FACEPLATE FOR IMPROVED EXTRACTION OF BEVERAGE MATERIAL

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed methods for making and to features that may be included in a single-use beverage dispensing container. Such containers are commonly referred to as beverage pods. Such beverage pods are commonly used in offices and in residences where individuals wish to make a single cup of coffee, tea, chocolate, or other beverage. Features that may be included in beverage pods of the present disclosure include an agitation device that redirects a flow of a fluid injected into the beverage pod when a beverage is made. This redirected fluid flow may increase an amount of turbulence within a beverage pod such that soluble materials like a chocolate powder are more effectively dissolved into the fluid, or this turbulence may increase the efficiency of extracting materials from non-soluble beverage making materials such as coffee or tea.

Claims

1. An apparatus for making a beverage, the apparatus comprising: a container that houses a beverage making material; and a structure located in the container and that changes a direction of a fluid provided into the container thereby agitating the beverage making material into a beverage that is expelled from the container after having been agitated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more raised features on a surface of the structure that facilitate the changing of the direction of the fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more curved shaped voids in the structure that allow the fluid to flow through the structure and that facilitate the changing of the direction of the fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more holes in the structure that allow the fluid to flow through the structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter that houses the beverage making materials.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is included within the filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support that supports the structure and that allows the structure to move when the fluid contacts the structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is rigidly attached to an interior wall of the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container and the structure are made of one or more biodegradable materials.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is made of one or more organic biodegradable materials.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is made of one or more organic biodegradable materials.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lid that is bonded to the container.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lid is made of one or more organic biodegradable materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the filter is made of one or more organic biodegradable materials.

15. A method for making a beverage container, the method comprising: forming a container case; adding a structure into the container case, the structure disposed the container case to change a direction of a fluid is provided to the container case; and adding a beverage making material into the container case, wherein the fluid mixes with the beverage making material when the fluid is provided to the container case based on the changed direction of the fluid.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising bonding a lid onto the container case such that the structure and the beverage making material are sealed within the container case.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising placing the beverage making material into a filter that houses the beverage making material.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising bonding the filter to a wall of the container case.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising adding a support upon which the structure sits.

20. A method for making a beverage, the method comprising: changing a direction of a fluid provided to a single-serve beverage pod by a structure included on an internal portion of the single-serve beverage pod when the fluid is provided to the single-serve beverage pod, wherein the fluid mixes with the beverage making material when the fluid is provided to the single-serve beverage pod based on the changed direction of the fluid and the mixing of the fluid with the beverage making material makes a beverage; and outputting the beverage from the single-serve beverage pod.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a compostable beverage pod or container of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an agitation device that may be included in a beverage pod when the beverage pod is manufactured.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates how liquid may flow past or through an agitation device.

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates yet another configuration of a beverage pod agitation device.

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a series of steps that may be performed when a beverage pod that includes an agitation device is made.

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates steps for method for making a beverage using a beverage pod that includes an agitation device.

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates a beverage pod that includes some features that are different from the beverage container of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present disclosure is directed methods for making and to features that may be included in a single-use beverage dispensing container. Such beverage pods are commonly used in offices and in residences where individuals wish to make a single cup of coffee, tea, chocolate, or other beverage. Features that may be included in beverage pods of the present disclosure include an agitation device that redirects a flow of a fluid injected into the beverage pod when a beverage is made. This redirected fluid flow may increase an amount of turbulence within a beverage pod such that soluble materials like a chocolate powder are more effectively dissolved into the fluid, or this turbulence may increase the efficiency of extracting materials from non-soluble beverage making materials such as coffee or tea. Apparatus of the present invention may increase efficiency and quality of beverages. The addition of a properly designed agitation device to a beverage pod will increase turbulence of a brewing fluid injected into a beverage pod. This will help improve the distribution of beverage material in the brewing fluid, thereby, improving efficiency of a brewing process. This may also result in a more consistent final product the added turbulence will more effectively penetrate beverage materials, even when those materials have been compacted. Additionally, the increased turbulence reduces the likelihood of agglomeration occurring with soluble beverage material, similarly reducing the likelihood of failure or inefficient brewing.

