Abstract: A method of brewing a coffee beverage by combining a dose of granulated coffee and water and maintaining the granulated coffee in the water for a brew time. The volume of water employed in practicing the method is a function of the dose of granulated coffee and the brew time is a function of the percent extraction of coffee from the dose of granulated coffee and a function of the percent of total dissolved solids derived from the dose of granulated coffee.

Abstract: A device for brewing coffee. The device includes a microprocessor, a user actuated controller for interfacing with the microprocessor, a tank for retaining water and a heating element for selectively heating the water. The device further includes a brewing basket for receipt of water from the tank, and a cone valve located in a dispersing end of the brewing basket. The microprocessor dictates a measured quantity of water to be delivered to the brewing basket in conjunction with a measured amount of ground coffee for brewing. In a preferred embodiment, a multichannel valve is employed together with a suitable pump for controlling fluid flow as dictated by the microprocessor.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for the creation, communication, negotiation, and storage of promotion events between trading partners. A promotion event is managed between a retailer and a vendor each having an associated computer in communication with a data network. The promotion event is defined to include terms, including an event description and a designated items description. The terms are situated in fields of a promotion event record. The designated items description is matched to a list of items stored in an item table. This list of items is authorized for sale by the retailer. A validation operation includes determining whether the fields in the promotion event record conform to requirements of a deal sheet associated with the retailer. The promotion event record is stored as a deal in a deal transaction storage medium. The retailer computer is provided with read access to the stored deal. The retailer can then negotiate the stored deal with the vendor.

Abstract: A device for brewing coffee including a basket for retaining coffee grounds, the basket having an opening to receive water at a user-selected temperature for contacting the coffee grounds within the basket. A control valve is provided for controlling the discharge of brewed coffee from the basket only after all of the water intended to be brewed has steeped within the coffee grounds.