Capsule and Method for Making Coffee

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule comprising an water capsule configured to contain water, a coffee capsule configured to contain coffee, and a water hole valve disposed on the water capsule, whereby the water capsule holds a quantity of water, the coffee capsule housed within the water capsule holds a quantity of coffee, and the water hole valve disposed on the water capsule is configured to release the water within the water capsule into a coffee machine. The invention further relates to a respective method for making coffee.

Claims

1. A capsule comprising a water capsule configured to contain water, a coffee capsule configured to contain coffee, and a water hole valve disposed on the water capsule, whereby the water capsule holds a quantity of water, the coffee capsule housed within the water capsule holds a quantity of coffee, and the water hole disposed on the water capsule is configured to release the water within the water capsule into a coffee machine.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of guides disposed on the water capsule and configured to help keeping the water capsule centered while entering the coffee machine.

3. The capsule according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of holders disposed on the coffee capsule and configured to keep the inner coffee capsule steady and ready for perforation by the coffee machine.

4. The capsule according to claim 1, comprising an air pressure hole disposed on the water capsule and configured to release air pressure once the coffee capsule is perforated during entrance of the water capsule into the coffee machine.

5. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the coffee capsule is disposed on a side of an inside of the water capsule.

6. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the coffee capsule comprises a metallic conic UFO shaped container that tapers at one end.

7. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the coffee capsule comprises an inner ring configured for keeping the coffee capsule from exiting the water capsule from its front side.

8. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the capsule is made of at least one of PET or PP plastic material constructed via injection moulding.

9. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the water capsule comprises between 25 to 100 ml or 50 ml of water.

10. A coffee machine comprising a capsule according to claim 1.

11. A method for making coffee comprising the steps of inserting a capsule containing a water capsule and a coffee capsule into a coffee machine, penetrating a back side of the coffee capsule via a first perforator configured to form a coffee hole in the back of the coffee capsule, penetrating a water hole valve disposed on a back side of the water capsule via a tube disposed at an end of a sliding path so that water is released from the water capsule into a heater tank within the coffee machine, heating the water via the heater tank, injecting water from the heater tank into the coffee capsule through the coffee hole, and forming coffee once the water mixes with the coffee in the coffee capsule.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: penetrating the back side of the coffee capsule in three spots via the first perforator configured to form three symmetric coffee holes in the back of the coffee capsule, and penetrating an aluminium covered water hole disposed on the back side of the water capsule via the metallic sharp tube disposed at the end of the sliding path.

13. The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of: sliding down the water capsule the sliding path at the same time as the coffee capsule is being penetrated via the first perforator.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of: flowing the water at a pressure of 20 bar through the coffee capsule and into a cup for producing the coffee.

15. The method according to claim 11, whereby the capsule comprises an air pressure hole disposed on the water capsule and configured to release air pressure once the coffee capsule is perforated during entrance of the water capsule into the coffee machine.

16. The capsule according to claim 2, whereby the guides are embossed on the water capsule.

17. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the water capsule comprises a rectangular shape.

18. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the coffee capsule comprises between 5 to 20 grams.

19. The capsule according to claim 1, whereby the coffee capsule comprises 7 to 12 grams of coffee in powder form.

20. The method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: injecting water from the heater tank into the coffee capsule through the coffee hole into a silicon tube, and filling of a cup with the coffee from the silicon tube for between 10 to 20 seconds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0036] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment described hereinafter.

[0037] In the drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1a shows a capsule according to an exemplary embodiment in a perspective view,

[0039] FIG. 1b shows the capsule according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1a in a side view,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the capsule according to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b operating within a coffee machine in a perspective view, and

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the capsule according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 operating within the coffee machine in a side view.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a capsule 1 according to an exemplary embodiment in a perspective view and in a side view, respectively. The capsule 1 is made of PET plastic material and such wise constructed via injection moulding. The capsule 1 comprises an outer capsule 2 and a an inner capsule 3, both provided as closed, liquid-tight capsules. The outer capsule 2 comprises a rectangular shape and the inner capsule 3 comprises a metallic conic UFO shaped container that tapers at one end.

[0043] The inner capsule 3 is housed within the outer capsule 2 such that, as can be seen from FIG. 1b, the tapered side and the opposite side thereto align at least partly parallel with longitudinal, opposite sides of the rectangular shaped outer capsule 2. The inner capsule 3 is thus completely housed respectively embedded within the outer capsule 3. For keeping the inner capsule 3 from exiting the water outer capsule 2 an inner ring 4 is provided which is attached to the outer capsule 2 and keeps the inner capsule 3 at the opposite side to the tapered side parallel to the longitudinal front side of the outer capsule 2.

[0044] The inner capsule 3 is filled with approximately 7 to 12 grams of coffee in powder form, and is thus also referred to as coffee capsule 3. The outer capsule 2 is filled with the inner capsule 3 and comprises approximately 50 ml of water as quantity of water, and is thus also referred to as water capsule 2. The water capsule 2 further comprises a water hole 5 disposed on a lateral side the water capsule 2, which is configured to release the water within the water capsule 2 into a coffee machine 6, only schematically depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the capsule 1 operating within the coffee machine in a perspective view and side view.

[0045] For making coffee, the capsule 1 is first inserted into an upper portion of the coffee machine 6 via a sliding path. The capsule therefore comprises a plurality of guides 7 disposed on longitudinal sides of respectively embossed on the water capsule 2 i.e. two parallel guides 7 extending in longitudinal direction, which help keeping the outer capsule 2 respectively the capsule 1 centered while entering the coffee machine 6 along the sliding path. Next, the tapered back side of the coffee capsule 3 is penetrated in three spots via a first perforator 8, thereby forming three symmetric coffee holes 12 in the tapered back side of the coffee capsule 3. For keeping the inner coffee capsule 3 steady and ready for perforation, a plurality of holders 9 are disposed on the coffee capsule 3 adjacent to and around the inner ring 4.

[0046] In a next step, the aluminium covered water hole 5 disposed on the lateral back side of the water capsule 2 is penetrated via a metallic sharp tube 10 disposed at an end of the sliding path. Next, water is released from the water capsule 2 and into a heater tank, not shown, within the coffee machine 6. Parallel to penetrating the water hole 5, an air pressure hole 11 disposed on the water capsule 3 is penetrated. Next, the water is heated within the heater tank and/or by other heating means. Thereafter the heated water is injected from the heater tank into the coffee capsule 3 through the three coffee holes 12 and into a silicon tube with a pressure of 20 bar, forming coffee once the heated water mixes with the coffee in the coffee capsule 3. The process terminates with the filling of a cup, not shown, with the coffee from the silicon tube for approximately 13 to 15 seconds.

[0047] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to be disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting scope.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0048] 1 capsule [0049] 2 outer capsule, water capsule [0050] 3 inner capsule, coffee capsule [0051] 4 inner ring [0052] 5 water hole [0053] 6 coffee machine [0054] 7 guide [0055] 8 perforator [0056] 9 holder [0057] 10 tube [0058] 11 air pressure hole [0059] 12 coffee hole