[0031] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a compostable beverage pod or container of the present disclosure. The beverage container or pod 105 of FIG. 1 includes lid 110, bonding location 115, casing 120, optional outer coating 125, filter guard 130, filter 135, beverage materials 140 located inside of filter 135, and agitation device 145. FIG. 1 also illustrates beverage extraction/brewing machine assembly 150 used to extract elements included in a beverage container when a fluid is introduced into a brewing/extraction chamber 170. This fluid may be provided to the extraction/brewing assembly from fluid source 155 and through the beverage materials included in the beverage container. The beverage machine assembly 150 of FIG. 1 includes fluid source 155, extraction/brewing assembly chamber lid 160, brewing/extraction chamber 170, piercing element/nozzle 165 that receives fluid from fluid source 155, and outlet 175 that may also include an element that pierces a bottom portion of a beverage container.

[0032] In operation chamber lid 160 the beverage machine 150 would be opened, beverage cartridge 105 would be placed into chamber 170, chamber lid 160 would then be closed, and a button may be pressed to initiate the flow of a fluid (e.g. water) from fluid source 155 through piercing element/nozzle 165. The closing of lid 160 could force piecing elements of nozzle 165 and outlet 175 to pierce respectively a top part and a bottom part of beverage cartridge 105. Filter guard 130 of beverage cartridge 105 may help prevent the piercing element of outlet 175 from reaching or piercing filter 135. Here the liquid flowing from fluid source 155 would flow through piercing nozzle 165 into the top of beverage cartridge 105, through filter 135, beverage materials 140, agitation device 145, and out of outlet 175 when a beverage is made.

[0033] Beverage pod/cartridge 105 of FIG. 1 may include one or more of, a beverage medium that is either soluble or insoluble, one or more filters, and a first portion in which liquid is passed into and a second portion through which liquid passes out of the cartridge. In some instances, portioned beverage packages contain a water-soluble material, to make a drink such as hot chocolate, chai tea, etc. These portioned packages can be pouches as well as pods for beverage brewing machines. Beverage cartridges can contain a number of components, including pod lid, capsule lid, or cartridge lid. The lid of a beverage pod is often made of foil that may be glued to a bottom portion of a cartridge to seal a beverage material inside of the cartridge.

[0034] Cartridge lid 110 of FIG. 1 may be comprised of a compostable natural material, for example, a spun bond environmentally friendly plastic web film material (e.g., a material including polylactic acid (PLA), any polymer selected from the class of polymers known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) (such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), or a combination thereof), a cellulose paper film, or other type of compostable nonpolluting material. Lid 110 may be bonded to an upper portion/bonding location 115 of casing 120. In certain instances, filter 135 may be bonded to an internal surface of casing 125. These bonds may be a mechanical or chemical bond. Here a mechanical bond may be created using heat sealing or ultrasonic welding and a chemical bond may be created using a food grade adhesive. The bonding of a lid or a filter onto or into a case may include creating bods at in one location or may include several separate bonds at different locations of a case. A filter bond may be a type of capsule bond that binds the filter medium to a portion of the capsule. Here again this may include ultrasonic welding, adhesives, or thermal sealing. A capsule may include an exterior surface that is includes a series of holes, that includes portions of a filter element, or may be a filter material similar to a tea bag that contains a material for making a beverage.

[0035] While the beverage pod of FIG. 1 is discussed as including filter 135, in certain instances, a filter may not be used, for example, when the beverage making material is soluble. In such an instance beverage making material 140 may be placed in beverage container/pod 105 without filter 135. While FIG. 1 illustrates the agitation device 145 being located at a bottom portion of beverage container/pod 105, agitation device 145 may be placed anywhere within a beverage container or pod. As such an agitation device may be placed at a top portion, at a middle portion, or at a bottom portion of a beverage pod or may be placed within a filter that includes the beverage making material. In certain instances, agitation device 145 may be part of, attached to, or be bonded to an interior portion of a beverage pod. When the agitation device is attached to the interior of the beverage pod, it may be attached by a friction fit, may be attached using a food grade adhesive, or may be bonded using heat or ultrasonic bonding.

