Patent Grant
9598230
The present invention refers to a cartridge containing one serving of coffee powder for preparing a coffee beverage. Such cartridges are well known in the art in a plurality of embodiments, whereby particularly cartridges for preparing so-called espresso coffee beverage are in widespread use. The fundamental advantage of such cartridges may be seen in the fact that they are gas-tight, whereby the coffee powder is contained therein without oxygen that would impair the quality of the coffee powder during storage of the cartridge. Thus, the coffee powder contained in such cartridges keeps its freshness for a long time.
For brewing the coffee powder contained in the cartridge, either manually operated or semi-automatic as well as fully automatic coffee makers are used. Usually, in a manually operated coffee maker, the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge holder that in turn is inserted into the coffee maker. In the semi-automatic coffee makers, the cartridge is inserted into a cartridge retainer or directly into the brewing chamber of the machine, whereby the brewing chamber is manually closed by means of a central lever mechanism. In a fully automatic coffee maker, however, the cartridge is removed from a cartridge magazine and automatically inserted into the brewing chamber; after the brewing operation, the cartridge is removed from the brewing chamber and discarded into a trash receptacle without any intervention of the operator.
All these above mentioned species of coffee maker usually comprise a hollow so-called brewing spike provided with radial outlet openings for injecting brewing water into the cartridge that is also adapted to punch the bottom and the cover, respectively, of the cartridge. Also known are manually operated coffee makers in which the cartridge retainer is provided with a plurality of embossments located on an outlet grate; these embossments break open the cover of the cartridge as soon as brewing water is injected into the cartridge from the opposite side thereof and the cartridge is pressed against the embossments under the influence of the hydraulic overpressure created by the pressurized brewing water. During the subsequent brewing operation, the brewing water is injected into the cartridge by means of the brewing spike, with the result that is flows under pressure through the coffee powder contained in the cartridge and escapes from the cartridge through the opening created by the embossments.
Independent of the fact whether it is a manually operated coffee maker or a semi-automatic or a fully automatic machine, in many cases the coffee maker is designed and adapted to the cartridge so as to produce a coffee beverage having froth on its surface; that froth usually is considered as a characteristic of a good coffee beverage.
Even if great efforts have been taken to ensure that the prepared coffee beverage has durable froth on its surface, in certain countries the desire arises to prepare also conventional coffee in the sense of a filter coffee by means of these coffee makers. In place of the expression “filter coffee”, also the expression “gentle coffee” is used.
In view of such a desire, coffee makers adapted to the cartridge so as to produce a coffee beverage without froth on its surface have been designed (as in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/034,504).
The U.S. Patent document 2003/0172813 discloses a cartridge of the kind referred to herein. It contains a substance extractable by means of water for preparing a beverage, preferably an espresso coffee. Thereby, a sieve-like member is disposed between the bottom of the cartridge and the substance and/or between the cover of the cartridge and the substance, provided with a plurality of axial apertures. The sieve-like member is provided with stampings directed towards the bottom of the cartridge and the cover of the cartridge, respectively, such that fluid channels are formed between the sieve-like member and the bottom of the cartridge, and the sieve-like member and the cover of the cartridge, respectively. In these channels, the brewing water can be distributed over the cross sectional area of the cartridge, and the prepared beverage can be collected in these channels, respectively. In order to prevent that the sieve-like member is punched upon piercing the cartridge, the sieve-like member comprises a central recess directed towards the interior of the cartridge into which the piercing member can extend once the cover or the bottom of the cartridge have been pierced. Even if such a cartridge is well suitable for preparing espresso coffee, it can hardly be used for preparing normal filter coffee, since the cartridge presents a high flow resistance to the brewing water flowing there trough; the result is a formation of froth.
Such known kind of cartridge suffers the drawback that the lower filter can move from its nominal position under the effect of the cartridge's movements, so that coffee powder can flow out together with the beverage by passing between the filter and the lateral wall of the cartridge itself.
The patent document EP 0,326,685 discloses a container, called a brewing chamber, adapted to be disposed of after use, which is collapsible and to the bottom of which a filter bag containing ground coffee or tea is glued. Preferably, the container is made of paper, carton or a similar material. The bottom of the container is provided with an outlet opening located below the filter bag through which the prepared beverage can flow out. In a preferred embodiment of the container, the outlet opening is covered at the outside with a removable foil. Such a container may be usable in a conventional filter coffee machine, but not in an espresso coffee machine.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a cartridge containing one serving of coffee powder for preparing a coffee beverage comprising a cup-like shaped portion in which a filter is located, and in which the filter is fixed in the interior of the cartridge.
