Method for preparing a fresh brewed cold coffee beverage and coffee machine for conducting such method

Abstract

An energy-saving method for preparing a fresh brewed cold coffee beverage including the steps of: a. filling a brewing means ( 13 ) with a predetermined quantity of coffee powder; b. brewing a hot coffee beverage by pushing hot water and/or hot steam through the predetermined quantity of coffee powder in the brewing means ( 13 ); c. cooling down the hot coffee beverage by exclusively bringing it in thermal contact with a stream of cold water; and d. dispensing the cooled-down coffee beverage at a coffee outlet ( 17 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coffee machine ( 10 ) for preparing a fresh brewed cold coffee beverage, said coffee machine comprising
 a brewing means ( 13 ) for brewing a coffee beverage with an inlet for hot water and an outlet for a brewed coffee beverage, and a coffee outlet ( 17 ) which is connected to the outlet of said brewing means ( 13 ) by outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′), wherein the brewing means ( 13 ) is filled with a predetermined quantity of coffee power and a hot coffee beverage is brewed by pushing hot water and/or hot steam through said predetermined quantity of coffee power in said brewing means ( 13 ); and   at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ,  14 ′) with a primary and a secondary side for cooling down said hot coffee beverage by exclusively bringing said hot coffee beverage in thermal contact with a stream of cold water, the at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ,  14 ′) inserted with said primary side into said outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′) leading from the outlet of said brewing means ( 13 ) to said coffee outlet ( 17 ), and the secondary side of which is connected with a cold water inlet ( 15 ), wherein the fresh brewed cold coffee beverage is dispensed from the coffee outlet ( 17 ).   
     
     
         2 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said coffee machine ( 10 ) comprises a boiler ( 11 ) with an inlet and an outlet, whereby said inlet of said boiler ( 11 ) is connected to said cold water inlet ( 15 ) by means of a first cold water feed pipe ( 15   a ) and said outlet of said boiler ( 11 ) dispenses hot water and/or hot steam for brewing said coffee beverage to said inlet of said brewing means ( 13 ), and that said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ) is inserted with its secondary side into said first cold water feed pipe ( 15   a ). 
     
     
         3 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said secondary side of said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ′) is further connected with a cooling water discharge pipe ( 31 ) such that cooling water flowing through said secondary side from said cold water inlet ( 15 ) is discharged through said cooling water discharge pipe ( 31 ). 
     
     
         4 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a further heat exchanger ( 14 ′) is provided, having a primary side and a secondary side, that said further heat exchanger ( 14 ′) is inserted with its primary side into said outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′) leading from the outlet of said brewing means ( 13 ) to said coffee outlet ( 17 ), that said further heat exchanger ( 14 ′) is connected on its secondary side with said cold water inlet ( 15 ) and with a cooling water discharge pipe ( 31 ) such that cooling water flowing through said secondary side from said cold water inlet ( 15 ) is discharged through said cooling water discharge pipe ( 31 ). 
     
     
         5 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said primary sides of said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ) and said further heat exchanger ( 14 ′) are arranged in series within said outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′) leading from the outlet of said brewing means ( 13 ) to said coffee outlet ( 17 ). 
     
     
         6 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said primary sides of said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ) and said further heat exchanger ( 14 ′) are arranged in parallel within said outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′) leading from the outlet of said brewing means ( 13 ) to said coffee outlet ( 17 ). 
     
     
         7 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein cold water adding means ( 15   b ,  19 ,  22 ) are provided for adding cold water to the coffee beverage flowing out of said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ) to said coffee outlet ( 17 ). 
     
     
         8 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said cold water adding means comprises a second cold water feed pipe ( 15   b ) which connects said outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′) after said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ) to said cold water inlet ( 15 ). 
     
     
         9 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a controllable valve ( 22 ) is inserted into said second cold water feed pipe ( 15   b ) and is connected to a controller ( 16 ) of said coffee machine ( 10 ) for controlling the quantity of cold water added. 
     
     
         10 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the primary side of said at least one heat exchanger ( 14 ) can be bridged by a hot beverage pipe ( 25 ) to which the outlet of said brewing means ( 13 ) can be switched over from said outlet piping means ( 27 ,  24 ,  29 ,  24 ′). 
     
     
         11 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said brewing means comprise a brewing unit ( 13 ) with a closable brewing chamber ( 23 ) into which freshly ground coffee powder can be fed from a grinder ( 12 ) and through which pressurized hot water from a boiler ( 11 ) flows during brewing of the coffee beverage. 
     
     
         12 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said grinder ( 12 ) is integrated into said coffee machine ( 10 ). 
     
     
         13 . The coffee machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said brewing unit ( 13 ) is opened and closed automatically.