Accelerated low pressure brewer

A method for producing a brewable beverage comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a brew group having (i) a brewing chamber defining a cylindrical aperture having an open first end and an open second end;
• (ii) a lower piston assembly that slidably engages the open first end of the cylindrical aperture;
• (iii) an upper piston assembly movable between a load position wherein the upper piston assembly is disposed above the cylindrical aperture and pivoted away from the cylindrical aperture, and a brewing position wherein the upper piston assembly sealingly engages the open second end of the cylindrical aperture;
• and (iv) a sliding arm assembly configured with an actuator, the sliding arm assembly being configured to slide over the open second end of the cylindrical aperture, wherein the sliding bar assembly is hingedly attached to the actuator;
• (b) with the upper piston assembly in the load position, depositing a brewable material into the brewing chamber;
• (c) moving the upper piston assembly to the brewing position;
• (d) initiating a flow of heated water into the brewing chamber to produce a brewing pressure between 10 psig and 100 psig;
• (e) stopping the flow of heated water into the brewing chamber and allowing the brewable material to brew thereby producing a brewed liquid in the brewing chamber;
• (f) forcing a portion of the brewed liquid out of the brewing chamber;
• (g) moving the lower piston partially through the cylindrical aperture such that the brewable material is compressed between the upper piston assembly and the lower piston assembly;
• (h) moving the upper piston assembly to the load position;
• (i) moving the lower piston through the cylindrical aperture to a position substantially flush with the open second end of the cylindrical aperture;
• and
• (j) moving the sliding arm assembly over the open second end of the cylindrical aperture to remove the brewable material.

A system for producing a brewed coffee beverage comprising:

• (a) a hopper configured to dispense coffee beans;
• (b) a grinder configured to receive coffee beans from the hopper and to dispense ground coffee;
• (c) a reservoir of heated water;
• (d) a brew group comprising (i) a brewing chamber having an upper surface and a cylindrical aperture with an open first end and an open second end;
• (ii) a lower piston assembly sized and configured to slidably engage the brewing chamber open first end;
• (iii) a first actuator attached to the lower piston assembly and operable to move the lower piston assembly longitudinally through the cylindrical aperture;
• (iv) an upper piston assembly sized and configured to sealingly engage the brewing chamber open second end;
• (v) a second actuator attached to the upper piston assembly and operable to move the upper piston assembly between a load position wherein the upper piston assembly is disposed above the brewing chamber and is pivoted away from the brewing chamber and a brewing position wherein the upper piston assembly sealingly engages the brewing chamber;
• (vi) means for pivoting the upper piston assembly away from the brewing chamber when the second piston assembly is moved to the load position;
• (vii) a sliding arm assembly having a scraping arm slidably disposed on the upper surface of the brewing chamber;
• and (viii) a third actuator operable to move the scraping arm across the upper surface of the brewing chamber over the open second end of the brewing chamber wherein the scraping arm is hingedly attached to the third actuator;
• and
• (e) a programmable controller operably connected to control operation of the hopper, the grinder, the reservoir, the first actuator, the second actuator, and the slidable means to selectively deposit ground coffee into the brewing chamber, close the brewing chamber, provide heated water at between 10 psig and 100 psig to the brewing chamber, and dispense a brewed liquid from the brewing chamber.