Patent Application
20220279958
The present invention relates to a method for preparing milk and coffee based beverages from soluble milk and coffee powder.
WO 2008/071613 describes a beverage preparation machine comprising a mixing chamber for preparing frothed beverages wherein a dose of a beverage soluble powder is mixed with a water. This mixing chamber presents the great advantage of being devoid of any agitating device driven by a motor, like an impeller or a whipper, or any motorised device to close the beverage outlet, like a clamping device. The agitation, dissolution and frothing is obtained by the force of water jet introduced inside the chamber only. Beverage remains inside the beverage during the preparation due to the driven force of the liquid swirl. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the machine is low.
Such a mixing chamber is particularly adapted for preparing a coffee from soluble instant coffee or a frothed milk from soluble milk powder. The process of preparation consists in introducing a dose of soluble powder inside the chamber and then introducing water to dissolve the powder. The mixing chamber provides sufficient agitation with the water to dissolve and froth the coffee or the milk.
In order to be able to prepare a beverage made of a coffee component and a milk component, in particular a cappuccino, it would be advantageous to use a beverage machine comprising two mixing chambers, one being dedicated to the preparation of coffee, and the other chamber being dedicated to the preparation of milk. Yet, when a cappuccino is prepared with such a beverage machine and dispensed in a transparent drinking receptacle, it is observed that several distinct horizontal layers of different graded brown colours are present. These layers are not always desired by consumers because they can be perceived as an insufficient mixing of milk and coffee. For some targeted consumers, this layering effect must be avoided.
An object of the invention is to address this problem.
There is provided a method for producing a beverage by dissolution of at least one soluble beverage powder with water in a beverage preparation apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
The method is implemented in a beverage preparation apparatus comprising at least one chamber configured for receiving and mixing at least one soluble beverage powder with water. Mixing enables dissolution of soluble powder in water, and eventually frothing of the resulting beverage. The chamber comprises an outlet to dispense the beverage in a drinking receptacle.
Generally, the beverage preparation apparatus comprises at least one soluble beverage powder reservoir. Accordingly, doses of powder can be dispensed from the reservoir to the chamber. This reservoir can be disposable or not.
Usually, the apparatus comprises a dosing device associated to the reservoir in order to meter the dose of soluble beverage powder dispensed in the chamber.
Generally the reservoir and the dosing device are placed above the chamber in order to feed it by gravity fall. Generally the dosing device can be associated to a powder reservoir.
In a particular embodiment, the chamber can be fed with soluble beverage powder manually, for example with a spoon or a single serve packaging (e.g. stick).
Generally, the apparatus comprises a water supply system connectable to at least one water inlet of the chamber.
Water can be supplied either hot or cold. Generally the water supply system of the apparatus comprises at least a water tank or water supply, a water pump, a water heater and/or cooler and a valve for actuating the water delivery. The system can also comprise a selection valve for delivering water at either hot or cold temperature.
The apparatus comprises an area for receiving a drinking receptacle like a cup, mug or glass. The beverage outlet of the mixing chamber is configured to dispense beverage to this area. The area enables the consumer to correctly position the receptacle in the apparatus so that it is filled by the beverage prepared in the mixing chamber.
With the present method, a beverage is prepared with said at least one chamber and dispensed inside a drinking receptacle at the receiving area, and, inside the drinking receptacle, the beverage forms layers that can be observed when the receptacle is transparent, for example a receptacle made of glass.
The formation of layers is a common observed phenomenon. It is usually related to the densities, the temperatures and the volumes of prepared beverages. For example, it is a common phenomenon for a volume of 100 ml of frothed milk prepared at a temperature of 82° C. and at a density of 0.11 g/ml (due to the fact it is frothed).
This type of layers for milk can be observed with most of the chambers used to prepare milk from milk powder.
With other beverages, the effect of layering can be due to the design of the preparation chamber, in particular the design of the outlet and/or the sequence of mixing beverage soluble powder with water inside the chamber that can lead to variable densities of the same beverage during dispensing in the drinking receptacle.
