Patent Application
20200359829
There are many devices for brewing coffee. In a typical consumer-grade coffee making device, the user loads coffee grounds into a container in the device, and hot water is contacted with the coffee grounds such that water soluble components from the coffee grounds are extracted by the water. The coffee grounds are filtered from the mixture, resulting in hot coffee.
Traditional drip-based coffee makers typically comprise a filter basket that receives a coffee filter, ground coffee and water. The filter basket normally includes an outlet opening disposed in the center of the basket. Hot water is introduced into the top of the filter basket and contacts the coffee grounds such that water soluble components from the coffee grounds are extracted by the water, and exits through the outlet opening as a beverage (i.e., coffee), while the remaining coffee grounds are filtered from the mixture by the filter basket.
Conventional drip-based methods can produce a hot beverage within minutes. However, this technique typically fails to extract poorly soluble fats, fatty acids and other lipid-based compounds present in coffee beans. Solubility/extraction of poorly soluble compounds is often enhanced at higher temperatures, but the limited steeping time and structure of drip-based brewing devices is normally unfavorable for extraction of these compounds, resulting in limited or undetectable amounts of these compounds in coffee produced using conventional drip-based methods.
French press coffee brewing devices typically include a cylindrical glass container with a plunger that slides vertically along the central axis of the container. The head of the plunger includes a mesh filter. To make a pot of coffee, the plunger is removed from the container and coarse grounds are placed in the bottom of the container. Hot water is then added and stirred with the grounds. The coffee grounds are then allowed to steep for an appropriate length of time in order to allow extractable components to be extracted by the hot water. Finally, the plunger is depressed, collecting the free-floating grounds at the bottom of the container. Water and water extractable components from the coffee grounds pass through the filter. The resulting coffee beverage is normally served directly from the container. Coffee produced using the French press method is considered by some to be superior to drip-based brewing. However, conventional French press methods are only capable of extracting a very small amount of oil from coffee beans, limiting the range of taste and aroma profiles of beverages brewed using this method.
The structure of the conventional French press device is not ideal in that coffee grinds are collected by the plunger at the bottom of the steeping vessel. As a result, the steeping process cannot be terminated unless all of the coffee beverage in the vessel is poured out (i.e., to allow the user to remove the grinds collected at the bottom of the vessel). As a result, users cannot brew a batch of French press coffee, dispense a portion or single serving of the brewed beverage and then store the remaining coffee in the vessel because steeping will continue in the interim. Over-steeped coffee grinds typically produce a poor quality coffee beverage. French press coffee may also have an undesirable chalky taste profile in some instances due to poor filtering and/or use of the device with coffee that has been grounds too finely.
Coffee may also be produced using a cold brew process, which typically involves steeping coffee grinds in water for a prolonged period of time (e.g., ˜14-18 hours) at room temperature or a chilled temperature, and then separating the grinds from the resulting coffee beverage using a filter. The extended steeping time used by cold brew protocols allows one to brew a cup of coffee without the use of hot water which would otherwise change the flavor profile, resulting in a beverage with a unique extraction profile compared to standard drip-based brewing methods. Cold brew coffee has become increasingly popular in recent years, at least partially due to the perception by many users that cold brew coffee has improved flavor and aroma profiles compared to conventional coffee. However, adoption and commercialization of cold brew methods has been limited due to the long steeping time required by this method (e.g., users must plan ahead by ˜14 hours). As a result, cold brew methods have failed to supplant conventional drip-based brewing.
In sum, while methods of brewing coffee using drip-based, French press, and cold brew devices may be adequate for brewing a traditional cup of coffee, they suffer various limitations. For example, standard drip-based brewing techniques are fast but are often unable to extract a substantial portion of the desirable organic compounds present in coffee beans, e.g., drip-based methods typically fail to extract any measurable amount of oil from the coffee and the high heat required by this method may worsen the taste of the resulting beverage. French press methods are capable of extracting a small portion of the oil contained in the coffee beans but also require high heat which may negatively impact the flavor of the coffee, and also require substantial manual preparation by the user (a user must grind beans, heat water, mix the grinds and water, and filter the resulting coffee beverage). Cold brew methods typically fail to extract a substantial amount of the oil and other poorly soluble (or extractable) compounds in coffee and also require a sizable investment of time, e.g., 12-16 hours. None of these existing devices or methods provides fast brewing, high oil extraction and the option to completely avoid heat damage.
The present disclosure provides devices and methods for brewing beverages that may avoid one or more of the limitations of traditional methods of brewing beverages, such as high temperature drip-based, French Press and/or cold brewing methods. For example, the devices and methods described herein can provide one or more of the following advantages compared to such traditional systems and methods:
These and other features that improve upon currently available systems for brewing beverages are described in detail herein.
Disclosed herein are various devices and methods that may be used to brew a beverage, and, in particular, devices and methods for brewing coffee using a wet grinding process. The coffee brewing devices and methods disclosed herein, in some aspects, produce coffee that may be enriched with a higher concentration of beneficial compounds such as antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to traditional drip-based and French press coffee brewing devices. In addition to providing additional unique extraction profiles, aspects of the disclosure also may provide efficient coffee brewing devices for consumer and commercial use.
In some aspects, various pods adapted for use with a beverage brewing device are disclosed. Some implementations of the pod may include, for example, but not limited hereto: an upper wall; a lower wall; one or more side walls connecting the upper wall and the lower wall to form a compartment; a grinder attached to an inner surface of the compartment and adapted to grind edible material; wherein at least a portion of the upper wall, the lower wall, or the one or more side walls comprises a filter adapted to allow fluid communication through the pod.
