Apparatus and method for foaming a beverage
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsIzaak Koller, Joshua Kruger, Timothy Hurd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various automated and semi-automated beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. 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.
Claims19
1-20. (canceled)
A beverage foaming system comprising:
- a container assembly having an interior configured to receive a volume of liquid;
- a steam supply unit in communication with the interior of the container assembly;
- one or more valves configured to control a flow from the steam supply unit to the interior of the container assembly;
- a sensor for measuring a characteristic of liquid within the contain, the characteristic excluding weight or level of the liquid in the container;
- and
- a control system operatively connected to the user interface, the one or more valves, and the sensor;
- wherein the control system is configured to receive a user selection and, in response to at least one signal from the sensor indicative of a characteristic of the liquid, estimate a volume of fluid within the container assembly based upon the signal from the sensor and control an amount of steam from the steam supply unit delivered to the interior of the container assembly based on the user selection and the estimated volume of fluid.
A beverage preparation system comprising:
- a container assembly including:
- a first upper end;
- a second lower end;
- and
- an interior;
- a characteristic sensor in communication with the interior of the container assembly configured to provide a signal indicative of a characteristic of a liquid in the container, the characteristic weight or level of the liquid within the container;
- a steam supply system in communication with the interior of the container assembly;
- a user interface including a plurality of selection points;
- a control system operatively connected to the user interface and the characteristic sensor;
- the control system configured to estimate a volume of liquid residing within the interior of the container assembly based on at least one signal received from the characteristic sensor.
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 characteristic of the liquid residing within the interior of the container assembly, the characteristic of the liquid excluding the weight and level of the liquid in the container;
- estimating a volume of liquid residing within the interior of the container assembly based on the sensed characteristic;
- and
- modulating a flow of steam based on the estimated volume of liquid and the selected finished beverage characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.