Multiple flow path recirculating brewing system with removable reservoirs
A beer making device may have removable reservoirs through which brewing ingredients may be added. The removable reservoir may include a grain steeping reservoir and one or more adjunct or hops steeping reservoirs. A removable tub may contain the various reservoirs, and some or all of the various ingredient reservoirs may be removable from the reservoir tub. For example, a set of hops reservoirs may be manufactured as a single joined unit, and may be removable from the reservoir tub. The removable reservoirs may include a check valve which may shut off flow when the reservoir may be removed or dislodged, thereby minimizing leakage, and a beer making device may further sense such a situation and cause operations to cease.
1. A brewing system comprising:
a removable grain steeping compartment;
a first removable adjunct steeping compartment;
a recirculating pump connected to a liquid sump;
a heating mechanism;
a flow path selecting mechanism connected to said recirculating pump and adapted to change between at least three liquid flow paths, said liquid flow paths comprising:
a bypass flow path, said bypass flow path causing a liquid to be recirculated through said heating mechanism;
a steeping flow path, said steeping flow path causing said liquid to be recirculated through said removable grain steeping compartment;
an adjunct flow path, said adjunct flow path causing said liquid to be recirculated through said first removable adjunct steeping compartment;
a processor adapted to:
receive a brewing sequence, said brewing sequence defining a sequence for operating said flow path selecting mechanism, said heat source, and said recirculating pump; and
cause said flow path selecting mechanism, said heat source, and said recirculating pump according to said brewing sequence.
2. The brewing system of claim 1 , said removable grain steeping compartment and said removable adjunct compartment being joined together to be removable as a single unit.
3. The brewing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second removable adjunct steeping compartment;
said flow path selecting mechanism further adapted to change between at least four liquid flow paths, said liquid flow paths further comprising:
a second adjunct flow path, said second adjunct flow path causing said liquid to be recirculated through said second removable adjunct steeping compartment.
4. The brewing system of claim 3 , said second adjunct flow path further causing said liquid to pass through said first adjunct steeping compartment.
5. The brewing system of claim 4 , said second adjunct flow path comprising a fluid connection between said second removable adjunct steeping compartment and said first removable adjunct steeping compartment.
6. The brewing system of claim 5 , said first adjunct steeping compartment and said second adjunct steeping compartment being joined in a single removable unit.
7. The brewing system of claim 6 , said single removable unit being separately removable from said removable grain steeping compartment.
8. The brewing system of claim 6 , said single removable unit being housed in a removable tub.
9. The brewing system of claim 1 , said removable grain steeping compartment and said first adjunct steeping compartment having a common drain.
10. The brewing system of claim 9 further comprising:
a second recirculating pump connected to said common drain and said liquid sump.
11. The brewing system of claim 1 further comprising:
a check valve positioned at an exit to said removable grain compartment.
12. The brewing system of claim 11 , said processor further adapted to:
sense that said removable grain steeping compartment is removed and cause said recirculating pump to cease pumping.