In some aspects, the grinder is a burr grinder or a rotary grinder, optionally adapted to grind coffee beans. The pod may be configured to allow detachment of the filter from the container (e.g., the filter is attached to the container by at least one hinge or clasp).
An outer surface of the pod may be adapted (or shaped) to attach to a surface of a container and the container may comprise one or more of the following, for example, but not limited hereto: a fluid reservoir; a motor configured to drive the grinder; a switch configured to activate the grinder; and/or a power source configured to power the grinder. The outer surface of the pod may be adapted (or shaped) to attach to a surface of a container, the container comprises a fluid reservoir and is attached to a base, and the base may comprise one or more of the following, for example, but not limited hereto: a motor configured to drive the grinder; a switch configured to activate the grinder; and/or a power source configured to power the grinder.
In some aspects, the pod's filter may comprise, for example, but not limited hereto: a mesh filter; a solid support having one or more pores; and/or a fabric configured to allow fluid communication across the fabric while retaining edible material grinds. The filter, solid support, and/or fabric may, for example, prevent particulates from being deposited in a beverage. The filter, solid support, and/or fabric may have pores with a pore size of 10 μm to 1,000 μm or any size within this range (e.g., 10 μm, 25 μm, 50 μm, 100 μm, 250 μm or 500 μm). In some aspects one or more filters incorporated into a pod may have a pore size ranging from: 10-50 μm, 10-100 μm, 10-250 μm, 10-500 μm, 20-60 μm, 30-70 μm, 40-80 μm, 50-90 μm, 60-100 μm, 100-200 μm, 200-300 μm, 300-400 μm, 400-500 μm, 500-600 μm, 600-700 μm, 700-800 μm, 800-900 μm, 900-1,000 μm, or a range bounded by a combination of any two endpoints selected from the preceding ranges. In some aspects, any combination or arrangement of filter densities may be selected for the top, bottom and sidewall(s) of a pod, or any portions thereof
The pod may further comprise, for example, but not limited hereto: a cap adapted to attach to the pod, the cap being adapted to define an upper wall of the pod. In some aspects, the grinder in the pod may comprise one or more of the following, for example, but not limited hereto: a pumping burr grinder; one or more interchangeable blades; or one or more blades adapted to provide simultaneous grinding and mixing; a grinding element having at least one flat blade and at least one bent blade; and/or a grinding element having at least one flat blade, wherein the flat blade is substantially vertical or horizontal. In some aspects, the grinder may also comprise a “U”-shaped blade adapted to provide force to direct liquid laterally through at least one filter of the pod. In other aspects, the grinder is configured to perform filtration by repeatedly circulating liquid through at least one filter of the pod.
The disclosure also provides various beverage brewing devices compatible with the pod discloser herein. For example, such beverage brewing devices may include but are not limited to: any pod described herein; a container, having a top end and a bottom end; wherein the pod is configured to attach to an inner surface of the bottom end of the container (and optionally, the top end); and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder.
In some aspects, the beverage brewing device comprises, for example, but not limited hereto: any pod described herein; a first base, adapted to allow the pod to attach to an upper surface of the first base; a second base, adapted to allow the first base to attach to an upper surface of the second base, wherein the second base comprises a power supply configured to power the grinder and a motor configured to operate the grinder; a container, having a top end and a bottom end, wherein at least a portion of the bottom end comprises a filter adapted to allow fluid communication between the container and the pod; wherein the pod is configured to attach to an inner surface of the bottom end of the container.
In some aspects, the beverage brewing device comprises, for example, but not limited hereto: any pod described herein; a container, having a top end and a bottom end; wherein the container is configured to allow attachment of the pod to an inner surface of the bottom end of the container; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder; and optionally, further comprises a scaffold extending along a vertical axis of the container, adapted to attach to the pod. Devices according to some embodiments may include a base and/or the container which comprises at least one of the following: a heating element adapted to heat or maintain the temperature of a liquid stored in the container; a switch configured to activate the grinder; and/or a power supply configured to power the grinder.
Some devices may include a container comprising a fluid reservoir, where the device is configured to enable or block fluid communication between the container and the fluid reservoir of the second container in response to user input. In other aspects, the device further comprises a scaffold element positioned within this container (e.g., to isolate coffee beans and partially ground coffee beans above a given size threshold). In some aspects, the scaffold comprises a heating element adapted to heat or maintain the temperature of a liquid stored in the container. The scaffold used on any of the devices disclosed herein may be further adapted to attach to a lid of the device, which may in turn be detachable.
Additional aspects of the disclosure include methods of brewing a beverage, and in particular methods of brewing a coffee beverage. A method of brewing a beverage may comprise, for example, but is not limited hereto: placing an edible material in any of the pods described herein; submerging the pod in a liquid, wherein the liquid is sufficient to fully or partially submerge the edible material; grinding the edible material; and generating a beverage by steeping the ground-up edible material(s) in the liquid. In some implementations, the edible material may comprise a plurality of coffee beans that may be ground and used to brew a coffee beverage alone or in combination with one or more additional edible materials (e.g., flavoring agents or enhancers, nutritional or dietary supplements, meal replacement components, fruit). In some aspects, the ground-up coffee is steeped for less than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 minutes, or steeped for a range of time (e.g., 1-5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, 10-20 minutes or any combination of minimum and maximum values within these ranges). In some aspects, the ground-up coffee may be steeped at a temperature of 0-25° C., 80-100° C., or at any temperature within the range of 0-100° C. suitable for producing a given beverage.