The apparatus comprises a nozzle for delivering a jet of water directly to this drinking receptacle receiving area and in particular to any receptacle positioned in this area to receive the prepared beverage. The nozzle is usually connected to the same water supply system as the chamber and is configured to deliver a jet of water.
By jet it is understood a stream of water that comes out of the nozzle and in the receptacle quickly and with force. Accordingly, the nozzle is configured for introducing water in the receptacle with a high velocity. The effects of this jet of water inside the beverage presenting layers is agitation of these layers, the homogenisation of the beverage and the disapparition of the layers.
The size of the water nozzle outlet, the distance to the receptacle and the flow rate of water are generally adapted accordingly to get the high velocity of the jet and an agitating effect inside the beverage hold in the receptacle.
Generally, the nozzle presents an outlet section with a surface area equivalent to the surface of a circular surface of diameter comprised between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.9 mm and even more preferably of about 0.7 mm.
Preferably water is introduced in such a nozzle at a flow rate of at least 300 ml/min.
Preferably, the receptacle is positioned at a distance comprised between 1 and 10 cm from the outlet of the nozzle.
Generally, during step b), less than 5 ml of water is jetted through the nozzle. This small quantity dispensed at high velocity is sufficient to homogenise the beverage.
The method is implemented in a beverage preparation apparatus comprising:
The two first steps a1) and a2) correspond to the usual preparation of a cappuccino beverage that is introducing coffee inside a receptacle filled with frothed milk. Yet, due to the creation of layers inside the cappuccino when these two steps are implemented with coffee and frothed milk produced and dispensed from the coffee chamber and the milk chamber, an additional step is implemented: that is the step b) of jetting a small quantity of water inside the receptacle after the step a2) of preparing and dispensing coffee in the receptacle.
In this preferred embodiment, preferably each of said two chambers comprises:
Preferably, each chamber is dedicated to the preparation of one beverage component: one is dedicated to the preparation of frothed milk and the other to the preparation of coffee.
The two chambers present several common features. These features are configured to enable the preparation of a beverage from soluble beverage powder and water without the use of a motorised agitating device and without the use of a device for closing the outlet of the chamber.
Each chamber comprises a lateral side wall. Preferably, the chambers are positioned in the apparatus so that their lateral side walls are substantially vertical.
Usually, for each chamber, the top is at least partially opened. Soluble beverage powder can be introduced in the chambers through the opened tops by gravity fall.
The lateral side wall of each chamber comprises a water inlet.
The water inlet and the internal shape of the chamber are configured so that water introduced through the water inlet is able to form a swirl, preferably an ascending swirl, inside the chamber.
Preferably this water inlet is positioned in the lower part of the chamber that is essentially cylindrical. Accordingly the chamber is filled with water from the bottom.
Usually, the water inlet is configured so that water is introduced in the chamber under the form a straight jet of water. Again, by jet, it is understood a stream of water that comes out of the water inlet and in the chamber quickly and with force. Accordingly, the water inlet is configured for introducing water inside the chamber with a high velocity. Usually, this straight jet is produced by and emerges from a nozzle positioned in the water inlet of the lateral wall of the chamber. Accordingly, the water inlet preferably comprises a nozzle.
According to a less preferred embodiment, this nozzle can be designed inside the cylindrical lateral side wall. Consequently, the chamber and the nozzle can be made of one single piece of material.
The size of the water nozzle outlet, the diameter of the chamber and the flow rate of the water are generally adapted accordingly to get the high velocity of the jet and the swirling effect for water.
Generally, the nozzle presents an outlet section with a surface area equivalent to the surface of a circular surface of diameter comprised between 0.2 and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6 mm and even more preferably of about 0.5 mm.
Optionally, a second water inlet can be placed near the top of the chamber. It aims at introducing further water in the case the chamber would be used for producing a beverage with no foam. It enables a final rinsing of the chamber too.
Preferably, the water inlet is also oriented so that the straight jet of water extends transversely through the internal volume of the chamber along a line L, said line L being offset relative to the longitudinal central axis of the chamber.
