Method and apparatus for controlling brewed beverage quality
A brewing system and method are shown for brewing a beverage, such as coffee or tea. The system includes an inline sensor or sensor array that intercepts the dispensing stream and measures the time dependent properties of the brewed liquid at a particular location as the liquid is dispensed. In a particular embodiment, the total dissolved solids is measured to produce a coffee signature, which is sent to a controller that uses the time-dependent data to perform one or more of the following: evaluate the quality of the brewed liquid, control the brewing process for subsequent brewing cycles; identify the blend or brand of brewed product; and/or determine when maintenance is needed or advisable for the brewing system.
1. A brewing system comprising:
a hopper configured to dispense brewable product;
a reservoir configured to dispense heated water;
a brewing chamber that receives brewable product from the hopper, and receives heated water from the reservoir, wherein the brewing chamber is configured to produce a brewed liquid from the received brewable product and heated water and to dispense the brewed liquid in a fluid stream;
a controller that controls the operation of the brewing system, the controller comprising a processor, an input signal port, an output signal port, and a memory module;
a sensor positioned to intercept the fluid stream, and operable to measure a property of the brewed liquid at a fixed location as the brewed liquid flows by the sensor, wherein the sensor generates time-dependent data corresponding to the measured property, and communicates the time-dependent data to the controller;
wherein the controller uses the time-dependent data to control the amount of brewable product received by the brewing chamber.
2. The brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller uses the time-dependent data to identify the brewable product.
3. The brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller uses the time-dependent data to identify if there is a need to service the brewing system.
4. The brewing system of claim 1 , wherein brewable product comprises coffee and wherein the system further comprises a coffee grinder configured to grind coffee from the hopper.
5. The brewing system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor measures total dissolved solids in the brewed liquid.
6. The brewing system of claim 5 , further comprising means for displaying the measured total dissolved solids in the brewed liquid.
7. The brewing system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is in signal communication with the grinder, and further wherein the controller uses the time-dependent data to control the operation of the grinder.
8. The brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a conductivity sensor.
9. The brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the brewing chamber comprises a cylindrical chamber and is part of a brew group further comprising a lower piston that is attached to a first linear actuator and sealably engages an open lower end of the brewing chamber, an upper piston assembly that is attached to a second linear actuator and sealably and releasably engages an open upper end of the brewing chamber, and a sliding arm assembly that is attached to a third linear actuator and is operable to slide over the open upper end of the brewing chamber.
10. The brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further uses the time-dependent data to identify the brand of the brewable product.
11. The brewing system of claim 4 , wherein the controller further uses the time-dependent data to identify the brand of the coffee.
12. The brewing system of claim 1 , further comprising means for displaying a quality of the brewed beverage based on property of the brewed liquid measured by the sensor.
13. A method for producing a brewable beverage in a brewing system having a controller and a sensor, the method comprising:
grinding coffee beans with a grinder to produce a brewable product;
providing a quantity of the brewable product to a brewing chamber;
providing a quantity of heated water to the brewing chamber;
permitting the brewable product to brew in the heated water in the brewing chamber to produce a brewed liquid;
forcing at least a portion of the brewed liquid from the brewing chamber in a fluid stream;
measuring a property of the brewed liquid with the sensor at a fixed location as the fluid stream flows by the fixed location, to generate a time-dependent data set for the fluid stream corresponding to the measured property, the measured property comprising the total dissolved solids in the brewed liquid; and
using the time-dependent data set to control the operation of the grinder.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the time-dependent data set is used by the controller to evaluate a quality of the dispensed brewed liquid.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the time-dependent data set is used by the controller to control at least one brewing parameter of the brewing system.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the time-dependent data set is used by the controller identify the brand of the brewable product.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the time-dependent data set is used by the controller to identify if the brewing system is in need of maintenance.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a conductivity meter.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the brewing chamber is a part of a brew group that further comprises a lower piston that is attached to a first linear actuator and sealably engages an open lower end of the brewing chamber, an upper piston assembly that is attached to a second linear actuator and sealably and releasably engages an open upper end of the brewing chamber, and a sliding arm assembly that is attached to a third linear actuator and is operable to slide over the open upper end of the brewing chamber.
20. A brewing system comprising:
a hopper configured to dispense coffee beans;
a coffee grinder configured to receive and grind coffee beans from the hopper to produce a brewable product;
a reservoir configured to dispense heated water;
a brewing chamber configured to receive the brewable product from the grinder, and to receive heated water from the reservoir, wherein the brewing chamber is configured to produce a brewed liquid from the received brewable product and heated water and to dispense the brewed liquid in a fluid stream;
a controller that controls the operation of the brewing system, the controller comprising a processor, an input signal port, an output signal port, and a memory module;
a sensor positioned to intercept the fluid stream, and operable to measure a property of the brewed liquid at a fixed location as the brewed liquid flows by the sensor, wherein the sensor generates time-dependent data corresponding to the measured property, and communicates the time-dependent data to the controller;
wherein the controller is in signal communication with the grinder, and further wherein the controller uses the time-dependent data to control the operation of the grinder.
21. A brewing system comprising:
a hopper configured to dispense brewable product;
a reservoir configured to dispense heated water;
a brewing chamber that receives brewable product from the hopper, and receives heated water from the reservoir, wherein the brewing chamber is configured to produce a brewed liquid from the received brewable product and heated water and to dispense the brewed liquid in a fluid stream;
a controller that controls the operation of the brewing system, the controller comprising a processor, an input signal port, an output signal port, and a memory module;
a sensor positioned to intercept the fluid stream, and operable to measure a property of the brewed liquid at a fixed location as the brewed liquid flows by the sensor, wherein the sensor generates time-dependent data corresponding to the measured property, and communicates the time-dependent data to the controller;
wherein the brewing chamber comprises a cylindrical chamber and is part of a brew group further comprising a lower piston that is attached to a first linear actuator and sealably engages an open lower end of the brewing chamber, an upper piston assembly that is attached to a second linear actuator and sealably and releasably engages an open upper end of the brewing chamber, and a sliding arm assembly that is attached to a third linear actuator and is operable to slide over the open upper end of the brewing chamber.
22. A method for producing a brewable beverage comprising:
providing a quantity of brewable product to a brewing chamber;
providing a quantity of heated water to the brewing chamber;
permitting the brewable product to brew in the heated water in the brewing chamber to produce a brewed liquid;
forcing at least a portion of the brewed liquid from the brewing chamber in a fluid stream;
measuring a property of the brewed liquid at a fixed location as the fluid stream flows by the fixed location, to generate a time-dependent data set for the fluid stream corresponding to the measured property;
wherein the brewing chamber is a part of a brew group that further comprises a lower piston that is attached to a first linear actuator and sealably engages an open lower end of the brewing chamber, an upper piston assembly that is attached to a second linear actuator and sealably and releasably engages an open upper end of the brewing chamber, and a sliding arm assembly that is attached to a third linear actuator and is operable to slide over the open upper end of the brewing chamber.
23. A method for producing a brewable beverage comprising:
providing a quantity of brewable product to a brewing chamber;
providing a quantity of heated water to the brewing chamber;
permitting the brewable product to brew in the heated water in the brewing chamber to produce a brewed liquid;
forcing at least a portion of the brewed liquid from the brewing chamber in a fluid stream;
measuring a property of the brewed liquid at a fixed location as the fluid stream flows by the fixed location, to generate a time-dependent data set for the fluid stream corresponding to the measured property;
using the time-dependent data set to control the amount of brewable product that is provided to the brewing chamber.