Another exemplary method of brewing a coffee beverage may comprise, for example, but is not limited hereto: placing an amount of coffee beans in any of the pods described herein; placing the pod within a container; adding hot or cold water to the container; submerging the grinding pod in the hot or cold water in the container; generating coffee grinds by grinding the coffee beans using the grinder in the pod, wherein the grinding is subject to one or more selected parameters; and optionally steeping the coffee grinds in the hot or cold water. The approximate amount of coffee beans placed in the pod may be, for example, any one of the following: 20 g, 5-20 g, 10-30 g, 15-40 g, 20-50 g or >50 g. In some aspects of the brewing methods described herein, the pod may be attached to a scaffold prior to placing the pod in the container, wherein the scaffold is attached to an upper surface or a lower surface of the pod. In some implementations, the volume of water added to the container is: 100-200 mL, 201-300 mL, 301-400 mL, 401-500 mL or >500 mL. The one or more selected parameters used for the brewing process may include, for example, but are not limited hereto: a motor rotation speed parameter, a grinder run time parameter; a temperature parameter and/or a post-grinding steeping time parameter. Additional parameters may include, for example, blade shape/type and filter size (e.g., minimum or maximum aperture size). The coffee grinds may be steeped in the hot or cold water, for example, for any one of the following durations of time: ≤5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, 10-20 minutes, 20-30 minutes or ≥30 minutes. The temperature of the water added to the container is also variable and, for example, may fall within any of the following ranges: 0-5° C., 5-10° C., 10-20° C., 20-30° C., 30-50° C., 50-80° C. or 80-100° C. In any of the methods of making coffee described herein, the method may be performed using 6% w/v ratio of coffee beans or grounds to water.
In still further aspects, the disclosure provides various coffee compositions, such as coffee compositions prepared according to or with the methods and devices described herein. Coffee compositions described herein may include, for example, one or more of the following: at least 0.25% total fat, at least 0.1% saturated fat, and/or at least 0.1% polyunsaturated fat. In some aspects, the coffee composition may have at least 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% or 0.50% total fat, or a total fat concentration within the range of 0.10%-0.50%, 0.20%-0.40%, 0.25%-0.35%, or any combination of minimum and maximum values therein. In some aspects, the coffee composition may have at least 0.05%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% or 0.50% saturated fat, or a saturated fat concentration within the range of 0.05%-0.50%, 0.1%-0.40%, 0.15%-0.35%, or any combination of minimum and maximum values therein. In some aspects, the coffee composition may have at least 0.05%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% or 0.50% polyunsaturated fat, or a polyunsaturated fat concentration within the range of 0.05%-0.50%, 0.1%-0.40%, 0.15%-0.35%, or any combination of minimum and maximum values therein.
Coffee compositions produced using the methods and devices disclosed herein may have, for example, a polyphenol concentration of ≥100 mg/100 ml, ≥125 mg/100 ml, ≥150 mg/100 ml, 50-250 mg/100 ml, 100-200 mg/100 ml, 125-175 mg/100 ml, or any integer value within these ranges. In other aspects, the coffee compositions has at least 65 mg/100 ml caffeine content. Coffee compositions produced using the methods and devices disclosed herein may also have, for example, a particulate concentration of ≤5 mg/mL, ≤6 mg/mL, ≤7 mg/mL, ≤10 mg/mL or a particulate concentration within the range of 3-7 mg/mL, 4-8 mg/mL, 3-9 mg/mL, 1-10 mg/mL, or any or any combination of minimum and maximum integer values within these ranges. In other aspects, the coffee composition, generated by coffee grounds, has been exposed to oxygen only at levels of <1%.
In any of the coffee compositions described herein, the composition comprises coffee beans ground and brewed in water with an 6% w/v ratio of coffee beans or grounds to water.
Additional beverage brewing devices according to an aspect of the disclosure may include a first container, having a top end and a bottom end; a second container adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a grinder and a filter; wherein the grinder is positioned within the second container; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder.
In some aspects, the grinder is a burr grinder or a rotary grinder, may comprise one or more blades, and/or may be adapted to grind coffee beans. In some aspects, the grinder comprises a “U”-shaped blade adapted to provide sufficient force to laterally direct liquid through at least one filter of the pod. In some aspects, the filter comprises a metallic sieve having one or more openings adapted to allow a liquid to pass through the filter, and/or is attached to the second container by at least one hinge or clasp. In some aspects, the filter is a mesh filter attached to the second container by at least one hinge or clasp. In other aspects, the device comprises a grinder configured to perform filtration by repeatedly circulating liquid through at least one filter of the pod. In other aspects, the first container is non-circular and adapted such that water emanating from a second container will have variable path lengths to the walls of the first container. In some aspects, the second container is a pod or canister.
Beverage brewing devices according to another aspect of the disclosure may include, for example, a first container, having a top end and a bottom end; wherein at least a portion of the bottom end comprises a filter; a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a motor; and a second container comprising a top end, a bottom end, and a grinder positioned within the second container and configured to be operated by the motor; wherein the bottom end of the second container is adapted to attach to the base at a position.
In some aspects, the base further comprises a power supply connected to the motor; or is connectable to an external power supply capable of powering the motor. In some aspects, the second container is a pod or canister, and/or the grinder is a burr grinder or a rotary grinder, which may adapted to grind coffee beans. In some aspects, the filter comprises a metallic sieve having one or more openings adapted to allow a liquid to pass through the filter.