In particular it is an object of the present invention to develop cartridges for the preparation of any kind of coffee (espresso, filter coffee, . . . ), in which the filter can not move from its nominal position so that to prevent any undesired flow out of the coffee powder together with the beverage.
To meet the above-cited and other objects, the present invention provides a cartridge containing one serving of coffee powder for preparing a coffee beverage, comprising a cartridge body having a cup-like shaped lower portion and a cover portion, wherein the cup-like shaped lower portion has a bottom portion and an upper region. The cartridge further comprises a lower filter element located inside the cup-like shaped lower portion between the coffee powder and the bottom portion, and the cup-like shaped lower portion is provided with an annular groove in which a peripheral edge portion of the filter engages for clampingly fix the lower filter element to the cup-like shaped lower portion of the cartridge. More in detail, the filter element is provided with a circumferential edge portion which is provided with a circumferential annular projection engaging the groove to clampingly fix the filter element in the interior of the cartridge. Furthermore, the groove can be provided both in the interior and in the exterior of the capsule.
In an alternative embodiment, the interior of the cup-like shaped lower portion of the cartridge is provided with engaging means, and the peripheral edge portion engages the engaging means for clampingly fix the lower filter element to the cup-like shaped lower portion. Such engaging means that, in the illustrated embodiments, is defined by the groove, can assume every shape or configuration adapted to clampingly fix the filter. For example they can be constituted by one or more elements projecting inwardly and acting as the groove in the embodiments of
In the following, the present invention is disclosed with reference to a cartridge containing one serving of coffee powder for preparing a coffee beverage, comprising a cartridge body having a bottom portion and a cover portion, the bottom portion of the cartridge body having a passage covered by a gas-tight foil member, and a filter element located inside the cartridge body between the coffee powder and the passage in the bottom portion of the cartridge body. Such cartridge is designed for the production of filter coffee that is coffee without froth on its surface.
In fact, by providing at least the bottom portion of the cartridge with a passage constituted by an aperture, adapted to avoid a hydraulic pressure build-up in the interior of the cartridge during brewing and extracting the coffee powder, the fundamental prerequisite is realized to use such a cartridge in a conventional espresso machine for preparing a coffee beverage corresponding in appearance and taste to a normal filter coffee. The passage ensures that the pressurized brewing water fed into the cartridge cannot create a substantial pressure build-up in the interior of the cartridge. Thus, the brewing water can flow through the cartridge and, thereby, through the coffee powder contained therein without any substantial resistance, thereby avoiding the formation of froth.
As said above, in order to prevent the coffee powder contained in the cartridge from escaping the cartridge through the aforementioned passage and from being flushed out by the brewing water, the filter element is arranged between the passage and the coffee powder contained in the cartridge. In order to ensure that the coffee powder contained in the cartridge keeps well during an extended period of time in spite of the passage provided in the cartridge, the passage is covered by a gas-tight foil. The latter one is either manually removable or designed such that it can be easily pierced by a punching member.
In any case, the present invention can be applied to cartridges for the production of any kind of coffee.
In the following, embodiments of the cartridge according to the invention will be further described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The coffee powder cartridge according to the present invention as well as the one according to
Finally, while, in the embodiments of
The upper region of the lower portion 1 of the cartridge, slightly conically widening towards it top, is provided with a enlarged portion 5, establishing an annular shoulder 5a at the inside of the cartridge, serving for supporting the upper distribution member 3. At the top, the cup-shaped portion 1 of the cartridge comprises a circumferential edge portion 6 to which a cover 4 is fixed, preferably welded. As schematically indicated in
After the aperture 20, 20a having been covered by the foil 21, 21a, and after the cover having been welded to the circumferential edge portion 6 of the cup-shaped portion 1 of the cartridge, the cartridge and, thereby, its content are air-tightly sealed. All these foil materials used for manufacturing the lower portion 1 of the cartridge, the cover 4 and the foil 21, 21a preferably comprise at least one gas-tight layer as well as a layer of a thermoplastic polymer. Layers of thermoplastic polymer are easily welded to each other, for instance under the influence of heat or ultrasound.
