozzle defines an angle between about 10°

and 30°

with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the chamber is configured to be removed from the brew module after a brew cycle.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the chamber comprises a plow feature configured to direct debris from the upper subassembly toward a waste bin.

25. An apparatus for brewing a beverage, the apparatus comprising a dispensing portion configured to dispense a brewed beverage, the dispensing portion comprising a control member, wherein the control member is configured to be disposed in a first position during a brew cycle and a second position after a brew cycle is substantially complete, wherein the control member is in communication with a plunger mechanism to move the control member from the first position to the second position.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the dispensing portion further comprises a spout member having a distal end such that when the control member is in the first position the distance between the distal end and the control member defines a first distance and when the control member is in the second position the distance between the distal end and the control member defines a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first position comprises retracted position and the second position comprises an extended position.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein when the control member is disposed in the second position the control member is configured to indicate that a brewed beverage is ready to be dispensed.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the dispensing portion is configured to allow a user to move the control member from the second position to the first position to dispense a brewed beverage.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plunger mechanism is spring loaded when the control member is disposed in the first position and the plunger mechanism is configured to be released when a brew cycle is substantially complete.

31. An apparatus for receiving material and providing a controlled dose of material to a grinder mechanism, the apparatus comprising:

a doser that is configured to provide a controlled dose of material to a grinder mechanism based on volume of the material, the doser comprising;

a body defining a first opening configured to receive material from a hopper and a second opening configured to provide material to the grinder mechanism; and

a first piston and a second piston defining an interior volume of the doser that is generally disposed between the first piston and the second piston;

wherein the first piston is configured to move relative to the second piston to increase or decrease the interior volume of the doser;

wherein the first piston and the second piston are configured to move substantially in tandem relative to the body of the doser to move the interior volume generally from the first opening to the second opening to provide the material to the grinder mechanism.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the doser is configured to provide a precise volume of material to the grinder mechanism based on the desired amount of a brewed beverage.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the doser is configured to automatically adjust the interior volume to an appropriate size when a user places an order for a particular size of a single-cup portion of coffee.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first piston is in communication with a ratchet mechanism for adjusting the size of the interior volume.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first piston is in communication with a ratchet mechanism for moving the first piston and the second piston substantially in tandem.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second piston is in communication with a motor and lead screw for adjusting the size of the interior volume.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first piston is in communication with a motor and lead screw for moving the first piston and the second piston substantially in tandem.

38. An apparatus for brewing a beverage, the apparatus comprising:

a grinder mechanism configured to grind a material, the grinder mechanism in communication with an exit port at a distal end of the grinder, the exit port configured transfer ground material from the grinder mechanism to a brewing area of the apparatus;

a fan in communication with the exit port and configured to provide airflow through the exit port toward the brewing area;

wherein the fan is configured to provide substantially continuous airflow through the exit port of the grinder mechanism during normal operation to substantially prevent steam and moisture generated by the apparatus during a brew cycle from entering the grinder mechanism.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein fan is configured to provide a positive pressure at or near an outlet of the grinder mechanism.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein fan is configured to provide airflow to facilitate transferring substantially all fresh ground material from the grinder mechanism to a brewing area.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the apparatus further comprises a grounds chute in communication with the exit port of the grinding mechanism and configured to transfer ground material from the exit port to a brewing chamber of the apparatus.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the exit port comprises a first opening for receiving ground material from grinding mechanism, a second opening for receiving airflow from the fan, and a third opening for delivering ground material to a brewing chamber of the apparatus.