Beverage brewing devices according to another aspect of the disclosure may include, for example, a container, having an top end and a bottom end; a handle attached to an outside surface of the container and comprising a switch; a grinder, attached to an inside surface of the container at the bottom end; a repositionable filter attached to an inside surface of the container, configured to move into an open position or a closed position in response to operation of the switch; wherein the closed position prevents fluid communication between the container and the compartment; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder.
In some aspects, the device further includes, for example, means for locking the filter in a closed position, wherein the means for locking is configured to unlock in response to operation of the switch. In some aspects, the repositionable filter is a mesh filter attached to the inside surface of the container by at least one hinge, and/or comprises a metallic sieve having one or more openings adapted to allow a liquid to pass through the filter. In some aspects, the grinder is a burr grinder or a rotary grinder, which may be adapted to grind coffee beans. In some aspects, the base further comprises a power supply connected to the motor; or is connectable to an external power supply capable of powering the motor.
Beverage brewing devices according to another aspect of the disclosure may include, for example, a first container, having a top end and a bottom end; a second container, having a top end, a bottom end, and a side wall; wherein at least a portion of the side wall, the bottom end, and/or top end comprises a filter; a grinder, attached to the second container at the bottom end; a partition positioned within the second container, which defines an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the lower chamber contains the grinder; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the second container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder.
In some aspects, the filter comprises a majority of the surface area of the second container. In some aspects, the partition is adapted to prevent suction of air into the grinder during operation of the grinder. In some aspects, the filter is structured as a cylinder or a conical cylinder. In other aspects, the filter comprises a metallic sieve having one or more openings adapted to allow a liquid to pass through the filter. In some aspects, the second container further comprises at least one attachment point configured to fasten or secure the filter in place. In some aspects, the base further comprises a power supply connected to the motor; or is connectable to an external power supply capable of powering the motor. In some aspects, the grinder is a burr grinder or a rotary grinder, which may be adapted to grind coffee beans.
Beverage brewing devices according to another aspect of the disclosure may include a beverage brewing device, comprising: a container, having a top end and a bottom end; a grinder assembly configured to fit within the container, comprising: an upper compartment having a top end, a bottom end, and a side wall, wherein at least a portion of the bottom end of the upper compartment comprises a filter, grating or valve and the sidewalls allow water to flow through into the container; a detachable lower compartment having a bottom end and a sidewall, wherein at least a portion of the bottom end and/or side wall comprises a filter; a grinder, attached to the lower compartment at the bottom end; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder.
In some aspects, the device comprises a heating element integrated into the device. In other aspects, the heating element is integrated into a base, compartment or the container of the device, and/or the heating element is configured to heat and/or maintain the temperature of a liquid stored in the container or compartment of the device.
In other aspects, the grinder comprises one or more of the following: a pumping burr grinder; one or more interchangeable blades; one or more blades adapted to provide simultaneous grinding and mixing; a grinding element having at least one flat blade and at least one bent blade; and/or a grinding element having at least one flat blade, wherein the flat blade is substantially vertical or horizontal. In other aspects, the grinder comprises a “U”-shaped blade adapted to provide force to direct liquid through at least one filter of the device.
The disclosure also provides for a grinder assembly adapted to fit within a beverage brewing device, comprising a container adapted to store one or more edible materials (e.g., coffee beans); and a grinder, wherein the grinder is attached to an inside surface of the container. In other aspects, the container comprises a sealed bottom end, a side wall attached to the bottom end, and an open end; and the grinder is attached to the inner surface of the sealed bottom end of the container.
In still further aspects of the disclosure, methods of brewing coffee using any of the brewing devices disclosed herein are provided. For example, an exemplary method of brewing coffee may include providing a coffee brewing device comprising: a first container, having a top end and a bottom end; a second container adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a grinder and a filter; wherein the grinder is positioned within the second container; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder; placing a plurality of coffee beans within the second container; adding liquid to the first container sufficient to fully or partially submerge the coffee beans in the second container; and generating coffee by grinding the coffee beans and allowing soluble and/or extractable components of the coffee beans to dissolve or form an emulsion in the liquid.
In other aspects, methods of brewing coffee include providing a coffee brewing device according to any of the various configurations described herein, adding sufficient liquid to a container or compartment of the device to fully or partially submerge the coffee beans, and generating coffee by grinding the coffee beans and allowing extractable components of the coffee beans to dissolve or form an emulsion in the liquid.
In some aspects, the liquid added to the container is at least: 0° C. to 100° C., 0° C. to 20° C. or 80° C. to 100° C., when added to the container.
In some aspects, the extractable components of the coffee beans are allowed to dissolve or form an emulsion in the liquid over a period of at least: 5 to 10 minutes, 10 to 30 minutes or 30 to 90 minutes.
In other aspects, the disclosure provides a method of brewing coffee, comprising: providing a coffee brewing device comprising a first container, having a top end and a bottom end; a second container adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a grinder and a filter; wherein the grinder is positioned within the second container; and a base adapted to attach to the bottom end of the first container, comprising a motor configured to operate the grinder; placing a plurality of coffee beans within the second container; adding liquid to the first container sufficient to fully or partially submerge the coffee beans in the second container; and generating coffee by grinding the submerged coffee beans and allowing soluble and/or extractable components of the coffee beans to dissolve or form an emulsion in the liquid. In further aspects, the liquid added to the container is at least 0° C. to 100° C.; 0° C. to 20° C.; or 80° C. to 100° when added to the container. In other aspects, the extractable components of the coffee beans are allowed to dissolve and/or form an emulsion in the liquid over a period of at least 0.5 to 10 minutes; 10 to 30 minutes; or 30 to 90 minutes.
