Abstract: Shown is an apparatus for brewing a beverage, such as coffee, as well as associated methods for brewing a beverage. Apparatuses and methods are shown to reduce labor involved in pour-over brewing techniques, while providing greater consistency in the results. Manual and/or automatic movements are provided to a filter (e.g., rotation) and/or a nozzle dispensing liquid over the filter. Water dosage and timing therefore can be automated to the filter. The nozzle can be positioned off-center with respect to the filter to ensure wetting thereof. The nozzle can be made movable for constrained changes to the path of liquid flow relative to the rotating filter.
Abstract: A method for operating a hot beverage maker includes the steps of infusing fresh water and storing the resulting beverage in a removable brewed beverage tank. An actuator is engaged for dispensing the brewed beverage from the tank. The tank is placed on a platform in a relationship so as to engage a warmer plate to keep the contents of the tank warm. Accordingly, the hot beverage maker produces a brewed beverage that is stored in the tank until it is dispensed by a user.
Abstract: A carbonated beverage appliance in accordance with the present invention includes a housing and a carbonating head assembly configured to releasably engage a top end of a bottle containing a liquid to be carbonated. The bottle is engaged with the head assembly in a manner so as to provide a liquid and gas-tight seal. A tube is arranged in the housing for directing a flow of pressurized gas from a gas cylinder to the liquid within the bottle to produce a carbonated beverage. The carbonated beverage appliance includes a quick-connect mechanism for attaching a gas cylinder to the appliance, and a dispensing mechanism for the on-demand dispensing of a carbonated beverage from the bottle while it is attached to the appliance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 5, 2016
Assignee:
CONAIR CORPORATION
Inventors:
Anthony Kit Lun Leung, Joseph W. Zakowski
Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming both carafe quantities and smaller (e.g., cup) quantities of a beverage using a cartridge-based beverage machine. A beverage forming machine accommodates cartridges having different sizes and/or shapes, including different rim sizes/shapes. The outlet used for receiving a beverage from a standard cartridge differs from the outlet used for receiving the beverage from a carafe cartridge inserted in a same cartridge holder. Beverage may exit the cartridge in an upward direction in some embodiments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 17, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2016
Assignee:
Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
Inventors:
Ian Tinkler, James E. Shepard, Geoffrey Y. Smith, Peter Thomas Launie, Jr., Jonathan Alexander Brodie, Stuart Jay Foster, Stoyan Plamenov Hristov, Jianming Huang
Abstract: Shown are devices and methods for brewing and steeping tea. The devices and methods for brewing and steeping tea utilize steam, heated liquid, agitation, and recirculation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 16, 2015
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2016
Assignee:
Cornelius, Inc.
Inventors:
Ashok Kumara Dyavarasegowda, Servesh Adderi Ranganath, Ramaraju Suraparaju Pattabi, Nishant Kulkarni, Jeff Garascia, Fernando Sanchez
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a technique of producing an ultra-concentrated liquid coffee that is shelf-stable at ambient temperature without the need for refrigeration or freezing. This invention further relates to a process for manufacturing ultra-concentrated stabilized liquid coffee with enhanced freshness, aroma and flavor retention without acidity or bitterness.
Abstract: A plant for de-aerating and heating a vegetable product has an extraction section in which a vegetable starting product is treated, in order to obtain an extracted vegetable product, or a vegetable juice. The extracted vegetable product is fed to a cold de-aeration section obtaining an extracted vegetable product and de-aerated cold. The plant also has a heating section in which the de-aerated vegetable product is heated from the starting temperature T1 to a final temperature T2, with T2>T1, obtaining a heated de-aerated product. The plant also has a storage reservoir of the de-aerated vegetable product.
Abstract: An apparatus for removing hulls from nuts includes a rotating drum with protrusions on its surface, a hulling plate and a separator plate. Rotation of the drum causes nuts deposited on an upper surface of the drum surface between the hulling plate and the separator plate to be impinged by the protrusions against the hulling plate, thereby removing the hulls and pushing the hulls through a hulling gap between the hulling plate and the upper surface of the drum, while the hulled nuts pass through a separator gap between the separator plate and the upper surface of the drum, thereby separating the hulled nuts.
