Brewing and cooling a beverage

A machine for brewing and then cooling a single serving of coffee, the machine comprising:

• a housing;
• a receptacle configured to receive a coffee pod containing ingredients for producing the single serving of coffee;
• an economizer comprising:
• an aluminum body;
• a plurality of first channels extending through the aluminum body in a first direction;
• a plurality of second channels extending through the aluminum body and parallel to the plurality of first channels, the plurality of second channels being disposed between the plurality of first channels;
• a plurality of third channels extending through the aluminum body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the third channels being in fluid communication with the first channels;
• a plurality of fourth channels extending through the aluminum body in the second direction, the fourth channels being in fluid communication with the second channels;
• a first inlet manifold comprising a first inlet channel and a plurality of first outlet channels, the first outlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of fourth channels for distributing water from the first inlet channel to the plurality of fourth channels which distribute the water to the plurality of second channels;
• a first outlet manifold comprising a first outlet channel and a plurality of first inlet channels, the first inlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of fourth channels for combining the water from the plurality of second channels and allowing the water to exit the first outlet manifold at the first outlet channel;
• a second inlet manifold comprising a second inlet channel and a plurality of second outlet channels, the second outlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of third channels for distributing coffee from the second inlet channel to the plurality of third channels which distribute the coffee to the plurality of first channels;
• and
• a second outlet manifold comprising a second outlet channel and a plurality of second inlet channels, the second inlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of third channels for combining coffee from the plurality of first channels and allowing the coffee to exit the second outlet manifold at the second outlet channel,
• wherein the economizer is configured such that thermal energy is transferred from the coffee to the water as the coffee and the water flow through the respective channels of the economizer in opposite directions to assist in heating the water and cooling the coffee;
• a water heater configured to further heat the water after the water has passed through the economizer;
• a brewing system configured to flow the heated water through the coffee pod in the receptacle for brewing coffee from the ingredients within the coffee pod;
• an evaporator comprising:
• an aluminum body;
• a plurality of first channels extending through the aluminum body in a first direction;
• a plurality of second channels extending through the aluminum body and parallel to the plurality of first channels, the plurality of second channels being disposed between the plurality of first channels;
• a plurality of third channels extending through the aluminum body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the third channels being in fluid communication with the first channels;
• a plurality of fourth channels extending through the aluminum body in the second direction, the fourth channels being in fluid communication with the second channels;
• a first inlet manifold comprising a first inlet channel and a plurality of first outlet channels, the first outlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of fourth channels for distributing coffee from the first inlet channel to the plurality of fourth channels which distribute the water to the plurality of second channels, the first inlet manifold of the evaporator being in fluid communication with the first outlet manifold of the economizer for allowing coffee to flow from the economizer to the evaporator;
• a first outlet manifold comprising a first outlet channel and a plurality of first inlet channels, the first inlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of fourth channels for combining the coffee from the plurality of second channels and allowing the coffee to exit the first outlet manifold at the first outlet channel;
• a second inlet manifold comprising a second inlet channel and a plurality of second outlet channels, the second outlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of third channels for distributing a refrigerant from the second inlet channel to the plurality of third channels which distribute the refrigerant to the plurality of first channels;
• and
• a second outlet manifold comprising a second outlet channel and a plurality of second inlet channels, the second inlet channels being in fluid communication with the plurality of third channels for combining the refrigerant from the plurality of first channels and allowing the refrigerant to exit the second outlet manifold at the second outlet channel,
• wherein the evaporator is configured such that thermal energy is transferred from the coffee to the refrigerant as the coffee and the refrigerant flow through the respective channels of the evaporator in the same direction or opposite directions to further cool the coffee after the economizer has partially cooled the coffee;
• a refrigeration system defining a closed fluid loop for the refrigerant such that the refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through an expansion device, through the evaporator, and back to the compressor;
• and
• a dispenser configured to dispense the cooled coffee from the machine after the coffee has been cooled by the economizer and the evaporator.