Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a diverter valve is comprised of a valve body with multiple inlet and outlet ports. The diverter valve is further comprised of two ceramic valve sections that can be rotated with respect to each other to allow the user to direct fluid entering the valve body to one of several outlet ports. According to a second embodiment, the diverter valve of the present invention further incorporates one or more of a flow regulator, a flow meter, and a check valve.

Abstract: A coffee maker having interchangeable carafes, a serial heating system, and a centrifugal brewing system. The coffee maker includes a glass carafe and a thermal carafe, either of which interchangeably fits within a carafe cavity. The presence of the glass carafe activates a heating element positioned under the carafe. The thermal carafe does not. The centrifugal brewing system includes a showerhead for distributing water at radially spaced locations over a rotating grounds basket. The control for the serial heating system activates and deactivates the heating element to allow for heat transfer between heated and unheated portions of the water. In an alternative embodiment including a batch water heating system, the coffee maker includes a modular distributor secured to the bottom of the water heating vessel by a hand-actuated bayonet mount for easy cleaning or replacement.