Multicontrolled brewer for optimum flavor extraction

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly under control of an electronic controller, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• a pressure source;
• means for selectively applying positive air pressure from the pressure source to the brew basket, the selectively applying means including
• a special dispense head assembly with a manifold with an inlet and an outlet that communicates directly with an open top brew basket assembly, and
• a solenoid controlled pressure valve with at least one outlet in pressure communication with the brew basket assembly;
• and
• means for controlling the application of pressure to the brew basket by the selectively applying means to control the rate of seepage of hot water through a layer of beverage ingredient within the brew basket.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly under control of an electronic controller, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• a pressure source including an electrically powered pneumatic pump a pressure tank that is pressurized by the pneumatic pump;
• means for selectively applying positive air pressure from the pressure source to the brew basket;
• and
• means for controlling the application of pressure to the brew basket by the selectively applying means, including means for controlling the application of power to the pneumatic pump and a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the pressure tank, to control the rate of seepage of hot water through a layer of beverage ingredient within the brew basket, said pressure in the pressure tank being less than the pressure in the brew basket due to leakage between the brew basket assembly and the pressure tank.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly under control of an electronic controller, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• a pressure source;
• means for selectively applying positive air pressure from the pressure source to the brew basket;
• and
• means for controlling the application of pressure to the brew basket by the selectively applying means to control the rate of seepage of hot water through a layer of beverage ingredient within the brew basket, the controlling means including means for timing the brew cycle and selectively applying pressure to the brew basket assembly at preselected times during the brewing cycle to speed the rate at which the water percolates though the beverage ingredient during preselected time periods during the brew cycle in order to maximize uniform extraction and optimum flavor.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly under control of an electronic controller, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• a pressure source;
• means for selectively applying positive air pressure from the pressure source to the brew basket;
• means for controlling the application of pressure to the brew basket by the selectively applying means to control the rate of seepage of hot water through a layer of beverage ingredient within the brew basket, and in which
• said brew basket assembly has
• a bottom with a beverage drain hole,
• a closure gate carried by the bottom and mounted to the bottom by mounting members for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position,
• a spring carried by the bottom of the brew basket assembly to resiliently bias the closure gate to a closed position, and
• a solenoid controlled brew basket valve controller for selectively engaging the closure gate to move the gate to the open position or to allow the gate to remain closed, said solenoid controlled closure gate being controlled by the controlling means in coordination with control of the application of pressure to achieve different preselected beverage flow rates during different preselected times during a brew cycle.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly with a beverage drain hole under control of an electronic controller, the improvement being a brew basket flow rate control system, comprising:

• means for selectively closing the beverage drain hole to accumulate beverage within the brew basket assembly during preselected time periods of a brew cycle to reduce the rate of flow of beverage from the drain hole;
• means for selectively increasing positive air pressure to the brew basket assembly during some preselected time periods of the brew cycle to increase the rate of beverage flow from the brew basket assembly drain hole to a first level during the preselected time periods;
• and
• means for selectively terminating application of positive air pressure to the brew basket during other preselected time periods of the brew cycle to decrease the rate of beverage flow from the brew basket assembly drain hole to a second level less than the first level during the other preselected time periods.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a movably mounted brew basket assembly with a brew basket for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage into a beverage container, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as the beverage flows downwardly out of the drain hole and falls freely through air to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage prior to being mixed in the beverage container;
• said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container;
• said brew basket being removably mounted to the brewer, and
• said light measuring means being spaced from the brew basket and the beverage container to enable removal of the brew basket without first disconnecting the light measuring means from the brew basket;
• and
• a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control a hot water brew dispense valve for changing the rate of flow of the hot water onto the ingredient in the brew basket.

A multicontrolled beverage brewer, comprising:

• a hot water tank;
• means for preheating water in the hot water tank;
• means for selectively pressurizing a brew basket during a brew cycle to selectively accelerate the flow rate of hot water from the hot water tank though an ingredient within the brew basket to make the beverage;
• at least one electronic temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of at least one of (a) the temperature of the beverage within the brew basket, and (b) the temperature of the preheated water immediately prior to being added to the brew basket;
• means for selectively instantaneously heating the pre-heated hot water from the hot water tank immediately before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket in response to the electronic temperature sensor.

A multicontrolled beverage brewer, comprising:

• a brew basket;
• a source of hot water;
• at least one of (a) a brew dispense valve for passing hot water from the source to ingredient within the brew basket, (b) a bypass valve for passing hot water from the source to the brew basket but bypassing the ingredient, and (c) a brew basket drain hole closure at the bottom of the brew basket for draining beverage from the brew basket to a container;
• means for selectively pressurizing the brew basket to selectively accelerate the flow rate of hot water from the source though an ingredient within the brew basket to make the beverage;
• a photosensor sensing a level of light conductance of the beverage before entering the container;
• means for selectively controlling at least one of (a) the brew dispense valve, (b) the bypass valve, and (c) the brew basket drain hole closure in response to the photosensor.

A multicontrolled beverage brewer, comprising:

• a brew basket;
• a source of preheated water;
• at least one of (a) a brew dispense valve for passing hot water from the source to ingredient within the brew basket to make the beverage, (b) a bypass valve for passing hot water from the source to the brew basket but bypassing the ingredient, and (c) a brew basket drain hole closure at the bottom of the brew basket for draining beverage from the brew basket to a container;
• at least one electronic temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of at least one of (a) the temperature of the beverage within the brew basket, and (b) the temperature of the preheated water immediately prior to being added to the brew basket;
• means for selectively instantaneously heating the pre-heated hot water from a hot water tank immediately before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket in response to the at least one electronic temperature sensor;
• a photosensor for sensing a level of light conductance of the beverage before being passed to the container;
• and
• a means for selectively controlling at least one of (a) the brew dispense valve, (b) the bypass valve, and (c) the brew basket drain hole closure in response to the photosensor.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage into a beverage container, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the serving container;
• and
• a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control at least one of (a) a hot water brew dispense valve, (b) a bypass valve for passing hot water into the brew basket at a location spaced from the ingredient, (c) means to pressurize the brew basket to hasten draining of the beverage from the drain hole, and (d) an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank just before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket;
• and in which
• the controller is responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control a drain hole closure means.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly

• for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:
• means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container;
• and
• a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket, the hot water having a temperature just before being dispensed into the brew basket, and the controller being responsive to control the instantaneous hot water heater to change the temperature of the hot water just before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a movably mounted brew basket assembly with a brew basket for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system including a brew water dispense valve for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly and though the ingredient, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:

• means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole and falls freely through air to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container and spaced from the brew basket and the beverage container to enable removal of the brew basket without first disconnecting the light measuring means from the brew basket;
• and
• a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control at least one of (a) a bypass valve spaced from the brew water dispense valve for passing hot water into the brew basket at a location spaced from and bypassing the ingredient, (b) means to pressurize the brew basket to hasten draining of the beverage from the drain hole, (c) a drain hole closure means and (d) an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket.

In a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly

• for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system, comprising:
• means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container;
• and
• a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control the drain hole closure means.