A refrigerator appliance having a cold brewed coffee system positioned within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance is provided. In one example aspect, the system includes a housing defining a water reservoir and a coffee reservoir. The water reservoir is in fluid communication with a water supply via an inlet supply conduit. An inlet valve is positioned along the inlet supply conduit and selectively allows water into the water reservoir. The water within the water reservoir drips into the coffee reservoir where the water mixes with coffee materials received therein. Cold brewed coffee is produced within the coffee reservoir and may slowly drip into a coffee container positioned or docked beneath the housing.

A method for making cold brew coffee and a system for brewing cold brew coffee is described. A cold brew coffee device may include a water reservoir containing water, a plurality of tubes for transporting water in the water reservoir to a different location, a drip mechanism for receiving water from the water reservoir, a coffee grounds container for receiving water from the drip mechanism, a pump for pumping water from the water reservoir to the drip mechanism, a container for collecting coffee-infused water from the coffee grounds container, a user interface for displaying information and providing alerts, a controller for controlling the pump and user interface, and a battery for providing power to the controller, the pump, and the user interface.

A device (5) for containing and preserving beverages, comprising at least one storage chamber (5a) for at least one beverage is described, said storage chamber (5a) being provided with at least one inlet (5b) for the injection of the beverage and with at least one outlet (5c), wherein the outlet (5c) is fluidically connected to a delivering assembly (6) for the delivery of the beverage. The device (5) comprises at least one fluid source (9) fluidically connected with said at least one storage chamber (5a) for the adduction of a fluid flow into said storage chamber (5a) to stir said beverage. A machine (1) for preparing a beverage, preferably by means of percolation, comprising such device (5), and the relative methods of use are also described.

A coffee appliance includes a powered cooling system integrated with and matched to a hot coffee brewer, configured to cool freshly-brewed coffee by thermal contact to chill a small batch of fresh-brewed coffee in a cooled receiving vessel. The vessel has an evaporator coil to ice the beverage. The cooling system is a robust system, a phase change refrigerant compression-type system employing a positive-displacement compressor, sized in relation to its rate of thermal cooling and the temperature of the beverage and the thermal mass and conductivity of the fluid-contacting assembly, bringing hot coffee to an ice-cold temperature, 2-5° C., on demand and quickly. The fresh brewed, flash-cooled coffee has undiluted and undegraded flavor. An integrated appliance includes a coffee brewer and cooler in a single device, and a slide switch or valve allows the user to select hot or iced coffee.

Temperature control for extracted beverages, including coffee, via controlled vacuum, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes a brew chamber, a beverage chamber in fluid communication with the brew chamber, a vacuum source in fluid communication with the beverage chamber, and a flow control device positioned to vary the force applied by the vacuum chamber on the brew chamber via the beverage chamber.

An apparatus for providing an infused or brewed beverage comprises a brewing arrangement which is configured to brew a beverage according to a selected one of a plurality of brewing processes, at least one being a hot brewing processes and at least one being a cold brewing process. The apparatus includes a controller configured to receive a user selection indicative of a required beverage, and to control the brewing arrangement in dependence upon the user selection. The apparatus may for example be used to provide either hot brew or cold brew coffee as required, without the need for multiple machines.

Described herein are systems and methods for rapid heatless extraction of flavor from a soluble by a solvent. The system includes in one or more embodiments, a brewing chamber containing a soluble and a solution chamber containing a solvent with a filter between the two chambers, and a circulation pump for moving the solvent from one chamber to the other (i.e., agitation). The circulation pump recycles the solvent between the containers to form a solution that that reaches a static equilibrium of flow to and from the brewing chamber allowing the least saturated solution to be in contact with the soluble substance. In one or more embodiments, agitation is performed by beaters, propellers, magnetic mixers, rotation of one or more chambers, or by making a slurry mixture.

A beverage dispensing valve may include a downspout assembly having a body having walls with a slot therein, a channel, an upper and a lower opening, with the slot in the channel between the upper and lower openings. The downspout assembly may include a lateral member extending laterally from the downspout assembly and engaging the wall adjacent the slot. A pinch member may be partly enclosed within the lateral member and dimensioned to move partially through the slot. A handle and the pinch member may move the pinch member in and out of the slot. A coil spring may engage the lateral member and the pinch arm urging the pinch arm at least partially through the slot of the body. A flexible insert may be dimensioned to tightly fit against the walls of the channel of the body, the insert having an open top and an open bottom.

A machine for preparing a hot beverage, comprising: a boiler for producing hotwater; a brewing unit installed downstream of the boiler; and at least one collection vessel installed downstream of the brewing unit, from which collection vessel a prepared hot beverage can be conducted, in particular through an outlet conduit, to at least one dispensing device in order to dispense the hot beverage when the dispensing device is opened. At least one liquid pump is adapted for conveying liquid from the at least one collection vessel towards the at least one dispensing device and for conveying liquid in the opposite direction.

Included is a brewing system that utilizes a curved pedestal that allows brewed effluent to drain in a manner that travels toward the center of the curved pedestal to maximize the exposure of the effluent to the organic material used for brewing, while also maximizing yield. The pedestal 112 sits above the lowest effluent level to allow the brewed effluent to drain from the organic material that is used for brewing to maximize the amount of effluent obtained. By allowing the brewed effluent to drain from the organic material, the weight and size of the organic material is reduced, so that the filter bag can be removed from the brewing system without ripping or tearing. The brewing system eliminates the need for a separate mesh bag and allows the effluent to drain without squeezing the filter bag and which would otherwise cause the release of harsh oils and acids, which can also be unsanitary as a result of a user handling the bag filter.