Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and apparatus for grinding spices and grains. One system includes a mill for grinding a spice or grain material, comprising a body and a handle rotatably coupled to the body. The handle is also coupled to an input of a speed boost assembly. An output of the speed boost assembly is coupled to a grind assembly, which includes a rasp. The speed boost assembly is configured to cause the rotational frequency of the rasp to be greater than a rotational frequency of the handle.

Abstract: Devices and methods for storing and dispensing herbs can incorporate a container, a cap and an insert. The container has an opening extending from a proximal to an opposing distal end. An interior wall of the container is threaded at least a portion of its longitudinal length. The cap is releasably coupleable with the distal end. The insert, which is engaged with the proximal end, has a handle at one end and a head at an opposing end. The head of the insert is threadedly coupled to the interior wall of the container such that rotation of the handle results in movement longitudinally along the container. As a result, rotation of the handle when the head and the cap are coupled to the container results in compression of herbs or the like; and further rotation of the handle when the cap is removed results in the herb being forced out of the container.

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.

Abstract: A handheld food slicer including a first handle having a plurality of elongated fingers, each finger separated from an adjacent finger by a blade receiving slot, a second handle movably coupled to the first handle and a plurality of blade members spaced to align with the blade receiving slots to mate with the fingers to collectively define a food receiving passageway when the first and the second handles are in an expanded configuration in which a distal end of the first handle is at least partially spaced apart from a distal end of the second handle, the fingers of the first handle configured to pass through the food receiving passageway adjacent the blade members as the first and the second handles move from the expanded configuration towards a compressed configuration in which the distal end of each of the first and the second handles is relatively closer to the other.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and apparatus for grinding spices and grains. One system includes a mill for grinding a spice or grain material, comprising a body and a handle rotatably coupled to the body. The handle is also coupled to an input of a speed boost assembly. An output of the speed boost assembly is coupled to a grind assembly, which includes a rasp. The speed boost assembly is configured to cause the rotational frequency of the rasp to be greater than a rotational frequency of the handle.

Abstract: A multiple slicing device includes a frame including a receptacle and a plurality of cutting elements, and a working portion including an activation mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a forcing member. The activation mechanism can include two handles where moving one of the handles toward the other handle collapses the forcing member via the cam mechanism, onto a food item placed in the receptacle between the forcing member and the cutting elements, to efficiently and simultaneously cut or slice the food item into multiple pieces.

Abstract: Devices and methods for storing and dispensing herbs can incorporate a container, a cap and an insert. The container has an opening extending from a proximal to an opposing distal end. An interior wall of the container is threaded at least a portion of its longitudinal length. The cap is releasably coupleable with the distal end. The insert, which is engaged with the proximal end, has a handle at one end and a head at an opposing end. The head of the insert is threadedly coupled to the interior wall of the container such that rotation of the handle results in movement longitudinally along the container. As a result, rotation of the handle when the head and the cap are coupled to the container results in compression of herbs or the like; and further rotation of the handle when the cap is removed results in the herb being forced out of the container.

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.

Abstract: A cutting and sharpening device includes a body, a blade element having a cutting edge and rotatably mounted with respect to the body, and a sharpening tool configured to be removably coupled to the body. The sharpening tool can be selectively moved between a first position in which the sharpening tool is spaced from the blade element and a second position in which the sharpening tool contacts the blade element adjacent the cutting edge. The device can be used as a rolling cutter or slicer, and as a sharpening device that sharpens the blade element when the sharpening tool is coupled to the body. The sharpening tool can sharpen the cutting edge when it is in the second position and the blade element is rotated or rolled, directly or indirectly, on a surface.

Abstract: A device for scraping a surface and scooping items from the surface incorporates a body, a handle, a blade and a scoop. The body has a proximal portion, a distal portion and a central portion that fixedly couples the proximal portion with respect to the distal portion. The handle is located at the proximal portion of the body, and is adapted to be held by a user and to facilitate single-handed manipulation of the device by the user. The blade is located at the distal portion of the body, and is oriented to project outward from the body. The scoop is coupled to the central portion of the body, the scoop having a sidewall adapted to be folded in at least one location such that the sidewall can be expanded to form a scoop having a hollow portion for receiving the items, and can be collapsed by folding the sidewall such that the scoop is roughly the same thickness as other portions of the body.

Abstract: A device for removing the husk from a clove of garlic incorporates female and male members. The female member has a body with a cylinder therein terminating in a resilient bottom with a compound surface relief. The male member has a handle and a rigid projection. The projection is sized and shaped to mate with the cylinder, to move longitudinally with respect to the cylinder, and to rotate about the longitudinal axis when positioned in the cylinder. The projection terminates in an end incorporating a resilient material having a compound surface relief. When a clove of garlic is placed in the device and the projection is inserted into the cylinder until the clove contacts the cylinder and the projection, rotation of the handle with respect to the female member removes the husk.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing system foodstuff are shown and described. Food processing systems can hold and prepare food for consumption. The disclosed embodiments provide a drive mechanism that utilizes a contoured surface between a ratchet wheel and a drive mechanism that rotates the ratchet wheel to move the ratchet wheel toward and in engagement with a drive wheel for initiating rotation of the drive wheel and to disengage the ratchet wheel from the drive wheel to allow the drive wheel to rotate freely. The drive wheel is configured to couple to a processing component of the processing system.

Abstract: A device, system and method for cooking hot cereal are disclosed. Embodiments of the device and system incorporate a steam chamber adapted to hold a bowl of dry cereal and to retain steam in the presence of the bowl; a reservoir for holding water; a filling line and faucet coupled to the reservoir and configured to route water from the reservoir, out the faucet and into the bowl of dry cereal; and a steam generator coupled to the reservoir for generating steam and routing the steam into the steam chamber to cook the cereal. Embodiments of the method incorporate a timer and controls to automatically fill the cereal bowl and cook the cereal at a pre-selected time.

Abstract: A multiple slicing device includes a frame including a receptacle and a plurality of cutting elements, and a working portion including an activation mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a forcing member. The activation mechanism can include two handles where moving one of the handles toward the other handle collapses the forcing member via the cam mechanism, onto a food item placed in the receptacle between the forcing member and the cutting elements, to efficiently and simultaneously cut or slice the food item into multiple pieces.

Abstract: A pouring device includes a container, a stiffening member with first and second stiffening portions having respective terminating ends spaced from each other. The first and second stiffening portions are coupled to the container with a deformable region of the container being positioned between the terminating ends of the first and second stiffening portions. The deformable region can be more resilient than the stiffening member to form a pour spout at least in part from the deformable region upon application of a force to the container toward opposing sides of the deformable region.

Abstract: A device for mixing and frothing a liquid incorporates a container and a removable insert. The container has a bottom, a sidewall, and at least one opening. An upper portion of the insert projects outwards from the container. A lower portion of the insert has a shaft with a distal end located near the bottom of the container during operation. A motor is operable to rotate the shaft. A mixing blade is fixedly coupled with respect to the distal end of the shaft. A frothing assembly is movably coupled to the shaft, and incorporates a float and a frother. The float and frother remain near an upper surface of the liquid such that, regardless of the liquid level, the frother is position near the top surface to selectively froth the liquid therein.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing system foodstuff are shown and described. Food processing systems can hold and prepare food for consumption. The disclosed embodiments can be quickly and conveniently used to dry, grind, mill, dispense, or otherwise process foodstuff.