High speed brewing apparatus
AssigneeConcordia Coffee Company, Inc.
InventorJames M. McLaughlin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-brewer apparatus comprises a plurality of brew groups that are configured to be selectively operated either in a ganged mode, wherein plurality of brew groups cooperate to rapidly produce a larger quantity of brewed beverage at a single dispensing location, or in a independent mode wherein the plurality of brew groups operate independently and dispense brewed beverage spaced apart dispensing locations. The apparatus includes a programmable controller apparatus that controls the delivery of the hot water and brewable material, and the operation of the brew groups. In an embodiment, an inline sensor array monitors a quality of the brewed beverage and reports to the programmable controller to maintain a consistent quality brewed product.
Claims20
A beverage brewing system comprising:
- a programmable controller apparatus;
- a plurality of brew groups, each brew group operable to brew a beverage in response to commands received from the controller apparatus;
- a hot water reservoir operable to deliver hot water to at least one of the plurality of brew groups in response to commands received from the controller apparatus;
- a brewable product dispenser operable to dispense brewable product to at least one of the plurality of brew groups in response to commands received from the controller apparatus;
- wherein the plurality of brew groups are operable in a ganged mode in which the plurality of brew groups dispense brewed beverage at a common dispensing location, and in an independent mode in which the plurality of brew groups dispense brewed beverage at spaced apart dispensing locations.
A method for producing brewed beverages in high volume comprising:
- providing a plurality of brew groups;
- providing a hot water source that is configured to selectively provide water to the plurality of brew groups;
- providing a brewable material source that is configured to selectively provide brewable material to the plurality of brew groups;
- providing a programmable controller apparatus that is in signal communication with the plurality of brew groups and with the hot water source and the brewable material source;
- wherein in a selectable independent mode the programmable controller apparatus controls the brew groups, the hot water source, and the brewable material source such that each of the brew groups dispense brewed beverage in individual, spaced apart dispensing locations, and in a selectable ganged mode the programmable controller apparatus controls the brew groups, the hot water source, and the brewable material source such that the plurality of brew groups cooperate to produce a single pour of brewed beverage at a common dispensing location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.