Brewed beverage appliance and method

1. A beverage assembly, comprising:

a housing, said housing including a liquid reservoir;

an inlet portion formed in said housing;

a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within said inlet portion, said beverage container having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size;

a grinding mechanism positioned within said housing and in fluid communication with said inlet portion;

a piercing assembly positioned within said housing, wherein said piercing assembly selectively pierces said fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter said grinding mechanism;

said grinding mechanism selectively transforming said beverage ingredient from said first size to a second size, said second size being smaller than said first size;

a brewing area disposed beneath said grinding assembly, said brewing area configured to removably accommodate said beverage container after said beverage container has been pierced by said piercing assembly;

wherein a liquid from said liquid reservoir is directed to said beverage container after said beverage ingredient of said second size has passed from said grinding mechanism into said beverage container such that said liquid exits an outlet of said beverage container after passing through said beverage ingredient of said second size.

2. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a brewing tray removably accommodated within said brewing area, said brewing tray being configured to removably accommodate said beverage container.

3. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said grinding mechanism is a burr grinder.

4. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said burr grinder is one of a flat burr grinder and a conical burr grinder.

5. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a passageway between said outlet of said grinding mechanism and said brewing area; and

a shutter positioned in said passageway, said shutter being movable between a first position in which said shutter obstructs said passageway, and a second position in which said shutter does not substantially obstruct said passageway.

6. The beverage assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:

a motor for controlling said shutter between said first position and said second position.

7. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said beverage ingredient is a plurality of whole coffee beans.

8. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pump in fluid communication with said liquid reservoir;

a boiler in fluid communication with said pump;

a hot water supply line in fluid communication with said boiler; and

a hot water outlet in fluid communication with said hot water supply line and positioned above said brewing area for directing a flow of heated liquid to said brewing area.

9. The beverage assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said brewing tray includes a generally conical shaped body, a flange extending outwardly from said body at a top thereof, and an aperture formed in a bottom of said body for permitting a flow of brewed coffee therethrough.

10. A coffee appliance, comprising:

a housing, said housing including a liquid reservoir;

an inlet portion formed in said housing;

a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within said inlet portion, said beverage container having a fracturable seal and containing a plurality of whole coffee beans;

a grinding mechanism positioned within said housing and in fluid communication with said inlet portion;

a piercing assembly positioned within said housing, wherein said piercing assembly selectively pierces said fracturable seal thereby causing said whole coffee beans to enter said grinding mechanism;

said grinding mechanism selectively transforming said whole coffee beans into coffee grounds;

a brewing area disposed beneath said grinding assembly, said brewing area configured to removably accommodate said beverage container after said beverage container has been pierced by said piercing assembly;

wherein a liquid from said liquid reservoir is directed to said beverage container after said coffee grounds have passed from said grinding mechanism into said beverage container such that said liquid exits an outlet of said beverage container after passing through said coffee grounds.

11. The coffee appliance of claim 10 , wherein:

said grinding mechanism is a burr coffee grinder.

12. The coffee appliance of claim 11 , further comprising:

a passageway configured to direct said coffee grounds from said burr coffee grinder to said brewing area; and

a shutter positioned in said passageway, said shutter being movable between a first position in which said shutter obstructs said passageway, and a second position in which said shutter does not substantially obstruct said passageway.

13. The coffee appliance of claim 12 , further comprising:

a shower head positioned above said brewing container and configured to distribute said liquid to said beverage container.

14. The coffee appliance of claim 12 , further comprising:

a motor for controlling said shutter between said first position and said second position.

15. The coffee appliance of claim 13 , further comprising:

a pump in fluid communication with said reservoir;

a boiler in fluid communication with said pump; and

a liquid supply line in fluid communication with said boiler and said shower head.