IP Library Granted Patent US 8,752,477
Granted Patent B2
US 8,752,477 · App. 12/442,563 · Granted Jun 17, 2014

Method for controlling a pressure of hot water which is used in a process of making espresso by adjusting size of brewing chamber

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,752,477
App. No.
12/442,563
Granted
Jun 17, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An Espresso making device includes a brew chamber for enclosing a quantity of coffee grind, and a tube for supplying pressurized hot water to the brew chamber. Espresso is obtained by conducting the hot water through the coffee grind, where the water and the coffee grind are forced to interact. During an Espresso making process, a pressure of the water in the water supplying tube is monitored and compared to a predetermined pressure. In case the measured pressure appears to deviate from the predetermined pressure, a size of an internal volume of the brewing chamber is adjusted, so that an extent to which the coffee grind is compressed and a flow through resistance of the coffee grind are adjusted. Due to this, it is possible to adjust the pressure in such a way that the predetermined pressure is reached.

Claims (11)

1. A device for making a beverage based on a liquid and a quantity of extractable material, said device comprising:

a brewing chamber configured to contain the quantity of extractable material wherein a size of an internal volume of the brewing chamber is adjustable;

a liquid supply line for supplying the liquid to the brewing chamber;

a piston wherein the brewing chamber is shaped like a cylinder, wherein a size of a head of the piston is a same as a size as an opening of the brewing chamber extending between walls of the brewing chamber, and wherein the piston is movably arranged in the brewing chamber to move in the cylinder and change the internal volume of the brewing chamber; and

a control unit configured to control a pressure of the liquid; wherein the control unit is figured to:

measure a pressure of the liquid during a supply of the liquid to the brewing chamber,

compare the measured pressure to a predetermined pressure, and

adjust the size of the internal volume of the brewing chamber when the measured pressure appears to deviate from the predetermined pressure,

wherein the piston is configured to move to increase the size of the internal volume of the brewing chamber when the measured pressure appears to be higher than the predetermined pressure, and wherein to decrease the size of the internal volume of the brewing chamber when the measured pressure appears to be lower than the predetermined pressure,

wherein a pressure meter configured to measure the pressure of the liquid in the liquid supply line.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a rack-and-pinion drive for driving the piston.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 17, 2023
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Reel/Frame 064617/0599 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Aug 17, 2023
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
To: VERSUNI HOLDING B.V.
Reel/Frame 064618/0115 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2009
From: DOUMA, SIPKE THEO
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N V
Reel/Frame 022439/0819 →