Automatic single-serving beverage brewing system

Abstract

A brewing system includes a grinder, a brewing machine, a capsule holder, and a controller. The grinder is configured to grind the entire coffee beans into ground coffee powder having an adjustable roughness. The grinder is configured to receive an entire coffee bean through a first opening above the grinder and to dispense ground coffee through a second opening below the grinder. The brewing machine is configured to dispense water through a third opening below the brewing machine for brewing coffee, wherein the brewing machine is positioned laterally with respect to the grinder. The capsule docking station is configured to (a) hold a capsule containing a coffee filter and (b) displace the capsule from a first position below the second opening of the grinder to a second position below the third opening below the brewing machine. The controller is configured to control the grinder, the brewer, and the capsule docking station.

Description

[0001] priority

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 319,723, filed on March 14, 2022, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

[0003] In addition, the present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application No. 17 / 890,803 filed on August 18, 2022 pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, and U.S. patent application No. 17 / 890,803 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 319,723 filed on March 14, 2022 pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

[0004] In addition, the present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application No. 17 / 890,812 filed on August 18, 2022 pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, and U.S. patent application No. 17 / 890,812 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 319,723 filed on March 14, 2022 pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e).

[0005] All of the applications identified above are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0006] Existing capsule-based coffee machines extract coffee from coffee powder pre-packaged in a capsule (or "box compartment") with only one or several fixed brewing settings / options. These brewing options cannot be adjusted or optimized for the specific coffee powder used. Therefore, its ability to fully extract the flavors of many different coffee varieties is limited. The combination of this limitation and the lack of freshness of pre-ground coffee has led to a large quality difference between a black coffee provided in a boutique coffee house and a coffee prepared by a conventional capsule-based coffee machine. For example, in a boutique coffee house, a barista usually perfects a cup of coffee with the help of a unique selection of its understanding of coffee beans and extraction parameters (which include grinding size, water temperature, coffee to water ratio, pouring method, etc.). Therefore, there is no simple, affordable and convenient solution on the market that can fully customize brewing recipes and produce coffee house quality black coffee at home. It is now recognized that there is a need for a capsule-based brewing machine that can provide customized brewing recipes in any environment where a high-quality beverage is needed to produce high-quality brewed beverages (such as coffee). Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention is directed to a single-serve beverage brewing system comprising: an electronic reader that reads an identification tag that may correspond to a brewing recipe; a grinder that grinds an infusion agent (e.g., coffee beans) into ground powder (e.g., coffee powder) with adjustable coarseness; a capsule docking station that moves the ground powder to a cartridge or a reusable dripper; a brewer that dispenses water to brew a single serving of beverage from the ground powder; and a cartridge or a reusable dripper that holds the ground powder during the extraction process. This system is designed to provide a convenient and efficient way to brew coffee.

[0008] Particular embodiments are directed to an automatically adjustable coffee grinder comprising: a main motor configured to provide and output a rotational movement; a main gearbox configured to output a rotational movement to be coupled with the movement output from the main motor; a main shaft configured to transmit the coupled movement output by the main motor and the main gearbox; and a grinding disc assembly configured to receive the coupled movement through the main shaft. The coffee grinder is configured to automatically grind and produce a powder of coffee beans having an adjustable grinding size. The main gearbox comprises a stepper motor, a plurality of gears, and a secondary shaft connecting the stepper motor and the gears. The grinding disc assembly comprises an inner grinding disc rotating along the axis of the main shaft and an outer grinding disc stationary and enclosing the inner grinding disc. The inner grinding disc has a conical shape, and the grinding disc assembly is made of nitrided stainless steel. To adjust the grinding size, the inner grinding disc is configured to move upward or downward with the spindle to adjust the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc, and any stray particles leaving during the grinding process are collected by a magnetic tunnel located below the outer grinding disc.

[0009] Particular embodiments are directed to a coffee brewing system comprising: a grinder configured to grind whole coffee beans into coffee powder having an adjustable coarseness, wherein the grinder is configured to receive the whole coffee beans through a first opening above the grinder and to dispense the coffee powder through a second opening below the grinder; a brewer configured to dispense water through a third opening below the brewer to brew coffee, wherein the brewer is positioned laterally relative to the grinder; a capsule docking station configured to (a) hold a capsule containing a coffee filter and (b) displace the capsule from a first position below the second opening of the grinder to a second position below the third opening of the brewer; and a controller configured to control the grinder, the brewer, and the capsule docking station. In particular embodiments, the capsule docking station includes a tactile sensor, and the controller is configured to initiate a brewing process when the tactile sensor of the capsule docking station senses a touch event. In certain embodiments, the coffee brewing system includes an electronic reader configured to read an identification tag on the capsule, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one or more settings of at least one of the grinder or the brewer based on information associated with the identification tag. In certain embodiments, at least one of the one or more settings adjusts a coarseness of coffee ground by the grinder. In certain embodiments, at least one of the one or more settings adjusts a temperature, a volume, or a pouring pattern of water dispensed by the brewer. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to cause the capsule docking station to shift from the first position to the second position based on an indication that a grinding operation is completed. In certain embodiments, the indication that the grinding operation is completed is based on a weight measured by a weight sensor of the capsule docking station. In certain implementations, the controller is configured to cause the brewer to initiate a brewing program based on an indication that the capsule docking station is in the second position under the brewer. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to receive instructions from a user interface configured to allow a user to specify a grind size, a water temperature, a water volume, or a coffee to water ratio. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to receive instructions from a user interface configured to present one or more brewing recipes for selection by a user, wherein each brewing recipe specifies a predetermined brewing configuration of the coffee brewing system. In certain embodiments, the user interface is presented by an application on a user device separate from the coffee brewing system. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to receive instructions from a user interface configured to allow a user to specify brewing details associated with a plurality of pours to be used during a brewing procedure. In certain embodiments, the brewing details associated with each of the plurality of pours include a water temperature, a water volume, or a pouring style.In a particular embodiment, the grinder comprises: a grinding disc assembly including an inner grinding disc and an outer grinding disc, wherein the inner grinding disc is connected to a spindle and rotates along an axis of the spindle, and the outer grinding disc is positioned and enclosed around the inner grinding disc; and a motor configured to control a spacing between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc. In a particular embodiment, the spacing between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc affects a coarseness of the coffee powder. In a particular embodiment, the controller is configured to move the inner grinding disc upward to reduce the spacing between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc to reduce the coarseness of the coffee powder. In a particular embodiment, the capsule docking station comprises: a capsule holder configured to receive a capsule; a linear positioning station configured to horizontally displace the capsule holder; and a connecting member connecting the capsule holder and the linear positioning station. In a particular embodiment, the capsule docking station is configured to rock during a brewing process. In certain embodiments, the capsule docking station comprises an integrated position sensor configured to detect whether the capsule is in a correct position for receiving coffee grounds from the grinder or water from the brewer. In certain embodiments, the brewer comprises electrodes configured to generate an electric field to bend water dispensed by the brewer.

[0010] Particular embodiments are directed to a method for grinding and making powder. The method involves: obtaining and setting a desired grind size; activating the main motor and the stepper motor; transmitting rotation and linear movement to the grinding disc assembly; driving the inner grinding disc to rotate and move to a predetermined position relative to the outer grinding disc; and grinding out a powder having the desired grind size. The inner grinding disc can be linearly moved upward or downward with the spindle member based on the selected grind size. The predetermined position is set according to the selected grind size and can be adjusted by controlling the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc. The position of the inner grinding disc and the gap between the grinding discs are continuously measured to ensure accurate and precise grinding.

[0011] Particular embodiments are directed to a grinder for grinding whole coffee beans into coffee powder with an automatically adjustable coarseness, the grinder comprising a burr assembly for grinding whole coffee beans, comprising an inner burr having an inclined and ground or serrated side surface and an outer burr surrounding the inner burr, wherein the side surface of the inner burr and the outer burr define a gap. The grinder further comprises: a main motor configured to provide a first rotational movement to the inner burr; a spindle having one end attached to the inner burr, wherein the spindle is configured to transmit the first rotational movement provided by the main motor to the inner burr; a second motor configured to adjust a vertical position of the spindle and the inner burr relative to the outer burr, wherein a change in the vertical position of the inner burr relative to the outer burr changes the gap between the inner burr and the outer burr; and a controller configured to control the main motor and the second motor. A roughness of the coffee powder depends on the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc. In a specific embodiment, the second motor is a stepper motor configured to provide a second rotational movement for adjusting the vertical position of the main shaft and the inner grinding disc. A plurality of gears can be configured to transfer the second rotational movement into a linear movement to adjust the vertical position of the main shaft and the inner grinding disc. In a specific embodiment, the inner grinding disc and the main shaft rotate along an axis of the main shaft. In a specific embodiment, the outer grinding disc is stationary and fixed to a housing. In a specific embodiment, the grinding disc assembly is configured to receive whole coffee beans from above the grinding disc assembly and output coffee powder through an opening below the grinding disc assembly. In a specific embodiment, the inner grinding disc is configured to move downward relative to the outer grinding disc to increase the roughness of the coffee powder. In a specific embodiment, the inner grinding disc is configured to move upward relative to the outer grinding disc to reduce the roughness of the coffee powder. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to calibrate the grinder by returning the inner grinding disc to a zero position in which the gap is at a minimum. In certain embodiments, the inner grinding disc has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is larger than the top surface. In certain embodiments, the inner grinding disc has a conical shape. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to automatically adjust the vertical position of the inner grinding disc relative to the outer grinding disc based on a brewing recipe that specifies a desired coarseness of coffee grounds. In certain embodiments, the brewing recipe is selected based on an identification tag associated with a capsule holding whole coffee beans. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to automatically adjust the vertical position of the inner grinding disc relative to the outer grinding disc based on an input provided by a user through a user interface. In certain embodiments, the user interface is provided by an application installed on a user device. In certain embodiments, the grinding disc assembly has a layer of a nitride compound.In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to position a capsule docking station under the grinder before starting a grinding operation, wherein the capsule docking station is configured to hold a capsule for catching coffee powder output by the grinder. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to position the capsule docking station under a water injector after completing the grinding operation. In certain embodiments, the grinder is integrated into a coffee brewing system. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to measure an output torque of the main motor to detect whether the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc is in a correct position.

[0012] Particular embodiments are directed to an automatic docking station configured to hold and displace a cartridge during the brewing process. It includes a capsule holder, a linear positioning station that can displace the cartridge horizontally, and a weight sensor that can measure the weight of the cartridge. The weight sensor is an integrated force sensor having a strain gauge that is attached to a flexible structure of the docking station, and the strain gauge can instantly measure the degree of deformation of the structure due to the weight of the cartridge. The docking station system also includes a connecting member connecting the capsule holder and the linear positioning station. The linear positioning station contains a stepper motor, a mounting seat for attaching it to the housing of the brewing machine, and an integrated position sensor that can detect the position of the cartridge on the station. The stepper motor can provide tactile feedback by shaking the holder or stirring the cartridge at a preset frequency, a preset time, or a preset duration during the brewing process. The front end of the holder can also serve as a button or switch for starting the brewing process. Additionally, the integrated position sensor can confirm that the cartridge bay is in the correct position for grinding and brewing.