The filter element 2, 2a, having essentially dish-like shape, is provided with a circumferential edge portion 11, 11a and, in the illustrated embodiments, comprises a plurality of stampings 9 having essentially the shape of annular segments and protruding above the bottom of the filter element 2, 2a downwards. Once the filter element 2, 2a is inserted into the cup-shaped portion 1, the stampings 9 rest on the bottom of the portion 1 of the cartridge. Thus, between the stampings 9 and the bottom of the portion 1 of the cartridge, collection channels 17 are formed that extend, with reference to a central vertical axis, radially outwards and circularly around the central axis. In the areas between the stampings 9, in the region of the channels 17, the filter element 2, 2a is provided with a plurality of apertures 8, 8a. In the center of the filter element 2, 2a, a central, cone-shaped recess 10 is provided that is directed towards the interior of the cartridge.
The upper distribution member 3 also comprises a plurality of stampings 13 having essentially the shape of annular segments and protruding above the top of the distribution member 3 upwards. Between the stampings 13, at the top of the distribution member 3, fluid channels 18 are formed that extend, with reference to a central vertical axis, radially outwards and circularly around the central axis. In the areas between the stampings 13, in the region of the channels 18, the distribution member 3 is provided with a plurality of apertures 14. In the center of the distribution member 3, a central, cone-shaped recess 15 is provided that is directed towards the interior of the cartridge. Along its periphery, the distribution member 3 is provided with an annular surface portion 19, slightly elevated with respect to the fluid channels 18, and being essentially flush with the stampings 13. The edge of the annular surface portion 19 comprises an annular portion 16 extending downwards from the surface portion 19.
Upon inserting the upper distribution member 3 into the cup-shaped lower portion 1 of the cartridge, the distribution member 3 rests with its portion 16 on the shoulder 5a of the enlarged portion 5 of the cartridge portion 1. During feeding brewing water into the cartridge for preparing a coffee beverage, the distribution member 3 particularly serves for evenly distributing the brewing water over the entire cross section of the cartridge, while the lower filter element 2, 2a particularly prevents any coffee powder particles from escaping from the cartridge. Additionally, the upper distribution member 3 also serves as a filter, while the lower filter element 2, 2a also serves to collect and centrally discharge the prepared coffee beverage.
In order to arrive at an optimal distribution of the brewing water over the entire cross sectional area of the cartridge and, thereby, at an even soaking of the coffee powder contained in the cartridge, both the apertures 14 provided in the distribution member 3 and the apertures 8, 8a in the filter element 2, 2a are evenly distributed over the respective surface of the member 3 and element 2, 2a, respectively. The entire summed cross sectional area of the apertures 14 provided in the distribution member 3 amounts to at least three percent (3%), preferably to five percent (5%) of the total cartridge cross sectional area. The same relationship is also true for the lower filter element 2, 2a. By this design, it is ensured that the brewing water flows through the distribution member 3 into the interior of the cartridge without any substantial resistance, and that the prepared coffee beverage can flow through the lower filter element 2, 2a out of the cartridge without any substantial resistance, as well. Moreover, the aperture 20 in the bottom 7, 7a of the cartridge ensures that neither at the beginning nor during the brewing operation a hydraulic pressure build-up can take place. By this design, the formation of froth in the finished coffee beverage can be reliably avoided.
Nevertheless, the size of the apertures 8, 8a, 14 in the filter and distribution elements 2, 2a, 3 should not be chosen so large that coffee powder can escape from the cartridge. To this end, the diameter of a single aperture 8, 8a, 14 is made somewhat smaller than the statistic mean value of the diameter of a single particle of the coffee powder. In order not to confront the brewing water with a high flow resistance when it flows through the coffee powder contained in the cartridge, the coffee powder is relatively coarsely ground. The arithmetic mean value of one particle of the coffee powder amounts to between 400 and 600 μm in the present example.
Preferably, the foil 21, 21a has a color that is different from the color of the cartridge. The color of the foil 21, 21a can be selected, for example, to determine the content of the cartridge. In other words, depending on the amount of coffee contained in the cartridge, the blend of the coffee, or the degree of grinding, a different color is selected for the foil.
Once the foil 21 is removed, the cartridge can be inserted into the brewing chamber of a coffee machine (not shown). For punching the cartridge, a punching means, e.g. in the form of a piercing sting 23, is lowered towards the cover 4 of the cartridge and pierces the latter one. Thereby, the piercing sting 23 moves through the cover 4 into the recess 15 provided in the distribution member 3, thus avoiding any damage to the distribution member 3. For feeding brewing water 24 into the interior of the cartridge, the piercing sting 23 is provided with a central bore, opening into radial outlet openings.