More specifically, the line L is oriented in a direction so that a ratio d/r0 is comprised between 0.2 and 0.4, preferably is of about 0.3, where r0 is the radius of the cylindrical lateral side wall of the chamber and d is the distance measured orthogonally from the line L to the central longitudinal axis of the chamber. This configuration improves the dissolution of the powder.
For each chamber, the bottom wall is positioned below the lateral wall and, accordingly, the water inlet is positioned above the bottom wall.
Generally, for each chamber, the beverage outlet is a conduit, preferably vertically oriented. The beverage outlet conduit usually presents a circular cross section, yet other shape can be implemented like oval shape. The conduit is preferably at least partially straight. The outlet conduit is opened. The outlet conduit is deprived of any closing means.
The water inlet and the internal shape of the chamber are configured so that water introduced through the water inlet is able to form an ascending swirl inside the chamber. The effect of this ascending swirl is that effective mixing of water and powder, dissolution of soluble powder and frothing of the resulting beverage is obtained. As long as water is introduced through the water inlet, the swirl rises and keeps contact between water and powder. In addition the swirl is impacted by the water still introduced through the water inlet with the effect of increasing mixing and frothing. These features and associated effects are described in WO 2008/071613.
Generally, the coffee chamber can present the features of the mixing chamber described in WO 2008/071613.
In a particular embodiment, the coffee chamber can present specific features such as those described in WO 2018/091358. These features aim to get a better dissolution and frothing of coffee. They particularly relate to the presence of:
Preferably, the milk chamber presents specific features to get a better dissolution and frothing of large volume of milk powder and water necessary to produce frothed milk.
Preferably, the bottom wall of the milk chamber presents the shape of a funnel inclined in direction of the beverage outlet conduit. As a result, the bottom wall is inclined in respect of horizontal in direction of the beverage outlet in order to facilitate the full dispensing of the beverage. Usually, the bottom wall is inclined by an angle of at least 30° with horizontal, preferably comprised between 30 and 60°.
Preferably, the lower part of the lateral side wall is essentially cylindrical. The rest of the lateral side wall can be cylindrical too or can open out to increase the horizontal cross section of the chamber. Usually, in the upper part, the cross section presents a curved shape close to a circular section.
The beverage outlet of the milk chamber can comprise several successive conduits with decreasing cross sections.
The cross section of the conduit is sufficiently large to enable the rapid dispensing of a large quantity of the frothed milk. Preferably, the hydraulic diameter of the conduit of the beverage outlet is of at least 5 mm. By hydraulic diameter, it is meant the diameter of a conduit with round-shaped section presenting the same cross section area as the conduit with a section of a different shape.
Preferably, the cross section of the conduit is subdivided in at least two, even more preferably four straight equal sub-conduits.
According to the preferred embodiment, the cross section of the conduit can be subdivided by a removable divider extending longitudinally through the main conduit. This removable property enables a thorough cleaning of the divider and the conduit. Preferably, a rod is attached to the removable divider, said rod extending to the top of the chamber when the divider is positioned inside the conduit. This rod facilitates the removal of the divider from the conduit by the operator.
Preferably the divider presents the shape of a cross dividing the cross section of the conduit in four equal channels.
A specific effect of this divider is that it prevents the rotation of the swirling milk inside the beverage conduit. Swirling beverage is not desired in the conduit because it presents drawbacks such as:
Usually the internal volume defined by the walls of the milk chamber is sufficient to enable the preparation of a large volume of beverage and to dispense this beverage rapidly.
In the preferred embodiment, the method applies to a milk chamber presenting an internal volume of at least 100 ml and wherein the hydraulic diameter Do of the conduit of the beverage outlet is of at least 5 mm.