[0013] The present invention is also directed to a method for controlling a capsule docking station, comprising holding and displacing a cartridge holder on a linear positioning table during a brewing process. A cartridge is held in the holder, and its position and weight are detected on a linear positioning table. The cartridge is then horizontally displaced on the table. The position detection is accomplished using an integrated position sensor, and the weight detection is accomplished using an integrated force sensor having a strain gauge of a flexible structure attached to the table. In addition, the method comprises shaking and stirring the cartridge during the brewing process at a preset vibration frequency within a preset amount of time or at a preset time during or after pouring water by a stepper motor integrated into the linear positioning table. In some embodiments of the present invention, the brewing process can be initiated by pressing the front end of the holder (which provides tactile feedback driven by the stepper motor of the linear positioning table).

[0014] Particular embodiments are directed to a docking station system configured to hold and displace a capsule containing ground coffee during a brewing process, comprising: a capsule docking station configured to receive and hold the capsule; a linear positioning station configured to displace the capsule docking station; a mounting seat configured to mount the linear positioning station within a housing of a coffee brewing machine; and a controller configured to cause the linear positioning station to (a) move the capsule docking station to a first position below a grinder of the coffee brewing machine before and during a grinding operation and (b) move the capsule docking station to a second position below a water injector of the coffee brewing machine before and during a water dispensing operation. In particular embodiments, the docking station system further comprises a connecting member connecting the capsule docking station and the linear positioning station. In particular embodiments, the capsule docking station comprises an integrated force sensor. In particular embodiments, the integrated force sensor is configured to measure a weight of the capsule. In particular embodiments, the integrated force sensor is configured to measure the weight of the capsule in real time during at least one of the grinding operation or the water dispensing operation. In a particular embodiment, the weight of the capsule is used by the controller of the coffee brewing machine to control at least one of the grinding operation or the water dispensing operation. In a particular embodiment, the integrated force sensor is configured to detect a force applied to a front end of the capsule docking station. In a particular embodiment, the controller is configured to start a brewing program based on the force applied to the front end of the capsule docking station. In a particular embodiment, the linear positioning station includes an integrated position sensor configured to detect a position of the capsule docking station on the linear positioning station. In a particular embodiment, the linear positioning station includes a stepper motor. In a particular embodiment, the stepper motor is configured to provide tactile feedback when a force is applied to a front end of the capsule docking station. In a particular embodiment, the stepper motor is configured to shake the capsule docking station to thereby stir the coffee powder in the capsule during the water dispensing operation. In a particular embodiment, the stepper motor is configured to shake the capsule docking station at a preset vibration frequency during the water dispensing operation. In a particular embodiment, the stepper motor is configured to shake the capsule docking station for a preset amount of time during the water dispensing operation. In a particular embodiment, the stepper motor is configured to shake the capsule docking station during the water dispensing operation during and for a predetermined time after pouring the water. In a particular embodiment, the capsule docking station includes a holder having an opening for receiving the capsule. In a particular embodiment, the opening is circular and smaller than at least a portion of a cross-section of the capsule. In a particular embodiment, the controller is configured to move the capsule docking station from the first position to the second position after determining that the grinding operation is complete. In a particular embodiment, the determination that the grinding operation is complete is based on time. In a particular embodiment, the determination that the grinding operation is complete is based on a weight on the capsule docking station.

[0015] Particular embodiments are directed to a brewing machine comprising: a nozzle configured to dispense a stream of water downwardly; a holder configured to hold a container of coffee grounds or tea below the nozzle to receive the stream of water; a first electrode disposed adjacent to the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle; a voltage source electrically coupled to the first electrode via a circuit and configured to apply a voltage to the first electrode; and a controller communicatively coupled to the circuit and configured to control a magnitude of the voltage applied from the voltage source to the first electrode, wherein varying the magnitude of the voltage applied to the first electrode produces an electric field that changes a distance of the water stream from the first electrode.

[0016] Particular embodiments are also directed to a method for controlling a stream of water output from a brewing machine, the method comprising: dispensing the stream of water from a nozzle of the brewing machine into a container of coffee grounds or tea; charging one or more electrodes surrounding the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle using one or more circuits connected between the one or more electrodes and a voltage source; and controlling, via a controller, a magnitude of a voltage output to each of the one or more electrodes based on instructions received at the controller regarding a pouring pattern for the stream of water; and using the one or more charged electrodes to generate an electric field to cause the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle to bend according to the pouring pattern.

[0017] Particular embodiments are also directed to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for controlling pouring water from a brewing machine, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform a method comprising: receiving or accessing a pouring pattern indicating a dynamic pattern in which a stream of water is to be dispensed along different directions relative to a stationary nozzle; determining that a container of ground coffee or tea is placed under the stationary nozzle and is ready to receive the stream of water; causing the stream of water to be dispensed by the stationary nozzle in response to the determination; outputting control signals to one or more circuits to adjust a magnitude of a voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes surrounding the stream of water as the stream of water is being dispensed, the output control signals being generated based on the pouring pattern.

[0018] Particular embodiments are directed to a single-serve coffee cartridge comprising: a hollow capsule having an opening at a first end thereof and at least one smaller opening in a second end opposite the first end; a filter disposed within the capsule; a plurality of whole coffee beans positioned within the capsule; and a removable cover disposed over the opening of the capsule.

[0019] A specific embodiment is directed to a single-serve coffee cartridge comprising: a hollow capsule configured to retain whole coffee beans therein and to receive ground coffee made from the whole coffee beans; and an identification tag disposed on the capsule, the identification tag configured to be scanned by a reader, wherein the identification tag is configured to provide or trigger access to information corresponding to the whole coffee beans retained in the capsule, to a recipe for brewing coffee from the whole coffee beans in the capsule, or both, upon scanning of the identification tag by the reader.

[0020] Particular embodiments are directed to a single-serving beverage brewing system comprising: a brewing machine comprising a reader; and a single-serving cartridge comprising: a hollow capsule configured to retain an infusion agent therein; and an identification tag disposed on the capsule, wherein the brewing machine further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the reader, wherein in response to the reader reading the identification tag, the processor is configured to access or obtain information about the infusion agent, a recipe for brewing a beverage from the infusion agent, or both. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1A and Figure 1B 1 is a side view and a front view of a single-serving brewing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for brewing beverages according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C An exemplary user interface for use with a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted.

[0024] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a whole bean single-serve coffee cartridge compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C An exemplary capsule docking station and linear positioning station of a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention are depicted.

[0026] Figure 6 is a process flow chart of a method for grinding coffee beans using a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7A to FIG. 7B 1 is a front view and a perspective cross-sectional view of a grinder of a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] 7C to 7D are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a grinding disc assembly of a grinder of a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8is a front schematic cross-sectional view of a solid state depositing system for use in a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of electrodes surrounding a casting nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] 10 is a perspective view of a water injector of a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C 1 and 2 are perspective views, top views and side views of a water outlet of a pouring assembly of a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Fig.12 A and Fig.12 B is a cross-sectional view and a side view of a pouring nozzle assembly having electrodes incorporated therein according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Fig.13 is a schematic diagram of layers forming an electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] 14A-14C are schematic block diagrams illustrating a solid-state assembly for controlling electrodes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 15 is a process flow chart of a method for controlling a water flow output from a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] 16 is a process flow chart of a method for controlling water pouring from a brewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] 17A-17D are bottom, side, perspective, and exploded views of an exemplary single-serve coffee pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] 18A-18C are exploded, bottom, and top views of another exemplary single-serve coffee pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] 19 is an exploded view of another exemplary single-serve coffee pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] 20 is a side view of another exemplary single-serve coffee pod according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The present invention describes an exemplary beverage brewing system that may be particularly suitable for brewing single-serve coffee. The present invention includes a capsule-based brewing machine and an exemplary single-serve coffee cartridge compartment and an exemplary system and method for automatically grinding coffee beans and adjusting the coarseness, controlling a capsule docking station during the brewing process, and controlling a water flow output from a brewing machine.

[0043] Single-serve capsule-based beverage brewers (also known as "capsule" or "pod" based brewers) for providing single cups of coffee, tea, and other hot beverages have become common in individual homes. However, existing capsule-based brewers lack the ability to adjust the brewing method according to the specific type of coffee, tea, etc. being made therein. Typically, the only adjustment to the brewing method is for selecting a volume of water to be output by the brewer. It is now recognized that there is a need for a capsule-based brewer that can provide customized brewing recipes in a home environment to produce high-quality brewed beverages such as coffee.

[0044] This application discloses a new category of capsule-based coffee machines and their implementation technology. The disclosed product allows a number of brewing conditions to be set to any combination so that the roaster or barista can fully control how to prepare coffee even in the absence of the roaster or barista. The conditions may include: grind size, brewing temperature, coffee to water ratio, brewing duration, pouring style, pouring rate, stirring and / or "steaming". For customers, the program is completed by touching a button, which maintains the convenience of a conventional capsule machine. The machine can identify the type of beans in the cassette and search for the best matching recipe. The recipe can be created by the roaster who produces the coffee, a trained barista who has learned and tested a specific type of coffee beans, or the coffee drinker himself. Thus, the disclosed capsule-based brewing machine acts as a home barista. The disclosed brewing machine enables high-end coffee makers to provide high-quality coffee drinks (not just beans) to customers to enjoy at their peak without leaving home.

[0045] The present invention provides a single-serve capsule-based beverage brewing system, comprising: a grinder that produces ground powder with adjustable coarseness (e.g., whole coffee beans can be ground into coffee powder of different coarseness); a capsule docking station configured to hold and displace a capsule filled with ground powder during a brewing process; and a brewing machine having a solid water pouring mechanism. In certain embodiments, the brewing system may further include an electronic reader that reads identification tags of beans, powders and / or grinds and brewing recipes and a controller that controls the overall brewing process based on information obtained via the identification tags. The brewing system may be configured to work with a single-serve coffee cartridge (which may be referred to interchangeably as a "cartridge", "coffee capsule" or "capsule" in the present invention), which can be used to brew a high-quality single-serve coffee or other hot beverage using a specially adjusted pouring technique for an infusion agent applied to the cartridge. The single-serve coffee cartridge may initially contain whole coffee beans so that the whole beans are provided to the brewing machine for grinding immediately before the brewing process. Each single-serve coffee cartridge may include an identification tag that can be read by the brewer and used to control the grinding / brewing process. For example, the identification tag may provide information about a type of brewing agent held in the cartridge and / or a recipe for grinding / brewing the brewing agent held in the cartridge to produce an ideal single-serve beverage for that particular brewing agent. In some embodiments of the present invention, the cartridge may be replaced by a reusable dripper that may be optionally labeled with a built-in recipe that allows the user to change or customize the recipe settings through software. In a non-limiting embodiment, the reusable dripper is made of a food-grade biodegradable plastic material with low thermal conductivity.

[0046] The present invention also provides an associated method for grinding coffee beans and making a powder with an adjustable size. The grinding size can be determined by adjusting a gap or spacing between an inner grinding disc and an outer grinding disc of a grinding disc assembly of the grinder. The gap is determined by controlling the inner grinding disc to move upward or downward along the axis of the main shaft. The method involves a controller that obtains and sets a desired grinding size, starts the main motor and the stepper motor, transmits rotation and linear movement to the grinding disc assembly, drives the inner grinding disc to rotate and move to a desired position relative to the outer grinding disc, and grinds powder with a desired grinding size or coarseness. The inner grinding disc can be linearly moved upward or downward with the main shaft based on the selected grinding size. The position of the inner grinding disc that affects the coarseness of the resulting coffee powder can be set according to the desired grinding size and can be adjusted by controlling the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc. The position of the inner grinding disc and the gap between the grinding discs can be continuously measured to ensure accurate and precise grinding.