In yet other aspects, the disclosure provides a method of brewing coffee comprising at least partially submerging coffee beans in container comprising water, wherein there is an approximately 6% w/v ratio of coffee beans to water; and grinding the coffee beans to obtain coffee, wherein the coffee comprises at least 0.25% total fat, at least 0.1% saturated fat, at least 0.1% polyunsaturated fat, at least 140 mg/100 ml polyphenol content, at least 65 mg/100 ml caffeine content, a substantially brown color, and/or a particulate concentration of ≤10 mg/mL. In other aspects, the ratio of coffee beans to water are at a ratio other than 6% but the relationship of the ratio to total fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, polyphenol content, caffeine content, and/or a particulate concentration remains linear. In other aspects, the water has a temperature of 0 to 25° C., the coffee is brewed within 15, or the water has a temperature of 0 to 25° C. and the coffee is brewed within 15 minutes.
Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more example aspects of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain their principles and implementations. In several of the figures, a hatched pattern is used to indicate the presence of a liquid within implementations of a beverage brewing devices according to the disclosure.
The disclosure provides devices and methods for efficiently producing beverages having improved properties compared to traditional brewing methods. In general, these devices provide an all-in-one grinding and brewing system that grinds edible material (e.g., coffee beans) or combinations of edible materials (e.g., coffee beans and one or more edible additives or flavorants such as cinnamon sticks, chocolate or spices) submerged or partially submerged in a liquid. It is understood that any edible material capable of being ground and brewed to form a beverage may be used. These devices and components thereof are provided herein, as well as methods of brewing beverages, and beverages obtained are provided.
Conventional drip-based coffee brewing at high temperatures is used to quickly brew a cup of coffee. However, drip-based methods typically fail to extract poorly soluble coffee compounds (e.g., fats, fatty acids and other compounds), and consequently fail to produce coffee having these compounds. On the other hand, French press methods are capable of extracting a small portion of the oil contained in the coffee beans but require high heat which may negatively impact the flavor of the coffee, and also require substantial manual preparation by the user (a user must grind beans, heat water, mix the grinds and water, and filter the resulting coffee beverage). Cold brew methods typically fail to extract a substantial amount of the oil and other poorly soluble (or extractable) compounds in coffee and also require a sizable investment of time, e.g., 12-16 hours. None of these existing devices or methods provides fast brewing, high oil extraction and the option to completely avoid heat damage.
Surprisingly, the present disclosure provides brewing methods and devices capable of producing coffee having an extraction profile similar to or better than known methods, quickly and without heat damage. A summary of selected differences between known coffee brewing methods and methods according to the present disclosure (“HydroGrind”) is provided by Table 1 below. Relative differences in properties or requirements are denoted by one or more “+” (positive) or “X” (negative) symbols. With respect to “dissolved content,” caffeine and anti-oxidant content were selected as representative proxies for evaluating this parameter.
The present disclosure provides methods of brewing coffee from whole coffee beans without any further intervention by the user (e.g., there is no need to heat water or filter the particulates afterwards, or to measure bean amounts or water levels). Relatively low particulate count is largely enabled by circulating pod filtration in some implementations and/or by the use of filters. The devices and methods also enable a wide variety of coffee flavors, brew intensities and temperatures by allowing easy user interfaces. The user can create a very wide variety of coffee flavors simply by changing grinding time, grinding speed, water temperature and blade/pod accessory. The devices and methods also allow ease of cleaning since majority of insoluble/non-extractable material is confined to the easy-to-handle container (or pod in some implementations).
Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to promote a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident in some or all instances, however, that any aspect described below can be practiced without adopting the specific design details described below. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate description of one or more aspects. The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of the aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is not intended to identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects.
The present disclosure provides various beverage brewing devices and methods, and in particular devices and methods for brewing coffee. Many of the devices described herein utilize a grinding pod (in some contexts abbreviated as a “pod” or referred to more generally as a “container”) that may be attached to or inserted into another container that functions as a water reservoir. Pods may be structured, in some non-limiting examples, as a container, capsule, chamber, compartment or other enclosed vessel wherein at least one surface comprise a filter allowing liquid communication.
In some aspects, a pod adapted for use with a beverage brewing device may comprise: an upper wall; a lower wall; one or more side walls connecting the upper wall and the lower wall to form a compartment; a grinder attached to an inner surface of the compartment and adapted to grind an edible material; wherein at least a portion of the upper wall, the lower wall, or the one or more side walls comprises a filter adapted to allow fluid communication through the pod. The grinder may be a burr grinder or a rotary grinder, and in some implementations may be adapted to grind coffee beans.
One or more of the pod filters may be detachable or adjustable into an open or closed configuration (e.g., by a hinge or clasp). The pod may be a capsule or canister, or in some implementations an enclosed compartment formed from a scaffold. The outer surface of the pod may be adapted to attach to a surface of a container, wherein the container comprises one or more of a fluid reservoir, a motor configured to drive the grinder, a switch configured to activate the grinder, and/or a power source configured to power the grinder. In still further implementations, one or more of these components may be located instead on a base configured to attach to the container during operation of a beverage brewing device.
In some aspects, the grinding pod is adapted to attach to the inside of a container which stores the brewing liquid in a manner that allows the pod to be switched between a closed state which blocks fluid communication between the container and the pod (e.g., preventing or stopping the steeping process) and an open state allowing fluid communication between the container and the pod (e.g., allowing steeping to begin or continue). For example, the pod may be adapted to rotate between two configurations when attached, which open or block one or more openings in a side wall or other surface of the grinding pod. Configurations which incorporate this feature advantageously allow a user to store the grinding pod in the brewing device after brewing is complete by switching the pod to the closed position, providing convenient storage for the pod without over-steeping the brewed beverage.
