Abstract: A commercial tea brewing station entrains a hot tea flow through a brew basket with an intermittent liquid sweetener flow to dissolve the liquid sweetener in the hot tea brew. A high velocity diluting flow is delivered to the concentrated sweetened tea at an angle to create turbulent back flow, further promoting complete mixing and dissolving of the sweetener and the diluting water, so that no manual mixing step is required.

Abstract: A beverage server includes a removable lid with a display adapted to be viewed from a distance, the display equipped with LEDs that flash information to users with respect to a freshness and fluid level of a beverage in the server.

Abstract: A brew basket for a brewing apparatus includes a splash protection structure to protect against spilling when the brew basket is removed prematurely with hot brewing liquid therein. The structure is a splash reservoir formed near the handle of the brew basket, extending the interior surface of the brew basket radially outward at the site of the compartment where the basket is pulled out of the brewing apparatus. A well or reservoir attenuates a wave of liquid created by pulling the basket out by directing the wave to the reservoir rather than impact the side wall of the basket, where hot liquid would then tend to splash or spill out.

Abstract: A beverage server includes a removable lid with a display adapted to be viewed from a distance, the display equipped with LEDs that flash information to users with respect to a freshness and fluid level of a beverage in the server.

Abstract: An improved brewing basket, and receptacles for receiving the basket, collectively forming an improved brewing apparatus. A siphon is received within the receptacle aperture and is covered by a shroud depending from the floor of the basket. The basket is elevated with respect to the receptacle, preferably supported predominantly by the siphon. The apparatus of the invention is quite flexible, and by permitting use of a single basket for loose and filter pack teas, the complexity of manufacturing and sales is reduced. Other advantageous features include a stainless steel insert to assist in containing the siphon within the shroud, retaining tabs within the shroud to help secure the siphon, and one or more, preferably three or more, protrusions extending upwardly from the floor of the basket to assist in keeping any infusion bags from lying flat on the floor of the basket, and thereby to promote infusion. Preferably, the shroud is integral with the basket floor and extends both above and below the floor.

Abstract: An improved brewing basket, and receptacles for receiving the basket, collectively forming an improved brewing apparatus. A siphon is received within the receptacle aperture and is covered by a shroud depending from the floor of the basket. The basket is elevated with respect to the receptacle, preferably supported predominantly by the siphon. The apparatus of the invention is quite flexible, and by permitting use of a single basket for loose and filter pack teas, the complexity of manufacturing and sales is reduced. Other advantageous features include a stainless steel insert to assist in containing the siphon within the shroud, retaining tabs within the shroud to help secure the siphon, and one or more, preferably three or more, protrusions extending upwardly from the floor of the basket to assist in keeping any infusion bags from lying flat on the floor of the basket, and thereby to promote infusion. Preferably, the shroud is integral with the basket floor and extends both above and below the floor.

Abstract: A brew basket for a brewing apparatus includes a splash protection structure to protect against spilling when the brew basket is removed prematurely with hot brewing liquid therein. The structure is a splash reservoir formed near the handle of the brew basket, extending the interior surface of the brew basket radially outward at the site of the compartment where the basket is pulled out of the brewing apparatus. A well or reservoir attenuates a wave of liquid created by pulling the basket out by directing the wave to the reservoir rather than impact the side wall of the basket, where hot liquid would then tend to splash or spill out.