[0047] The present invention also provides an associated method for controlling a capsule docking station and displacing the capsule docking station on a linear positioning station during a brewing process. At the beginning of the process, the linear positioning station positions the capsule docking station at a first position below the grinder to catch the ground brewing agent (e.g., coffee powder). A capsule is held by a holder of the capsule docking station, and its position and weight can be detected on a linear positioning station. During a grinding operation, the grinder can grind whole coffee beans poured into an opening of the system, and the resulting coffee powder can fall through another opening on the bottom of the grinder and enter the capsule held by the capsule docking station. A controller can determine that the grinding operation is complete, which can be based on a grinding duration, sound, vibration, or the weight of the coffee sensed by the capsule docking station. After determining that the grinding operation is complete, the capsule is then displaced on the station (e.g., horizontally across). The capsule docking station positions the capsule below the brewer to receive water dispensed by the brewer. Position detection can be controlled using an integrated position sensor, and weight detection can be achieved using an integrated force sensor with a strain gauge of a flexible structure attached to the station. Additionally, the automatic brewing process may further include shaking and agitating the cartridge compartment by a stepper motor integrated into the linear positioning stage at a preset vibration frequency for a preset amount of time during the brewing process or for a preset time during or after pouring water. In some embodiments of the present invention, the brewing process may be initiated by pressing the front end of the holder, which provides tactile feedback driven by the stepper motor of the linear positioning stage.

[0048] The present invention also provides an associated method for pouring water onto grounds held in a capsule below a water delivery portion of a brewing machine from a location where water can be delivered from the brewing machine according to a specific pouring pattern. Different types of pouring patterns can be adapted depending on the type of coffee beans used, similar to how a barista in a coffee shop pours hot water in a specific pattern to make a cup of pour-over coffee. The brewing machine of the present invention uses one or more electrodes positioned near an delivery nozzle of the brewing machine to bend the water stream in a desired direction(s) in response to controlling a voltage applied to each of the electrodes to produce the pouring pattern.

[0049] Brewing Machine Overview

[0050] Now turning to the attached figure, Figure 1A and Figure 1BAn exemplary brewing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The brewing system 100 is a capsule-based brewing machine configured to brew a single serving of coffee, tea, or some other beverage at a time via interaction with a single serving cartridge 102. As will be described in more detail below, the cartridge 102 acts as both a container from which an infusion (e.g., coffee beans, tea material, etc.) is provided to the brewing system 100 and a dripper through which hot water output from the brewing machine is received to contact and extract flavor from the infusion in the cartridge 102. The term "tea" may refer to both tea made from traditional tea leaves or other blends of herbs, herbal teas, and the like. The term "tea material" may refer to tea leaves, herbs, spices, flowers, preserved fruits, or any other material from which tea or herbal tea can be brewed.

[0051] In some embodiments, the capsule 102 can keep whole coffee beans, which are different from coffee powder. Providing whole coffee beans in the capsule 102 improves the freshness of the coffee being brewed, because the coffee beans are ground until just before brewing a cup of coffee. Similarly, the capsule 102 can keep other brewing agents (e.g., whole tea material) that are different from the pre-ground brewing agent. The capsule 102 can include extraction features in the form of recesses or grooves formed in an outer wall or bottom wall of the capsule 102. The capsule 102 also includes an identification tag (e.g., an RFID tag, 2D barcode, etc.) that stores information about brewing agents and brewing methods. In addition, the capsule 102 can include a lid or other removable covers that can be opened when brewing a beverage from the capsule 102.

[0052] The brewing system 100 may include, among other things, a brewing machine (a water injector) 104, a grinder 106, a capsule docking station 108, a linear positioning station 110, and an electronic reader 112. As will be discussed in detail below, the water injector 104 may be a solid-state controllable water injector capable of outputting water from it according to a pouring pattern that may be automatically acquired or user-selected for a particular cartridge compartment 102. The water injector 104 may include a nozzle configured to dispense a stream of water downwardly and one or more electrodes configured to bend the stream of water based on its electrical charge to produce a desired pouring pattern.

[0053] The grinder 106 may include a burr grinder, a burr assembly, or any other desired type of grinder suitable for grinding coffee beans, tea material, etc. The grinder 106 may be an adjustable grinder capable of adjusting the grind size of the material output from the grinder 106. The grinder 106 may automatically reset and adjust to a desired grind size in response to receiving a command from a controller in the brewing system 100.

[0054] The capsule docking station 108 may be configured to hold the cartridge 102. The capsule docking station 108 may be configured to hold an empty cartridge 102 under the grinder 106 to receive a desired size of ground coffee or tea into the cartridge 102 before brewing a beverage. Similarly, the capsule docking station 108 may be configured to hold a cartridge 102 of ground coffee or tea under the nozzle of the water injector 104 to receive a flow of water into the cartridge 102. A relative position of the capsule docking station 108 relative to the rest of the brewing system 100 may be adjusted via the linear positioning station 100. The linear positioning station 100 may move the capsule docking station 108 between a first position below the grinder 106 and a second position below the water injector 104.

[0055] The brewing system 100 may be equipped with an electronic reader 112 (e.g., an RFID reader, barcode scanner, etc.) for querying the identification tag on the cartridge 102. As shown in the figure, the reader 112 of the brewing system 100 may be positioned close to an opening 114 of the grinder 106 through which the whole beans are input into the grinder 106 before the grinding / brewing process is started. In this way, the brewing system 100 can automatically read the identification tag on each cartridge 102 before the grinding / brewing process is started. However, it should be noted that the reader 112 can be positioned at any other location on the brewing system 100. For example, in another embodiment, the reader 112 can be positioned below the grinder 106, for example, near the capsule docking station 108. Thus, querying can occur when a cartridge 102 is loaded on the capsule docking station 108. Regardless of which of these locations the reader 112 is located in, the user does not need to directly scan the cartridge 102.

[0056] The brewing system 100 may include a user interface 116 through which a user can view information about the brewing agent / brewing process associated with the cartridge compartment 102 and / or input information about the brewing process. The user interface 116 may include a display. In one example, Figure 1B , the user interface 116 may include a light emitting diode (LED) panel. In other embodiments, the user interface 116 may include a touch screen display through which information can be selected or input through user interaction with the touch screen. Additionally or alternatively, the user can make selections using buttons, dials, etc. on the brewing system 100 and / or by pressing the capsule docking station 108 at a specific location. In some embodiments, the brewing system 100 may not include a user interface. The brewing system 100 may alternatively be connected to a user's personal device (e.g., a mobile phone) via communication to receive input and / or output information about the brewing process to the user.

[0057] The brewing system 100 may include a combination of a water injector 104, a grinder 106, a capsule docking station 108, a linear positioning station 110, a reader 112, an opening 114, and a user interface 116 positioned within or coupled to a main housing 118 of the brewing system 100. The main housing 118 may be supported on a base 120, as shown in the figure. In some embodiments, the base 120 may include a cup holder 122 on which a cup is placed to ultimately receive the brewed beverage output through the cartridge compartment 102 (which acts as a dripper) under the water injector 104. In some embodiments, the dripper may be a reusable dripper marked with a built-in recipe that allows the user to change or customize the settings of the recipe through software. In a non-limiting embodiment, the reusable dripper is made of a food-grade biodegradable plastic material with low thermal conductivity.

[0058] The brewing system 100 may operate as follows. Although the following description discusses brewing a cup of coffee from the cartridge 102 using the brewing system 100, it should be understood that similar steps may be performed when brewing a cup of tea, hot chocolate, cider, or any other hot beverage prepared using an infusion.

[0059] First, a user removes the capsule 102 from its packaging. The capsule 102 may contain coffee beans, a built-in filter, an identification tag, and specific extraction features of a coffee dripper. The user may remove the lid or other cover from the top of the capsule 102, and then empty the coffee beans from the capsule 102 into the grinder 106 through the opening 114. The user may then place the empty capsule 102 on the capsule docking station 108. The empty capsule 102 will act as a filter and dripper after the brewing process begins.

[0060] During this process, the reader 112 of the brewing system 100 can read the identification tag on the cartridge 102. The reader 112 detects the type of coffee from the identification tag on the cartridge 102 and obtains the optimal recipe for the coffee beans packaged in the cartridge 102. The brewing recipe may include brewing water temperature, water volume, flow rate, grind size, pour style, brew duration, coffee to water ratio, etc. The brewing system 100 can be turned on or "woken up" after the reader 112 detects the presence of the identification tag on the cartridge 102 and / or reads the identification tag.

[0061] The brewing system 100 can detect that the cartridge bay 102 is properly loaded onto the capsule docking station 108 via a force sensor incorporated into the capsule docking station 108. In some embodiments, a user can press down on a portion of the capsule docking station 108 to initiate the grinding / brewing process. After detecting that the cartridge bay 102 is properly loaded and / or the user presses down on the capsule docking station 108, the linear positioning station 110 automatically moves the cartridge bay 102 under the grinder 106 to receive the coffee powder output from the grinder 106.

[0062] The grinder 106 automatically adjusts its coarseness / grind size based on recipe or user preference. The grinder 106 can automatically recalibrate and set to zero to maintain the accuracy of the grind size between subsequent grinding / brewing operations. The ground coffee falls into the cartridge compartment 102 held by the capsule docking station 108. The integrated force sensor of the capsule docking station 108 can measure the exact amount of coffee to be extracted.

[0063] After finishing grinding, the linear positioning station 110 then automatically moves the capsule docking station 108 and the cassette compartment 102 now containing coffee powder to the water injector 104 below. The water injector 104 automatically adjusts the water temperature, flow rate, pouring style and coffee to water ratio based on the detected recipe and / or user preference. The water injector 104 distributes a water flow from a nozzle of the brewing system 100 to the cassette compartment 102 that holds the coffee powder. The force sensor of the capsule docking station 108 combined with a water flow sensor monitors the instant coffee to water ratio in the cassette compartment 102 to obtain additional control of the brewing program and prevent overflow. The water distributed to the cassette compartment 102 extracts flavor and color from the coffee powder and is filtered through the cassette compartment 102. The coffee leaves one or more openings in the bottom of the cassette compartment 102 and falls into a cup below.

[0064] Figure 2 A system 200 for brewing a beverage is depicted, comprising a brewing system 100 described above. Figure 2 The system 200 shows several electronic components and communication interfaces that may interact within the brewing system 100 and between the brewing system 100, the cartridge bay 102, and / or a separate user device 202 to control the grinding / brewing process.

[0065] The system 200 may be a single-serving beverage brewing system including the brewing system 100 and a single-serving cartridge 102. The brewing system 100 includes a reader 112. The cartridge 102 may include a hollow capsule configured to hold an infusion agent therein and an identification tag 210 disposed on the capsule. The brewing system 100 may further include a controller 204 including one or more processors 206 and a memory 208. The memory 208 may store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors 206, determine a brewing recipe for the cartridge 102, control a grinding / brewing process, and / or cause the controller 204 to perform one or more methods disclosed herein. For example, in response to the reader 112 reading the identification tag 210, the processor 206 may access or obtain information about the following items: the infusion agent, a recipe for brewing a beverage from the infusion agent, or both. Thus, the controller 204 may be configured to determine a brewing recipe for the cartridge 102 and control the brewing process according to the brewing recipe.