The grinder within the pod may comprise one or more of the following: a pumping burr grinder, one or more interchangeable blades, one or more blades adapted to provide simultaneous grinding and mixing, a grinding element having at least one flat blade and at least one bent blade, and/or a grinding element having at least one flat blade, wherein the flat blade is substantially vertical or horizontal. The thickness and/or the angle of the grinding blade(s) may be adapted to grind edible material(s) (e.g., coffee beans) to a selected minimum or average particle size.
In some aspects, the filter 104 may be removable. The filter 104 may be attachable to the second container 102 by a hinge, clasp, or any other means for securing the filter 104 to the second container 102. The filter 104 may be constructed from metal, plastic, fabric, or any other suitable material and the pore size of the filter may vary depending on the size of the ground material used to prepare a beverage with the device. For example, the second container 102 may include a grinder 103 configured to finely grind coffee beans (or other materials), which may require that the filter 104 have a small pore size to isolate the ground coffee. Alternatively, the second container 102 may include a grinder 103 configured to coarsely grind coffee beans (or other materials), which may require that the filter 104 have a larger pore size.
In some aspects, devices according to this general design may be provided as a system comprising a first container 101 and base 105 and a plurality of second containers 102, each second container 102 having a grinder 103 configured to provide a different level of grinding. In some aspects, the grinder 103 is a burr grinder or a rotary grinder. In some aspects, the second container 102 is structured as a pod or canister.
The base 105 may include a motor 106 configured to drive the grinder 103 and an optional power supply 110 to power said motor 106. In some aspects, the power supply 110 comprises a battery 111. Alternatively, the motor 106 and/or the power supply may be connectable to an external power outlet. In some aspects, the motor 106 is powered by a battery included in the base 105.
In some aspects, the grinder 103 is activated by a switch positioned on the first container 101, on the base 105, or elsewhere on the coffee brewing device. The switch 112 may be manually controlled by a human operator (e.g., a push-button or toggle), subject to a mechanical or digital timer, or computer-controlled.
In some aspects, the device is configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular phone, computer or other electronic device allowing a user to activate the grinder 103 or otherwise operate the device remotely. In some aspects, the device is configured to communicate with software running on a cellular phone or other mobile device which is able to schedule operation of the device (e.g., activating the grinder 103 at specific times set by a user).
In some aspects, the first container 101 or the base 105 may include a heating element configured to heat the liquid contained in the first container 101 and/or to maintain a user-selected temperature. This heating element 113 may be configured by a user manually (e.g., using a switch or panel on the device) or remote-controlled via a cellular phone, computer or other electronic device. In some implementations, the heating element 113 may be configured to activate and/or adjust the temperature according to a user-defined schedule or profile.
In some aspects, the coffee brewing device may be configured to store and/or use one or more profiles. Profiles may be user-specific or specific to a given type of beverage or a brewing protocol. Profiles may be created on the device and stored in non-volatile memory and/or transferred to the device from a user's cellular phone, computer or other electronic device. For example, the device may include a profile for a first user that sets forth a brewing protocol which uses a particular grinding speed for the grinder 103 and/or which sets the heating element 113 to a particular temperature. The device may include a profile for a second user having alternative parameters.
Devices according to this aspect and all of the other beverage brewing devices disclosed herein may be used to brew coffee or other beverages based on beans or any other edible material which may be ground and steeped in a liquid to produce a beverage suitable for human consumption. For simplicity, the beverage brewing methods described herein refer to the use of coffee beans. However, it is understood that in other aspects according to the disclosure alternative materials (e.g., tea leaves and other plant-derived materials) may be ground by the devices disclosed herein and steeped in liquid to produce beverages suitable for human consumption. In some aspects, a beverage may comprise two or more different materials, such as a mixture of coffee beans and an additional edible material to be infused into the coffee during the brewing process (e.g., a fruit, a spice, cocoa, or any other edible material selected to provide flavor, nutritional value, or any other desired trait).
Devices according to the aspect of
At this stage, various components of the coffee beans will then be extracted by the liquid (e.g., by dissolving into the liquid or forming an emulsion), passing through the filter 104 and gradually converting the liquid placed in the first container 101 into a coffee beverage. In some aspects, the ground coffee may be steeped for 1-10 minutes, 5-15 minutes, or 10-20 minutes or any integer range within the span of 1-20 minutes. However, it is understood that longer period of steeping may be useful when preparing a coffee beverage and may be necessary or preferred when preparing a beverage based on other edible materials. In some cases, brewing may take place over a span of between 0.5 to 10 minutes at 0-10° C. (e.g., to produce a cold brew coffee beverage) or 0.5 to 10 minutes at 80-100° C. (e.g., to produce a hot coffee beverage). Brewing may proceed using any temperature and time parameters selected by a user to produce a given beverage. Exemplary parameters include a brewing temperature between 0-100° C. and a brewing time of 0.5-60 minutes. However, these ranges are expressly non-limiting. In some cases, higher temperatures and longer brewing times may be preferred.