[0036] The process of manufacturing beverage cartridge 105 may include coating exterior portions of cartridge 105 with a coating 125 material. Coating 125 may have been applied as part of process where the coating is sprayed onto outer surfaces of cartridge 105. Alternatively, cartridge 105 may be placed into a mold and the coating 125 may be extruded into the mold when external surfaces of cartridge 105 are coated.

[0037] The exterior of cartridge 105 can be made of a non-polluting plastic (such as PLA, PHAs, PHB, or combinations thereof), cellulose, etc. Combinations of various materials (that may include PLA, PHA, PHB, or cellulose) have some properties that are similar to properties of petroleum based thermoplastic polymers (e.g. polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS)) and have other properties that are different from most petroleum based thermoplastic polymers. What this means is that items made from PLA, PHAs, PHB, and/or cellulose can have the look and feel of “plastic,” yet biodegrade over a span of weeks or months, where items made from PP, PE, and PS, or other petroleum based thermoplastic polymers may not fully degrade over weeks, months, or even many years. This allows for beverage container made from PE, PHA, cellulose, and or other similar organic materials to serve as a biodegradable alternative to coffee pods made using petroleum based thermoplastic polymers.

[0038] PLA and PHA materials are renewable materials that may be produced using bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids that may have been derived from corn, cassava, sugarcane, or sugar beet pulp. Mechanical properties of PHAs can be modified for a given use case by blending PHA material with other biodegradable polymers, such as PLAs. Other types of biodegradable materials from which plastic may be made include poly-L-lactide (PLLA). PLLAs are also considered to be compostable materials because of how quickly PLAA materials can degrade in the environment. Cellulose materials are made from fibers derived from plant matter. Cellulose may be collected by processing cotton, flax, wood pulp, hemp, and other plant materials. These various materials may be used to fabricate a biodegradable filter material that could be used in coffee or other beverage pods/cartridge. What this means is that non-petroleum based organic materials may be used to form various parts of a beverage cartridge.

[0039] Other materials that are biodegradable plastic alternatives include petroleum-based plastics such as, polyglycolic acid (PGA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). In certain instances, these other materials may be used to fabricate a portion of a beverage cartridge, for example, casing 120 of FIG. 1.

[0040] Filters included in a cartridge may be made of any of the materials or combination of materials discussed in the present disclosure in order to help insure that the entire cartridge biodegrades within weeks of months after being used. Beverage cartridges can also contain a capsule interior that is separate from a filter, in beverages that have an insoluble beverage material such as coffee. The capsule interior can be used for a number of purposes, including, providing material properties such as structural integrity (e.g., provide addition strength to resist the pressure of liquid injection in the process of brewing a beverage, which may crack or otherwise compromise the beverage pod), or altering the biodegradability or rate of the beverage pod in some embodiments. For example, coating 125 may be a material that alters the biodegradability of materials included in casing 120 or vice versa.

[0041] As mentioned above, filter guard 130 is a structure integrated into a beverage pod that prevents a sharp part of outlet 175 from piercing filter 135. In some embodiments, an interior of cartridge 120 may include integrated features to act as a filter guard, removing the requirement for a discrete filter guard 130. Filter 135 may be made from as spun bond PLA webbing material, cellulose paper, cloth, or metal. A main purpose of filter 135 and filter guard 130 is to prevent an insoluble portion of a beverage material from leaving the beverage pod and entering the beverage brewing/extraction machine or a beverage made by a brewing machine. These filters can be symmetrical (e.g., fluted), or asymmetrical (e.g. pleated).

[0042] Here a beverage material is the material used to produce a brewed or extracted beverage, such as coffee grounds, tea, or a mix beverage where the beverage material is soluble, such as hot chocolate. Beverage materials may include flavorings, nutritional content (e.g., any oils, nutritional supplements, active ingredients such as pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids, etc.), alcohol, coloring, or any other composition which has an effect on the final beverage. Beverage brewing/extraction machines for making portioned beverages from pre-packed beverage pods exist for a variety of beverages. These beverage materials may include portions that are made insoluble (e.g., coffee) or may include materials that are completely soluble (e.g., hot chocolate mix).