[0066] The brewing recipe may be determined based at least in part on information obtained by the electronic reader 112. The reader 112 may scan and / or query an identification tag 210 located on the cartridge 102 when the cartridge 102 is brought to a particular location near the brewing system 100. The identification tag 210 may include information stored thereon (e.g., in the form of a chip, barcode, etc.). The information stored on the identification tag 210 may include cartridge information 212 about the contents of the cartridge 102 (e.g., information about the coffee beans located in the cartridge 102). The cartridge information 212 may include one or more of the following: type of coffee beans, name of roaster, type of roaster, roasting date, and flavor notes. The information stored on the identification tag 210 may also include basic recipe information 214 about one or more appropriate (or preferred) recipes for brewing a beverage from the contents of the cartridge 102. Recipe information 214 may include one or more of the following parameters for brewing a beverage: grind size, water temperature, water to coffee ratio, flow rate, and pour style.

[0067] In some embodiments, the identification tag 210 on the cartridge 102 may not contain all of the information associated with the cartridge and / or brewing recipe. In such instances, the identification tag 210 may include data including an address or link to information stored in an external network 216. This additional information may include any of the types referenced above for cartridge information 211, recipe information 214, and / or rich media content including pictures, videos, recommendations, and the like. The brewing system 100 may include a web interface 218 for obtaining additional information from the external network 216 based on a link read from the identification tag 210. In some embodiments, the identification tag 210 may simply be a barcode or a quick response (QR) code including a stock keeping unit (SKU) or a link for accessing information about the cartridge and / or brewing recipe stored in an external network 216.

[0068] The brewing system 100 may also include cartridge compartment information and / or recipe information stored in the memory 208 of the controller 204. In some embodiments, the brewing system 100 may access the cartridge compartment and / or recipe information from the memory 208 based on a link or SKU read from the identification tag 210. The brewing system 100 may include a number of different pre-set brewing recipes stored in the memory 208, wherein each SKU is linked to one or more of the pre-set brewing recipes. After detecting the identification tag 210, the processor 206 may check the network interface 218 to determine whether the brewing system 100 is connected to an external network 216. If the brewing system 100 is not connected to the external network 216, the processor 206 may select one or more of the pre-set brewing recipes from the memory 208 based on the information read from the identification tag 210. If the brewing system 100 is connected to the external network 216, the processor 206 may obtain one or more brewing recipes from the external network 216 via the network interface 218 based on the information read from the identification tag 210. Recipes and other information stored in both the external network 216 and onboard memory 208 may be updated periodically, such as when a manufacturer, partner, barista, or user uploads a new recipe for a particular cartridge to the external network 216 .

[0069] The system 200 may enable a user to make a selection or update of a brewing recipe, which is determined based on information read from an identification tag 210 on a cartridge compartment 102. In some embodiments, the brewing system 100 may include an on-board user interface 116 having one or more input / output devices for making a selection or an update. For example, the user interface 116 may include a display, a touch screen, one or more buttons or dials, a keyboard, and / or any other input / output device that allows a user selection or input to be made to the brewing system 100. The user interface 116 may enable a user to select a brewing recipe and / or update one of the presented brewing recipes. After making a selection, the user interface 116 may communicate the selection to the controller 204 for implementation.

[0070] In some embodiments, the brewing system 100 may include a device interface 220 configured to communicatively couple the controller 204 to a user device 202 (e.g., a mobile phone) via WIFI, Bluetooth, or any other wired or wireless connection. The device interface 220 may transmit information from the reader 112 to the user device 202, and the user device 202 may be equipped with an application configured to receive information from the reader 112 and present one or more brewing recipes to a user. The user device 202 may enable a user to select a brewing recipe and / or update one of the presented brewing recipes. After making a selection, the device interface 220 may transmit the selection from the user device 202 to the controller 204 for implementation.

[0071] The system 200 may enable a user to design a completely new brewing recipe for a specific SKU from scratch. The user interface 116 and / or an application on the user device 202 may present the user with a plurality of brewing recipe parameters that may be added, selected, adjusted and / or removed to generate a new brewing recipe. The controller 204 may access the new brewing recipe and control the various components of the brewing system 100 to perform the grinding / brewing operations of the recipe. The user-generated recipe may be stored directly in the memory 208 of the brewing system 100. The user-generated recipe may be uploaded and stored in the external network 216 via the network interface 218 and / or the user device 202.

[0072] Determining the brewing recipe may include accessing information stored on the identification tag 210 via the reader 112 and obtaining the brewing recipe directly from the information stored on the identification tag 210 or from the external network 216. Determining the brewing recipe may include accessing information stored on the identification tag 210 via the reader 112, presenting one or more brewing recipes to a user via the user interface 116 and / or a user device 202, obtaining user input regarding the presented one or more brewing recipes, and outputting a brewing recipe selected and / or updated by the user. Determining the brewing recipe may include enabling a user to generate a new brewing recipe via the user interface 116 and / or a user device 202.

[0073] After determining the brewing recipe, the controller 204 can control the brewing system 100 to brew a beverage according to the determined brewing recipe. Controlling the brewing process may include controlling: the capsule docking station 108, the linear positioning station 110, the grinder 106 and / or the water injector (e.g., 104 of FIG. 1). Controlling the capsule docking station 108 may include providing tactile feedback to a user through the capsule docking station 108. Controlling the linear positioning station 110 may include moving the capsule docking station 108 from a first position below the grinder to a second position below the water injector and / or imparting vibration to the capsule docking station 108 when the brewing recipe requires agitation. Controlling the grinder 106 may include controlling the grind size of coffee or other material placed in the grinder 106.

[0074] Controlling the water injector (e.g., 104 of FIG. 1 ) may include controlling one or more of: a water heater 222, a pump 224, and one or more electrodes 226 proximate a nozzle of the water injector. Controlling the heater 222 may include heating water to a desired brewing temperature via the heater 222. Controlling the pump 224 may include operating the pump to output water from the nozzle at a desired flow rate. Controlling the one or more electrodes 226 may include controlling one or more circuits to adjust the magnitude of a voltage applied to each electrode surrounding the water flow output from the nozzle.

[0075] In addition to the components discussed above, the brewing system 100 may further include one or more sensors 228 configured to provide instant or nearly instant feedback regarding the grinding / brewing process controlled by the controller 204. The controller 204 may receive feedback from the sensors 228 and adjust the grinding / brewing operation of the brewing system 100 in response to the sensor feedback. The sensors 228 may include, for example, a force sensor on the capsule docking station 108, temperature and flow rate sensors in the water injector, and the like.

[0076] user interface

[0077] Figures 3A to 3C An exemplary user interface for use with the disclosed brewing machine is depicted. Although shown as an interface of an application on a user device (e.g., a mobile phone), the user interface may similarly be displayed on a user interface of the brewing machine (e.g., Figure 2 The interface may enable a user to 1) create a new brewing recipe from scratch, or 2) select and / or adjust an existing brewing recipe retrieved from onboard memory or external storage.

[0078] A first page 300A of the user interface includes cartridge information 302 read from an identification tag on the cartridge, for example, in the form of a name of the coffee beans in the cartridge ("Panama Gesha"). The first page 300A may also include a "preset" recipe for the cartridge determined based on recipe information associated with the cartridge. The "preset" recipe may be a brewing recipe designed by the manufacturer of the cartridge, a most popular or highest-rated recipe available from a web database of the cartridge, or a preferred recipe previously selected by a user for this cartridge. The "preset" recipe may display several primary parameters of the brewing recipe, including (for example) grind size 304, water temperature 306, and coffee to water ratio 308. In other embodiments, different combinations of brewing parameters may be considered primary parameters. The first page 300A may be configured to allow a user to view and / or change the primary parameters of the "preset" recipe. For example, in Figure 3A , grind size 304, water temperature 306, and coffee to water ratio 308 are each shown via sliders that can be adjusted by the user to create a new recipe.

[0079] A "preset" recipe may include a specific number of pours 310, where each pour 310 has its own set of primary parameters. For example, Figure 3A A first page 300A is shown showing primary parameters of a first pour 310A of three pours 310A-310C of a brew recipe. A user can view or change the primary parameters of any of the other pours 310B or 310C by selecting a pour toward the bottom of the screen.

[0080] A user may start with a "preset" recipe (as shown) or select another collection recipe 312, for example, by clicking a button. The collection recipe button 312 may provide a list of previously collected recipes ("favorites") 314 for selection, such as Figure 3B . These collected recipes may be recipes that a user has previously created and entered into their "favorites", popular recipes of cartridges obtained from an online database, or a combination thereof. The user may simply select one of the collected recipes to select a brewing recipe. In other examples, if the user is interested in changing the parameters to adjust the taste of the coffee according to their preferences, the user may adjust the primary parameters from the selected recipe to design a new brewing recipe. The new brewing recipe may then be saved to the user's collected recipes.

[0081] If the user wants to design the brewing recipe completely freely, the user can select a button 316 on the first screen to generate a new recipe for the cartridge compartment. This allows the user to adjust not only the primary parameters of the brewing process, but also the secondary parameters. Figure 3C A second page 300B showing a more detailed list of parameters that can be adjusted by a user is shown. The second page 300B of the user interface includes the same cartridge bay information 302 as the first page and the same primary parameters (e.g., grind size 304, water temperature 306A and 306B, and coffee to water ratio 308) and their values ​​as on the first page.

[0082] In addition, the second page 300B of the user interface includes other secondary parameters that can be selected or adjusted for multiple pours 330. The number of pours 330 that can be selected for the brewing method can be up to 5 pours, up to 10 pours, or more. For each pour 330 (e.g., "Pour 1"), the secondary parameters can include, for example, a volume 332A, a pour pattern 334B, and agitation 336A. In addition, a user can select the brewing method to include a "steaming" pour 338 (e.g., before the first pour 330), and the secondary parameters include a volume 332B, a pour pattern 334B, agitation 336B, and a steaming duration 340. In other embodiments, different combinations of brewing parameters can be considered secondary parameters for different pours.

[0083] A steaming pour 338 may be added by toggling a switch 342 on the user interface, which allows the user to adjust the steaming pour 338 as needed. A steaming pour 338 allows carbon dioxide to be released from the coffee grounds before a potentially larger pour begins the brewing process. The coffee grounds typically contain a certain amount of CO2 trapped within them, and after contact with water, the CO2 attempts to escape to expand the amount of coffee grounds. The barista will typically give the coffee a time to "steam", which gives the CO2 time to escape so that the CO2 does not prevent the water from contacting the coffee grounds during subsequent pours. The second page 300B of the user interface allows a user to add a steaming pour 338, select the volume 332B, pour style 334B and agitation 336B of the steaming pour 338 and specify a length of time (steaming duration 340) that the coffee grounds are used to "steam" before the next pour 330.