One or more of the filter 104 regions on the second container 102 may be detachable (e.g., allowing a user to open the second container 102 in order to insert coffee beans or other edible material(s) to be ground within the second container 102). In some implementations, the detachable filter 104 is attached by a hinge, faster, locking mechanism or any other means of securing the filter 104 to the second container 102. The second container 102 may alternatively be configured to allow a user to open the second container 102 along a surface that does not contain a filter 104. For example, a second container 102 according to the implementation depicted in
The second container 102 may generally be structured as any enclosed volume adapted to fit within a larger brewing container (e.g., the first container of
In some aspects, the first container 101 may be substantially larger than the second container 102, e.g., to hold large volumes of liquid. For example, the first container may be sized to hold 1-10 L, 10-100 L, 100-1000 L or >1000 L. The contents of the first container 101 may be water used to make commercial volumes of a beverage that will later be dried or freeze-dried (e.g., to make instant coffee), served to consumers, or bottled for future sale. In some aspects, the liquid in the first container may be water or another beverage (e.g., beer) and the second container 102 may contain one or more edible additives, nutritional or dietary supplements, flavoring agents or enhancers, or other compounds to be ground and infused into the beverage contained in the first container 101.
The aspect of the coffee brewing device of
Notwithstanding these structural differences, it is understood that devices according to this aspect may feature any or all of the optional elements, features and configurations described above in the context of
A user may operate a brewing device according to
In some aspects, the device includes a means for locking the repositionable filter 305 in a closed position, wherein the locking means is configured to unlock in response to operation of the switch 303. The repositionable filter 305 may be attached to the inside of the container by a fastener or hinge which allows movement of the repositionable filter 305. The switch 303 may positioned on the handle 302 of the device as shown in
A user may operate a brewing device according to
As noted above, the second container 402 shown in this figure demonstrates the use of a filter cap 405 component. To be precise, the cross section view of
Devices according to this aspect may feature any or all of the optional elements, features and configurations described above in the context of
The scaffold 509 may comprise one or more discrete components. In some implementations, the scaffold 509 comprises a lid 512 attached to one or more substantially vertical extensions which extend downward from the lid into the container 501, which may be configured to contact the lower compartment 513. In some aspects, the lid 512 is detachable from the scaffold 509. The scaffold 509 may be shaped to form a sealed compartment within the container 501 or structured as a cage (e.g., comprising one or more pores or filter 510 portions) which allow liquid in the container 501 to pass through the scaffold 509. The scaffold 509 may also be adapted to form a compartment that isolates coffee beans loaded in the device in some aspects. In some implementations, the scaffold 509 comprises a heating element configured to heat or maintain the temperature of liquid stored in the container 501 (e.g., an inductive heating component or a resistive heating component). The lower compartment 513 may include one or more filter 510 regions along the side wall(s) of this compartment. In some aspects, the lower compartment 513 is defined by a filter 510 on all sides.
In some aspects, the user may assemble the brewing device by attaching the lower compartment 513 to the bottom end of the container 501 and then attaching the upper portion of the grinding assembly 508 to the lower compartment 513. However, in typical implementations users may find it preferable to fully assemble the grinding assembly 508 before inserting this subassembly into the container 501.
Devices according to this aspect may feature any or all of the optional elements, features and configurations described above in the context of
The scaffold 609 may comprise one or more discrete components. In some implementations, the scaffold 609 comprises a lid 614 attached to one or more substantially vertical extensions which extend downward from the lid into the container 601, which may be configured to contact the lower compartment 613. In some aspects, the lid 612 is detachable from the scaffold 609. The scaffold 609 may be shaped to form a sealed compartment within the container 601 or structured as a cage (e.g., comprising one or more pores or filter 610 portions) which allow liquid in the container 601 to pass through the scaffold 609. The scaffold 609 may also be adapted to form a compartment that isolates coffee beans loaded in the device in some aspects. In some implementations, the scaffold 609 comprises a heating element configured to heat or maintain the temperature of liquid stored in the container 601 (e.g., an inductive heating component). The lower compartment 613 may include one or more filter 610 regions along the side wall(s) of this compartment. In some aspects, the lower compartment 613 is defined by a filter 610 on all sides.
A user may operate a brewing device according to
Devices according to this aspect may feature any or all of the optional elements, features and configurations described above in the context of
Devices according to this aspect may feature any or all of the optional elements, features and configurations described above in the context of
Devices according to this aspect may feature any or all of the optional elements, features and configurations described above in the context of
Various beverages, and in particular coffee beverages, may be brewed using the devices and methods described herein. In some aspects, a beverage may be brewed by providing one or more edible organic material(s), and optionally one or more edible inorganic materials (e.g., salts); placing at least a portion of the edible material(s) in any of the pods described herein; submerging the pod in a liquid, wherein the liquid is sufficient to fully or partially submerge the edible material(s); grinding the edible material(s); and generating a beverage. In some aspects, the beverage may be generated by further steeping the ground-up edible material(s) in the liquid. Any material suitable for human consumption may be used to brew a beverage according to this general procedure. The steeping time and temperature, grinding speed and grinder configuration parameters may be varied by a user based upon the edible material being used to brew the beverage (some material may require additional or reduced steeping time, a particular grinding speed, etc.). It is envisioned that parameters will be selected by a user depending on the application. As described above, devices according to the disclosure may allow a user to create, save and/or execute customization options and routines (e.g., user or beverage profiles). In some aspects, devices according to the disclosure may execute particular brewing protocols for different beverages using such profiles.
An exemplary protocol for brewing a coffee beverage according to the disclosure may include placing an amount of coffee beans in any of the pods described herein; placing the pod within a container; adding hot or cold water to the container; submerging or partially submerging the grinding pod in the hot or cold water in the container; generating coffee grinds by grinding the coffee beans using the grinder in the pod, wherein the grinding is subject to one or more selected parameters; optionally further steeping the coffee grinds in the hot or cold water; and obtaining the coffee beverage from the container. Variable parameters include the grinding speed, steeping temperature, and steeping time. In some aspects, grinding may initially proceed at high speed for a short time followed by a “mixing” process at a slower speed for a longer duration to enhance flavor and obtain a fuller extraction (e.g., 7000 rpm for 60 seconds followed by 700 rpm for 180 seconds).
