Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for heating, brewing, storing and dispensing a hot liquid. Known brewing apparatus typically dispenses hot water and a single beverage. Where a selection of beverages are desired a plurality of such apparatus is required. This brewing apparatus in accordance with the invention has within a single housing a hot water unit and a plurality of beverage brewing units to dispense different hot beverages. Further, each of the brewing units consists of a heating and brewing portion and a liquid storing and dispensing portion, the liquid storing and dispensing portion being detachable from the apparatus to dispense beverage at a location distant from the apparatus. The detachable liquid storing and dispensing unit comprises an insulated container with a liquid dispensing tap having a valve positioned well within the insulated wall of the container and a steam trap at the inlet to the container to prevent heat losses from the container.

Abstract: A coffee and/or tea disperser having a cold water reservoir connected to a water heater which is connected in turn to a spray head. Below the head is a container for a bed of coffee grains or tea leaves and below which again is a tank for the infused beverage. Cups of freshly infused coffee or tea can be metered from the tank by a dispensing valve. In order to ensure that the amount of coffee dispensed does not vary by any significant amount as the head of liquid in the tank varies, the tank is disposed above the surface on which the cup rests by a distance, measured from the maximum head of liquid in the tank to said datum, which is at least six times the maximum displacement of liquid in the tank. Moreover the tank is wide and low. The tank is preferably dismountable for easy cleaning and level probes normally protruding into the tank are arranged to be swung out of the tank to assist dismounting.

Abstract: Tea making apparatus of the type comprising of the means for supplying heated water over a basket for holding a bed of tea leaves. In accordance with the invention a syphon tube is provided to delay the passage of hot water through the tea leaf bed until the hot water reaches a pre-determined level so that the hot water is in contact with the tea leaves for a period in excess of one minute before discharge. The inlet arm of the syphon tube has a roughened inner surface to maintain droplets of brewed tea therein, following discharge of the brew from the tea leaf bed, the droplets serving to aid the start of a secondary syphon on accumulation of brewed tea above the level of the syphon inlet. Thus after the initial brew, water remains in contact with the tea leaf bed for only a short time so that the leaves do not become oversoaked.

Abstract: A coffee and/or tea dispenser having a cold water reservoir connected to a water heater which is connected in turn to a spray head. Below the head is a container for a bed of coffee grains or tea leaves and below which again is a tank for the infused beverage. Cups of freshly infused coffee or tea can be metered from the tank by a dispensing valve. In order to ensure the head of liquid applied to the valve is within reduced limits the tank is wide and low. The tank is preferably dismountable for easy cleaning and level probes normally protruding into the tank are arranged to be swung out of the tank to assist dismounting. The dispensing valve is preferably formed with a flexible liquid conduit squeezed between three abutments so that the tube is not clamped but rather distorted into a closed state.

Abstract: A hot water tank particularly for a beverage brewing apparatus of the infusion type in which the hot water tank has a water draw-off tap at a position between the top and bottom of the tank and a thermostat above the outlet in the tank to the tap and a control means connected to the thermostat such that water may only be drawn off through the tap when the temperature of water above the tap outlet is at least as high as a predetermined temperature. The controller ensures that the user cannot draw water from the tank until the temperature of the water reaches the predetermined temperature. A water supply to the tank bottom ensures that the tank is kept full of water and in the case of the brewing apparatus this ensures feeding of hot water to an infusion spray head. Preferably the tap is prevented from being enabled to draw off water while infusion is taking place due to the provision of a control valve in the connection between the tap and the water tank.

Abstract: A beverage brewing apparatus of the infusion type in which a hot water tank contains several infusion charges, the tank is connected at the top to a conduit extending to an infusion sprayer over a pan containing granular matter to be infused, replenishing water is supplied to the bottom of the tank and is used to force a top charge of water in the tank into the pan, a heater for the tank is controlled by a lower thermostat in the tank and an upper thermostat indicates when the top charge is at the correct temperature for infusion to take place. The arrangements ensure a ready supply of hot water for further infusions while reducing the instant power requirements for the heater.

Abstract: An improved coffee or tea brewer having mounted within a casing a cold water tank and infusing arrangement with a water heater connected between the two and mounted under the tank, the heater having a cover for cleaning the water fed interior of the heater, the cover opening rearwardly and shielded from electrical components by a shield so that only the rear of the heater can be accessed from a rear access opening in the closing; the heater cover preferably has the heater inlet and outlet mounted thereon so that the heater can be more effectively cleaned.

Abstract: Coffee and tea making or brewing apparatus of the type in which heated water is caused to flow through a spray head, the resulting spray impinging on a bed of ground coffee (or tea) through which the hot water passes to produce coffee or tea liquor.In accordance with the invention the spray head is provided with a number of dimples. The heads of the dimples being provided or formed with a surface to which a drop of liquid emerging through a spray hole in the dimple, may cling.With this construction the drops fall over the coffee or tea bed in a random fashion which may be compared with raindrops and this helps properly to prevent nuclei being formed in the coffee bed.

Abstract: A tap the body of which is formed with a liquid passage having an inlet and an outlet and being provided with a valve member between the inlet and outlet to control flow of liquid therebetween characterized in that the body has a second outlet communicating with the valve member and the first outlet above the height of the first outlet when the tap is positioned for use.