[0084] Secondary parameters for both the steam pour 338 and the subsequent pour 330 can be adjusted by the user. Volume 332A / B can be the volume of water dispensed during the pour in milliliters. A pour pattern 334A / B can be selected from a predetermined group of dynamic patterns in which water can be dispensed into a cartridge compartment held under the water injector. Such dynamic patterns can include a spiral pattern (an expanding spiral or an inwardly moving spiral), a circle, a point (e.g., a "center pour"), a straight line, a wave, or a sawtooth. The dynamic pattern can also indicate that pouring occurs slower (e.g., in a laminar system) or faster (e.g., in a turbulent system). Different pour patterns can produce different flavor profiles of the coffee powder. A user can select or adjust a pour pattern for any number of pours 330, including the steam pour 338. Agitation 336A / B can be an option that includes mechanically agitating the coffee powder and water in the cartridge compartment during the pour. For example, if mechanical agitation is selected (such as shown at 336B for the steam pour 338), the linear positioning table can vibrate the capsule docking station holding the cartridge back and forth at a high frequency during the pour to stir the coffee grounds in the cartridge. If mechanical agitation is not selected (such as shown at 336A for the first pour 330), the linear positioning table maintains the capsule docking station in a static position during the entire pour.

[0085] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C The user interface of may provide three levels of interaction a user may have with setting a brewing method for brewing coffee or another beverage from a cartridge. If a user wishes to select a brewing method only from a favorites list associated with a cartridge, they may use, for example Figure 3B If a user wishes to adjust the primary parameters of a recommended brewing method, they can use (for example) Figure 3AIf the user wishes to adjust all possible parameters including primary and secondary parameters to create a new brewing method, he can use (for example) Figure 3C This is done by referring to the second page 300B in FIG. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C The user interface in provides only one example of the types of parameters that can be selected by a user and a layout for doing so. Other versions of the user interface may enable a user to generate, select or adjust different combinations of parameters of a brewing method performed by the brewing machine.

[0086] Single-Serving Cartridge Overview

[0087] Figure 4 It can be compared with Figure 1 to Figure 2 A detailed cross-sectional view of a cartridge compartment 102 for use with a brewing machine. Figure 4 In the embodiment, the capsule 102 is a single coffee capsule. In other embodiments, the capsule 102 may be a single capsule for other types of beverages that can be brewed using the disclosed brewing machine. The capsule 102 is configured to serve as a retainer, a dripper, and a filter of a brewing agent. For this reason, the single capsule 102 may include a hollow capsule 400 and a filter 402 disposed in the capsule 400. The capsule 400 has an opening 404 at a first end 405 thereof and at least one smaller opening 406 at a second end 407 thereof opposite to the first end 405. As shown in the figure, a plurality of whole coffee beans 408 may be positioned in the capsule 400. The coffee beans 408 may be positioned in the filter 402 so that they can be easily poured out from the capsule 102 through the opening 404 at the top of the capsule 400. The capsule 102 may include a removable cover 410 disposed on the opening 404. The cartridge compartment 102 may also include an identification label 210 positioned on an outer side of the capsule 400. In the illustrated embodiment, the identification label is positioned on a bottom of the capsule 400. However, in other embodiments, the identification label 210 may be placed at another location of the capsule 400. The capsule 400 may include a plurality of structural extraction features 412 (e.g., in the form of protrusions and / or indentations) that help strengthen the capsule 400 and prevent clogging of the cartridge compartment 102 during its use as a filter / dripper.

[0088] The identification tag 210 may store information about the coffee beans 408 stored in the cartridge 102 and / or about a method or recipe for brewing the coffee beans 408 stored in the cartridge 102 (or an address linked to such information). Each cartridge 102 may have a specific SKU linked to information about the coffee beans 408 stored therein and / or the brewing recipe for the coffee beans 408 stored therein. The brewing recipe may be specific to achieving the best extraction of coffee from the coffee beans 408 of a specific SKU. Each cartridge / tag may be used only once, and the brewing machine itself or via a connection to an external network may recognize whether the same cartridge / tag has been used before after reading the identification tag 210.

[0089] Capsule docking station and linear positioning station

[0090] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C An exemplary capsule docking station 108 and linear positioning station 110 that can be used in a brewing machine are depicted. In certain embodiments, the capsule docking station 108 and linear positioning station 110 are designed for the following purposes: 1) to keep the cartridge 102 in place during brewing; 2) to confirm that the cartridge 102 is in the correct position; 3) to move the cartridge 102 between the grinder and the water injector; 4) to agitate the coffee / water mixture in the cartridge 102 during extraction; 5) to measure the weight of the coffee and / or water within the cartridge 102; and / or 6) to act as an input button or opening with tactile feedback.

[0091] The capsule docking station 108 and the linear positioning station 110 form an assembly for bridging the grinder and water injector of the brewing machine. At the beginning of a brewing process, a controller can move the capsule docking station 108 to a first position and the cartridge compartment 102 to a first position / position below the grinder 106 to receive coffee powder. After the controller determines that the capsule docking station 108 is in a suitable position to receive coffee powder from the grinder, the controller can instruct the grinder to start grinding. The coffee powder will fall through a bottom opening of the grinder and enter the capsule held by the capsule docking station 108. The controller will monitor the grinding process and determine whether it is completed. The grinding process can be determined to be complete based on (for example) the amount of coffee powder in the capsule (measured using a weight sensor), duration, vibration, sound, or any other suitable means. After the grinding process is completed, the controller can instruct the linear positioning station 110 to move the capsule docking station 108 to a second position below the water injector 104 to receive water. After the capsule docking station 108 is in the desired position, the controller can start the water injection process. Water from the water injector 104 will pour into the capsule 400 and seep through the coffee grounds to brew the coffee.

[0092] The linear positioning station 110 provides a linear displacement of the capsule docking station 108. The linear positioning station 110 may include a stepper motor 500 that rotates a threaded guide 502 to provide the linear displacement. This provides precise control of the position of the capsule docking station 108. The linear positioning station 100 may also include a mounting seat 504 for mounting the linear positioning station 110 within the housing of the brewing machine. As shown in FIG. 1 , the capsule docking station 108 may extend to an outer side of the housing 118 of the brewing system 100. The linear positioning station 110 may include an integrated sensor (e.g., a position or force sensor) configured to detect the position of the capsule docking station 108 relative to the housing of the brewing machine. The data collected from this sensor can be used to confirm that the cartridge compartment 102 is in the correct position to perform a grinding or brewing operation by the brewing machine.

[0093] In some embodiments, the motor 500 of the linear positioning station 110 can be controlled to "shake" the capsule docking station 108 to thereby stir the contents of the cartridge compartment 102 held by the capsule docking station 108. This vibration can shake the coffee powder and water so that the mixture of coffee and water is more evenly distributed in the cartridge compartment 102 during the brewing process. This can improve the consistency of extraction, as required for brewing a specific type of coffee. In addition, the motor 500 can be controlled to provide stirring at a specific vibration frequency for a specific amount of time and / or only during or after a specific pour during the brewing process. Providing stirring control through the linear positioning station 110 allows the brewer to perform a specially adjusted brewing method.

[0094] The capsule docking station 108 may include a capsule holder 506 configured to receive the cassette compartment 102 therein. As shown in the figure, the capsule holder 506 may include a circular opening formed therein for gripping an outer surface of a truncated cone-shaped cassette compartment 102. In other embodiments, the capsule holder 506 may be in other forms. The capsule docking station 108 may also include a connecting member 508 connecting the capsule holder 506 to the linear positioning station 110. The linear positioning station 110 may be controlled to move the connecting member 508 and the capsule holder 506 relative to the housing of the brewing machine. As shown in the figure, the connecting member 508 may be cantilevered from the linear positioning station 110.

[0095] The capsule docking station 108 may further include an integrated force sensor 510. The integrated force sensor 510 may be a strain gauge attached to a flexible structure 512 of the capsule docking station 108. For example Figure 5B and Figure 5C As shown in , the integrated force sensor 510 can be a strain gauge attached to a flexible structure 512 of the connecting member 508. When a force (e.g., the weight of the cartridge compartment 102 or a user's clicking force) is applied to the capsule holder 506, the flexible structure 512 will deform slightly due to the weight, and the strain gauge (e.g., 510) will measure the degree of deformation and calculate the applied force.

[0096] The integrated force sensor 510 enables precise brewing. Based on the information received from the force sensor 510, a controller of the brewing machine can know the exact amount of coffee grounds deposited into the cartridge compartment 102 and the exact amount of water in the cartridge compartment 102 throughout the extraction process. This information allows the system to achieve unprecedented precision brewing because the amount of water and coffee grounds is accurately measured in real time.

[0097] In addition to monitoring the water-to-coffee ratio, the force sensor 510 can also help the system detect any potential faults during the use of the brewer. For example, the force sensor 510 can help the brewer detect an incorrect amount of coffee deposited (e.g., excess beans output from the grinder, excess powder retention in the cartridge compartment, etc.). After detecting an incorrect amount of coffee deposited, the controller of the brewer can output a notification (e.g., an alarm) to a user to check the amount of coffee deposited. In addition, the force sensor 510 can help the system detect a blockage of the cartridge compartment 102, which can result in a restricted outflow of coffee. After detecting a blocked cartridge compartment 102, the brewer can automatically stop dispensing water to the cartridge compartment 102. In addition, the brewer can output a notification (e.g., an alarm) to a user to check the condition of the cartridge compartment 102.

[0098] The integrated force sensor 510 can enable the capsule docking station to act as a button or switch to thereby allow the user to interact with the brewing machine by detecting a force directly applied by a user pressing on a front portion 514 of the capsule holder 506. In one example, the linear positioning stage 100 driven by the stepper motor 500 can provide tactile feedback when the system displays a "click" action from the user pressing the capsule holder 506. One application of this user-activated switch is to activate the brewing process after the cartridge 102 is properly installed in the capsule docking station 108.

[0099] Grinding machine system

[0100] Now transfer to Figures 6 to 7B , a method and assembly for grinding coffee beans or other material for input to a brewing machine will now be described.

[0101] When brewing a cup of coffee, grinding the coffee beans is an important step, as the grind size alone can significantly change the taste of the resulting cup of coffee. In addition, grinding the coffee beans immediately before brewing ensures maximum freshness and flavor of the coffee. After grinding, coffee can begin to lose its flavor in as little as 15 minutes.

[0102] When choosing the grind size of the coffee beans, three factors make the biggest difference in the selected brewing process: contact time, extraction rate, and the flow rate of water through the coffee. Grinding the coffee finer increases the surface area of ​​the coffee powder, increases the extraction rate, and decreases the flow rate of the water (thereby increasing the contact time). The higher the extraction rate, the less contact time is needed. Knowing this, if you have a brewing method with a short contact time, the grind size should be finer. If the contact time is too high or the grind is too fine, the result will be an over-extracted brew that may be bitter. However, if the grind is too coarse or the contact time is too short, the coffee will be weak.

[0103] The disclosed brewing machine can identify the type of coffee beans, how to roast the beans, and the recommended brewing method based on information obtained based on the identification tag on the cartridge compartment. Using this information, the grinder can adjust the grind size and grind the coffee beans just before brewing to ensure maximum freshness and flavor.

[0104] Figure 6 A method 600 for grinding whole coffee beans (or other materials) using a brewing machine is shown, and Fig. 7A and Figure 7B A grinder 106 is depicted performing one or more steps of method 600. In step 602, method 600 may include reading an identification tag of a cartridge from which coffee beans are supplied to grinder 106. An electronic reader of the brewing machine may read the identification tag. In step 604, method 600 may include receiving a corresponding grind size from a database via a controller of the brewing machine, as described above with reference to Figure 2 described.