Coffee brewed using the devices and methods described herein may advantageously be prepared in a short period of time (e.g., <5 minutes) while possessing many of the properties associated with cold brew coffee which normally requires ˜14 hours of steeping. In some aspects, coffee may be brewed by steeping for less than 5, 10 or 20 minutes at any temperature between 0 and 100° C.
Coffee compositions described herein may contain one or more compounds which are normally not extracted by conventional brewing methods and/or unique concentrations of compounds found in conventionally brewed coffee beverages. For example, coffee compositions according to the present disclosure may contain enriched levels of total fats, polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants and other compounds of interest. In some implementations, such coffee beverages may include one or more of the following: at least 0.25% total fat, at least 0.1% saturated fat, at least 0.1% polyunsaturated fat, and/or at least 0.1% trans-fat. In some aspects, the coffee composition may have at least 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% or 0.50% total fat, or a total fat concentration within the range of 0.10%-0.50%, 0.20%-0.40%, 0.25%-0.35%, or any combination of minimum and maximum values therein. In some aspects, the coffee composition may have at least 0.05%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% or 0.50% saturated fat, or a saturated fat concentration within the range of 0.05%-0.50%, 0.1%-0.40%, 0.15%-0.35%, or any combination of minimum and maximum values therein. In some aspects, the coffee composition may have at least 0.05%, 0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% or 0.50% polyunsaturated fat, or a polyunsaturated fat concentration within the range of 0.05%-0.50%, 0.1%-0.40%, 0.15%-0.35%, or any combination of minimum and maximum values therein.
Coffee compositions disclosed herein may have a polyphenol concentration of ≥100 mg/100 ml , ≥125 mg/100 ml, ≥150 mg/100 ml, 50-250 mg/100 ml, 100-200 mg/100 ml, 125-175 mg/100 ml, or any integer value within these ranges.
Coffee compositions may also have a particulate concentration of ≤5 mg/mL, ≤6 mg/mL, ≤7 mg/mL, or a particulate concentration within the range of 5-7 mg/mL, 4-8 mg/mL, 3-9 mg/mL, 2-10 mg/mL, 1-11 mg/mL or any or any combination of minimum and maximum integer values within these ranges.
As discussed above, coffee brewing methods and devices provided herein are capable of generating coffee having a unique extraction profile compared to coffee produced via conventional brewing methods. For example, coffee produced by the present methods may have a higher concentration of total fat, fatty acids and antioxidants compared to conventional drip-based and French press brewing methods and without the long steeping time requirements of cold brew methods. A subset of these differences are illustrated by
These particular comparative studies analyzed coffee compositions generated by brewing “medium roasted” coffee beans ground and brewed in water at a 6% w/v ratio of coffee beans to water. However, it is understood that the amounts or concentrations of assayed compounds will typically vary in a linear fashion as this w/v ratio is adjusted upward or downward from 6% (e.g., a 3% w/v ratio of coffee beans to water is expected to result in approximately half of the amount or concentration of a given analyte being present in the resulting coffee beverage). In view of this linear relationship, anticipated levels can be readily calculated for various coffee beverages across a wide range of ratios, e.g., 1-20% w/v ratios and for subranges contained therein.
It is also understood that the concentration or amount of extracted compounds will vary depending on the degree of roasting of the coffee beans used to produce a coffee beverage. Higher temperatures and/or prolonged roasting changes the chemical composition of coffee beans. For example, the level of caffeine in “blond roast” coffee beans will typically be higher than the level of caffeine in coffee beans obtained from the same source which have been subjected to “medium roast” or “dark roast” processing because a larger portion of the caffeine will undergo chemical decomposition during the extended roasting process. However, expected concentrations and amounts of extracted compounds obtained from coffee beans subjected to “blond roast,” “dark roast” or other such levels of roasting may be extrapolated from the data provided by
Consequently, it is understood that all of the amounts, concentrations and ranges of these values disclosed herein may be adjusted to account for alternative w/v ratios and the roasting level of coffee beans used to produce a given coffee beverage. Adjustment of these value may include accounting for an alternative starting amount of a given compound in the coffee beans or grounds used to brew the beverage and projecting that the resulting beverages will display the same linear relationship with regard to the concentration of amount of the compound across various w/v ratios.
Devices and methods according to the present disclosure may be used to brew coffee as described in detail above. However, it is understood that the present devices and methods may also be used to brew any other beverage suitable for human consumption and may also be used to mix a beverage with additional components (e.g., additional flavoring agents or flavor enhancers, dietary supplements, and other beneficial compounds). For example, a coffee beverage may be brewed according to any of the methods described herein, with an additional flavoring agent or nutritional supplement added to the pod prior to grinding such as fruit, chocolate, one or more spices or extracts, and any other compound(s) or edible material(s) that can be ground by the grinder provided in the pod in order to produce a coffee beverage infused with the additional edible materials. Alternatively, the present methods may be used to brew or enhance non-coffee beverages such as tea, juice or beer. Such beverages may be generated by infusing ground up edible materials into water or by infusing these materials into a pre-existing beverage to enhance its flavor, nutritional value, or to provide other beneficial properties. In some aspects, the resulting or enhanced beverage may be subsequently freeze dried or otherwise preserved to allow later consumption or for commercial distribution.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2018/049254 | 8/31/2018 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62552894 | Aug 2017 | US |
