COLD BREW COFFEE MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
A coffee brewing apparatus and method that produces coffee using an agitation and cold brew operation. A high temperature strike stage with agitation is followed by a cold brew stage, with a vacuum configured to transfer the coffee oils and extracts, shortening the time necessary to achieve a brew cycle. The brewing cycle of the present invention preferably uses a six stage sequence that includes introduction of strike water, agitation, bloom, brew water introduction, vacuum transfer, and dilution. The various stages are performed using a brewing system that includes an agitation system, a vacuum system, and a filtering system used to extract the oils and extracts of the coffee for brewing.
1 . A beverage brewing system comprising:
a non-pressurized, removable brew chamber;
an agitation motor;
a removable agitation paddle rotated by the agitation motor and disposed in the brew chamber;
a vacuum source configured to communicate a negative pressure to the brew chamber;
a water delivery system configured to deliver both non-ambient strike water and ambient diluting water to the brew chamber; and
a processor for controlling the agitation paddle and the vacuum.
2 . The beverage brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the brew chamber is open to atmospheric pressure.
3 . The beverage brewing system of claim 2 , wherein the brew chamber includes a porous filter disposed between the agitation paddle and a brew chamber base.
4 . The beverage brewing system of claim 3 , wherein the brew chamber is mounted onto the base and the vacuum source communicates with the brewing chamber through the base.
5 . The beverage brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the brew chamber includes a cover that rotates from a closed position to hold the paddle in place and prevent splashing, and an open position to allow removal of the agitation paddle.
6 . The beverage brewing system of claim 1 , wherein a beverage is evacuated from the brew chamber using the vacuum source.
7 . A cold brew beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
a housing;
a brewing chamber;
a base supporting the brewing chamber;
an agitation system including a motor and paddle that rotates within the brewing chamber;
a vacuum pump in fluid connection with the base for causing a negative pressure condition in the brew chamber; and
a controller for controlling a brewing operation including initiating a wetting step, an agitation step, and a vacuum transfer step within the brew chamber.
8 . The cold brew beverage brewing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the brew chamber is open to the atmosphere at some period during the brewing operation.
9 . The cold brew beverage brewing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the brew chamber is clamped to a platform via a lever.
10 . The cold brew beverage brewing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller controls a speed of the agitation paddle.
11 . The cold brew beverage brewing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the agitation paddle is removable from the brewing apparatus.
12 . A method for brewing coffee using a coffee brewing apparatus, the method comprising:
providing a brew chamber with coffee grounds;
introducing hot (strike) water to the grounds;
agitating a slurry of grounds and hot water using an agitation system;
introducing ambient water into the brewing chamber;
introducing a vacuum source into the brew chamber to accelerate the transfer of concentrated coffee extracts from the grounds; and
diluting a resulting concentrate with additional water after the vacuum transfer step.
13 . The method for brewing coffee of claim 13 , further comprising the coffee brewing apparatus accessing recipes from a remote location.
14 . The method for brewing coffee of claim 12 , wherein the vacuum source is located within the coffee brewing apparatus.
15 . A beverage brewing system comprising:
a non-pressurized, removable brew chamber;
an agitation motor;
a removable agitation paddle rotated by the agitation motor and disposed in the brew chamber and magnetically coupled to a shaft of the agitation motor;
a vacuum source;
a beverage receptacle fluidly connected between the vacuum source and the brew chamber and configured to communicate a negative pressure from the vacuum source to the brew chamber;
a water delivery system configured to deliver both non-ambient strike water and ambient diluting water to the brew chamber; and
a processor for controlling the agitation paddle and the vacuum.