[0105] The grinder 106 can automatically adjust the grind size (e.g., coarseness level) of the coffee beans based on a recipe detected from an identification tag on the cartridge compartment and / or based on user preferences (which can be learned by the brewer over time). The grinder 106 can automatically recalibrate and set to zero before and after each brewing operation or a particular operating cycle to ensure grind size accuracy. In certain embodiments, the system can recalibrate the burrs after a certain number of grinds (e.g., 1, 5, 10, or 50 grind operations) or the user can initiate recalibration as needed. Fig. 7A 7D, the grinder 106 may include a main motor 700, a main gearbox 702, a main shaft 704, a grinding disc assembly 706 having an inner grinding disc 716 and an outer grinding disc 718 positioned in a housing 720, a stepper motor 708 for grinding size adjustment, and a magnetic tunnel 722 located below the outer grinding disc and collecting any discrete particles that escape during the grinding process. As shown in the figure, the stepper motor 708 may be disposed in the main gearbox 702.

[0106] The stepper motor 708 drives a mechanism that converts a rotational movement of a secondary shaft 710 into a linear movement 714 of the main shaft 704 along its axis through a plurality of gears 712. In certain embodiments, the top end of the main shaft 704 may be coupled to threads to move the main shaft 704 up or down when rotated by the gears 712. The other end of the main shaft 704 may be coupled to an inner grinding disc 716, so that the linear movement 714 of the main shaft will in turn adjust the vertical position of the inner grinding disc 716 relative to the outer grinding disc 718.

[0107] 7C and 7D illustrate an embodiment of a grinding disc assembly including an inner grinding disc 716 and an outer grinding disc 718. The inner grinding disc 716 may generally have a truncated cone shape (or a frustum of a cone) with an axis of rotation aligned with the axis of rotation of the spindle member 704. The inner grinding disc 716 may have a top surface 716A, a bottom surface 716B, and an inclined side surface 716C. The side surface 716C of the inner grinding disc 716 may be abrasive or serrated. The inner grinding disc 716 may move upward and downward with the spindle member 704, while the outer grinding disc 718 is stationary and fixed with the main structure of the grinding disc assembly 706. The outer grinding disc 718 may surround the inner grinding disc 716 and may have a grinding or serrated surface 718A. During a grinding operation, the main motor 700 of the grinder will rotate the main shaft 704 to thereby rotate the inner burr disc 716 relative to the outer burr disc 718. The coffee beans will fall into the space 716D formed between the grinding / serrated surface 716A of the inner burr disc 716 and the grinding / serrated surface 718A of the outer burr disc 718. The rotation of the inner burr disc 716 relative to the outer burr disc 718 grinds the coffee beans into coffee powder.

[0108] When a finer grind size is selected, the inner grinding disc 716 moves upward to reduce the spacing or gap 716D between the inner grinding disc 716 and the outer grinding disc 718. When a coarser grind size is selected, the inner grinding disc moves downward to increase the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc. Figure 7D shows the inner grinding disc in a "zero position". In this position, the spacing 716D between the inner grinding disc 716 and the outer grinding disc 718 is at its minimum value (i.e., the finest coffee powder size). In a particular embodiment, the inner grinding disc 716 can be extended downward from the zero position to increase the spacing / gap 716D between the inner grinding disc 716 and the outer grinding disc 718. Doing so will produce a relatively coarse coffee powder size.

[0109] To stabilize the rotation of the grinding disc and prevent or reduce the shaking that would cause uneven grinding, the main shaft connecting the main gear box and the grinding disc assembly is a dual bearing shaft system that aligns the rotational movement of the main shaft and the inner grinding disc coaxially to produce accurate and stable grinding. The grinding disc can have various surface treatments. For example, the grinding disc assembly can be nitrided, which produces a thin, hard layer of nitride compounds on the surface of the grinding disc to improve its mechanical properties, such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and fatigue strength of the grinding disc assembly. In addition to adding a layer of coating such as nitride compounds, the surface of the grinding disc can be polished for sharpness and durability.

[0110] Back to Figure 6 In step 606, after obtaining the desired grinding size from a database and / or user settings, the method 600 includes the stepper motor 708 axially moving the spindle member 704 so that a gap 716D between the inner grinding disc 716 and the outer grinding disc 718 of the grinding disc assembly 706 is closed. In this way, the grinder 106 can be self-calibrated to a "zero" position setting to ensure accuracy and consistency of the grinding size. The spindle member 704 and the inner grinding disc 716 can be moved upward until a gap between the inner grinding disc 716 and the outer grinding disc 718 is closed (zero) and this position is set as the "zero" position. In other embodiments, instead of performing this step of returning to a zero position at the beginning of the current grinding operation, the step can be performed after the previous grinding operation.

[0111] In step 608, the method 600 then includes the stepper motor 708 lowering the main shaft 704 and the inner burr 716 attached thereto to a predetermined position according to the desired recipe to set the gap 716D for the desired grind size from step 604. The method 600 then proceeds to grinding the coffee beans in the burr assembly 706 of the grinder 106. This involves the main motor 700 rotating the main shaft 704 and the attached inner burr 716 to grind the coffee beans between the inner burr 716 and the outer burr 718 in the burr assembly 706. In step 610, a blocking torque from the stepper motor 708 and the gear assembly in the main gearbox 702 withstands the perturbations during grinding. The system can continuously measure an output torque of the main motor 700 (e.g., via a sensor) to detect whether the gap between the outer burr and the inner burr is in the correct position.

[0112] Solid state pouring system

[0113] Now transfer to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , a solid state pouring system for use in the injector portion of a brewing machine will be described.

[0114] One of the best ways to prepare black coffee is pour-over because it highlights complex flavors compared to other brewing methods. This makes it a popular choice for single-origin coffees because it allows the flavor and aroma to stand out. For pour-over, the choreography of the pouring action (or "pour style") directly affects the final result of a cup of coffee. Thus, the disclosed brewer provides full control over how each pour is performed. The brewer can reproduce the precision, delicacy, and nuances of each pour style. To achieve these results, the brewer can include a solid pouring assembly that can control the process of free stream water being dispensed without using any moving parts.

[0115] Water (H2O) is a polar covalent molecule, which means that the molecule is attracted to the vicinity of a net charge, regardless of the sign of the charge. The attraction can sometimes be strong enough to pull a stream of water toward the charge carrier. Therefore, the direction of the stream can be changed by controlling the charge distribution in the immediate vicinity of the water.

[0116] Figure 8 An exemplary solid-state gating system 800 that can be used to control a water stream 802 output from a brewer is shown. The solid-state gating system 800 includes a water injector nozzle 804 configured to dispense the water stream 802, one or more electrodes 226 disposed adjacent to the water stream dispensed by the nozzle 804, and at least one voltage source 806 electrically coupled to the one or more electrodes 226 through a circuit (e.g., on a printed circuit board (PCB) 808). The nozzle 804 can be configured or otherwise configured to output the water stream 802 in a laminar flow regime, which allows for more precise control of the water stream 802. To apply a desired amount of force to the water stream 802, the electrodes 226 are placed proximate to the water stream according to a gating pattern to generate and control a charge distribution to bend the water stream 802. The electrodes 226 can each include an electrical conductor enclosed in an electrically isolating material. The electrodes 226 can also include a hydrophobic coating of electrically isolating material surrounding the electrically isolating material that isolates the conductive material from the environment and prevents droplets from adhering to the surface of the electrode 226.

[0117] The voltage source 806 may include a high voltage generator or a charge generator. The voltage source 806 may be used to control the charge density on each electrode 226. The force applied by the electrode 226 to the water stream 802 may increase (or decrease) as the charge density increases (or decreases). Each electrode 226 may be separately controlled by an analog input signal or a pulse width modulated (PW286196BAKB-4M) digital signal. The activation pattern of the electrodes (e.g., duration, frequency, sequence, amplitude, etc.) may be set to achieve the action schedule of any desired pouring pattern. The solid state pouring system 800 may include a housing 810 that isolates the high voltage circuitry from the rest of the system and provides structural support to the system.

[0118] Because the disclosed solid-state pouring system 800 uses the charge on the electrode 226 to bend the water stream 802, the system is able to mechanically manipulate the water stream 802 without using any moving parts of the brewing machine. The solid-state pouring system 800 can enable the brewing machine to output each pour from the injector according to a desired pouring pattern. The injector of the brewing machine can control the pouring pattern and other parameters (e.g., water volume, number of pours, water temperature, etc.) so that the water and coffee are well mixed.

[0119] Fig. 9 An exemplary 2-dimensional configuration of electrodes 226 around a nozzle 804 and / or a stream of water dispensed from the nozzle 804 as viewed in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle 804 is shown. The solid-state pouring system may include four electrodes 226 configured around the water stream. The electrodes 226 may each be equally spaced from the water stream, with two electrodes (226A and 226C) on opposite sides of the nozzle 804 in a direction parallel to an X-axis, and the other two electrodes (226B and 226D) on opposite sides of the nozzle 804 in a direction parallel to a Y-axis. Such a placement of the electrodes 226 relative to the nozzle 804 allows the brewer to control the water stream by controlling a force vector in orthogonal directions. That is, the system may control the charge applied to each of the four electrodes 226 via vector control (e.g., in the X-axis and Y-axis directions) to control the direction in which the water stream is bent during each pour. This configuration of the electrodes 226 enables the solid state gating system to control the 360° radial orientation of the water stream about the axis of the nozzle 804. The solid state gating system can also control the amplitude of the water stream away from a center (e.g., the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 804). The solid state gating system can provide timing control of the electrodes 226 to control the shape of a cast with respect to time. The solid state gating system can provide output of each cast at any desired rate and any desired casting pattern, such as, for example, a spiral casting pattern (e.g., growing from the center toward the outside or vice versa).

[0120] Solid State Gating System Embodiment

[0121] Additional details regarding the solid state pouring system of the brewing machine will now be provided. Figure 8 and Fig. 9In addition, a brewing machine (e.g., 100 of FIG. 1 ) may include a water injector (e.g., 104 of FIG. 1 ) having a nozzle 804 configured to dispense a water stream 802 downwardly. As described above with reference to FIG. 1 , the brewing machine (e.g., 100) may also include a holder (e.g., capsule docking station 108) configured to hold a container of coffee powder or tea (e.g., cartridge compartment 102) below the nozzle 804 to receive the water stream 802. The brewing machine may include a first electrode 226A disposed adjacent to the water stream 802 dispensed by the nozzle 804 and a voltage source 806 electrically coupled to the first electrode 226A via a circuit (e.g., on a PCB 808). In addition, the controller 204 of the brewing machine may be communicatively coupled to the circuit and configured to control an amount of voltage applied from the voltage source 806 to the first electrode 226A. Varying the magnitude of the voltage applied to the first electrode 226A generates an electric field that changes the distance of the water flow 802 from the first electrode 226A.

[0122] Similarly, the brewer may include a second electrode 226B disposed adjacent to the water stream 802 dispensed by the nozzle 804 and electrically coupled to the voltage source 806 via a second circuit (e.g., on the PCB 808). The controller 204 may be communicatively coupled to the second circuit and configured to control the magnitude of the voltage applied from the voltage source 806 to the second electrode 226B.

