Coffee and tea brewing apparatus and system

Abstract

A method and system for brewing a desired volume of coffee at a selected brew time, in which a volume of water corresponding to the desired volume of coffee is heated and directed into contact with coffee grounds in a brewing chamber. Contact between at least a portion of the heated water and the coffee grounds is maintained for approximately the selected brew time to form brewed coffee. The brewing time, however, is substantially independent of the desired volume of coffee to be brewed and is controlled by control of the rate at which heated liquid flows into or out of the brewing chamber. At the expiration of the brewing time, brewed coffee is released through an opening in the brewing chamber and into an underlying receptacle.

We claim:  
     
       1. Apparatus for brewing a desired volume of coffee comprising: 
       (a) a receptacle for receiving brewed coffee;  
       (b) a brewing chamber including a filter within the brewing chamber for holding coffee grounds;  
       (b) means for selecting a volume of water corresponding to the desired volume of coffee to be brewed;  
       (d) means for heating the water to brewing temperature and directing the heated water into the brewing chamber for contact with the coffee grounds in the filter basket;  
       (e) means for maintaining contact between at least a portion of the heated water and the coffee grounds for a period of time which is substantially independent of the selected volume of coffee to be brewed; and  
       (f) means for transferring the brewed coffee into the receptacle.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim  1  having a reservoir for containing the selected volume of water prior to brewing with both the brewing chamber and the receptacle being larger in volume than the reservoir. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim  2  in which the means for heating the selected volume of water comprises means for heating the water substantially to brewing temperature in the reservoir prior to commencing transfer of the water to the brewing chamber. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim  1  which a screen is mounted in the brewing chamber between the reservoir and the filter to intercept coffee grounds before the grounds reach the filter to increase the coffee flow rate through the filter. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for brewing a desired volume of tea comprising: 
       ( a )  a receptacle for receiving brewed tea;    
       ( b )  a brewing chamber including a filter within the brewing chamber for holding tea leaves;    
       ( c )  means for selecting a volume of water corresponding to the desired volume of tea to be brewed;    
       ( d )  means for heating the water to brewing temperature and directing the heated water into the brewing chamber for contact with the tea leaves in the filter;    
       ( e )  means for maintaining contact between at least a portion of the heated water and the tea leaves for a period of time which is substantially independent of the selected volume of tea to be brewed; and    
       ( f )  means for transferring the brewed tea into the receptacle.    
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim  5  having a reservoir for containing the selected volume of water prior to brewing with both the brewing chamber and the receptacle being larger in volume than the reservoir.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim  6  in which the means for heating the selected volume of water comprises means for heating the water substantially to brewing temperature in the reservoir prior to commencing transfer of the water to the brewing chamber.  
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim  5  in which a screen is mounted in the brewing chamber between the reservoir and the filter to intercept tea leaves before the leaves reach the filter to increase the tea flow rate through the filter.  
     
     
       9. Apparatus for brewing a desired volume of a beverage brewed from water and biological substances selected from the group comprising coffee ground elements and tea leaf elements comprising: 
       
         a receptacle for receiving said brewed beverage;  
       
       
         a brewing chamber including a filter within the brewing chamber for holding said biological substances;  
       
       
         means to select a volume of water corresponding to the desired volume of beverage to be brewed;  
       
       
         a heater to heat the selected volume of water to brewing temperature and directing the heated selected volume of water into the brewing chamber for contact with the biological substances in the filter;  
       
       
         means for at least a portion of said selected volume of heated water being maintained in contact with said biological substances for a period of time which is substantially independent of the selected volume of beverage to be brewed; and  
       
       
         an opening to transfer the brewed beverage into the receptacle.  
       
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim  9  including a reservoir for containing the selected volume of water prior to brewing with both the brewing chamber and the receptacle being larger in volume than the reservoir.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim  10  in which the heater for heating the selected volume of water heats the water substantially to brewing temperature in the reservoir prior to commencing transfer of the water to the brewing chamber.  
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim  9  in which a screen is mounted in the brewing chamber between the reservoir and the filter to intercept biological substances before the biological substances reach the filter to increase the beverage flow rate through the filter.  
     
     
       13. Apparatus for brewing a desired volume of brewed beverage made from biological substances selected from the group consisting of coffee grounds and tea leaves, comprising: 
       
         a receptacle for receiving said brewed beverage;  
       
       
         a brewing chamber including a filter within the brewing chamber for holding said biological substances;  
       
       
         means for selecting a volume of water corresponding to the desired volume of beverage to be brewed;  
       
       
         a heated to heat the water to brewing temperature and automatically directing the heated water into the brewing chamber for contact with the biological substances in the filter;  
       
       
         means for at least a portion of heated water and the biological substances maintaining in contact for a period of time which is substantially independent of the selected volume of beverage to be brewed; and  
       
       
         means for automatically transferring the brewed beverage into the receptacle.  
       
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim  13  having a reservoir to contain the select volume of water prior to brewing with both the brewing chamber and the receptacle being larger in volume than the reservoir.  
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim  14  in which the heater for heating the selected volume of water heats the water substantially to brewing temperature in the reservoir prior to commencing transfer of the water to the brewing chamber.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim  13  in which a screen is mounted in the brewing chamber between the reservoir and the filter to intercept the biological substances before the biological substances reach the filter to increase the beverage flow rate through the filter.  
     