In the present case, it is assumed that the brewing water 24 flows through the cartridge from its top to its bottom. By means of the fluid channels 18, the brewing water is evenly distributed over the entire cross section of the cartridge. Through the apertures 14 provided in the upper distribution member 3, the brewing water enters the interior of the cartridge to flow through the coffee powder. Through the apertures 8, 8a in the lower filter element 2, 2a, the prepared coffee beverage enters the space below the filter element 2, 2a and escapes from the cartridge through the passage 22, 22a formed by the aperture 20, 20a; therefrom, it is led by not further shown means to a coffee beverage outlet of the coffee machine.
By the provision of the previously described distribution member 3 and filter element 2, 2a it is ensured that the coffee particles contained in the cartridge are homogenously soaked, resulting in an optimal extraction of the entire coffee powder. The stampings 9, 13 are distributed such that the respective element 2, 3 rests in a two-dimensional way on the bottom 7 of the cartridge and on the cover 4 of the cartridge, respectively. Thereby, it is ensured that the fluid channels 17, 18 maintain their shape between element 2, 2a and bottom 7, and member 3 and cover 4, respectively, even if external forces affect the cartridge.
The diameter of the apertures 8, 14 provided in the distribution member 3 and the filter element 2, 2a, respectively, is preferably smaller than the statistic diameter of a single particle of the coffee powder, preferably smaller than x−σ, whereby x is the arithmetic mean value of the diameter and σ is the standard deviation. Thereby, it is ensured that essentially no coffee particles can escape from the cartridge, independent of the size of the opening that is punched into the cover 4 by the piercing sting 23.
In the embodiment of
While the cup-like shaped lower portion 1a of the cartridge is relatively, stiff, dimensionally stable, elastic and ductile, the foil 21a is, as compared thereto, thinner and comprises a lower elasticity, ductility and tear strength. Thereby, it is ensured that the foil 21a readily tears apart under the influence of the piercing sting 35. In order to keep the foil 21a relatively thin, it is made of a two layer material. The combination of a layer of aluminum and a layer of thermoplastic polymer has been proven to be particularly advantageous. As a thermoplastic polymer, particularly suitable are polypropylene or polyethylene. By providing a layer of aluminum, a very good gas-tight sealing can be achieved, while the thermoplastic polymer layer enables a welding of the foil to the bottom 7a of the cartridge.
As regard the embodiments of
Furthermore, the embodiment of
In fact, according to the present invention, the cup-like shaped lower portion 1a of the cartridge is provided with a circumferential groove 27, while the edge 11a of the filter element 2a (and, preferably, a circumferential annular projection 28 which the edge 11a is provided of) engages the groove 27 to clampingly fix the filter element 2a in the interior of the cartridge. According to the embodiment of
The foil 21a, visible from the outside through the aperture 20a, preferably has another color than the cartridge itself. After the foil 21a and the cover 4 having been welded to the lower portion 1a of the cartridge, the cartridge and, thereby, its content are air-tightly sealed.
Due to the fact that the foil 21a is relatively thin and does not exhibit a high ductility, elasticity or tear strength, it can easily be punched by the piercing sting. Thereby, it is ensured that in a fully automatic espresso coffee machine both conventional coffee powder cartridges (as the ones of
Whenever, in the foregoing, the expression “espresso coffee machine” has been used, it was to designate generally a coffee machine, having a brewing chamber adapted to receive the coffee powder cartridge and a pump for feeding pressurized water into the cartridge, independently of the fact whether the espresso coffee machine is used for preparing a “small” espresso coffee or a “larger” coffee. Anyway, coffee beverages prepared with an espresso coffee machine have been characterized by the fact that they had froth on the surface. However, by means of the coffee powder cartridge according to the enclosed
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2004 002 005 | Jan 2004 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/034,504, entitled “CARTRIDGE CONTAINING ONE SERVING OF COFFEE POWDER FOR PREPARING A COFFEE BEVERAGE” filed on Jan. 13, 2005, which issued on Jun. 30, 2009, as U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,672, and which is owned by the assignee of the present application.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 11034504 | Jan 2005 | US |
| Child | 12493528 | US |