[0123] like Fig. 9 As shown in , the brewer may further include a third electrode 226C and a fourth electrode 226D. The third electrode 226C may be disposed adjacent to the water flow dispensed by the nozzle 804 and electrically coupled to the voltage source 806 through a third circuit (e.g., on the PCB 808). Additionally, the fourth electrode 226D may be disposed adjacent to the water flow dispensed by the nozzle 804 and electrically coupled to the voltage source 806 through a fourth circuit (e.g., on the PCB 808). The controller 204 may be communicatively coupled to the third and fourth circuits and configured to control a magnitude of a voltage applied from the voltage source 806 to the third electrode 226C and a magnitude of a voltage applied from the voltage source 806 to the fourth electrode 226D. Fig. 9 As shown in , the four electrodes 226A- 226D can be positioned circumferentially equidistant from each other around an axis of the nozzle 804.

[0124] although Figure 8 Two electrodes 226 are shown and Fig. 9 Four electrodes 226A-226D are shown, but it should be noted that the solid-state gating system 800 may include any other desired number of electrodes 226, such as 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more. Fig. 9Four electrodes 226A-226D are shown configured in a two-dimensional array surrounding a water stream output by nozzle 804, but it should be noted that in other embodiments, multiple electrodes 226 may be configured in three dimensions relative to each other and the water stream to provide desired pouring control.

[0125] The electrodes 226 in the solid state gating system 800 may be connected to a voltage source 806 through one or more circuits, which may include a transformer 812. The circuits are capable of supplying a voltage of about 5,000 volts or more to the electrodes 226. The circuits may be controlled to provide a high voltage signal to the electrodes 226 at very low current (microamperes) to charge the electrodes 226. After an electrode 226 is fully charged, the charge density in the electrode 226 is 100% and this attracts water via the charge of the electrode 226. However, the charge may be adjusted to anywhere from 0 to 100% to vary the charge density to thereby adjust how far the water moves toward the electrode 226. The controller 204 may control the circuits connecting the voltage source 806 and the electrodes 226 over time to adjust the charge on one or more electrodes 226 surrounding the water stream 802 to thereby vary the position of the water stream 802 according to a desired gating pattern. For example, the controller 204 may adjust the magnitude of the voltage applied to an electrode 226 according to a sinusoidal curve, a Gaussian curve, a linear function, etc. The controller 204 may contain instructions in memory for adjusting the charge on one or more electrodes 226 according to a group of pre-set waveforms (e.g., associated with common pouring patterns).

[0126] like Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , a first pair of electrodes 226A and 226C can be used to control the magnitude of a force vector in the X direction. A second pair of electrodes 226B and 226D can be used to control the magnitude of a force vector in the Y direction. Any flow pattern of water flow can be generated by controlling the direction and magnitude of the force vector at any given time. For example, the electrodes can be charged according to a sine curve, a Gaussian curve, etc. to produce a spiral motion or a circular motion, etc. The same principle can also be applied to three-dimensional applications.

[0127] Figure 10 depicts the use of Figure 8 FIG. 1 is an exemplary water injector 104 of a solid state pouring system of FIG. As shown, the water injector 104 includes a water tank 1000, a heater 222, a pump 224, and a pouring nozzle assembly 1002 containing components of the solid state pouring system (e.g., nozzles and electrodes) in which water is output from the water injector 104. These and other components of the solid state pouring system may be enclosed in a housing (not shown) that may include a plastic enclosure, a metal Faraday cage with an insulating coating, and / or a thick insulating coating or mold covering the entire module.

[0128] The water tank 1000 may include one or more reservoirs having one or more inlets and outlets. In the illustrated embodiment, the water tank 1000 includes a main water tank 1004, an intermediate water tank 1006, and a top cover 1008. The top cover 1008 can be removed to refill the main water tank 1004, which acts as a reservoir for water for a brewing operation. The intermediate water tank 1006 can hold heated water, which is dispensed to the pouring nozzle assembly 1002 through a water outlet 1010 during a brewing operation.

[0129] The pump 224 and the heater 222 can be fluidly connected between the main water tank 1004 and the intermediate water tank 1006 to simultaneously pump and heat the water supplied to the intermediate water tank 1006. The pump 224 can be controlled to adjust the flow rate of water dispensed from the brewer in a specific pour and control the volume of the specific pour. The pump 224 can be part of a flow module including a flow meter 1012 and a one-way valve 1014. A water inlet 106 provides pumped water to the heater 222. The heater 222 can be an "instant heater" in the form of a heat pipe, which quietly heats the water to an accurate temperature when the water is pumped through the heater 222 and enters the intermediate water tank 1006. The water flows from the intermediate water tank 1006 through the water outlet 1010 to the nozzle outlet 1001, which then outputs the heated water from the water injector 104 according to a pouring pattern. Other components and configurations thereof can be used in water injectors 104 other than those described herein.

[0130] FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C An example of a water tank 1100 that can act as an intermediate water tank (e.g., 1006 of FIG. 10 ) is depicted. The water tank 1100 can be specifically designed to output a laminar flow of water from its nozzle 1102. Turbulent heated water can be input to the water tank 1100 from a heater (e.g., 222 of FIG. 10 ) via a hot water inlet 1104, and the inclined inner wall 1106 of the water tank 1100 can work with the protrusion 1108 surrounding the nozzle 1102 to change the flow regime of the heated water from turbulent flow to laminar flow while maintaining a desired flow rate of water from the nozzle 1102.

[0131] Fig.12 A and Fig.12 B depicts an example of the pouring nozzle assembly 1002 of FIG. 10 . The pouring nozzle assembly 1002 may include a mounting base 1200, a support shaft 1202, the nozzle 804, and a plurality of electrodes 226. The mounting base 1200 may mount the pouring nozzle assembly 1002 to the brewing machine so that the nozzle 804 extends downward from the water injector of the brewing machine. The support shaft 1202 may be attached to a water outlet of the water injector (e.g., 1010 of FIG. 10 ). The support shaft 1202 is aligned with a longitudinal axis 1204 of the nozzle 804 and may direct water from the water outlet through the nozzle 804 along this axial direction.

[0132] exist Fig.12 In A, two electrodes 226 are shown, one on each side of the nozzle 804. It should be noted that similar to Fig. 9 , the pouring nozzle assembly 1002 may also include two additional electrodes 226 surrounding the nozzle 804. Each electrode 226 may extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 1204 of the nozzle 804 and be positioned equidistantly from the longitudinal axis 1204. The electrodes 226 may be precisely positioned in the XY plane relative to the longitudinal axis 1204 of the nozzle and precisely positioned vertically in a Z direction relative to the end of the nozzle 804 to apply a desired force for changing the water flow output from the nozzle 804. For example, as shown in the figure, the electrodes 226 may extend downwardly below a lower end of the nozzle 804. In one example, for example Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 8 , the electrode 226 can be separated and spaced apart from the nozzle 804. In another example, for example Fig.12 A and Fig.12 As shown in B, the electrode 226 may be integrated onto an outer edge of the nozzle 804. Proximity of the electrode 226 to the nozzle 804 in this manner may increase the efficiency of the solid state gating system.

[0133] At an upper portion of each electrode 226, a conductive pad 1206 may be positioned to electrically contact a component of a circuit for controlling the charge on the electrode 226. As shown in the figure, the conductive pad 1206 may be positioned on a side of the mounting base 1200 opposite the location where the nozzle 804 outputs water to thereby prevent water from contacting the conductive pad 1206.

[0134] Fig.13 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary electrode 226 is shown as viewed from a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. Fig.13 As shown in FIG. 1 , the “uppermost” layer (PSA 1300) may form the side of electrode 226 that is positioned furthest from a stream of water outputted by a nozzle when the water injector is assembled, and the “lowermost” layer (hydrophobic coating 1302) may form the side of electrode 226 that is positioned closest to the stream of water outputted by a nozzle when the water injector is assembled. The cross-section shows the various layers that may be present within electrode 226, but other embodiments of electrode 226 may have different Fig.13 Other numbers, material types, and / or layer configurations shown in . This is merely an illustrative embodiment, and variations of the electrode 226 are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0135] The electrode 226 may include a structure on one side thereof for attaching the electrode 226 to a brewing machine (e.g., Fig.12The electrode 226 generally includes an electrical conductor 1304 to which a high voltage, low current signal is supplied to charge the electrode 226. The electrical conductor 1304 may include any metallic material (e.g., copper, indium tin oxide, etc.), a conductive ink or coating applied to another layer of the electrode 226, or a conductive film sandwiched between two other layers of the electrode 226. The electrode 226 may also include a passivation layer 1306 disposed around at least one side of the conductor 1304 to remove surface contaminants and provide corrosion resistance.

[0136] The conductor 1304 may be enclosed in at least one electrically isolating material. For example, the conductor 1304 may be sandwiched on both sides by an electrically isolating layer 1308, 1310. Such electrically isolating layers 1308, 1310 may isolate the conductor 1304 from the environment (for example) to prevent arcing. The conductor 1304 / passivation layer 1306 may be coupled to one or both electrically isolating layers 1308, 1310 by one or more adhesive layers 1312. The electrically isolating layers 1308, 1310 may be composed of glass, a thermoplastic or other polymer material, or any other material capable of providing electrical insulation. In the illustrated embodiment, one electrically isolating layer 1308 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), while the other electrically isolating layer 1310 is made of glass. Glass may provide improved structural stability compared to PET and other similar polymers, but glass may be more expensive. In other embodiments, both electrically isolating layers 1308 and 1310 may be constructed of the same material (glass, PET, etc.).

[0137] The electrode 226 may include a hydrophobic coating 1302 provided on at least one side of the electrode 226 that faces the water stream output from the nozzle. Fig.13 13. In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the hydrophobic coating 1302 surrounds the electrically isolating layer 1310 closest to the water flow. The hydrophobic coating 1302 prevents water from entering the electrode 226 from the water flow so that the water does not create microchannels and / or short-circuit the device. The hydrophobic coating 1302 may include, for example, a fluorinated polymer coating or a coating containing nanomaterials or nanostructures. Although shown as being positioned on only one side of the electrode 226, in other embodiments, the hydrophobic coating 1302 may also extend around additional sides of the electrode 226, up to 360° around the entire electrode structure.

[0138] FIG. 14A depicts an electronic assembly 1400 that can be used to control the charge applied to multiple electrodes 226 of a solid state gating system. The assembly 1400 can include, for example, a power source (e.g., AC voltage inlet) 1402, a current limiter 1404, and multiple switches 1406, each corresponding to one of the multiple electrodes 226 present in the solid state gating system. It should be noted that the assembly 1400 can be used in a solid state gating system having any desired number of electrodes 226. The assembly 1400 also includes multiple circuits 1408 (e.g., high voltage generating circuits), each corresponding to one of the electrodes 226. The circuits 1408 can each include a circuit configured to amplify the charge from a voltage source (e.g., Figure 8 806) transmits an electrical signal to a high voltage converter (e.g., Figure 8 812). The high voltage converter may be a piezoelectric converter or an electromagnetic converter.

[0139] 14B and 14C show two examples of circuits 1408 that can be used between an input AC voltage and a DC high voltage output to an electrode 226. In FIG14B, the circuit 1408 includes an electromagnetic transformer 1410 and a voltage amplifier 1412. In FIG14C, the circuit 1408 includes a piezoelectric transformer 1414.

[0140] Returning to FIG. 14A , a controller of the brewing machine may output control signals to switch 1406 to control which electrode 226 is charged at different points in time. Additionally, the controller may output control signals to circuit 1408 to control the amplitude of the charge of the charged electrode 226 over time. The controller may output control signals for opening or closing switch 1407 and controlling circuit 1408 according to a preset vector control scheme corresponding to a pouring pattern stored in memory.

