Method for producing coffee and equipment for carrying out the method.

Abstract

In a method for producing coffee, coffee beans are ground very finely, with or without the addition of water, and a mixture (11) of the coffee powder and water is formed. The coffee is then extracted from this mixture (11) and preferably conveyed to an outlet (18). Coffee beans and water can be fed into the grinding chamber of at least one mill, and the coffee beans are ground with the water to form the mixture. Cold or heated water is added to the grinding chamber of the mill during and / or after grinding to form the mixture. This results in a particularly rich and flavorful coffee. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing coffee or an associated apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 or 12.

[0002] In a known method according to US patent application 6,192,785, cold coffee with or without milk can be dispensed from a coffee machine by pre-filling a container with the cold coffee. A pump draws in the cold coffee and, via a connecting element in lines and corresponding shut-off valves, either heats it through a flow heater or directs it in its cold state to the dispensing nozzle through one of the lines. This coffee, which is filled into the container, is first produced conventionally by brewing with hot water and then filled into the container and cooled. Thus, either cold or hot coffee can be dispensed, but it is not freshly produced coffee.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of creating a method or device by which, in particular, cold coffee can be produced in a relatively short time and the prepared coffee has a particularly rich taste and with it the flavor substances contained in the coffee beans are better extracted.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention according to the features of claim 1 or claim 12.

[0005] With this method according to the invention, in which the coffee beans are ground very finely with or without the addition of water, a mixture of the coffee powder and water is formed, and the coffee is extracted from this mixture and preferably conveyed to the outlet, a delicious novel richness of flavor is obtained in the coffee produced thereby.

[0006] In one embodiment of the invention, coffee beans and water are fed into the grinding chamber of at least one mill, and the coffee beans are ground together with the water. This results in the coffee and water being mixed during the grinding process, which improves the extraction of the filtered coffee.

[0007] It is very advantageous to use cold water at room temperature for mixing and extracting the coffee. However, hot water can also be used.

[0008] The ratio of coffee beans to water, the grinding time and / or the grind of the coffee powder are specified so that the coffee extracted from it has the desired taste.

[0009] According to the invention, the method is used in a coffee machine in which hot coffee can be produced and dispensed by brewing. With this additional option, coffee with an outstanding taste can be produced and dispensed at the touch of a button in the same time as conventionally produced brewed coffee.

[0010] The invention and further advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawing. It shows: <tb>Fig. 1 <sep>a schematic section through a unit of a device according to the invention during the filling of a mixture into a chamber in a cylinder; <tb>Fig. 2 <sep>a schematic section of the unit when a piston is pushed in the cylinder; <tb>Fig. 3 <sep>a schematic section of the unit in the compressed state of the mixture; and <tb>Fig. 4 <sep>a schematic section of the unit, in which the cylinder and one piston are pulled away from the other piston.

[0011] A method for producing coffee is provided in which coffee beans are ground, and coffee is produced from the coffee powder and water and directed to an outlet. Advantageously, roasted or at least lightly roasted coffee beans are used, which, depending on the desired flavor, can originate from various regions where such beans are cultivated.

[0012] According to the invention, the coffee beans are ground very finely with or without the addition of water, and a mixture of the coffee powder and water is formed, and the extracted coffee is in particular filtered from this mixture and preferably conveyed to the outlet.

[0013] In one embodiment, coffee beans and water are fed into a grinding chamber of a mill and the coffee beans are ground together with the water and the mixture is formed, and the extracted coffee is preferably conveyed to an outlet.

[0014] Cold water, at approximately room temperature, can be supplied to the mill's grinding chamber for grinding. This water can be drinking water of high purity and free of chlorine. Alternatively, a water mixture with flavorings or other additives could be used.

[0015] The coffee beans and water that can be filled into the grinding chamber are preferably dosed precisely so that a predetermined mixing ratio is created, which is selected to produce an optimal flavor in the extracted coffee. The grinding time and thus the grind size of the coffee powder are also determined. The finer the particle size of the ground coffee, the better the water penetrates the mixture and thus the more effectively the flavor can be absorbed. These particle sizes of the coffee powder preferably average less than 200 µm and advantageously even less than 150 µm.

