Apparatus for brewing a beverage
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsRandy Hulett, Brian Shay, Izaak Koller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Shown is an apparatus for brewing a beverage, such as coffee, as well as associated methods for brewing a beverage. Apparatuses and methods are included to reduce labor involved in pour-over brewing techniques, while providing greater consistency in the results. Manual and/or automatic movements are provided to a filter (e.g., rotation) and/or a nozzle dispensing liquid over the filter. Water dosage and timing therefore can be automated to the filter. The nozzle can be positioned off-center with respect to the filter to ensure wetting thereof. The nozzle can be made movable for constrained changes to the path of liquid flow relative to the rotating filter.
Claims34
A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a support member engaged with the body, the support member comprising a filter holder engagement portion configured to engage with a filter holder and an aperture to allow fluid to flow through a portion of the support member to a container;
- a nozzle configured to deliver a fluid over the position of any filter holder engaged with the filter holder engagement portion, wherein the support member further comprises a movable element configured such that the filter holder engagement portion can move with respect to the nozzle;
- and
- a valve in at least one of the support member and the filter holder, the valve configured to selectively restrict flow through and allow flow from the filter holder.
A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a support member engaged with the body, the support member comprising a filter holder engagement portion configured to engage with a filter holder;
- a nozzle configured to deliver a fluid over the position of any filter holder engaged with the filter holder engagement portion;
- and
- wherein the support member further comprises a movable element configured such that the filter holder engagement portion can move with respect to the nozzle,
- wherein the movable element is configured such that the filter holder engagement portion can pivot and/or move linearly with respect to the nozzle.
A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a support member engaged with the body, the support member comprising a filter holder engagement portion configured to engage with a filter holder;
- and
- a nozzle configured to deliver a fluid over the position of any filter holder engaged with the filter holder engagement portion,
- wherein the support member further comprises a movable element configured such that the filter holder engagement portion can move with respect to the nozzle, and wherein the movable element is configured such that the filter holder engagement portion can be moved manually with respect to the nozzle.
A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a support member engaged with the body, the support member comprising a filter holder engagement portion configured to engage with a filter holder;
- a nozzle configured to deliver a fluid over the position of any filter holder engaged with the filter holder engagement portion;
- and
- wherein the support member further comprises a movable element configured such that the filter holder engagement portion can move with respect to the nozzle, and wherein the nozzle is configured to move with respect to the body in at least two different directions along at least two different, coplanar axes.
A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a support member comprising a filter holder engagement portion configured to engage with a filter holder;
- a nozzle engaged with the body, the nozzle configured over the position of any filter holder engaged with the filter engagement portion, wherein the nozzle is configured such that the nozzle can move during operation with respect to the filter holder engagement portion;
- and
- a control system configured to move the nozzle and the filter holder engagement portion relative to each other, such that a spiral-shaped pattern is formed by the fluid when the fluid is delivered to the filter holder and when the filter holder is engaged with the filter holder engagement portion.
A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a support member comprising a filter holder engagement portion configured to engage with a filter holder;
- and
- a nozzle engaged with the body, the nozzle configured over the position of any filter holder engaged with the filter engagement portion;
- wherein the nozzle is configured such that the nozzle can move during operation in at least two substantially co-planar and non-collinear directions with respect to the filter holder engagement portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.