Brewing system and process of brewing a beverage

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process and a system for brewing a beverage in a beverage brewing system, said system comprising: i) a water inlet line; ii) means for controlling flow of water connected to said water inlet line; iii) at least one water heating device for heating water to a predetermined temperature connected downstream to and in communication with said means for controlling flow of water; iv) a water dispenser connected downstream to and in communication with said at least one water heating device, said water dispenser comprising means for controllable dispense of water; v) optionally a water distribution device arranged to receive dispensed water from said water dispenser; vi) a beverage substance container arranged to receive dispensed water from said water dispenser or said water distribution device; vii) a beverage container arranged to receive dispensed beverage from said beverage substance container wherein the flow rate of water in said system is adjusted so as to correspond to a predetermined water temperature in the water dispenser.

Claims

1. A process for brewing a beverage in a beverage brewing system comprising: flowing water into a water inlet line; measuring a flow rate of the water flowing through the inlet line using a flow meter connected to a controller; the controller controlling a flow rate of water flowing through the inlet line by adjusting at least one of an inlet valve connected to the inlet line or a water pump connected to the inlet line; measuring a temperature of the water flowing through the inlet line using an inlet temperature sensor connected to the controller; after the temperature of the water flowing through the inlet line has been measured, flowing the water from the inlet line into and through at least one heating device providing a constant amount of heat to the flow of water to form a flow of heated water exiting the at least one heating device; measuring a final temperature of the flow of heated water by a further temperature sensor connected to the controller; the controller determining a heating flow rate of water through the at least one heating device to provide a predetermined temperature of the flow of heated water based on a temperature reading from the inlet temperature sensor and the constant amount of heat provided by the at least one heating device; the controller adjusting the flow rate of the water through the inlet line to adjust the flow rate of the flow of water through the at least one heating device to the heating flow rate that provides the predetermined temperature of the flow of heated water; brewing the beverage with the flow of heated water, and dispensing the beverage from the system.

2. The process according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining a power supply to said at least one water heating device at a substantially constant level.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines said predetermined temperature by calculating the heating flow rate of water resulting in said predetermined temperature or determining the heating flow rate of water by consulting a look-up table.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature ranges from about 80 to about 96? C.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following settings is selected i) a pre-wetting operation of beverage substance is performed by storing a predetermined volume of heated water in a water dispenser and subsequently dispensing said volume on a beverage substance to brew the beverage, and ii) a plurality of brewing cycles are performed at different temperatures.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet line is in communication with a pressurized or non-pressurized water source.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein a container is connected upstream to said water inlet line.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the beverage is coffee or tea.

9. A process for calibrating a system for brewing a beverage comprising continuously monitoring internal and/or external parameters influencing the predetermined temperature of the water according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined deviation from said predetermined temperature is controlled to enable adjustment of said predetermined temperature.

10. Process according to claim 9, wherein the process is calibrated by adjusting the temperature in accordance with a change of an external parameter.

11. Process according to claim 10, wherein the external parameter is input of voltage and/or current to a water heating device influencing the predetermined temperature of the flow of water.

12. Process according to claim 9, wherein the process is calibrated by adjusting the temperature in accordance with a change of an internal parameter.

13. Process according to claim 12, wherein the process is calibrated by adjusting the water temperature due to scaling on said water heating device or failure of equipment in the system.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the controller controlling the flow rate of the water flowing through the inlet line by adjusting the inlet valve connected to the inlet line.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the controller controlling a flow rate of the water flowing through the inlet line by adjusting the water pump connected to the inlet line.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the water fluctuates at most up to 1% from a calculated set-point.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the measured final temperature of the heated water by the further temperature sensor is different from the predetermined temperature in a first brewing process and the controller for a subsequent brewing process calculating a new flow rate of water so that the final temperature of the heated water for the subsequent brewing process matches the predetermined temperature.

18. A process for brewing a beverage in a beverage brewing system comprising: flowing water into a water inlet line; measuring a flow rate of the water flowing through the inlet line using a flow meter connected to a controller; the controller controlling a flow rate of water flowing through the inlet line by adjusting a water pump connected to the inlet line; measuring a temperature of the water flowing through the inlet line using an inlet temperature sensor connected to the controller; after the temperature of the water flowing through the inlet line has been measured, flowing the water from the inlet line into and through at least one heating device providing a constant amount of heat to the flow of water to form heated water; transferring the heated water to a water dispenser; measuring a final temperature of the heated water in the water dispenser by a further temperature sensor connected to the controller; the controller determining a heating flow rate of water through the at least one heating device to provide a predetermined temperature of the heated water in the dispenser based on a temperature reading from the inlet temperature sensor and the constant amount of heat provided by the at least one heating device; the controller adjusting the flow rate of the water through the inlet line to adjust the flow rate of the flow of water through the at least one heating device to the heating flow rate that provides the predetermined temperature of the heated water in the water dispenser; and dispensing the heated water from the water dispenser onto a beverage substance to form a beverage.

19. The process according to claim 18, wherein the flow rate of the water fluctuates at most up to 1% from a calculated set-point.

20. The process according to claim 18, wherein the measured final temperature of the heated water by the further temperature sensor is different from the predetermined temperature in a first brewing process and the controller for a subsequent brewing process calculating a new flow rate of water so that the final temperature of the heated water for the subsequent brewing process matches the predetermined temperature.

21. The process according to claim 18, further comprising selecting a preprogrammed recipe or setting in the controller.

22. The process according to claim 18, further comprising pre-wetting the beverage substance prior to commencing a brewing cycle by dispensing 1 to 15% by volume of water used to brew the beverage.

23. The process according to claim 18, wherein the at least one heating device comprising a first heating device and a second heating device connected in series.

24. The process according to claim 18, wherein the final temperature of the water is reduced and such change in temperature is received by the controller, and the controller recalculating the heating flow rate and adjusting the flow water to the recalculated heating flow rate to maintain the predetermined temperature.

25. The process according to claim 18, further comprising a reader input device connected to the controller.

26. The process according to claim 25, wherein the reader input device comprising at least one of an optical reader, a bar code, a quick response code (QR Code) reader, an electromagnetic input reader, or a wireless communication unit.

27. The process according to claim 18, wherein the controller determines the heating flow rate of water by consulting a look-up table.

28. The process according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined temperature ranges from about 80 to about 96? C.

29. A process for calibrating a system for brewing a beverage comprising continuously monitoring internal and/or external parameters influencing the predetermined temperature of the water according to claim 18, wherein a predetermined deviation from said predetermined temperature is controlled to enable adjustment of said predetermined temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates the system and the flow of water passing an inlet valve A and subsequently an optional air breaker B eliminating or at least reducing the amount of bubbles in the water. An inlet temperature sensor C is mounted in the air breaker (or elsewhere upstream the water heating device) to determine the inlet temperature of water entering into the water heating device (here illustrated by heating blocks F and G in which corresponding sensors H and I for determining the temperature are mounted). Sensors C, H and I are coupled to a controller (not shown) to which they send temperature input data. A flow pulser D and a pump E are arranged upstream the heating device comprising heating blocks F and G. Preferably, a flow meter such as a pulsar D and means for feeding water such as a pump E are arranged upstream the water heating device. The flow pulser and the pump are in communication with a controller which can regulate the flow rate of water based on input data inter alia from the temperature sensors. Downstream from the water heating device a water dispenser J is arranged in which a further temperature sensor K is mounted. The predetermined temperature in the dispenser J can be assumed to be the same or at least very close to the contact temperature of water and beverage substance in the beverage substance container M where suitably a filter may be arranged, such as a coffee filter holding coffee. The water dispenser J is equipped with a valve L downstream of which the beverage substance container M is arranged. The valve L is likewise in communication with the controller so as to enable opening and closing thereof, for example to enable operation of manually set or preprogrammed brewing cycles whereby the valve is opened and closed respectively depending on the program performed. In the substance container the mixing of hot water and brewing substance is carried out to produce the beverage exiting at the arrow below the substance container M. The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the gist and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.