[0043] A beverage brewing/extraction machine will typically contain many other components, such as, for example, a heating element, a liquid reservoir or plumbing component, a liquid pump, an exterior chassis, a controller for the brewing process, a display or indicator lights and sounds, a user interface including buttons or a touchscreen, a tray to catch spillage, etc. For the purposes of description, it is assumed a beverage brewing/extraction machine contains all components necessary to accomplish the beverage brewing process, though specific reference to beverage brewing machine components may only be made to those components which come into direct contact with the beverage pod, such as the brewing chamber, a fluid injecting component, and a fluid extracting component. A beverage brewing/extraction machine may include the following elements: A fluid source that supplies 155 a fluid or liquid (usually water) to the brewing machine for producing the desired beverage. A brewing chamber lid 160 that opens to allow a new pod to be added to the machine, and in many of the most common embodiments of a beverage brewing machine, the chamber lid 120 connects the fluid source 155 to the brewing piercing element/nozzle 165. As mentioned above nozzle 165 provides the fluid when a beverage is created. Here again chamber 170 may receive beverage container 105 and a piercing nozzle of output 175 may pierce the bottom of container 105 to allow the created beverage to flow through output 175. Agitation device 145 may direct the flow of fluid such to provide turbulence to either more effectively mix soluble materials with a fluid or to direct a fluid to more effectively extract elements from a non-soluble beverage material such as coffee grounds or tea leaves. While the agitation device 145 of FIG. 1 is illustrated as being located at the bottom of beverage pod 105, it may be place at any location of a beverage pod or may be integrated into the sides of a beverage pod. Such an agitation device may be rigid, flexible and may further be static or moving. In instances when the agitation device moves, this movement may result from the flow of fluid forcing the agitation device to rotate like how a waterfall moves a water wheel.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates an agitation device that may be included in a beverage pod when the beverage pod is manufactured. FIG. 2 illustrates four views 210A, 210B, 210C, & 210D of an agitation device. These views include top view 210A, isometric view 210B, side cross-sectional view 210C, and perspective view 210D. The different views of the agitation device of FIG. 2 include a structure that may be referred to as a faceplate that includes recessions 220 and protrusions 230 disposed on a top surface of the agitation device. The various views of the agitation device may include a drain or hole 240 as can be seen in top view 210A, isometric view 210B, and perspective view 210D. Protrusions 230 may have a curved shape 230S with a wider protruding portion located at an exterior of the agitation device and a narrower protruding portion located near a center portion of the agitation device where drain 240 is located.

[0045] Cuts or voids may be located at locations in the faceplate, for example, item 230S may be a cut or void and each similar curved shape in FIG. 2 may also be a cut or void. Such voids will allow fluid to flow much like air flowing through a pinwheel. Here the fluid may be directed to flow in in directions that increase an amount of agitation of a beverage material when a beverage is made.

[0046] The agitation device of FIG. 2 may be formed of a single material or a combination of materials including any of polylactic acid (PLA), a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and natural or composite fibers. The embodiment illustrated in this figure illustrates a turbine design. When a fluid is injected into a beverage pod that includes an agitation device, a flow of that fluid may be redirecting to increase the turbulence of the fluid flow. This may help improve the mixing of the fluid with a beverage material enclosed within the beverage pod. The faceplate is the structure to which at least one protrusion 230 is affixed. The faceplate may be a portion of the beverage pod structure, such as the bottom of the beverage pod or the pod wall.

[0047] The faceplate may alternatively be a structure formed separate of the beverage pod. For example, the faceplate may be a disk comprised of PLA and independent of the beverage pod structure. The faceplate may be fused to the filter or beverage pod structure after it is formed or may remain a separate structure. Protrusions 230 may be a feature mounted to the faceplate which rises from the plane of the faceplate into the beverage pod housing a beverage making material. Here again the protrusions may be attached using for example using ultrasonic welding, adhesives, or thermal sealing. Such a faceplate or agitation device will typically include at least one protrusion that is affixed to or included in the faceplate. Here the protrusions 230 and may be arranged randomly or evenly arranged on a faceplate of an agitation device. The protrusion may have a conical shape, a fin-like shape, a blade-like shape, or other shape that directs the flow of a fluid. The protrusion may be irregular in shape and size or may have a uniform shape.

