Abstract: A brewing system which uses an air pump to evacuate a dispensing line and a method of brewing in which a brewer includes an air pump to provide pressurized air at least at the end of a brew cycle to help evacuate moisture from a dispensing line. The brewing system includes a heated water reservoir which retains heated water for dispensing and a dispense line through which the water is dispensed. A vent is coupled to the reservoir. A controllable air pump communicates with the reservoir to controllably add air to the reservoir to drive water out of the reservoir. The vent is closed when the pump is used to add air to the system to allow for a build-up of air pressure in the reservoir and out through the dispense line. The controllable air pump controllably dispenses air into the upper portion. Both the air vent valve and air pump are controllably coupled to a controller.

Abstract: A server for use with a beverage dispenser, a beverage dispenser including a server, and methods for reducing heat transfer. The server includes an inner wall and an outer wall with the wall defining a gap there between. The inner wall defines a cavity for retaining a volume of beverage. A dispense passage extends between the inner and outer walls and communicates with the cavity for dispensing beverage from the server. A sump may be provided in at least the inner wall. The dispense passage may be configured to communicate with the sump. The dispense passage may be configured to extend from a side of the inner wall or sump through to the side of the outer wall. The dispense passage extends through the gap. An inlet port of the passage communicates with the sump. The sump is sized in dimension in relation to the inlet port to reduce heat transfer from beverage retained in the cavity to the beverage retained in the dispense passage.

Abstract: A beverage making apparatus, method, method of using such a beverage making apparatus and method of cleaning a beverage making apparatus is disclosed. The beverage making apparatus includes a liquid basin (16) for receiving a quantity of liquid and is in communication with a reservoir (20) for retaining a volume of heated liquid. A control valve (40) is provided and positioned for communication with the basin and reservoir for controlling flow of liquid from the basin to the reservoir. A controller (14) is coupled to the control valve for at least selectively operating the control valve for selectively controlling the flow of liquid from the basin to the reservoir. The control valve can be selectively operated to produce a generally continuous flow of liquid from the basin to the reservoir or may be controller for multiple dispensings of liquid from the basin to the reservoir during a brewing cycle.

Abstract: A system and method for testing a beverage apparatus such as a beverage maker and/or dispenser before shipment. The beverage apparatus includes at least one component that can produce monitorable and/or measurable characteristic. The measurable characteristic may be compared against a threshold value and may include an acceptable tolerance range. In response to an out-of tolerance condition, a fail condition is displayed, otherwise a pass condition is displayed. Also disclosed is a system for storing the measurable characteristic so that the beverage apparatus can be analyzed by comparing its current state versus the baseline state measured before the beverage apparatus was shipped.