A beverage maker may include a fermentation tank having a space formed therein to make a beverage; a temperature controller configured to control a temperature of the fermentation tank; an air pump configured to supply air into the fermentation tank; a gas discharge channel connected with the fermentation tank and configured to discharge a portion of the air supplied into the fermentation tank; a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fermentation tank; and a controller configured to control the temperature controller to cool the fermentation tank accommodating a mixture including ingredients of the beverage while making the beverage, sense the temperature of the fermentation tank using the temperature sensor, terminate cooling of the fermentation tank when the sensed temperature is less than or equal to a reference temperature, and control the air pump to supply air into the fermentation tank.

A system and method of controlling temperature of a medium by refrigerant vaporization, or working gas condensation, or a combination of both, the system including a container, at least one a working gas reservoir having at least one reservoir section that includes a wall with an exterior surface structured to be thermally coupled with a volume of the medium in the container and to provide a volume of medium thermal coverage in the container, a condensation apparatus to provide regulation of working gas condensation in the reservoir, whereby the working gas reservoir forms a vapor space in each of the at least one reservoir section in response to receiving the working gas and to the condensation apparatus regulation of condensation to enable working gas condensation at or near a selected temperature of the volume of medium in the container that is thermally coupled to the respective reservoir section.

A device for automatically brewing beer that automates the tasks and operations of the brewing process. The device has an insulated enclosure, a brewing chamber positioned within the enclosure, a flexible brew pouch positioned below and fluidly interconnected to the brewing chamber, wherein the flexible brew pouch can be adjusted between a first volume and at least a second volume that is greater than the first volume, a yeast collection bin positioned below and interconnected to the brew pouch, and at least one source of heat positioned within the enclosure. A temperature sensor is associated with the brewing chamber. A pressure sensor, a near infrared sensor, and a heat exchanger are associated with the brew pouch. A controller operates the heat exchange assembly and the source of heat according to data received from the temperature sensor, the near infrared sensor, and the pressure sensor and a recipe that is uploaded to the controller by a user to automatically brew beer.

Ultraviolet irradiation of fluids for the purposes of disinfection, sterilization and modification of a target organic compound found within the fluids. The target compound in the fluids can have an absorption spectra with an ultraviolet wavelength ranging from 230 nm to 360 nm. The absorption spectra includes a first and second set of wavelengths corresponding to absorption peaks and absorption valleys in the absorption spectra, respectively. A-set of ultraviolet radiation sources irradiate the fluids. The set of ultraviolet radiation sources operate at a set of peak wavelengths ranging from 230 nm to 360 nm with a peak full width at half maximum that is less than 20 nm. The set of peak wavelengths are proximate to at least one wavelength in the second set of wavelengths corresponding to the absorption valleys in the absorption spectra with a variation of a full width half maximum of the absorption valley.

A fermenter may include a fermentation container having a fermentation space in which a beverage is fermented and a first gas passage communicating with the fermentation space, and a fermentation lid opening and closing the fermentation container and having a second gas passage. When the fermentation lid closes the fermentation container, a gas chamber communicating with each of the first gas passage and the second gas passage is provided between the fermentation container and the fermentation lid.

Kombucha, kefir, and other fermented beverages may be manufactured using a fermenter that draws off some fermented beverage, then adds starter liquid to a fermenter. Production may be regulated by managing heat, oxygen, or other inputs to achieve a desired quantity of finished beverage output, and production may be increased or decreased to match consumption. A controller may monitor beverage consumption and may adjust processing variables to achieve production goals, while automatically managing the overall process. A system may have a feed tank from which unprocessed liquid may be added to the fermenter at the same or similar quantities as finished beverage may be transferred to a dispensing system. The system may operate with little expertise or knowledge by a human operator.

An ingredient supplier of a beverage maker and a beverage maker having an ingredient supplier are provided. The ingredient supplier of the beverage maker may include an ingredient accommodation body including an ingredient accommodation portion into which an ingredient may be accommodated, a lid rotatably hinge-coupled to the ingredient accommodation portion, the lid being configured to cover the ingredient accommodation body at an upper side of the ingredient accommodation body, and a rotary damper configured to dampen rotation of the lid module. The rotary damper may include a damper case coupled to the ingredient accommodation body, and a damper shaft configured to connect the damper case to the lid. The damper shaft may be disposed in a straight line with a rotational axis of the lid.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a fermentation monitoring apparatus configured to generate a visual indicia in a fluid well in response to pressure inside a vessel exceeding a predetermined pressure. In an illustrative example, the fermentation monitoring apparatus may include a vessel cap that includes a fluid well holding a quantity of fluid, and at least one fluid communication channel. The fluid well, for example, may receive gas released from the channel via the at least one fluid communication channel when the vessel cap is coupled to a first end of a vessel to define a chamber and a gas pressure in the chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold. Various embodiments may advantageously generate a visual indicium of gas bubbles in the quantity of fluid indicating to a user that the gas pressure in the chamber has exceeded the predetermined threshold.

A beer manufacturing apparatus includes a chamber, a coupler installed in the chamber and including a wort line and an air line, and a flow path unit connecting the wort line to the air line. The apparatus further includes a sterilization and washing cap coupled to the coupler to form a closed flow path with the flow path unit, a sterilization and washing filter bottle connected to the flow path unit and containing sterilization and washing water therein, a pump connected to the flow path unit, and a controller controlling an operation of the pump to circulate the sterilization and washing water contained in the sterilization and washing filter bottom in the closed flow path.

An apparatus used to ferment a liquid during kombucha manufacture includes a bonnet. The bonnet is configured to cover an opening of a container. The container defines a volume to hold the liquid. The container has a lip that defines the opening. The bonnet further includes a filter. The filter is permeable to a gas and has a pore size. The bonnet includes an elastic member. The elastic member is coupled to the filter. The elastic member is elastically engageable with the lip such that when the bonnet is attached to the container the bonnet covers the opening and the elastic member is removably sealable to the lip. When the bonnet is engaged with the lip, a gas can pass through the filter and particles larger than the pore size are kept out of the liquid by the filter during fermentation of the liquid, thereby preventing contamination of the liquid.