[0048] In some instances, a plurality of fin-like protrusions 230 are uniformly arranged in a circular pattern on the faceplate, each fin at an angle to form a turbine-like shape 230S. Upon injection of a fluid into a beverage pod containing the agitation device, the fluid is redirected by the turbine-like shape to create turbulent flow within the beverage pod. This may increase mixing of the beverage material with the fluid. As mentioned above the agitation device may include drain 240 that may be a hole. In certain instances, drain 240 may be a channel or other fluid path build into in the faceplate that allows fluid to pass over the faceplate and escape the beverage pod via drain 240 and a bottom portion of the beverage pod.

[0049] In certain instances, there may be more than one drain in an agitation device included in a beverage pod. When the drain is a single hole in the center of the faceplate, a fluid provided to the beverage pod may be directed in a manner that results in turbulent mixing of the fluid and a beverage making material. Note also that the agitation device of FIG. 2 has a shape that may be characterized as toroidal shape. The cross-sectional view 220C of FIG. 2 shows that the agitation device may have disk-like-shaped with a drain in the center of the agitation device. Here the protrusions 230 are fin structures rising from the surface of the agitation device.

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates how liquid may flow past or through an agitation device. FIG. 3 illustrates two different cross-sectional side views of two different agitation devices 310 and 340. The black and white arrowed lines 330 illustrate how fluid may flow onto a top part of agitation device 310. Here the fluid may flow in a circuitous path around and through agitation device. The 310 flow may impact a top surface of agitation device 310 and flow in a backward/upward direction before passing through hole 320 in agitation device 310. This flow of fluid may also flow along top surfaces of agitation device 310 as shown by the horizontal white arrowed lines of FIG. 3.

[0051] Agitation device 340 of FIG. 3 may include holes, cuts, or voids similar to the voids 230S of FIG. 2 that allow the fluid to flow 350 in a directed path through agitation device 340. FIG. 3 shows flow 350 using both black and white arrowed lines, where fluid enters from above agitation 340 device and then through agitation 340 device in various directions illustrated by the arrowed lines 350 that are not perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of agitation device 340.

[0052] The different agitation devices 310 & 340 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be located in either a top portion, a middle portion, or a bottom portion of a beverage pod. Agitation device 310 when placed at a bottom portion of a beverage pod could agitate a fluid as the fluid moved through the circuitous path of flow 330. Agitation device 340 when placed at a top portion of a beverage pod could direct fluid in various directions when a beverage was made from beverage materials located below agitation device 340. The various agitation devices discussed herein may be used in beverage dispensing apparatus that include one or several different nozzles that provide a fluid to a beverage pod.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates yet another configuration of a beverage pod agitation device. FIG. 4 includes perspective view 410, a top view 420, and a side view 430 of a same type of agitation device. The agitation device of FIG. 4 includes four holes located near a center portion. Note that these holes are separated by a portion of the agitation device that looks like a cross or a plus sign.

[0054] The side view 430 of the agitation device of FIG. 4 includes a support 440 that may include a protrusion that fits into a recess located at a center portion of the agitation device. This support could allow the agitation device 430 of FIG. 4 to move or rotate as liquid is provided to a beverage pod. A beverage pod agitation device could include a combination of the features discussed in respect to any of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. For example, an agitation device could include the raised features 230 and curve shapes 230S discussed in respect to FIG. 2, could include voids discussed in respect to FIG. 2 or 3, and could include support 440 of FIG. 4. One or more of these various features could be used to force the agitation device to rotate when a fluid is provided to a beverage pod.

