Apparatus for brewing beverages
View Patent ↗In a beverage brewing apparatus and method for brewing a beverage from a ground ingredient, a filter is configured for containing the ground ingredient. A distribution system is coupled in fluid communication with a source of liquid. A showerhead is disposed above the filter and is coupled in fluid communication with the distribution system for receiving liquid from the source of liquid. The showerhead is rotatable about a rotation axis thereof and has an exit nozzle through which liquid delivered to the showerhead by the distribution system exits the showerhead for delivery to the filter. The exit nozzle is located other than at the rotation axis of the showerhead such that liquid is channeled into the filter in a generally circular pattern upon rotation of the showerhead.
1. A beverage brewing apparatus for brewing a ground ingredient using a liquid from a source of liquid, the apparatus comprising:
a filter configured for containing the ground ingredient;
a distribution system in fluid communication with the source of liquid, the distribution system including a first conduit, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with a rotatable showerhead;
wherein the showerhead is disposed above the filter, the showerhead having an upstream side and a downstream side opposite the upstream side, the upstream side being in fluid communication with the first conduit of the distribution system for receiving liquid from the source of liquid, the showerhead being rotatable on a rotation axis thereof and the showerhead having a first exit nozzle at the downstream side of the showerhead through which liquid channeled to the upstream side of the showerhead through the first conduit of the distribution system exits the showerhead for delivery to the filter, the first exit nozzle being located other than at the rotation axis of the showerhead such that liquid is channeled into the filter in a generally circular pattern upon rotation of the showerhead;
wherein the first conduit is fixed in position at the upstream side of the rotatable showerhead at a first distance from the rotation axis of the showerhead so that the showerhead is movable relative to the first conduit, and
wherein the distribution system further includes a second conduit in fluid communication with a second exit nozzle through which liquid channeled to the second conduit of the distribution system exits for delivery to the filter, the second exit nozzle being fixed with relation to the source of liquid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive system operatively coupled to the showerhead, the drive system configured to rotate the showerhead.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drive system comprises a drive motor and a drive wheel operatively coupled to the drive motor for conjoint rotation therewith, the drive wheel having a circumferential surface configured for frictional engagement with the showerhead to operatively couple the drive motor to the showerhead such that operation of the drive motor rotates the showerhead.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive wheel comprises an elastomeric material extending about the circumferential surface of the drive wheel.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a brew basket configured to retain the filter and a container configured to receive liquid from the filter.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the brew basket is configured for releasable connection with the container.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus further comprises a base for supporting the container, the base having an alignment feature to facilitate proper alignment of the container on the base such that the brew basket and filter are disposed beneath the showerhead.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fixed showerhead housing located proximate to the showerhead, wherein the first and second conduits are coupled to an upstream side of the fixed showerhead housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distribution system includes a controller operatively coupled to a first valve and a second valve;
wherein the controller is configured to independently control flow of the liquid through the first conduit using the first valve; and
wherein the controller is configured to independently control flow of the liquid through the second conduit using the second valve.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the independently-controlled flow of the liquid through the first conduit and the second conduit includes controlling a coffee-grounds-to-water ratio of the liquid through the respective first and second conduits.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the independently-controlled flow of the liquid through the first conduit and the second conduit includes controlling a flow rate of the liquid through the respective first and second conduits.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the independently-controlled flow of the liquid through the first conduit and the second conduit includes controlling heat of the liquid through the respective first and second conduits.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the independently-controlled flow of the liquid through the first conduit and the second conduit includes controlling timing of the liquid through the respective first and second conduits.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the showerhead includes a third exit nozzle being located other than at the rotation axis of the showerhead, the third exit nozzle being located other than at the same radial and circumferential location of the first exit nozzle, and the third exit nozzle being in fluid communication with the second conduit.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second exit nozzle is fixed with relation to the filter.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow of the liquid through the second exit nozzle extends through an opening at the rotation axis of the showerhead.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit passes through an opening of the showerhead provided at the rotation axis of the showerhead for liquid delivery directly to the filter from a second exit nozzle at an end of the second conduit.
18. A beverage brewing apparatus for brewing a ground ingredient using a liquid from a source of liquid, the apparatus comprising:
a filter configured for containing the ground ingredient;
a distribution system in fluid communication with the source of liquid, the distribution system including a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the first conduit is in fluid communication with a rotatable showerhead;
wherein the showerhead is disposed above the filter, the showerhead having an upstream side and a downstream side opposite the upstream side, the upstream side being in fluid communication with the first conduit of the distribution system for receiving liquid from the source of liquid, the showerhead being rotatable on a rotation axis thereof and the showerhead having a first exit nozzle at the downstream side of the showerhead through which liquid channeled to the first conduit on the upstream side of the showerhead through the first conduit of the distribution system exits the showerhead for delivery to the filter, the first exit nozzle being located other than at the rotation axis of the showerhead such that liquid is channeled into the filter in a generally circular pattern upon rotation of the showerhead;
wherein the second conduit is in fluid communication with a second exit nozzle through which liquid channeled to the second conduit of the distribution system exits for delivery to the filter, the second exit nozzle being fixed with relation to the filter; and
wherein the first conduit is fixed in position at the upstream side of the rotatable showerhead at a first distance from the rotation axis of the showerhead so that the showerhead is movable relative to the first conduit.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second conduit passes through an opening of the showerhead provided at the rotation axis of the showerhead for liquid delivery directly to the filter from the second exit nozzle at an end of the second conduit.