An automatic machine for preparing infusion beverages has a housing and an infusion vessel inserted or insertable into the housing. The infusion vessel has a lower inner surface and a lateral inner surface, which together define an interior space serving to receive infusion material and water, as well as an outlet opening. For discharging the infusion beverage from the infusion vessel, an outlet conduit is connected or connectable to the outlet opening. An outlet valve is provided to open or close, the discharge of the infusion beverage through the outlet conduit. The automatic machine also has an inlet device for admitting a liquid into the infusion vessel, which is configured in such a way that the liquid flows uniformly over the lateral inner surface into the interior of the infusion vessel. A method for the automatic cleaning of an infusion vessel used for the preparation of an infusion beverage is also disclosed.

A strainer, into which a product may be placed, permits extraction of substances from the product with a liquid without disbursing the product into the liquid. The strainer can be used with various products, such as herbs, tea, spices and the like. The strainer includes a compression member formed at one end of a shaft that is movable inside a basket portion. The basket portion may be covered with a lid that includes a hole therein through with the shaft moves. The shaft permits the user to move the basket portion within the liquid while, due to its length and rigidity, not getting lost in the liquid and not requiring the user to get too close to the liquid. The compression member can squeeze liquid out of the product within the basket portion when the user wishes to remove the product from the liquid.

A controlled system for brewing infused beverages that includes an infused beverage brewing assembly operably configured to receive infusion beverage parameters that include a dispensed solvent volume and a total infusion time utilized in an infusion algorithm generating a solvent flow rate change that is a function of the dispensed solvent volume and the total infusion time. The system also includes a solvent flow management system having a pump operably configured, based on the infusion algorithm, to generate an infused solution and includes an electronic control system communicatively coupled to the solvent flow management system and operably configured to initiate a counter associated with the inducement of the flow of the solvent to generate a running infusion time and execute the infusion algorithm to generate a solvent flow rate change sufficient to provide a remaining infusion volume in a remaining infusion time based on the input parameters.

A cold coffee brewing device is disclosed. A filter basket is provided that can rest at two positions, a first brewing position and a second draining position, the draining position being located above the liquid being brewed to allow the filter basket to drain without further support. The filter basket rests on a first width in the brewing position and on a second width in the draining position. The first and second width can either be formed in to a container for brewing or an adaptor can be provided to create the first and second width on the container. The filter basket has sections that are adapted to rest on the first and second width respectively.

The invention provides a beverage production machine having an apparatus for recognizing a package. The apparatus comprises two resonant tank circuits, each comprising a coil and a capacitor; two electronic circuits for detecting changes in coil impedance; a means for generating a signal which is indicative of the changes; and means for controlling the beverage production machine according to the signal. The machine also comprises a holder for supporting the package. The package for use in the machine comprises a base unit having a compartment which contains tea material, and a rim with a projecting lip; conductive material associated with the package having two edge sections situated on opposite sides of the compartment; and a lid attached to the base unit around the rim, the central portion of the lid comprising at least one perforated line. The invention also provides a method of recognizing the package.

A capsule for use in a brewing device is provided, the capsule having a body part, which defines a cavity, a lid which is attached to the body part and which closes the cavity, the lid having lines of weakness which define an opening region having an area of from 75 mm.sup.2 to 300 mm.sup.2; and tea material enclosed within the cavity, wherein at least 75% by weight of the tea material particles have a size of from 2 to 10 mm. A method of preparing a tea-based beverage in a brewing device using the capsule is also provided.

A coffee brewing device, such as a cold coffee brewing device and related methods are disclosed. The device includes a container, a supported horizontal plate that holds filter paper in place, and a spigot below the horizontal plate. Coffee grounds are placed on the filter, then water is added to the container such that minimal disturbance of the coffee ground bed occurs. When the spigot is opened, liquid is removed in a north/south (up/down) direction through the coffee ground bed. The coffee ground bed serves as a first filter, the filter serves as a second filter, and the chamber below the horizontal plate serves as a coalescing chamber where sediment drops out thus serving as a third filter. The resulting liquid dispensed from the spigot is amber in color and clear.

A cold brew coffee apparatus has a first container, a second container, a centerpiece connector, and a filter. Preferably the filter is positionable within the first container such that it divides the filter interior volume from the remainder of the first container interior volume. Preferably, cold brew infusion occurs when water in the first container interior volume passes through the water-permeable barrier and soaks coffee grounds within the filter interior volume to form a soluble coffee extract. An alternative cold brew coffee apparatus includes only a single brew chamber and a filter.

An infused beverage brewing assembly and system operably configured to receive a desired dispensed infused solution mass and a total infusion time utilized in an infusion algorithm to generate an infused solution. The system includes an electronic controller operably configured to initiate a time counter associated with an inducement of the flow of the solvent to generate a running infusion time and a first and second portions separated by a triggering condition, and to generate, in the second portion and dynamically, a remaining infusion time and a remaining dispensed infused solution mass, The electronic controller is also operable to execute the infusion algorithm in the second portion of the running infusion time to generate the solvent flow rate change sufficient to provide the remaining dispensed infused solution mass in the remaining infusion time based on the running infusion time, the desired dispensed infused solution mass, and the total infusion time.

Disclosed is a cold brew coffee maker and related methods of making cold brew coffee. The cold brew coffee maker can include a rotation assembly, a brew chamber, and a strainer/stirrer assembly. The strainer/stirrer assembly is adapted to be insertable into the brew chamber. The strainer/stirrer assembly having a first and second impeller that are located at a bottom portion of the strainer/stirrer assembly, the first impeller being located externally to the strainer/stirrer assembly and the second impeller located within a chamber formed by the strainer/stirrer assembly.