Abstract: A brewing device, a stand, and server for remotely monitoring a brewed beverage's status. The stand and/or server includes a wireless communication subsystem to establish wireless communications with a remote brewing device. The stand and/or brewer may wirelessly send one or more of the status updates regarding the brewed beverage server to the remote brewing device with the wireless communication subsystem. The remote brewer device establishes a user interface from which the status updates can be viewed by mobile device(s) wirelessly connected to the brewer device.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for producing a brewed beverage using a brewing apparatus of a brewing machine to reduce the time to produce a brewed beverage through a sequence of steps. The apparatus includes structures and functions that help to maintain the reliability and cleanliness of the apparatus. The structure of the apparatus helps reduce the size and dimension of the apparatus while producing a desired brewed beverage result. The steps of the method configured using the apparatus to sequence and/or simultaneously operate various steps of the apparatus to reduce the time to produce a brewed beverage.

Abstract: The apparatuses and methods disclosed herein, along with contemplated variants thereof, provide several advantages over known systems for actuating the faucet of a beverage server. In conventional designs, a faucet of a beverage server is provided in the lower portion of a reservoir, such that a beverage from the reservoir is distributed to the spigot through a gravity-driven process. In operation, many of these servers are utilized as service industry coffee servers for restaurants and banquet halls. Employees who are handling the brewing equipment will often place servers used with the brewing equipment directly in a sink for cleaning or filling, such that the base of that sink acts as a horizontal surface. Absent the ability of the lever assembly to fold into an up position, this operation would result in putting unnecessary force on the lever assembly. Accordingly, a multi-position, hands-free actuation system is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A beverage device with improved diagnostic and repair functionality is shown and described. The beverage device includes an on-board touch screen display and a virtual rendering of device components of the beverage device. Repair instructions, replacement instructions, and diagnostic instructions may be more easily, and efficiently understood and followed by following on-screen outputs, alerts, and instructions that may include various color outputs, animations, and rotatable, movable, or zoomable views.

Abstract: A brewer device with a brewer control system and a user interface is provided. The brewer control system is configured to dispense a brewed beverage and includes a freshness monitor to generate a freshness status of respective brewed beverages dispensed by the brewer control system into a plurality of servers. The user interface includes an output device to present the freshness status of the respective brewed beverages in the plurality of servers. The freshness monitor is local to the brewer control system without needing to establish communications with any of the plurality of servers.

Abstract: A brewer system includes a storage tank, a brew chamber movable relative to the storage tank and positioned over a mouth of the storage tank, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the storage tank. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber to form a brewed beverage. The brewed beverage passes through the filter tape and into the storage tank through the mouth.

Abstract: A gas infuser includes a mixing chamber and a liquid injector. Gas is supplied into the mixing chamber and liquid flows through openings of the injector to mix with the gas in the mixing chamber and form a gas-infused liquid.

Abstract: A beverage making apparatus including at least a beverage producing portion, a controllable by-pass water system, and at least one of a sweetener system or flavoring system in which the sweetener system and/or flavoring system controllably mixes a sweetener ingredient and/or flavoring ingredient with water external to the housing without mixing in a confined structure. A method for producing a beverage is provided including at least the steps of: providing a beverage making apparatus; providing a water dispensing system; providing at least one of a sweetener dispensing system and flavoring system; and controllably dispensing water and at least one of sweetener and flavoring externally of the apparatus for combination with beverage produced by the beverage making apparatus.

Abstract: A brewer system includes a reservoir, a steep chamber movable relative to the reservoir and positioned over a mouth of the reservoir, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the reservoir. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber to form a brewed beverage that passes through the filter tape and into the reservoir through the mouth.

Abstract: An adapter and a method of operation of the adapter. The adapter is configured for use with a faucet of a beverage dispenser to facilitate reduced touching of the dispenser or touchless use of the faucet. The adaptor includes a body having a faucet handle engaging portion, a fulcrum portion, at least one extending portion, and a cup engaging portion. A nozzle clearance area is defined generally between the cup engaging portion and the fulcrum portion. The method of operation provides attachment of the adaptor to the faucet without the need for tools, fasteners, adhesives, or the like. The method of fabrication allows for the adaptor to be fabricated from a generally planar piece of material and manufactured to provide the structure as defined.