[0016] Advantageously, a dosing device is provided at both the outlet of the coffee bean container and the water supply line, each of which can be actuated by a control unit, which is not shown in detail. These dosing devices make it possible to precisely measure and vary the quantity supplied to both.

[0017] Depending on the desired outcome, the water can be introduced into the grinding chamber of the mill before, during, or after a specific grinding process of the coffee beans. This depends on factors to be considered, such as the hardness of the coffee beans.

[0018] Before the coffee is extracted from the mixture, it may be advantageous to leave the resulting paste-like mixture of the coffee powder and the water in a separate container for a period of time, for example, to further improve the transfer of flavor from the powder to the water.

[0019] The apparatus for carrying out the above-described method according to the invention consists of at least one container containing coffee beans, at least one grinder with a grinding chamber for grinding the coffee beans, a unit 10 for producing the coffee, and an outlet into a drinking container. This apparatus is associated with a program controller with a touchscreen display or the like, by means of which the desired method can be carried out in a controlled manner. Of course, the apparatus may also include other elements.

[0020] Figures 1 to 4 show, in principle, a unit 10 for extracting coffee from the mixture 11 formed from coffee powder and water. It comprises a cylinder 15, which is movable back and forth within an indicated housing frame 14 and has at least one filling opening 12, and two pistons 16, 17, which are movable relative to each other and form a sealed chamber 13 within the cylinder. One piston 16 is provided with a sieve 16' and is connected to an outlet line 18. It is fixed to the housing frame 14 and cannot be moved. The opposite piston 17 is slidably mounted within the cylinder 15 by a drive mechanism (not shown), as will be explained below.

[0021] The mill, which is also not illustrated, has a grinding chamber with at least one opening each for the supply of coffee beans and water and has a connecting line on the outlet side with a controlled metering valve, which leads into the filling opening 12 of the cylinder 15.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows the pistons 16, 17, which are each positioned in the cylinder 15 with end sealing, in which the filling opening 12 is in an open position and the mixture 11 of water and coffee powder from the mill is filled into this chamber 13 in portions.

[0023] As soon as the chamber 13 is preferably approximately filled with the mixture 11, as can be seen in Fig. 2, the cylinder 15 and with its rear side 15' one piston 17 is pressed in the displacement direction against the other stationary piston 16 and the filling opening 12 in the cylinder is closed by the latter and by the pressing pressure of the piston 17 on the mixture 11 the coffee liquid is forced through this filtering sieve 16' and in the extracted state conveyed through the outlet line 18 to an outlet and poured into a cup or similar.

[0024] Furthermore, a passage opening 19 for water can be provided in the piston 17 in order to supply water as needed, for rinsing or if, for example, the mixture is too viscous or if the passage through the sieve 16' would be blocked.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows the final position of the cylinder 15 and with it the piston 17 carried along, in which almost all the coffee has been extracted and only the coffee grounds 11' remain as a compressed cake in the chamber 13.

[0026] According to Fig. 4, after the extraction is complete, the cylinder 15 and the piston 17 remaining in it are retracted with its piston rod 17' until they reach a stop wall 14' of the housing frame 14. The lengths of the cylinder 15 and the piston 17 are dimensioned such that when they reach the stop wall, the coffee grounds 11' are pushed out of the cylinder 15 by the piston 17 and fall downwards into a collection container.

[0027] This device for producing, in particular, cold coffee is very advantageously integrated into a coffee machine that primarily produces and dispenses hot coffee along with milk or milk foam. This device could be integrated in such a way that the existing coffee bean containers and water connection would be used. The unit 10 for extracting the cold coffee and the outlet at the front of the coffee machine would be installed separately.

[0028] The invention is sufficiently demonstrated by the exemplary embodiments described above. However, it could be further explained by other variations. The resulting paste-like mixture of coffee and water could also be preserved in a container for a certain period of time and only then directed to the outlet. This would have the advantage that the taste of the extracted coffee would be even more pronounced or intense.