Abstract: Machines and methods for preparing single-servings of a beverage. The machine can include a housing and a basket assembly positioned in the housing. The basket assembly defines a chamber capable of receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. A screen having a plurality of openings can be positioned at a bottom portion of the chamber. A first plate having a single restricting orifice can be secured to the screen.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
Starbucks Corporation
Inventors:
Andrew Timm Windler, Adam Mekeel Mack, Philipe Roget Manoux
Abstract: A system for automatically forming chunks and spears at high speed from unpeeled fruit items is provided. The fruit is sliced into unpeeled wedges. The unpeeled wedges are conveyed into a plurality of staggered transverse chunking blades, wherein the flesh, but not the peel, is cut sequentially from the center of each wedge outwardly, flattening each wedge. A peel removal knife is located to sever the peel of each wedge from the center outwardly after the transverse chunk cutting blades have cut the flesh. Spears may be formed by deleting some of the transverse chunking blades.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 26, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2016
Assignee:
Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
Inventors:
Michael A. Hoffman, David C. Bullock, Christopher G. Theis, Christopher A. Hildreth, Tim Vaughan, John P. Keeton, Dwight Blickensderfer
Abstract: Liquid brewed beverage concentrates and methods of making the concentrates are provided herein. The concentrates are liquid and flowable at room temperature and can be diluted in an aqueous liquid to provide a beverage having the general appearance, flavor, and aroma of a freshly brewed beverage. The concentrates include a low water content, high non-aqueous liquid content, particularly non-volatile non-aqueous liquid content, and high flavor solids content, the amounts of which are balanced to provide concentrates with a desired flavor profile with little or no flavor degradation after storage at room temperature in a sealed container for at least about three months.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 9, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 8, 2016
Assignee:
Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
Inventors:
Bary Lyn Zeller, John B. Topinka, Dale Anthony Kyser
Abstract: A method of decarbonating fermented liquids in-line may include directing a carbonated malt-based liquid through a nozzle, and directing the carbonated malt-based liquid from the nozzle into a space maintained at a partial vacuum pressure. The method may further include maintaining the carbonated malt-based beverage in the space until substantially all of the carbon dioxide dissolved within the carbonated malt-based beverage has been removed to provide a non-carbonated liquid, and removing the non-carbonated liquid from the space at substantially the same rate that the carbonated malt-based liquid is directed into the space.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 2013
Date of Patent:
February 23, 2016
Assignee:
Anheuser-Busch, LLC
Inventors:
Jerome Pellaud, Patrick O'Riordan, Neeraj Sharma, Frank Z. Hellwig, Wilfried Lossignol, Aaron Penn
Abstract: Shown herein are compositions of, and methods of use for, molecularly imprinted polymers useful for extracting and/or detecting target molecule compounds of wine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2012
Date of Patent:
February 16, 2016
Assignees:
The Trustees of Dartmouth College, Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc.
