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US 11,484,147 B2Granted
Method for foaming a beverage
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsIzaak Koller, Joshua Kruger, Timothy Hurd
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Abstract
Various automated and semi-automated beverage preparation systems and methods are shown. The beverage preparation system can include a container assembly configured to receive beverage, such as a milk. The container assembly can be configured to receive a flow of steam, air, or additional gasses and vapors to heat and/or aerate the beverage residing therein. The container assembly can include a temperature sensor configured to monitor the rate of heating, and automatically adjust the heating and aeration parameters accordingly.
Claims15
A method of producing a foamed liquid, the method comprising:
- introducing a liquid into the interior of a container assembly;
- selecting at least one finished beverage characteristic;
- initiating a flow of steam into the interior of the container assembly;
- sensing a temperature characteristic of the liquid residing within the interior of the container assembly;
- estimating a volume of liquid residing within the interior of the container assembly based on the sensed temperature characteristic;
- and
- modulating a flow of steam based on the estimated volume of liquid and the selected finished beverage characteristic.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.