[0029] The resulting paste-like mixture of the coffee powder and water could, instead of being placed in this unit 10, also be placed in at least one coffee filter, and the coffee could be filtered from it by running off. Cold or heated water could be used. It would also be possible to use a water mixture containing, for example, agents that promote extraction or enhance flavor.

[0030] It could also be coffee machines which are equipped in a known manner with removable pistons into which either coffee powder is filled or pads are inserted, which could also additionally be equipped with a device according to the invention.< / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb> < / sep> < / tb>

Claims

1. A method for producing coffee, in which coffee beans are ground and coffee is produced from the coffee powder and water and conveyed to an outlet, characterized in that the coffee beans are ground very finely with or without the addition of water, a mixture of the coffee powder and water is formed, and coffee is extracted from this mixture and preferably conveyed to the outlet.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coffee beans and the water are supplied to the grinding chamber of at least one mill and the coffee beans are ground with the water supplied, and the mixture is formed therefrom.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that cold or heated water is supplied to the milling chamber and / or after milling to form the mixture.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mixing ratio of the coffee beans to the water, the duration of grinding and / or the grind size of the coffee powder are determined, so that the coffee extracted therefrom achieves the desired taste.

5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the water is introduced into the grinding chamber of the mill before, simultaneously or after a specific meal of the coffee beans.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the resulting paste-like mixture of the coffee powder and the water is left for a period of time and the extracted coffee is then filtered from it.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the resulting paste-like mixture of the coffee powder and the water is filled into at least one coffee filter and the extracted coffee is filtered by draining.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the extraction of the coffee from the mixture (11) formed from coffee powder and water is carried out by means of a unit (10) with a movable cylinder (15) having at least one filling opening (12) and two pistons (16, 17) forming a closable chamber (13) in the cylinder, which are movable relative to each other, one of which is formed from a sieve (16') and is connected to an outlet line (18), wherein the mixture (11) of water and coffee powder is filled into this chamber (13) and at least one piston (17) is pressed against the other inside the cylinder (15) and the coffee is thereby extracted from the mixture (11) and directed through the sieve (16') into the outlet line (18).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the piston (17) opposite the piston (16) having the sieve (16') has a passage opening (19) for water in order to supply water to the chamber (13) as required or to rinse.

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cylinder (15) and the piston (17) remaining therein can be withdrawn after the extraction has been completed, so that the coffee grounds (11') of the mixture (11) can be pushed out of the cylinder (15) by the piston (17).

11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the average particle size of the ground coffee powder is preferably less than 200 µm and advantageously even less than 150 µm.

12. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising at least one container containing coffee beans, at least one mill with a grinding chamber for grinding the coffee beans, a unit (10) for extracting the coffee and an outlet, characterized in that the unit (10) has a movable cylinder (15) with at least one filling opening (12) and two pistons (16, 17) forming a chamber (13) in the cylinder, which are movable relative to each other, one of which is formed from a sieve (16') and is connected to an outlet line (18), wherein the grinding chamber of the at least one mill has at least one opening each for the supply of coffee beans and water and a connecting line that leads into the filling opening (12) of the cylinder.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that a program control is provided which is equipped with a display with touchscreen or similar, by means of which the production of the extractable coffee can be programmed and triggered.

14. Use of the method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that in a coffee machine in which hot coffee can be produced and dispensed by brewing, coffee beans are ground very finely with or without the addition of water, and a mixture of the coffee powder and water is formed, and the coffee is extracted from this mixture and preferably conveyed to the outlet of the coffee machine.

15. Use according to claim 14, characterized in that coffee beans and water are introduced into at least one separate grinder with a grinding chamber in the coffee machine and the coffee beans are ground together with the water, and the coffee is extracted in the mixture formed therein and preferably conveyed to the outlet of the coffee machine.

16. Use according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the resulting paste-like mixture of the coffee powder and the water is conveyed into at least one replaceable coffee filter in the coffee machine and from there preferably to the outlet of the same.