Hot beverage maker brew basket adaptor

1. A hot beverage maker brew basket comprising:

a hollow, funnel-shaped brew basket having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both the top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the basket;

a stepped support ring integral in and defining a sloped ledge around a circumference of the brew basket, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end;

a brew basket adaptor comprising a hollow funnel having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the adaptor,

the adaptor further comprising a second stepped support ring integral in and defining a ledge around a circumference of the adaptor, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end of the adaptor; and

wherein the adaptor is mounted in the brew basket above the first stepped support ring;

whereby a first filter pod is supported on its periphery by the first support ring, and a second filter pod may be supported on its periphery by the second support ring.

2. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 1 , wherein the brew basket and the adaptor each have a substantially conical shape that defines a substantially circular cross-section.

3. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 2 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is in the range of about 55 mm to 65 mm.

4. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 2 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is about 60 mm.

5. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 2 , wherein the outside angle to the horizontal of the conical bottom end of the brew basket and the adaptor is each in the range of about 60 degrees-75 degrees.

6. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 1 , wherein the top end of the brew basket defines an upper edge having a diameter, and the top end of the adaptor comprises a flange; and

further wherein the adaptor flange has a diameter greater than the diameter of the upper edge of the brew basket;

whereby the adaptor is mounted in the top end of the brew basket as a result of the engagement of the adaptor flange with the upper edge of the brew basket.

7. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the adaptor defines a bottom edge, and the bottom edge does not contact the brew basket.

8. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 1 , wherein the adaptor comprises a hinge connected to the brew basket.

9. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 1 , wherein the brew basket further comprises an overflow aperture proximate the top end of the brew basket.

10. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 1 , wherein the

inside diameter of each of the support rings is adapted to be approximately the same as the diameter of a filter pod.

11. A hot beverage maker brew basket comprising:

a hollow, funnel-shaped brew basket having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both the top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the basket;

a first stepped support ring integral in and defining a sloped ledge around a circumference of the brew basket, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end;

a brew basket adaptor comprising a hollow funnel having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the adaptor funnel is a second support ring;

and wherein the adaptor is mounted in the brew basket above the first stepped support ring;

whereby a first filter pod is supported on its periphery by the first support ring, and a second filter pod may be supported on its periphery by the second support ring.

12. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 11 , wherein the brew basket and the adaptor each have a substantially conical shape that defines a substantially circular cross-section.

13. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 12 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is in the range of about 55 mm to 65 mm.

14. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 12 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is about 60 mm.

15. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 11 , wherein the top end of the brew basket defines an upper edge having a diameter, and the top end of the adaptor comprises a flange; and

further wherein the adaptor flange has a diameter greater than the diameter of the upper edge;

whereby the adaptor is mounted in the top end of the brew basket as a result of the engagement of the adaptor flange with the upper edge of the brew basket.

16. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 11 , wherein the bottom end of the adaptor defines a bottom edge, and the bottom edge does not contact the brew basket.

17. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 11 , wherein the adaptor comprises a hinge connected to the brew basket.

18. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 11 , wherein the brew basket further comprises an overflow aperture proximate the top end of the brew basket.

19. A hot beverage maker brew basket as described in claim 11 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the support rings is adapted to be approximately the same as the diameter of a filter pod.

20. A hot beverage maker for use with a pod comprising:

an amount of coffee material packaged within at least first and second sheets of filter web material, wherein the sheets of filter web material are fixed to each other about their periphery

and form a hollow space in between for placement of the coffee material, and the pod including a flange around the periphery where the first filter material is fixed to the second filter material;

a brew basket having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both the top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the basket;

a first stepped support ring integral in and defining a sloped ledge around a circumference of the brew basket, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end;

a brew basket adaptor comprising a hollow funnel having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the adaptor,

the adaptor further comprising a second stepped support ring integral in and defining a ledge around a circumference of the adaptor, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end of the adaptor; and

wherein the adaptor is mounted in the brew basket above the first stepped support ring;

whereby a first filter pod is supported on its periphery by the first support ring, and a second filter pod may be supported on its periphery by the second support ring.

21. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the brew basket and the adaptor each have a substantially conical shape that defines a substantially circular cross-section.

22. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 21 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is in the range of about 55 mm to 65 mm.

23. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 21 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is about 60 mm.

24. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 21 , wherein the outside angle to the horizontal of the conical bottom end of the brew basket and adaptor is each is in the range of about 60°-75°.

25. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the diameter of the pod is in the range of from about 55 mm to 65 mm.

26. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the diameter of the pod is about 60 mm.

27. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the pod flange has a width in the range of about 5 to 15 mm.

28. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the amount of coffee material is in the range of about 6 to 12 grams.

29. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the brew basket further comprises an overflow aperture proximate the top end of the brew basket.

30. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 20 , wherein the inside diameter of each of the first and second support rings is adapted to be approximately the same as the diameter of a filter pod.

31. A hot beverage maker brew basket comprising:

a hollow, funnel-shaped brew basket having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both the top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the basket;

a stepped support ring integral in and defining a ledge around a circumference of the brew basket, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end;

a brew basket adaptor comprising a hollow funnel having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the adaptor,

the adaptor further comprising a second stepped support ring integral in and defining a ledge around a circumference of the adaptor, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end of the adaptor; and

wherein the adaptor is mounted in the brew basket above the first stepped support ring and the adaptor comprises a hinge connected to the brew basket;

whereby a first filter pod is supported on its periphery by the first support ring, and a second filter pod may be supported on its periphery by the second support ring.

32. A hot beverage maker brew basket comprising:

a hollow, funnel-shaped brew basket having a relatively wide top end and a relatively narrow bottom end, with both the top and bottom ends being open to allow the flow of liquid through the basket;

a first stepped support ring integral in arid defining a ledge around a circumference of the brew basket, wherein the circumference is above the bottom end;

a brew basket adaptor comprising a hollow funnel having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the adaptor funnel is a second support ring;

and wherein the adaptor is mounted in the brew basket above the first stepped support ring and the adaptor comprises a hinge connected to the brew basket;

whereby a first filter pod is supported on its periphery by the first support ring, and a second filter pod may be supported on its periphery by the second support ring.