Abstract: An on-demand hot water dispenser includes a housing, a water heating system received in the housing, and a faucet connected to the water heating system through the housing for dispensing hot water into a container. A drip tray is positioned below the faucet and a screen covers the drip tray to support the container during dispensing of the hot water.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for a funnel assembly for use in a beverage brewing apparatus. The funnel assembly may include an insert that is retained in the funnel assembly to contain a powdered or other similar substance for mixing with liquid within the insert. The insert is configured to extend within a cavity of the funnel assembly and is configured to permit mixing of the substance with the liquid before dispensing the mixture into a portion of the funnel assembly. The insert may include a rim or liquid shield, with at least a portion of the rim or liquid shield engaging a portion of the funnel assembly to retain the insert within the funnel assembly. The insert may further include a flow guide adjacent a drainage aperture, the flow guide at least partially directing the flow of mixture from the insert into a portion of the funnel assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for use with beverages and beverage making and dispensing equipment. The apparatus, system, and method of use monitors characteristics of the beverage, reports characteristics, or both and selectively affects the beverage and beverage making and dispensing equipment, a server containing the beverage, or both. The apparatus, system, and method of use employs an information vehicle device associated with each beverage server or dispenser and a reader which reads the information device. The reader communicates the information from the information device to a controller for use to individually or collectively display information, collect information, and/or selectively affect the condition of the beverage in response to the information.

Abstract: An update device for providing configuration updates, such as recipes, advertising content, software update(s), pricing updates and/or other changes to brewer parameters, to a brewer device. When turned on, the update device wirelessly connects to a cloud account associated with the brewer device. Any pending content updates associated with the cloud account are wirelessly delivered to the update device and stored. When the update device is connected to the brewer device, the update device emulates a disk drive to transfer the updates to the brewer device.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for producing an ingredient foam such as milk foam for use with other products such as beverages. An ingredient dispensing assembly is included for receiving one or more ingredients from an ingredient dispensing apparatus, processing the ingredients and dispensing a general uniform, consistent foam. The ingredient dispensing assembly includes a whipping chamber, an output nozzle, and an insert retained within cavities defined by the whipping chamber and output nozzle. The internal surfaces of the chamber and nozzle cavities in combination with the insert provide passages defining a mixing zone, a shredding zone communicating with the mixing zone, and a deceleration zone communicating with the shredding zone. The assembly passes at least one ingredient through the zones to dispense foam from an exit port of the outlet nozzle. The system includes apparatus and methods for reducing the dissociation of foam dispensed form the exit port.

Abstract: A beverage communication network having a brewer, stands, and servers atop the stands, in which the brewer and the stands communicate in accordance with a suitable wired or wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth® Low Energy. The brewer can monitor the status of the servers, including the freshness and temperature of the beverage contained within the servers, the equipment status of the servers, and communication signal quality in the network. The status of the servers can be displayed to an on-site user through a tablet computer coupled to the brewer or to a remote user through a computer connected to the Internet.

Abstract: A beverage system for producing and dispensing a beverage for controlled serving dispensing which includes a maker module for dispensing a beverage ingredient such as tea to a dispensing module which then communicates with a mixing module for controlled serving dispensing. Another embodiment of the beverage apparatus includes a dispense module which receives beverage from a making module and in which the dispensing module is transferable to a mixing module for subsequent controlled serving dispensing. Further, additional features such as sweetener integration, controlled mixing, controlled dispensing, and product characteristic sensing may be provided.

Abstract: A brewer system includes a reservoir, a steeping chamber movable relative to the reservoir and positioned over a mouth of the reservoir, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the reservoir. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber and can be controllably agitated using a controllable gas pump coupled to the reservoir to form a brewed beverage. The brewed beverage can be drawn through the filter tape and into the reservoir through the mouth under the influence of a controllable vacuum pump coupled to and controllably communicating with the reservoir.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for a funnel assembly for use in a beverage brewing apparatus. The funnel assembly may include an insert that is retained in the funnel assembly to contain a powdered or other similar substance for mixing with liquid within the insert. The insert is configured to extend within a cavity of the funnel assembly and is configured to permit mixing of the substance with the liquid before dispensing the mixture into a portion of the funnel assembly. The insert may include a rim or liquid shield, with at least a portion of the rim or liquid shield engaging a portion of the funnel assembly to retain the insert within the funnel assembly. The insert may further include a flow guide adjacent a drainage aperture, the flow guide at least partially directing the flow of mixture from the insert into a portion of the funnel assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a beverage serving device such as a carafe which includes structures and methods of operation for preventing dripping of beverage from the pouring spout after dispensing as well as improve control of liquid flow during dispensing and the structure and function of an extension portion of the cover or lid carried on the carafe.