# US 10,244,884 B2 · Method and device for producing a beverage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,244,884 B2 - Document ID: US10244884B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/110,568 - Filed: 2014-12-19 - Published: 2016-12-29 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-10 - Assignees: Sestec S.A. - Applicants: Nestec S. A. - Inventors: Minh Quan Phan; Alfred Yoakim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244884B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/002: {following a specific operational sequence, e.g. for improving the taste of the extraction product} - A23F 5/26: Extraction of water soluble constituents {(A23F5/246 takes precedence)} - A23F 5/262: {the extraction liquid flowing through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns} - A47J 31/34: with hot water under liquid pressure - A47J 31/407: {with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - A23F: COFFEE; TEA; THEIR SUBSTITUTES; MANUFACTURE, PREPARATION, OR INFUSION THEREOF ## Abstract A method and device for producing a beverage from a capsule containing at least one beverage ingredient are disclosed. The device is configured to carry out the method by feeding a first volume of water into the capsule for prewetting the at least one beverage ingredient, interrupting the flow of water into the capsule for a predetermined waiting time, feeding a second volume of water into the capsule for extracting the at least one beverage ingredient, and dispensing the produced beverage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a beverage from a capsule containing at least one beverage ingredient, the method comprising: feeding a first volume of water into the capsule for prewetting the at least one beverage ingredient; interrupting the flow of water into the capsule for a predetermined waiting time; feeding a second volume of water into the capsule for extracting the at least one beverage ingredient; and dispensing the produced beverage; and wherein a time point of interrupting the flow of water into the capsule is determined by evaluating a measurement signal output by a flow meter that measures the flow of water into the capsule, and wherein the time point is determined at least based on a gradient of a flow rate gradient evaluated from the measurement signal of the flow meter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein an outlet face of the capsule is opened by feeding the second volume of water into the capsule. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the second volume of water is fed into the capsule at a pressure of between 3 and 20 bar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the time point of interrupting the flow of water into the capsule is determined at least based on a flow rate evaluated from the measurement signal of the flow meter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 4, wherein the flow rate evaluated from the measurement signal of the flow meter is compared with a first threshold value, and the flow of water into the capsule is interrupted after the evaluated flow rate reaches the first threshold value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the gradient of the flow rate gradient is compared with a second threshold value, and the flow of water into the capsule is interrupted when the flow rate reaches the first threshold value and the gradient of the flow rate gradient reaches the second threshold value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the gradient of the flow rate gradient is analyzed for a local maximum and is compared with a third threshold value, and the flow of water into the capsule is interrupted when the flow rate reaches the first threshold value and the gradient of the flow rate gradient is at a local maximum and has reached the third threshold value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 6, wherein the second threshold value and the third threshold value, respectively, are selected such that the first volume of water fills about 85% to about 90% of the total volume of the capsule at the time point of interrupting the flow of water into the capsule. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate is evaluated from the measurement signal of the flow rate meter after a predetermined delay time from the start of the feeding of the first volume of water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined waiting time is selectable by a user and/or is between about 1 second and about 3 seconds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the measurement signal of the flow meter is evaluated by a moving window averaging method calculated on a predetermined number of samples and with a predetermined filter time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method for producing a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the time point of interrupting the flow of water into the capsule determined by evaluating the measurement signal of the flow meter is verified based on a measurement signal of a pressure sensor. ### Claim 13 A device for producing a beverage from a capsule containing at least one beverage ingredient, the device comprising: a pump for feeding water from a water reservoir into the capsule; a flow meter for measuring the flow of water into the capsule and for outputting a measurement signal to a control unit, wherein the measurement signal is evaluated by a moving window averaging method calculated on a predetermined number of samples and with a predetermined filter time, the control unit being configured to: control the pump to feed a first volume of water into the capsule for prewetting the at least one beverage ingredient, interrupt the flow of water into the capsule for a predetermined waiting time, and control the pump to feed a second volume of water into the capsule for extracting the at least one beverage ingredient, dispensing means for dispensing the produced beverage from the capsule, and wherein the control unit is configured to determine the time point of interrupting the flow of water into the capsule by evaluating a measurement signal of the flow meter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) A device for producing a beverage from a capsule containing at least one beverage ingredient, wherein the device is configured to carry out the method according to one of the claims 1-5 and 6-13. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, further comprising opening means for opening an outlet face of the capsule. ### Claim 16 A method for producing a beverage from a capsule containing at least one beverage ingredient, the method comprising: feeding a first volume of water into the capsule for prewetting the at least one beverage ingredient; interrupting the flow of water into the capsule for a predetermined waiting time; feeding a second volume of water into the capsule for extracting the at least one beverage ingredient; and dispensing the produced beverage; and wherein a time point of interrupting the flow of water into the capsule is determined by evaluating a measurement signal output by a flow meter that measures the flow of water into the capsule, and wherein the measurement signal of the flow meter is evaluated by a moving window averaging method calculated on a predetermined number of samples and with a predetermined filter time.