[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates a series of steps that may be performed when a beverage pod that includes an agitation device is made. FIG. 5 begins with step 510 where a beverage pod is formed. This may include heating the pod making material and forming that heated material in a form. This pod making material may be a biodegradable thermoplastic material such as PLA or PHA, which may or may not include fibers of natural or composite materials. The forming process may be performed vacuum thermoforming around a form in the shape of a negative space of the beverage pod. The form may alternatively be in the shape of the exterior of the beverage pod. In yet other instances, the pod may be formed via injection molding where a heated thermoplastic material is injected into a mold. After cooling, the thermoplastic material may be cooled such that it retains the shape of the mold.

[0056] The pod may also be comprised of natural or composite fibers which may be pressed into a mold. When the pod is formed by vacuum forming using a sheet of PLA over a conical cylinder form, formed pod may further have any excess plastic removed by a cutting instrument that may additionally be heated.

[0057] After step 510, determination step 520 may identify whether a beverage making material that will be placed in the beverage pod is soluble or now. When the beverage making material is soluble, program flow may move from step 520 to step 530. Soluble beverage making materials are materials that dissolve into a fluid such as water when a beverage is made. Once dissolved, a solution including the beverage making materials and water will exit the beverage pod. Soluble beverage making materials include substances like of hot cocoa mix, sugar, and a creamer. Non-soluble beverage materials include substances like coffee grounds or tea leaves from which elements like coffee or tea are made bases on an extraction of elements from the coffee grounds or tea leaves.

[0058] When the material is non-soluble, a filter may be comprised of a biodegradable material comprising any of PLA, PHA, natural or composite fiber, or a combination of two or more of these materials. In one instance, PLA is heated until melted and is extruded through at least one hole in an extrusion die resulting in at least one strand of thin plastic which is deposited on a plate to cool. A layering of these extrusions, resulting in a mat of threads with a porosity size smaller than that of the grain size of the beverage material, a process known spun or spin bonding. The filter may be loosely placed within the beverage pod or may be bonded to the beverage pod, such as by ultrasonic welding, at step 530 of FIG. 5.

[0059] When the beverage making material is a soluble material, program flow may move from determination step 520 to step 540 where an agitation device may be installed in the beverage pod. Program flow may also move to step 540 after step 530.

[0060] When the beverage material is non-soluble, the agitation device may be positioned within the filter such that the filter is positioned between the agitation device and the pod wall.

[0061] In an instance when the beverage material is soluble, the agitation device may be positioned directly within the pod. Spacers may be inserted to raise the agitation device away from a wall of the pod. The agitation device may be free floating within the pod or bonded to the pod or filter. In certain instances, the agitation device may be formed as part of the beverage pod during the beverage pod forming. Here again, the agitation device may have a disk-like-shape with a faceplate that includes a plurality of fin-like or blade-like protrusions rising from the surface of the faceplate as discussed in respect to FIG. 2. The agitation device may also include at least one hole acting as a drain that makes a drink when a fluid passes by the agitation device.

[0062] When the agitation device is installed within a filter inside a beverage pod, it may be arranged such that the protrusions or recessions are facing away from the filter and the bottom of the beverage pod (or visa versa). In other instances, the agitation device may be arranged on the walls of the beverage pod in addition to or as an alternative to being arranged in the bottom of the beverage pod.

[0063] The agitation device may alternatively be comprised of a non-soluble agitation media dispersed within the beverage material. Applying a pod lid to the opening of the beverage pod and creating a pod bond between the pod lid creating a sealed unit. After step 540 the beverage making material or a filled filter may be inserted into the beverage pod in step 550 of FIG. 5. Note that a filled filter may be installed into a beverage pod at either step 530 or step 550 of FIG. 5. Furthermore, an agitation device may be installed into or be built into a beverage pod in step 510 of FIG. 5. Next, in step 560 the beverage pod may be sealed. This may include placing a cover over a top portion of the beverage pod and the tope cover may be bonded to the top of the beverage pod. This bond may be formed using heat or an adhesive, or a combination of heat and an adhesive to create a seal.

[0064] The creation of a pod bond may be immediately preceded by the addition of a preservative, such as an inert gas to preserve the freshness of the beverage material. The addition of the preservative may alternately be added to the beverage pod in a simultaneously with the application of the pod bond. A pod cover or lid may be made from a biodegradable cellulose paper film which is affixed to the beverage pod using an adhesive pod bond immediately following the addition of nitrogen gas to displace the air within the beverage pod. Here again this gas may act as a preservative to maintain freshness of the beverage making material.

