Abstract: An espresso cartridge includes contours under a rim of the espresso cartridge for guiding and sealing the espresso cartridge in an espresso brewing machine. Espresso brewing machines inject a high pressure flow of water heated to near boiling temperature into the espresso cartridge to brew espresso. As a result, a very good seal is required between the espresso cartridge rim and the espresso brewing machine to prevent leaking. The contours includes a first contour which centers the espresso cartridge in the machine and a second contour which is crushed to seal the espresso cartridge to a brewing chamber base.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a container configured to hold liquid and having an open top, and a brewing material holder configured to be suspended into the container and to hold beverage brewing material in contact with liquid held in the container. The brewer also includes a pressure assembly operable to provide pressurized liquid flow through the brewing material holder within the container, and/or a heating element configured to be arranged at least partially in an interior of the container and operable to heat liquid held in the container.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a support element for beverage brewing material includes providing water-permeable material to form a concave holder configured to receive the material, with a rim formed around an upper periphery. The method can include providing the material with fold lines, forming the holder from a single piece of the material, and shaping the holder into an open state. Preparing a beverage includes unfolding the support element to form a receptacle, adding the brewing material to an interior, and providing a flow of fluid through the material. An empty container includes filter material formable as a receptacle having has a bottom and sidewalls with folds defining an interior, and a rim at a top edge. The receptacle has a circular cross-section and a diameter of between about 30 mm and about 50 mm and/or a depth of between about 1 mm and about 15 mm.

Abstract: An insulated cup holder includes an outer shell, an inner shell connected to and spaced from the outer shell, and a spacer. The outer shell includes an outer shell sidewall, an inside surface of which defines an interior space of the outer shell. The inner shell includes an inner shell sidewall, an upper peripheral edge of which defines an open receiving end. An inside surface of the inner shell sidewall defines an open interior space. An area defined by the upper peripheral edge of the inner shell sidewall is larger than that defined by a lower peripheral edge of the inner shell sidewall, such that the inner shell sidewall tapers from the upper peripheral edge to the lower peripheral edge. The inner shell is arranged within the interior space of the outer shell. The spacer is configured to be arranged in contact with and extending inward from the inner shell.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a pump, a container, an intake channel, an outflow channel, and a brewing material holder. The pump has inlet and outlet ports to provide negative fluid pressure at the inlet port and positive fluid pressure at the outlet port. The intake channel provides fluid communication between an interior of the container and the inlet port. The outflow channel provides fluid communication between the outlet port and the interior of the container. The brewing material holder is configured to hold ground brewing material and is arranged at an issue end of the outflow channel. The pump is configured to draw liquid from the interior of the container through the intake channel and to issue the liquid to the brewing material holder through the outflow channel, thereby brewing a beverage. The brewing material holder is configured to issue the brewed beverage into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A container includes a receptacle and a cover. The receptacle includes a base and a sidewall. The base has an interior surface and a passageway in an interior area of the base. The passageway provides fluid communication from an interior of the receptacle to an exterior of the receptacle. The sidewall extends upward from the interior surface of the base. The cover is configured to sealingly engage with a top edge of the sidewall, and includes a cover opening. The container is configured to accept input fluid through the cover opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway. The passageway allows the outflow fluid to flow from the container while accommodating an outflow needle of a beverage brewer.

Abstract: A brewing material container for a beverage brewer includes a receptacle, a lid, and a selective obstruction. The receptacle is configured to receive and hold beverage brewing material and to be placed in a brewing chamber of the beverage brewer, and includes a base, and a sidewall extending from the base and terminating in an open end. The lid is configured to engage with the open end of the sidewall to cover the open end at least partially, and includes a plurality of lid openings configured to receive a corresponding respective plurality of injection nozzles of the beverage brewer. The receptacle base and/or the receptacle sidewall includes a receptacle opening configured to allow fluid flow from an interior of the receptacle to an exterior of the receptacle. The selective obstruction is configured to selectively block one or more of the lid openings.

Abstract: A cigar tool includes a piercing rod, a handle, and a cover attachable over the piercing rod. The piercing rod is pointed to penetrate a densely packed cigar. The handle includes a fixed portion and a sliding portion, and squeezing the fixed and sliding portions together releases the cover exposing the piercing rod. The cover may be a simple cylindrical key fob or an added feature of a cigar lighter or ash tray.

Abstract: A container includes a receptacle and a cover. The receptacle includes a base and a sidewall. The base has an interior surface and a passageway in an interior area of the base. The passageway provides fluid communication from an interior of the receptacle to an exterior of the receptacle. The sidewall extends upward from the interior surface of the base. The cover is configured to sealingly engage with a top edge of the sidewall, and includes a cover opening. The container is configured to accept input fluid through the cover opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway. The passageway allows the outflow fluid to flow from the container while accommodating an outflow needle of a beverage brewer.

Abstract: A liquid infusion device includes a container, a container collar, a lid assembly, and a filter basket. The container has an open top, a closed sidewall, and a closed bottom. The container collar has a collar opening and is configured to couple to a rim of the open top. The lid assembly is configured to cover at least a portion of the collar opening. The filter basket is configured to hold infusion material and to be suspended from the lid assembly and into an interior of the container. The filter basket includes an open top, a bottom, and a sidewall having an opening. The infusion device can include a motor configured to impart motion to the filter basket.

