System with a fluid path restriction for making a beverage
View Patent ↗A system for making a beverage, the system comprising a pad ( 7 ) and a holder ( 6 ) in which the pad ( 7 ) is placed in use, the pad being provided with a chamber in which a product ( 24 ) required for making the beverage is situated, the system defining, at least partly, a fluid path, while the fluid path extends, in use, at least through the product ( 24 ) in the pad ( 7 ), while in use a fluid is introduced into the fluid path under super-atmospheric pressure, wherein the system is designed for assuming two conditions, i.e. a froth condition in which a beverage with a froth layer is produced, and a froth-free condition in which a beverage substantially without froth layer is produced. Also is described a restriction element ( 15 a, 16, 18, 19, 20 ) and a pad ( 7 ) and the use of such a system as a method for making beverage.
1. A system for making a beverage, the system comprising:
a pad having a chamber configured to receive a product for making the beverage;
a fluid path extending at least through the product in the pad, while in use a fluid is introduced into the fluid path under super-atmospheric pressure;
wherein the system is designed for assuming a froth condition, in which a beverage with a froth layer is produced, and a froth-free condition, in which a beverage is produced substantially without a froth layer;
a first holder configured to receive the pad during use, the first holder includes a froth restriction so that the beverage is made with the froth layer;
wherein in the froth condition, the froth restriction of the first holder is provided in the fluid path substantially determining the fluid flow rate, and situated downstream of the product, the froth restriction of the first holder forms a fluid jet such that a froth layer is formed;
a second holder configured to receive the pad during use, the second holder does not include a froth restriction so that the beverage is made without the froth layer;
wherein in the froth-free condition, a froth-free restriction is provided in the fluid path substantially determining the fluid flow rate and does not form a froth-forming fluid jet.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the system forms part of a coffee maker.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is a coffee maker and the pad is a tea pad for preparing tea with the aid of the coffee maker, the coffee maker being provided with the holder for receiving at least the tea pad filled with the product and means for pressing hot water under pressure through the pad for obtaining an extract while the applied pressure of the water is, preferably, 1-2 bar, the tea pad being provided with a covering such as filtering paper which is at least partly transmissive to a liquid such as water and which is at least virtually non-transmissive to tea, while the covering comprises at least one space which is at least partly filled with tea.
4. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the coffee maker comprises a hose upstream of the pad, while the froth-free restriction is provided in the hose.
5. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the froth-free restriction is designed as a controllable valve.
6. A system according to claim 5 , wherein the controllable valve forms a switchable froth-free restriction.
7. A system according to claim 5 , wherein the controllable valve forms a controllable froth-free restriction.
8. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the coffee maker is provided with a switchable froth-free restriction upstream of the holder for making tea with a tea pad in the holder while using the flow restriction, and for making coffee with a coffee pad in the holder without using the flow restriction.
9. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the system is provided with an outflow path which begins in the bottom of the holder and ends outside the holder for dispensing the beverage, in which outflow path a semi-permeable material is provided.
10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the pad has a top and a bottom sheet designed from a semi-permeable material so that a great pressure drop can occur across the tea pad without the tea pad being flowed-through too rapidly.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second holder comprises the froth-free restriction.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first holder or second holder is removable.
13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is provided with at least two exchangeable holders.
14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first holder can be formed from an assembly of the second holder and a restriction element.
15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth-free restriction forms part of the pad.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth-free restriction is located upstream of the product.
17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth-free restriction is located upstream of the pad.
18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth-free restriction forms part of a beverage preparing device, while the froth-free restriction is included in a duct system of the beverage preparing device which determines a part of the fluid path located upstream of the pad.
19. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth free restriction is detachable from any other part of the system.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein for preparing the froth-free beverage, the froth-free restriction forms an assembly with the pad.
21. The system according to claim 20 , wherein, in use, the froth-free restriction element is located upstream of the pad.
22. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth-free restriction comprises a semi-permeable material.
23. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the froth-free restriction is switchable, whereby the froth-free restriction can be switched between a restricting position and a free position.
24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein in the free position at least virtually no pressure drop is present across the switchable restriction.