The milk chamber can present the specific features described in WO 2019/121554. In particular, at the area of the cylindrical lateral side wall opposed to the liquid inlet and crossed by the line L, the milk chamber can comprises a bump extending from the cylindrical lateral side wall inside the chamber, said bump presenting a shape designed:
Usually, in each chamber, the position of the beverage outlet is offset from the longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical lateral side wall of the chamber. As the beverage preparation apparatus comprises at least two chambers, this configuration guarantees that the beverage outlets of all chambers emerge in the same area, that is in the same drinking receptacle.
The system usually comprises a selection valve for delivering water to one selected chamber only.
Generally the beverage preparation apparatus comprises a chamber receiving area in order to removably position the chamber inside the apparatus and to connect the chamber water inlet to the water supply system. Accordingly the chamber can be removed for cleaning and maintenance.
The above aspects of the invention may be combined in any suitable combination. Moreover, various features herein may be combined with one or more of the above aspects to provide combinations other than those specifically illustrated and described. Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the claims, from the detailed description, and annexed drawings.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following
Preferably, both chambers 1a, 1b are devoid of whipper, mixer, or other mechanical agitating device and are configured to dissolve and froth beverages further to the action of a flow of water only.
The beverage powder containers 2a, 2b can be permanent hoppers or disposable packages containing beverage powder.
A dose of beverage powder is metered and dispensed by a dosing device 3a, 3b. The dosing device has the primary function to meter upon request doses of powder into the corresponding mixing chamber. The dosing device dispenses the dose of beverage powder generally by gravity fall in a top opening of the chamber.
The dosing device can be any suitable system such as a dosing screw, a reciprocating dosing drawer or a rotating disc. The dosing technology is also of course dependent on the nature of the soluble powder. The soluble powder is typically a dry beverage powder, preferably milk powder. The device is fed upon request with powder as prompted by a control process unit 9 and command 10.
This dosing device can be a rotating device such as described in WO 2009/144239 or translating drawer with a dosing cavity such as described in WO 2019/016149.
The machine includes a nozzle 4 for delivering a jet of water directly inside the drinking receptacle 6 positioned to receive the beverage 8 from the chambers 1a, 1b.
Generally the nozzle 4 is a simple conduit presenting an outlet end sufficiently small to create a jet of water. While flowing through the outlet end, water reaches a sufficient velocity and therefore a sufficient kinetic energy to provide high shear forces in a beverage. The outlet end of the conduit can present a section equivalent to the section of circle of a diameter comprised between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.9 mm, even more preferably of about 0.7 mm.
A water supplying system 5 is provided in the machine to be able to feed water in the mixing chambers 1a, 1b, and in the nozzle 4, preferably hot water.
The water supplying system comprises:
Water is fed into the mixing chambers by a tube 56, which is subdivided into the different water inlets of the chambers when several chambers are present, like in the illustrated embodiment. In a variant, not illustrated, water can be fed by two tubes in two different inlets of the same chamber.
Water is fed into the nozzle 4 by a tube 57.
A valve means 55 enables the supply of water either to the nozzle 4 or to the chambers 1a, 1b. Another valve means 58 enables the supply of water either to the chamber 1a or to the chamber 1b. Usually, these valves means 55, 58 are solenoid valves.
As illustrated in
The control process unit 9 controls the actuation of the dosing device 3a, 3b, of the pump 52, of the heater 53 and of the valve means 55, 58. The process control unit 9 can coordinate dosing of the soluble beverage powder by the dosing device 3a, 3b and dosing of water by the pump 52 either to the chambers 1a, or the chamber 1b or to the nozzle 6 upon the user actuating or being prompted to press the command 10 on the apparatus. In
When a cappuccino is prepared with the apparatus illustrated in
Before the whole volume of water is introduced, frothed milk starts flowing through the opened bottom beverage outlet to the dinking receptacle. Dispensing goes on after water stops being introduced inside the chamber and until the chamber is empty.
This very fast injection of the water jet by the nozzle does not affect much the foam at the top of the beverage and does not affect the taste of the beverage (the dilution is minimal).
Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.
Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.
As used in this specification, the words “comprises”, “comprising”, and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean “including, but not limited to”.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19188741.3 | Jul 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/070532 | 7/21/2020 | WO |
