Abstract: Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a container manipulation assembly having a support assembly and an elevator. The support assembly can be configured to receive a container. The elevator can be connected with the support assembly and can be configured to translate and/or rotate the support assembly. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes a wand manipulation assembly having a wand unit and a mechanical linkage. The linkage can be configured to move the wand unit into and out of engagement with the container on the support assembly. The wand unit can provide a flow of fluid, such as steam, to liquid in the container to heat and/or froth the liquid.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 8, 2024
Assignee:
Starbucks Corporation
Inventors:
Dan Apone, Izaak Koller, Michael Cummer, William George Crossland
Abstract: A calibration tool for a coffee grinder can receive an image from a camera. The image can depict coffee grinds produced by the coffee grinder. The calibration tool can analyze the image using one or more image processing techniques to determine a representative grind size for the coffee grinds. The calibration tool can determine whether the representative grind size of the coffee grinds deviates from a predefined reference size by at least a threshold amount. In response to determining that the representative grind size of the coffee grinds deviates from the predefined reference size by at least the threshold amount, the calibration tool can output an instruction indicating how to calibrate the coffee grinder to more closely adhere to the predefined reference size.
Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a beverage dispensing system for parallel beverage extraction. The beverage dispensing system may include two brew chambers configured to both prepare beverage components at the same time. The beverage dispensing system may include two dispensing points configured to simultaneously dispense beverage components prepared by a first brew chamber and a second brew chamber. In some embodiments, a beverage dispensing system configured to prepare beverage components in one brew chamber can be modified to include one or more components, features, and/or functionalities from the beverage dispensing system for parallel beverage extraction.
Abstract: An upward flow extraction method, apparatus, and extract are disclosed. The upward flow extraction method can comprise loading extraction material into an extraction cell having a bottom portion and a top portion; introducing a first aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell; expelling gas from the extraction cell through the top portion of the extraction cell; closing the top portion of the extraction cell and increasing the pressure in the extraction cell as extraction medium flows into the bottom portion of the extraction cell; stopping the flow of extraction medium into the extraction cell; steeping the extraction material in the extraction medium under pressure to produce an extract; and introducing a second aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell to push extract through top portion of the extraction cell.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 2, 2022
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2024
Assignee:
Starbucks Corporation
Inventors:
Kieran A. Murphy, Chelsea L. Rosenkrance
Abstract: An upward flow extraction method, apparatus, and extract are disclosed. The upward flow extraction method can comprise loading extraction material into an extraction cell having a bottom portion and a top portion; introducing a first aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell; expelling gas from the extraction cell through the top portion of the extraction cell; closing the top portion of the extraction cell and increasing the pressure in the extraction cell as extraction medium flows into the bottom portion of the extraction cell; stopping the flow of extraction medium into the extraction cell; steeping the extraction material in the extraction medium under pressure to produce an extract; and introducing a second aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell to push extract through top portion of the extraction cell.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 16, 2024
Assignee:
Starbucks Corporation
Inventors:
Kieran A. Murphy, Chelsea L. Rosenkrance
Abstract: In one example, a system can receive an order from a client device. The system can also receive data about a set of print queues at a set of printers via a network. The system can then determine a set of queue times corresponding to the set of print queues. Each respective queue time can be determined based on a corresponding print queue. The system can generate an estimated wait time for the order based on the set of queue times. The system can then transmit the estimated wait time to the client device for display in a graphical user interface to a user associated with the order.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2024
Date of Patent:
July 2, 2024
Assignee:
Starbucks Corporation
Inventors:
Harsh Nigam, Michael J. Harlach, Zach A. Thieme, Shadi Hassani Goodarzi, Kelly L. Broad, Ross W. Marshall, John J. Schultz, Matthew A. Scheid, Chadwick C. Meyer, Omobolaotan O. Agbonile
Abstract: Some examples described herein relate to computer interfaces and authentication protocols for securely linking and transferring content between online accounts. In one example, a system can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) with multiple interactive interface pages, through which a user can selectively transfer content from a first online account to a second online account. For example, the user can select to transfer points from the first online account to the second online account. The system can then transfer of the selected content from the first online account to the second online account. To perform this transfer, the system can employ multiple layers of authentication and other security mechanisms. For example, the system can employ two or more layers of authentication and a unique external identifier to perform the transfer. Following the transfer, the GUI can be updated to reflect the results of the transfer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 17, 2024
Publication date:
June 27, 2024
Applicant:
STARBUCKS CORPORATION
Inventors:
Ita Eddie Wang, Christopher Estes, Ehudes Fernan Garcia Gil, Krishna Sumanth Chagarlamudi, Hou Lam, Fernando Augusto Alvarez Medina, Clayton Timothy Brandt