     
       17. An apparatus for brewing a desired volume of brewed beverage made from biological substances selected from the group consisting of coffee grounds and tea leaves, comprising: 
       
         a brewing chamber having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume;  
       
       
         a receptacle for receiving brewed beverage having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume;  
       
       
         a flow control valve between said brewing chamber and said receptacle, whereby said flow control valve adjustably controls the flow of brewed beverage from said brewing chamber into said receptacle; and  
       
       
         a screen removably mounted in said brewing chamber for holding said biological substances, whereby water introduced into said brewing chamber forms a slurry with said biological substances, whereby a screened portion of said biological substances is screened by said screen and thereby prevents said biological substances from being more flow restrictive than said flow control valve.  
       
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim  17 , further comprising: 
       
         a filter holder holding a filter mounted between brewing chamber and said receptacle.  
       
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to claim  18 , further comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a vessel having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume mounted in said housing;  
       
       
         a heater operatively connected to said vessel, whereby said heater can heat water in said vessel to a brewing temperature; and  
       
       
         a pump operably connected between said vessel and said brewing chamber to pump water heated to said brewing temperature into said brewing chamber;  
       
       
         said brewing chamber being mounted in said housing.  
       
     
     
       20. An apparatus according to claim  19 , wherein said pump comprises a discharge tube extending between said vessel and said brewing chamber, whereby water heated in said vessel to a brewing temperature is forced through said discharge tube into said brewing chamber.  
     
     
       21. An apparatus according to claim  19 , wherein said pump forces said water into said brewing chamber in chamber in approximately  30  seconds.  
     
     
       22. An apparatus according to claim  19 , further comprising: 
       
         a thermostat operatively connected to said vessel to maintain said water at said brewing temperature in said vessel.  
       
     
     
       23. An apparatus according to claim  22 , wherein said thermostat maintains said water at a brewing temperature when said water is pumped into said brewing chamber of between approximately  185  degrees Fahrenheit and approximately  212  degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
       24. An apparatus for brewing a desired volume of brewed beverage made from biological substances selected from the group consisting of coffee grounds and tea leaves, comprising: 
       
         a brewing chamber having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume;  
       
       
         a receptacle for receiving brewed beverage having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume;  
       
       
         a flow control valve between said brewing chamber and said receptacle, whereby said flow control valve adjustably controls the flow of brewed beverage from said brewing chamber into said receptacle;  
       
       
         a filter holding means for holding a filter mounted in said brewing chamber; and  
       
       
         a weir detachably mounted above said filter holder means for capturing biological substances, whereby water introduced into said brewing chamber forms a slurry with said biological substances, whereby a settled portion of said biological substances settles on said weir and thereby prevents biological substances filtered by said filter from being more flow restrictive than said flow control valve.  
       
     
     
       25. An apparatus according to claim  24 , further comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a vessel having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume mounted in said housing;  
       
       
         a heater operatively connected to said vessel, said heater adapted to heat water in said vessel to a brewing temperature; and  
       
       
         a pump operably connected between said vessel and said brewing chamber to pump water heated to said brewing temperature into said brewing chamber, wherein said brewing chamber is mounted in said housing.  
       
     
     
       26. An apparatus for brewing a desired volume of brewed beverage made from biological substances selected from the group comprising coffee grounds and tea leaves, comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a vessel having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume mounted in said housing;  
       
       
         a heater operatively connected to said vessel, said heater adapted to heat water in said vessel to a brewing temperature;  
       
       
         a brewing chamber mounted in said housing;  
       
       
         a pump operably connected between said vessel and said brewing chamber;  
       
       
         a receptacle for receiving brewed beverage having a capacity at least equal to said desired volume;  
       
       
         a flow control valve between said vessel and said brewing chamber, whereby said flow control valve adjustably controls the flow of heated water from said vessel into said brewing chamber;  
       
       
         a filter holder means for holding a filter mounted between said vessel and said brewing chamber;  
       
       
         a screen mounted above said filter holder means, whereby water introduced into said brewing chamber forms a slurry with said biological substances, whereby a screened portion of said biological substances is screened by said screen and thereby prevents biological substances filtered by said filter from being more flow restrictive than said flow control valve; and  
       
       
         a body having a large discharge opening in fluid communication with said brewing chamber, whereby brewed beverage can quickly drain from said brewing chamber so as not to extend brew time.  
       
     
     
       27. An apparatus according to claim  26 , further comprising: 
       
         a valve door controllably closing said brewing chamber; and  
       
       
         a timer cooperatively connected to said valve door to automatically release brewed beverage from said brewing chamber into said receptacle after said brew time.  
       
     
     
       28. An apparatus according to claim  19 , wherein said pump comprises: 
       
         a lid sealing said vessel;  
       
       
         a fill tube having a vent hole extending through said lid; and  
       
       
         a discharge tube extending between said vessel and said brewing chamber; whereby heating said water in said vessel causes steam to form in said vessel, and said steam increases pressure in said vessel to force heated water out of said vessel and into said brewing chamber, and a portion of said steam escapes through said vent hole.  
       
     
     
       29. An apparatus according to claim  28 , wherein said vent hole has a diameter of approximately  0 . 03  inches.  
     
     
       30. An apparatus according to claim  17 , wherein said flow control valve is controllable to allow said desired volume of beverage to flow into said receptacle after a brew time of between approximately  30  seconds and approximately  4  minutes.  
     
     
       31. An apparatus according to claim  17 , wherein said flow control valve comprises: 
       
         a pair of nested cones, each cone having an aperture, said cones being rotatable with respect to each other, whereby rotating said cones causes said apertures to overlap and increase or decrease the rate at which liquid flows out of said brewing chamber.