[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates steps for method for making a beverage using a beverage pod that includes an agitation device. The flow chart of FIG. 6 begins with a first step where a fluid is received at a beverage pod in step 610. This fluid may have been received after a person placed the beverage pod into a single-use beverage making machine assembly (like assembly 150 of FIG. 1), lid 160 may be closed, and a button to dispense a liquid may be pressed. Next, in step 620, the flow of the fluid may be directed by a beverage pod agitation device located inside of the beverage pod. The directing of the fluid may cause the fluid to agitate and mix with or extract elements from a beverage making material located inside of the beverage pod. After step 620, the beverage made by the directed fluid mixing or extraction may be output from the beverage pod at step 630 of FIG. 6.

[0066] FIG. 7 illustrates a beverage pod that includes some features that are different from the beverage container of FIG. 1. Beverage pod 700 of FIG. 7 includes several features that are similar to beverage container 1-5 of FIG. 1, these features include lid 710, bonding location 720, case 730, and optional coating 740. Beverage pod 700 also includes beverage making material 750, agitation device 760, and dome feature 770. Here again, depending on a type of beverage making material, a filter may or may not be included within beverage pod 700. When a filter is used, the filter may be filled with beverage making material 750 and the filter may simply be placed in the case 740 before lid 710 is attached to case 740. Alternatively, the filter may be bonded to case 740 before beverage pod 700 is sealed. When a filter is used, agitation device 760 may also be placed inside of the filter.

[0067] As discussed above, a beverage making material included in a beverage container or pod is a material used to produce a brewed beverage. Here again the beverage making material may be coffee grounds, tea, or a mix beverage where the beverage material is soluble (e.g. hot chocolate). Beverage making material 350 may include any flavorings, nutritional content (e.g., any oils, nutritional supplements, active ingredients such as pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids, etc.), alcohol, coloring, or any other composition which has an effect on a final beverage. As noted above beverage pod 700 includes dimple feature 770 located at a bottom side of beverage pod 700 and a beverage may be made by placing beverage pod 700 in brewing machine assembly 150 of FIG. 1 followed by closing chamber lid 160 and pressing a brew button.

[0068] Here again, agitation device is a structure that redirects a flow of a liquid injected into the beverage pod 700 to improve mixing of the beverage material with the liquid. The bottom dimple feature 770 on the bottom of a beverage pod may be a dome or cylindrical deformation of the bottom of the pod exterior which protrudes into the beverage pod such as to create a channel along the outer wall of the beverage pod on the bottom of beverage pod 700. The agitation device may rest on top of the bottom dimple feature and be raised sufficiently away from the bottom of the pod exterior such that the brewed liquid can exit the beverage pod without clogging due to agglomeration.

[0069] The bottom dome feature 770 may be formed or molded. Dome feature 770 may provide a space at the bottom of beverage pod 700 of about 3 mm such that sufficient space is created beneath the agitation device to allow a brewed beverage to exit the beverage pod. In some instances, the interior of beverage pod 700 may have integrated features into that serve as agitation device 760. Here again agitation device 760 may have fin-like or blade-like surface features that redirect the flow of fluid in order to increase turbulence of the fluid and perturb or mix the beverage material contained within the pod.

[0070] Here again beverage pod 700 the case 730, cape lid 730, agitation device 760, or optional filter may be made of one or more biodegradable or compostable materials. Such biodegradable materials may include a spun bond PLA web film (which may contain a proportion of PHA, in some embodiments), a cellulose paper film, etc. The pod lid 710 is typically the liquid injection point where a brewing pin punctures the pod lid and injects the brewing liquid. In certain instances, pod lid 710 may be made from a cellulose film. The exterior may be made of a biodegradable plastic such as PLA, PHAs, cellulose, or combination of these materials.

[0071] While various flow diagrams provided and described above may show a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that such order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments can perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).

[0072] The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claim. what is claimed is: