BEVERAGE PREPARATION SYSTEM AND CAPSULES

Abstract

A system for the preparation of a multi-component food product, such as coffee, tea, soup or baby food. The system comprises two or more capsules (300,400), each capsule providing a component of the multi-component food product, each capsule having an inlet region for receiving liquid into the capsule and an outlet region (330) for dispensing liquid from the capsule, wherein the outlet region of a first capsule is configured to mate with the inlet region of a second capsule, such that the first and second capsules may be connected in fluid communication.

Claims

1. A system for the preparation of a multi-component food product, said system comprising two or more capsules, each capsule for providing a component of the multi-component food product, each capsule having an inlet region for receiving liquid into the capsule and an outlet region for dispensing liquid from the capsule, wherein the outlet region of a first capsule is configured to mate with the inlet region of a second capsule, such that the first and second capsules may be connected in fluid communication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second capsules are connectable by a friction fit, screw fit, snap fit, or interlocking fit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each capsule is individually sealed before use.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet region of the first capsule comprises a piercing means for piercing the inlet region of the second capsule, or the inlet region of the second capsule comprises a piercing means for piercing the outlet region of the first capsule.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each capsule is substantially frustoconical in shape.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each capsule comprises a thermoformed cup-shaped base portion and a top cover sheet bonded across the top of said base portion.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsules are stackable.

10. (canceled)

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsules are connectable in a side-by-side arrangement.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a capsule comprises a filter, preferably wherein a capsule containing a brewable beverage ingredient comprises a filter, preferably wherein said filter is a layer of filter material retained in abutment with the bottom of said capsule by an adhesive, or by a retaining bead on an inside surface of the capsule, or both.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a capsule comprises a frother, preferably wherein a capsule containing a dairy product comprises a frother, preferably wherein the frother is a screen mesh.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet region of a capsule intended to receive liquid from a food or beverage making apparatus is not mateable with the outlet regions of other capsules in the system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet region of a capsule intended to dispense food product to a food or beverage receptacle is not mateable with the inlet regions of other capsules in the system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein a capsule comprises two inlet regions, such that the capsule combines the flow of liquid from two inlets into a single outlet.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein a capsule comprises two outlet regions, such that the capsule divides the flow of liquid from one inlet into two outlets.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two or substantially all of the capsules in the system have the same external shape, preferably all of the capsules in the system have the same external shape.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the outlet region of a capsule is made of a liquid-permeable material, and preferably the capsule is enclosed in one or more air- and moisture-impermeable packages.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet region of a capsule is formed from an air- and moisture-impermeable material having an air- and moisture-impermeable seal that can be opened before or during food preparation to release the component from inside the capsule.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-component food product is selected from the group consisting of: soup, baby-food, pet-food, coffee, tea, or juice.

75. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more capsules contain a component selected from the group consisting of: ground coffee, instant coffee, leaf tea, soup, juice, baby-food, pet-food, wine, alcoholic spirit, a food additive, a food extract, a food supplement such as protein or vitamin, flavouring, sweetener, anti-oxidant, effervescent, colourant, and a dairy product such as milk or cream.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-component food product is coffee or tea, at least one capsule contains brewable coffee or tea, at least one capsule contains a dairy product such as milk or cream, and optionally at least one capsule contains a flavouring or food supplement.

27. (canceled)

28. A capsule for use in the system of claim 1, the capsule having an inlet region for receiving fluid into the capsule and an outlet region for dispensing fluid from the capsule, wherein either the outlet region is configured to mate with the inlet region of a complementary capsule, or the inlet region is configured to mate with the outlet region of a complementary capsule, or both, such that the capsule and complementary capsules may be connected in fluid communication.

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. A method of preparing a multi-component food product using a capsule system, comprising the steps of: selecting a first capsule containing a component of the desired multi-component food product, selecting a second capsule containing a component of the desired multi-component food product, optionally selecting one or more additional capsules containing components of the desired multi-component food product, mating the outlet region of the first capsule with the inlet region of the second capsule, optionally mating the outlet region of second capsule with the inlet region of an additional capsule, and continuing to mate the outlet region of each previous capsule with the inlet region of the next capsule until all capsules are connected in sequence and in fluid communication, injecting a liquid into the inlet region of the first capsule, allowing the liquid to pass through each capsule sequentially, allowing the multi-component food product to escape from the outlet region of the last capsule in the sequence.

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a beverage preparation capsule of the prior art;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through the capsule of FIG. 1 being used to prepare a beverage;

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view through a capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising two capsules of the embodiment seen in FIG. 3 being used to prepare a beverage;

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view through a capsule according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention comprising two capsules of the embodiment seen in FIG. 5;

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a dairy pod with inbuilt frothing device;

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a capsule according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 1, the beverage preparation capsule 1 comprises a cup element 2 having a substantially flat base 3, a flanged top 4, and frustoconical side walls 5 extending from the base to the top 4. The cup element is formed for example by thermoforming from a suitable thermoplastic for example polystyrene. The thickness and material of the cup element are selected so that the cup element has sufficient rigidity to allow piercing of the base during beverage preparation, as described below, without collapse of the cup. The flanged top 4 of the cup is sealed with a flexible film lid 6 of a suitable laminate sheet material as hereinbefore described. The lid 6 is bonded to the lip 4 by melt bonding or adhesive bonding in conventional fashion.

[0069] A layer 8 of nonwoven textile filter material is provided inside the capsule 1 adjacent to the flat base 3. The layer 8 is approximately 10 mm thick, and may be bonded to the base 3 by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive (not shown). The beverage brewing ingredient 9, which in this embodiment is ground coffee is deposited on top of the filter layer 8 inside the capsule 1.

[0070] In use, the capsule 1 is held inside a clamp of a beverage making apparatus as shown in FIG. 2. The clamp has a lower part 12 with a recess for mating engagement with the cup element 2 of the capsule, and an upper clamp part 14 that is movable to abut the lid of the capsule. In this arrangement the capsule is completely enclosed by the clamp during beverage preparation, which permits the use of elevated pressures during beverage preparation without bursting the capsule. High water injection pressures can be used because there is no risk of bursting a filter sheet. Alternatively, the capsule may be merely gripped by a clamp but not fully enclosed thereby, or the flange 4 may simply be supported by an annular collar of the apparatus. The beverage preparation apparatus comprises a source of water (not shown), suitably a source of hot water, for supplying water to an injection tube 16 that pierces the lid of the capsule to inject water into the capsule for preparation of the beverage. The beverage preparation apparatus further comprises an outlet tube 18 that pierces the base of the capsule and projects a short distance into the capsule, whereby the open end 19 of the outlet tube is located entirely inside the filter layer 8. The inlet and outlet tubes may be in fixed spatial relationship to the respective clamp parts, in which case the piercing of the capsule takes place when the clamp is closed around the capsule. Alternatively, the inlet and outlet tubes may be associated with mechanisms to provide reciprocating motion of the respective tubes into the capsule after the capsule has been clamped, and out of the capsule after beverage preparation is complete. It will be appreciated that more than one inlet and/or outlet tube may be provided if appropriate.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 3, a capsule 300 of the present invention comprises a cup element 310 having a substantially flat base 311, a flanged top 312, and frustoconical side walls 313 extending from the base 311 to the top 312. Between these walls a hollow area 314 is provided inside the capsule, in which a food component or food component preparing structures may be contained (not shown). The cup element is formed for example by thermoforming from a suitable thermoplastic for example polystyrene. The flanged top 312 of the cup is sealed with a flexible film lid 320 of a suitable laminate sheet material as hereinbefore described. The lid 320 is bonded to the lip 312 by melt bonding or adhesive bonding in conventional fashion.

[0072] An outlet opening 330 is provided in the base 311 to allow the escape of liquid and food component from the capsule so that it may travel into a further capsule, or into a suitable food receptacle. In order to ensure that the capsule is sealed before use a flexible film 340 is provided over the outlet opening 330, thereby protecting the contents of the capsule from the external environment and preserving freshness of the contents.

[0073] The capsule is sealed to slow or eliminate spoilage of any food component therein by preventing ingress of air or oxygen. When filling the capsule with a food component, one option is to fill the capsule to the very top to eliminate any entrapped oxygen. Alternatively, a nitrogen bath may be applied above the component to remove any air.

[0074] The side wall 313 of the capsule is provided with an enlarged convex region 350 near the top of the capsule and a complementary recessed concave region 351 near the base of the capsule. Due to the frustoconical shape of the side walls 313, the base of the capsule can nest within the open top of an equivalent capsule. In this configuration (which can be seen in FIG. 4), the enlarged convex region 350 sits within the concave region 351 of an equivalent capsule so that the capsule are held together in a friction fit.

[0075] Thus, FIG. 4 shows a system of two capsules 300 and 400, each of the type shown in FIG. 3 and each having a cup element 310, 410, base 311, 411, flanged top 312, 412 and frustoconical side walls 313, 413. Capsule 300 is nested on top of and in frictional fit with bottom capsule 400, with the recessed concave region 351 of the top capsule engaging with the enlarged convex region 450 of the bottom capsule 400. In order to arrange the capsules 300 and 400 in this way, the flexible film 420 over the top of the bottom capsule has been removed by a user (and so is not shown). In addition, the flexible films (340, 440) over the outlet regions 330, 430 of the capsules have both been removed (and so are not shown), so that fluid can escape from the capsules in use.

[0076] In this example, the top capsule 300 contains a beverage brewing ingredient 360, such as ground coffee, and a layer of nonwoven textile filter material 370 provided inside the capsule 300 adjacent to the flat base 311. The layer of filter material 370 is approximately 10 mm thick, and may be bonded to the base 311 by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive (not shown). The beverage brewing ingredient 360 is deposited on top of the filter layer 370 inside the capsule 300. The bottom capsule 400 contains a dairy product 460, such as milk, contained within a ruptureable package (which may be ruptured by exposure to hot liquid) and a frothing device in the form of a screen mesh 470.

[0077] Although, these specific examples use a brewable beverage ingredient in one capsule and a dairy product in another capsule, it should be recognised that the invention is not so limited and a wide variety of components could be provided within the capsules of the invention. Moreover, although the system shown in FIG. 4 uses a combination of two capsules, it is also envisaged that a sequence of several capsules could be used, such as three capsules.

[0078] In use, the capsule system is held inside a clamp of a beverage making apparatus (not shown). The clamp has a lower part with a recess for mating engagement with the cup element 410 of the bottom-most capsule 400, and an upper clamp part that is movable to abut the lid 320 of the top-most capsule 300. In this arrangement the capsule system is completely enclosed by the clamp during beverage preparation, which permits the use of elevated pressures during beverage preparation without bursting the capsules. Alternatively, the capsule may be merely gripped by a clamp but not fully enclosed thereby, or one or both of the flanges 312, 412 may be supported by an annular collar of the apparatus. The beverage preparation apparatus comprises a source of water (not shown), suitably a source of hot water, for supplying water to an injection tube 380 that pierces the lid 320 of the top-most capsule 300 to inject water into the top-most capsule 300 for preparation of the beverage therein. The brewed beverage then passes through the filter material 370 of the top-most capsule and exits through the outlet 330 into the bottom-most capsule 400, where the hot beverage ruptures the packaged of dairy product 460 to form a mixture of brewed beverage and dairy product. This mixture is then passes through the screen mesh frother 470 in the lower regions of the bottom-most capsule 400 before the frothed beverage then escapes from the outlet 430 of the bottom-most capsule into a beverage receiving receptacle (not shown) ready for consumption.

[0079] It should be noted that the ordering of the capsules in relation to their contents can be an important factor. In the present example, a brewable beverage capsule is provided as the top-most capsule so that the brewable beverage is first exposed to the beverage making liquid when the liquid is at its hottest. Once the beverage passes into the second capsule containing a dairy product the liquid may have cooled somewhat, which is preferable for contact with a dairy product. Thus, it is envisaged that certain embodiments of the invention may include restrictions on the available combinations of capsules, such that brewable ingredient capsules must always be the first to be exposed to the hottest liquid, for example by preventing the engagement of a capsule into the inlet region of a brewable ingredient capsule, such as by provision of an additional blocking protrusion on the interior of the flanged rim of the capsule. Similarly, a dairy product capsule, preferably one with a frother, may need to be last in the sequence of capsules, such that the beverage liquid is coolest and the froth is not degraded by exposure to further ingredients or processing steps. Thus, the outlet of a frothing dairy product capsule may be prevented from engagement with another capsule, such as by provision of an additional blocking protrusion on the exterior of the base of the capsule.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a capsule 500 of the present invention, which is substantially similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but with a different means for securing the capsule to another capsule and an additional piercing means at the base of the capsule. Thus, the side wall 513 of the capsule 500 is provided with screw thread 550 near the top of the capsule and complementary screw thread 551 near the base 511 of the capsule 500. Due to the frustoconical shape of the side walls 513, the base 511 of the capsule 500 can nest within the open top of an equivalent capsule and the screw threads will engage to hold the capsules together in a screw fit.

[0081] The base 511 of the capsule 500 is provided with a relatively sharp outwardly projecting region 590 around the outlet 530. This projecting region is used to pierce the flexible film lid 620 of a corresponding capsule (see FIG. 6), meaning that the flexible film does not need to be removed before two capsules can be combined (in this case screwed together, but the projecting region could also be used with other embodiments, such as the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0082] FIG. 6 shows a system of two capsules 500 and 600, each of the type shown in FIG. 5. The top-most capsule 500 is engaged with the bottom-most capsule 600 by pressing the projection region 590 of the top-most capsule 500 against the flexible film 620 of the bottom-most capsule until the film breaks (as shown in FIG. 6) and the base 511 of the top-most capsule can nest within the top opening of the bottom-most capsule 600. The screw thread 551 near the base of the side wall of the top-most capsule 500 engages with the screw thread 650 near the top of the side wall of the bottom-most capsule 600 and the capsules are screwed together. Once the two capsules are secured together in a screw fit, hot liquid can be injected through the top film 520 of the top-most capsule 500 in the manner previously described.

[0083] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a dairy capsule with a frother. The dairy capsule 700 may be provided with apparatus to froth a dairy product using a series of screens 770 to generate a frothing effect. These screens are mounted in a screen carrier 771 such that the carrier sits near the bottom 711 of capsule 700. A dairy container 760 is inserted into dairy capsule 700 with the dairy container including a foil cup 761 with tearing creases 762 in the bottom thereof. The dairy container 760 is filled with milk in one embodiment and a top foil lid 763 is sealed onto a lip 764 of foil cup 761 to prevent oxygen from interacting with the dairy product or milk 765 within cup 761. An adhesive 766 is provided around the periphery of lip 764 to be able to seal foil lid 763 to cup 761. In one embodiment, nitrogen gas 767 is injected into the top of foil cup 761 prior to sealing so as to eliminate any possibility of oxygen spoiling the milk product.

[0084] In operation, the foil cup 761 is inserted into the dairy capsule 700 at which point the sealed cup and the dairy pod are moved against a piercing conduit end 731 that pierces the bottom 711 of dairy pod 700 as illustrated at 730. Additionally, steam or hot fluid can be injected into foil cup 761 via conduit 780 to provide pressurized steam or hot fluid that evacuates the milk in foil cup 761 through tearing creases 762 and into the bottom of the dairy capsule 700 where the screens 770 froth the mixture prior to the mixture being evacuated through conduit 731 as illustrated by arrows 732.

[0085] The result of the use of the dairy capsule means that refrigeration is not required in order to provide a complex beverage involving a dairy product. Additionally, the encapsulation of the dairy product in the dairy capsule prevents spillage that sometimes accompanies the use of dairy products in brewing machines. Moreover, the use of the dairy product encased in a sealed oxygen-free container eliminates the problem of refrigeration for any dairy products.

[0086] FIG. 8 shows a capsule system according to a side-by-side arrangement of the invention comprising first and second capsules 800 and 900. The first capsule 800 contains a beverage brewing ingredient 860, such as ground coffee, and a layer of filter material 870 provided inside the capsule 800. The beverage brewing ingredient 860 is deposited on top of the filter layer 870 inside the capsule 800. The second capsule 900 contains a dairy product 960, such as powdered milk.

[0087] The first and second capsules 800 and 900 connect together with an interengaging fit 850. The first capsule 800 has a liquid outlet 830 that mates with a liquid inlet 935 in the second capsule 900. When fitted together, the dimensions of the combined first and second capsules 800 and 900 provide an overall size and shape which is substantially similar to a conventional single capsule, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this way, the combined first and second capsules 800 and 900 may be used in a conventional food or beverage preparation equipment without modification of the equipment. Optionally, the first and second capsules 800 and 900 may have different external colours or appearances, such that when joined the two capsules provide a desirable appearance.

[0088] In use, the capsule system is held inside a clamp of a beverage making apparatus (not shown). The beverage preparation apparatus comprises a source of water (not shown), suitably a source of hot water, for supplying water to an injection tube 880 that pierces the lid 820 of the first capsule 800 to inject water into the first capsule 800 for preparation of the beverage therein. The brewed beverage then passes through the filter material 870 of the first capsule 800 and exits through the outlet 830 into the second capsule 900, where the hot beverage mixes with the powdered milk 960 to form a mixture of brewed beverage and dairy product. This beverage mixture then escapes from a liquid outlet tube 931 that pierces the bottom 911 of the second capsule 900 and thereon into a beverage receiving receptacle (not shown) ready for consumption.

[0089] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications or additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.

[0090] Any feature that has been described above in relation to any one aspect or embodiment of the invention is also disclosed hereby in relation to all other aspects and embodiments. Likewise, all combinations of two or more of the individual features or elements described above may be present in any aspect or embodiment. For brevity, all possible features and combinations have not been recited in relation to all aspects and embodiments, but they are expressly contemplated and hereby disclosed.