Brewing and Cooling a Beverage

Abstract

Systems and methods operable to produce a first beverage and produce a second food or beverage include a machine that includes a first nest and a second nest. The machine includes a brewing system operable to heat water and cause the heated water to flow through first ingredients to produce the first beverage and a refrigeration system operable to cool second ingredients to produce the second food or beverage. The machine includes a thermal battery thermally connected to the brewing system and the refrigeration system, the thermal battery operable to (i) store thermal energy produced by the refrigeration system when producing the second food or beverage and (ii) transfer thermal energy to the brewing system to assist in heating the water for producing the first beverage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine for producing a first beverage and producing a second food or beverage, the machine comprising:
 a first nest defining a first receptacle sized to receive first ingredients for producing the first beverage;   a second nest defining a second receptacle sized to receive a pod containing second ingredients for producing the second food or beverage;   a brewing system operable to heat water and cause the heated water to flow through the first ingredients to produce the first beverage;   a refrigeration system operable to cool the second ingredients to produce the second food or beverage; and   a thermal battery thermally connected to the brewing system and the refrigeration system, the thermal battery operable to (i) store thermal energy produced by the refrigeration system when producing the second food or beverage and (ii) transfer thermal energy to the brewing system to assist in heating the water for producing the first beverage.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal battery is operable to transfer thermal energy from the brewing system to assist in cooling the first beverage. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein the second nest comprises an evaporator thermally connected to the thermal battery and operable to cool the first beverage to a temperature of about 40° F. before the first beverage is dispensed from the machine. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a condenser operable to heat the water prior to the heated water flowing through the first ingredients using thermal energy from the thermal battery. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein the condenser is operable to heat the water to a temperature of about 185° F.-205° F. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 4 , further comprising a refrigerant path that fluidly connects the condenser to the thermal battery. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein the second nest comprises an evaporator operable to cool the second ingredients to produce the second food or beverage. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 7 , further comprising a refrigerant path that runs from the condenser, through the thermal battery, through the evaporator, and back to the condenser. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein a refrigerant of the refrigerant path exchanges thermal energy between the condenser, the evaporator, and the thermal battery. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 7 , further comprising a fluid channel that extends from the condenser, to the first nest, and to the evaporator. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second nest comprises an evaporator operable to cool the first beverage before the first beverage is dispensed from the machine. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the evaporator is operable to cool the first beverage to a temperature of about 40° F. before the first beverage is dispensed from the machine. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a water reservoir for storing water prior to the water being heated by the brewing system. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second food or beverage is a frozen confection. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the pod contains a paddle and the machine comprises a motor operable to rotate the paddle when producing the frozen confection. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first beverage is coffee and the machine is operable to produce the coffee by flowing the heated water through granulated ingredients and a filter. 
     
     
         17 . A machine for brewing and cooling a beverage, the machine comprising:
 a nest defining a receptacle sized to receive ingredients for producing the beverage;   a brewing system operable to heat water and cause the heated water to flow through the ingredients to brew the beverage; and   a thermal battery thermally connected to the brewing system and operable to (i) transfer thermal energy to the brewing system to assist in heating the water prior to the heated water flowing through the ingredients, and (ii) transfer thermal energy from the brewing system to assist in cooling the beverage after the water has flowed through the ingredients and before the beverage is dispensed from the machine.   
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein the nest comprises an evaporator thermally connected to the thermal battery that is operable to cool the beverage to a temperature of about 40° F. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 18 , further comprising a condenser operable to heat the water prior to the heated water flowing through the ingredients using thermal energy from the thermal battery. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein the condenser is operable to heat the water to a temperature of about 185° F.-205° F. prior to the heated water flowing through the ingredients. 
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein the ingredients are disposed in a pod and the machine is operable to produce the beverage by flowing the water through the ingredients in the pod. 
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein the machine comprises a refrigeration system to produce a second food or beverage, the refrigeration system being in thermal connection with the brewing system and the thermal battery. 
     
     
         23 . A method for brewing and cooling a beverage, the method comprising:
 cooling a pod using an evaporator of a machine;   storing thermal energy generated by cooling the pod in a thermal battery of the machine;   heating water using a condenser of the machine and thermal energy from the thermal battery; and   brewing the beverage from ingredients using the heated water while the ingredients are disposed in a receptacle of the machine.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising dispensing the brewed beverage from the machine. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising cooling the brewed beverage by transferring heat from the brewed beverage to the thermal battery. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the pod contains ingredients for producing a frozen confection. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising producing the frozen confection by cooling the ingredients of the pod and rotating a paddle to mix the ingredients of the pod. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising dispensing the frozen confection from the machine.