Abstract: A cigar tool includes a piercing rod, a handle, and a cover attachable over the piercing rod. The piercing rod is pointed to penetrate a densely packed cigar. The handle includes a fixed portion and a sliding portion, and squeezing the fixed and sliding portions together releases the cover exposing the piercing rod. The cover may be a simple cylindrical key fob or an added feature of a cigar lighter or ash try.

Abstract: A beverage strainer includes a piston and a push-rod. The piston is configured to slide within a length of a tube, or along an inner sidewall of a container. The push-rod is configured to be coupled to the piston and to be manipulated to cause the piston to slide within the length of tube. The piston includes a plurality of apertures sized to allow passage of particulate matter through the piston within the tube.

Abstract: An insulated cup holder includes outer and inner walls separated by an empty volume, and a gap between a cup and the inner walls. A silicone ring at the top of the inner wall seals and holds the cup, and the inner walls are tapered to contact a base of the cup to seat the cup in the cup holder above an inner shell base, and the only contact between the inner shell and the cup walls is at the cup base.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a container, a container collar, a brewing material holder, a mesh element, and a drive assembly. The container has an open top, a closed sidewall, and a closed bottom. The container collar is configured to cover a rim of the open top. The brewing material holder is configured to hold brewing material and to be suspended from the container collar and into an interior of the container. The brewing material holder includes a sidewall having an opening, an open top, and a bottom. The mesh element covers the opening in the sidewall of the brewing material holder. The drive assembly is positionable on the container collar and is configured to be mechanically coupled to and rotate the brewing material holder.

Abstract: A beverage brewing cartridge includes a base and a plug. The base includes a sidewall, a fillable end having an opening, and a closed end. The plug is configured to close off the opening. A method of constructing a brewing cartridge includes placing the base of the beverage brewing cartridge on a cartridge seat of a cartridge tool with the closed end against the cartridge seat. A cartridge lock retains the base against the cartridge tool. A portion of brewing material is scooped and poured into the base through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the opening of the fillable end of the base, and then tamped into the base. The plug is positioned above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the base, and seated into the opening to close the opening, thereby completing construction of the brewing cartridge.

Abstract: A beverage brewing material filter cup includes a receptacle configured to receive and hold brewing material. The receptacle includes a base, a sidewall, and a rim. The base has a peripheral edge. The sidewall extends outward from the peripheral edge of the base and terminates in an opening. The rim surrounds the sidewall opening to form an outside perimeter of the receptacle. At least the base and/or the sidewall is at least partially constructed of a water-permeable material.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a container configured to hold liquid and having an open top, and a brewing material holder configured to be suspended into the container and to hold beverage brewing material in contact with liquid held in the container. The brewer also includes a pressure assembly operable to provide pressurized liquid flow through the brewing material holder within the container, and/or a heating element configured to be arranged at least partially in an interior of the container and operable to heat liquid held in the container.

Abstract: A beverage brewer spray apparatus includes a lid, dispersal members, and a skirt. The lid has an obverse and converse surfaces. The dispersal members extend from the converse surface of the lid at open proximal ends of the dispersal members. The skirt has a proximal end fixed to and extending outward from the converse surface of the lid. Each dispersal member has a sidewall and a distal end defining an interior of the dispersal member. The sidewall has apertures arranged in a distal section of the sidewall. The lid has through-holes formed between the obverse and converse surfaces, and the dispersal members are fixed to the converse surface such that the through-holes provide fluid communication from the obverse surface of the lid to the apertures through the interiors of the dispersal members. The apertures are configured to direct liquid outward from the dispersal members.

Abstract: A brewing cartridge adapter is configured for use in a beverage brewer and includes a cup, a passage wall, and a cup cooperative element. The cup includes a closed end, and a sidewall extending from the closed end to an open end, defining an enclosed interior of the cup. The passage wall is arranged along the sidewall to define an extraction passage. The passage wall extends from a first end toward the closed end to an open outlet port toward the peripheral edge, and includes an entry port from the cup interior. The cup cooperative element is arranged in the closed end and is configured to receive an adapter extraction needle. The extraction passage is arranged in fluid communication with an exterior of the cup through the outlet port, which is arranged in a plane defined by the peripheral edge of the sidewall.

Abstract: A door manipulation tool includes a grip end, a working end, and a connector. The grip end is configured to be gripped by a user. The working end is configured to contact and grasp a door element. The connector is configured to maintain a spaced relation between the grip and working ends. The working end can include a hook, a loop, a grabber, and/or a prod. The tool can be fabricated from or plated with an antimicrobial material, such as an antiviral material. The tool can include a holster, and a closure element arranged between the grip end and the connector, configured to couple with an opening of the holster and mutually arranged as a bottle opener. An interior of the holster can include a fabric lining that is configured to absorb and release an antimicrobial liquid. The connector can include indicia configured to measure a distance between two points.