Abstract: The present disclosure includes an extraction assembly for use in an automatic espresso brewer. The extraction assembly includes components and methods for controllably extracting espresso beverage from a quantity of brewing substance. The components, assemblies, and methods facilitate improved control and operation of the extraction assembly and improve the reliability of the extraction assembly. The brewing substance is compacted between a pair of opposing pistons. Compacting force is monitored through at least one sensor carried on the extraction assembly to provide a signal to a controller. A predetermined compacting force may be programmed into the system for all brewing cycles or dependent upon the brewing substance used. The pair of pistons operates relative to a brew chamber for use in the espresso extraction process. The pistons provide compacting force and boundaries within the chamber and facilitate removal of a spent brewing substance puck at the end of the brewing cycle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 5, 2012
Date of Patent:
February 16, 2016
Assignee:
Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
Inventors:
Suresh Radhakrishnan, Jason Ray Lieving, Dan Hansen
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting molecules of interest from a plant matrix, the method including the following steps: electrically processing the plant matrix by means of pulsed power; diffusing the molecules of interest from the processed plant matrix in a hydroalcoholic solvent and/or a solvent including ethyl acetate; and recovering the molecules of interest that were diffused.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 21, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 2, 2016
Assignees:
UNIVERSITE TECHNOLOGIE DE COMPIEGNE—UTC, SOCIETE FRANCAISE DE LABORATOIRES D'OENOLOGIE SOFRALAB
Abstract: A method for using a self-tamping brewing material holder tamps loose ground brewing material obtaining richer flavor. The brewing material holder includes a holder base and a holder lid. Brewing material is loosely deposited in the brewing material holder base and the holder lid is attached to the reusable holder base. Cooperation of the reusable holder base and holder lid biases a tamper against the brewing material to tamp the brewing material. The tamping may be biased by a spring or by a resilient solid material attached to the brewing material holder lid and push the brewing material down inside the base or may be biased by a spring or by a resilient solid material attached to the brewing material holder base and push the brewing material up against the holder lid.
Abstract: A method for the automated production of a coffee preparation with a coffee preparation device (1) having a brewing unit, the method including the following steps: insertion of a pre-filled cartridge (3) with a powder supply (4) having a plurality of, preferably compressed, powder portions (11) of ground coffee beans into a cartridge receptacle (2) of a preparation device (1); automatic or at least partially manual metering of a powder portion (11) from the powder supply (4), wherein the entire powder supply (4) is moved for this purpose, preferably displaced axially, with the assistance of metering unit (10), and then the powder portion (11) is separated from the powder supply (4); transfer of the powder portion (11) to a brewing unit of a preparation device (16); automatic preparation of the coffee in the brewing unit, using the powder portion (11) and a heated, potable fluid flowing through the powder portion in the brewing unit, more particularly under pressure; closure of the cartridge (3) in the cartrid
Abstract: A method of making a beverage including a gas in a beverage making includes pressurizing a gas storage tank arranged to store a gas, supplying a beverage diluent liquid into a dissolver, and dissolving, by way of the dissolver, portion of the gas into the beverage diluent liquid at a minimum dissolver gas volumes level. The method further includes creating a blended beverage diluent liquid having a selectable target gas volumes level by diluting volumetrically the beverage diluent liquid from the dissolver including the gas, with the beverage diluent liquid which is absence the gas, to form the blended beverage diluent liquid having the predefined target gas volumes level, and dispensing selectively a predefined ratio of a beverage ingredient and the blended beverage diluent liquid to form a beverage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 2013
Date of Patent:
January 12, 2016
Assignee:
The Coca-Cola Company
Inventors:
Jonathan Kirschner, William J. Moore, C. Brad Green, H. Brock Kolls
Abstract: A brewing apparatus including a fluid reservoir having a first end and a second end. The brewing apparatus can include a lid portion configured to removably engage the first end of the fluid reservoir and a cartridge holder configured to removably engage the second end of the fluid reservoir. A spring-loaded plunger can slidably connect to the lid portion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 3, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 12, 2016
Assignee:
Starbucks Corporation
Inventors:
Amanda L. Juris, Dervala A. Hanley, Charles B. Cook, Sung Hoon Kim, William Sauway Law, Joel Frederic Jensen, David A. Holcomb, Joseph Gray, Robert Sparks
Abstract: A method for extraction from Lesquerella seeds having an acid value of less than 6 mg KOH/g, said method including the following steps: a seed-processing step i) that includes a single operation of flattening the seeds and at least one operation of drying the seeds; and a step ii) of placing the processed seeds into contact with a mixture of light anhydrous alcohol and co-solvent under temperature and time conditions that are sufficient for extracting a raw oil including phospholipids and gums, as well as obtaining a de-oiled cake.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 24, 2012
Date of Patent:
December 29, 2015
Assignee:
ARKEMA FRANCE
Inventors:
Jean-Luc Dubois, Antoine Piccirilli, Julien Magne