Modular brew systems
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsNatarajan Venkatakrishnan, Joseph E. Gormley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.
Claims13
A modular coffee brewing system comprising:
- a first coffee brew tower module comprising a hopper, a grinder, and a brew chamber;
- a second coffee brew tower module comprising a hopper, a grinder, and a brew chamber;
- and
- a single boiler and power management module operatively coupled to the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module,
- wherein the boiler and power management module comprises:
- a boiler configured to supply hot water to the brew chamber of each of the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module;
- and
- a controller configured to control and manage power provided to each of the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module,
- wherein the power is provided simultaneously to a base module and each of the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module and is supplied by a single power circuit electrically coupled to the boiler and power management module.
A coffee brewing module configured to supply hot water and manage power delivery to a first coffee brew tower module comprising a grinder and a brew chamber and a second coffee brew tower module comprising a brew chamber and a grinder, the brewing module comprising:
- a boiler assembly configured to supply hot water to the brew chamber of each of the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module;
- and
- a controller configured to control and manage power provided to each of the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module,
- wherein the power is provided simultaneously to a base module and each of the first coffee brew tower module and the second coffee brew tower module is supplied by a single power circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.