[0141] FIG. 15 depicts a method 1500 for controlling a stream of water output from a brewing machine. In step 1502, the method 1500 includes dispensing a stream of water from a nozzle of the brewing machine into a container of coffee powder or tea. The stream of water may be a laminar stream of water output from the nozzle of the brewing machine. In step 1504, the method 1500 includes charging one or more electrodes surrounding the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle using one or more circuits coupled between the one or more electrodes and a voltage source. This may involve, for example, amplifying a voltage output from the voltage source by a transformer positioned in one of the circuits. In step 1506, the method 1500 includes controlling, by a controller, a magnitude of a voltage output to each of the one or more electrodes based on instructions received at the controller regarding a pouring pattern of the stream of water. In step 1508, the method includes using one or more charged electrodes to generate an electric field to bend the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle according to the pouring pattern. In one embodiment, method 1500 may include dispensing a stream of water from a nozzle of a brewing machine into a container dedicated to coffee grounds and generating an electric field to bend the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle according to a pour-over coffee pour pattern.

[0142] FIG. 16 depicts a method 1600 for controlling pouring water from a brewing machine. One or more steps of the method 1600 may be computer-implemented steps. A computer may include one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer to perform one or more steps of the method 1600. In step 1602, the method 1600 includes receiving or accessing a pouring pattern indicating a dynamic pattern in which a stream of water is to be dispensed in different directions relative to a stationary nozzle. In step 1604, the method 1600 includes determining that a container of ground coffee or tea is placed under the stationary nozzle and is ready to receive the stream of water. In step 1606, the method 1600 includes dispensing the stream of water from the stationary nozzle in response to determining that the container is ready. In step 1608, the method 1600 includes outputting control signals to one or more circuits (e.g., four circuits) to adjust a magnitude of a voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes (e.g., four electrodes) that surround the stream of water when dispensing the stream of water. The output control signal is generated based on the pouring pattern, which can be an expanding spiral, an inwardly moving spiral, a circle, a dot, a line, a waveform, or a sawtooth. In the method 1600, at least one of the control signals output to a circuit can adjust the magnitude of the voltage applied to the corresponding electrode according to a sine curve, a Gaussian curve, or a linear function.

[0143] The disclosed solid-state pouring system provides a highly integrated system for controlling a water flow according to a pouring pattern without using any moving parts, motors or actuators. This provides a quiet, compact, durable and highly accurate method for delivering hot water in a specially tuned pattern to brew high-quality beverages.

[0144] Single-serving cartridge embodiment

[0145] Additional details regarding single-serve cartridges compatible with the disclosed brewing machine will now be provided. Figure 4 , the single-serving cartridge 102 shown includes a plurality of whole coffee beans 408 positioned within a capsule 400. The plurality of whole coffee beans 408 may include a number of whole coffee beans sufficient to brew a single cup of coffee. The capsule 400 is configured to hold the whole coffee beans 408 therein and later receive coffee powder made from the whole coffee beans 408.

[0146] 17A to 17D are Figure 4 FIG. 18A depicts another exemplary single-serve cartridge 102, and FIG. 18B and FIG. 18C depict a corresponding capsule 400 of the cartridge 102. FIG. 19 shows another exemplary single-serve cartridge 102, and FIG. 20 shows yet another exemplary single-serve cartridge 102. Similar elements of FIG. 17A to FIG. 17D are replaced by similar Figure 4 Component symbol marking.

[0147] Generally speaking, the hollow capsule 400 that holds the brewing agent is truncated cone-shaped. The capsule 400 may include extraction features for more efficient extraction of flavor during the brewing process. For example, the capsule 400 may feature a combination of specially designed ridges, grooves, notches, protrusions, and drip holes to optimize extraction efficiency and results. This design can reduce blockage caused by coffee powder and the filter 402 that would otherwise cause over-extraction and bitterness of the coffee.

[0148] As an example, in Figures 17A to 17D, the capsules 400 each include a pattern of notches and / or protrusions 1000 formed along a side wall of the capsule 400. The notches and / or protrusions 1000 along the side wall of the capsule 400 can introduce airflow between the edge of the capsule 400 and the filter 402 to facilitate coffee extraction. The notches and / or protrusions 1000 along the side wall of the capsule 400 can also increase the structural stability of the single-serving cassette compartment 102 so that the cassette compartment 102 does not deform during transportation. The notches and / or protrusions 1000 can be different sizes or shapes in different embodiments, as shown in Figures 17A to 17D. The notches and / or protrusions 1000 can extend along the side wall of the capsule 400 in a vertical direction and can only extend from the bottom end 407 of the capsule 400 toward the upper end 405 of the capsule 400.

[0149] As another example, in FIGS. 18B and 18C , the capsule 400 includes a pattern of notches and / or protrusions 1100 formed on the second end 407 of the capsule 400. These notches and / or protrusions 1100 can increase some distance between the bottom of the filter (not shown) and the bottom of the capsule 400 to provide increased water flow and thus better extraction. Additionally, the notches and / or protrusions 1100 can increase the structural stability of the single-serving cartridge compartment 102 so that the cartridge compartment 102 does not deform during transportation. The opening 406 in the bottom of the capsule 400 can be configured in a particular pattern around the notches and / or protrusions 1100 to facilitate extraction and smooth dripping.

[0150] like Figure 4 , 17A, 17D, and 18A, the single-serving cartridge 102 may include an identification tag 210 disposed on the capsule 400. The identification tag 210 is configured to be scanned by a reader (e.g., of a brewing machine). The identification tag 210 is configured to provide or switch access information after the identification tag is scanned by the reader. This information may correspond to whole coffee beans held in the capsule 400, a recipe for brewing coffee from whole coffee beans in the capsule 400, or both. In this manner, the identification tag 210 may represent or contain information stored thereon about whole coffee beans and / or a method of brewing coffee from beans. The information corresponding to the coffee beans may include, for example, a bean name, a bean type, a bean growing region, a grower, a roaster, a processing method, a roasting date, a packaging plant, a packaging date, or a best before date. The information corresponding to a recipe for brewing coffee from beans may include, for example, a grind size, a water temperature, a water volume, a pouring pattern, a number of pours, or a stirring instruction. The identification tag 210 may include a radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag). As discussed in detail above, the identification tag 210 may have a SKU stored therein that can be used by the brewer to access additional information corresponding to the coffee beans and / or brewing recipe from an external network.

[0151] like Figure 4 17A and 17D, the identification tag 210 can be disposed on the second end 407 of the capsule 400. As shown in FIG. 17A, the drip port 406 in the second end 407 of the capsule 40 can be specially configured and / or arranged around a perimeter of the identification tag 210. In another example, as shown in FIG. 18A, the identification tag can be disposed along a side wall of the capsule 400.

[0152] like Figure 4, 17C, 17D, 18A, 19 and 20, the capsule 400 may be sealed at the upper end 405 by a removable cover 410. This removable cover 410 may be sealed to a flange 430 surrounding the opening 404 at the upper end 405 by applying heat so that no adhesive material remains on the capsule 400 after the cover 410 is removed. In other embodiments, the cover 410 may be applied via an adhesive or may include a removable cover. The removable cover 410 may serve as a marker for the single-serving cartridge compartment 102, as shown in FIGS. 17C and 17D.

[0153] In some embodiments, the bottom end 407 of the capsule 400 may also be sealed. For example, as shown in FIG. 18A , the single-serving cartridge 102 may include a second removable cover 1102 disposed over at least one smaller opening in the second end 407 of the capsule 400. The second removable cover 1102 may help to completely seal the capsule 400 by covering the hole on the bottom end of the capsule 400. This completely seals the beans within the capsule 400 from air to maintain their freshness. This second removable cover 1102 will need to be removed along with the upper removable cover 410 before the cartridge 102 can be used as a dripper.

[0154] In other embodiments, the bottom end 407 of the capsule 400 may not be sealed and there may be no cover over the drip hole. To seal the fresh coffee beans inside, the single-serve capsule 102 may be packaged with multiple other single-serve capsules in a sealed bag for storage and transportation to a user. This configuration means that a user will only have to remove a single cover 410 when brewing coffee.

[0155] Figure 4 Each capsule 102 of FIGS. 17A to 17D includes a filter 402 (e.g., a coffee filter). For example, the capsule 400 and / or the filter 402 can be made of 100% eco-friendly materials that are renewable, biodegradable, and / or compostable. As an example, the capsule 400 and / or the filter 402 can be made of a 100% biodegradable material (such as sugar cane fiber or another plant-based fiber). Thus, the single-serving capsule 102 can have a much smaller environmental impact than plastic or metal coffee capsules.

[0156] like Figure 4 As shown in , a plurality of whole coffee beans 408 may be positioned within the coffee filter 402. Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 18A , the filter 402 is also configured to retain whole coffee beans therein.

[0157] In the embodiment of FIG. 19 , the single-serving pod 102 includes a removable container 1200 disposed within the capsule 400 and covered by a removable cover 410. Rather than being loose in the filter 402 below, a plurality of whole coffee beans of the pod 102 can be positioned in this removable container 1200. The removable container 1200 is charged with a separate compartment for storing and sealing the beans from moisture and oxygen. This can enable the pod 102 to completely seal the coffee beans from air without the need for an additional removable cover at the bottom end of the capsule 400. The removable container 1200 can include a septum 1202 configured to enable a user to easily grab the removable container 1200 with their fingers to lift the removable container 1200 from the capsule 400 and pour the beans into the brewing machine.

[0158] Many modifications, substitutions, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. It is intended that the present invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A coffee brewing system, comprising: a grinder configured to grind whole coffee beans into coffee powder having an adjustable coarseness, wherein the grinder is configured to receive the whole coffee beans through a first opening above the grinder and to dispense the coffee powder through a second opening below the grinder; a brewing machine configured to dispense water through a third opening below the brewing machine to brew coffee, wherein the brewing machine is positioned laterally relative to the grinder; a capsule docking station configured to (a) hold a capsule containing a coffee filter and (b) shift the capsule from a first position below the second opening of the grinder to a second position below the third opening below the brewer; and A controller is configured to control the grinder, the brewer and the capsule docking station.

2. The coffee brewing system according to claim 1, wherein the capsule docking station comprises a touch sensor, and the controller is configured to start a brewing process when the touch sensor of the capsule docking station senses a touch event.

3. The coffee brewing system of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic reader configured to read an identification tag on the capsule, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust one or more settings of at least one of the grinder or the brewer based on information associated with the identification tag.

4. The coffee brewing system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more settings adjusts a coarseness of coffee ground by the grinder.

5. The coffee brewing system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more settings adjusts a temperature, a volume, or a pour pattern of water dispensed by the brewer.

6. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to shift the capsule docking station from the first position to the second position based on an indication of a completion of a grinding operation.

7. The coffee brewing system of claim 6, wherein the indication of the completion of the grinding operation is based on a weight measured by a weight sensor of the capsule docking station.

8. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the brewing machine to initiate a brewing process based on an indication that the capsule docking station is in the second position under the brewing machine.

9. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive instructions from a user interface configured to allow a user to specify a grind size, a water temperature, a water volume, or a coffee to water ratio.

10. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive instructions from a user interface configured to present one or more brewing recipes for user selection, wherein each brewing recipe specifies a predetermined brewing configuration of the coffee brewing system.

11. The coffee brewing system of claim 10, wherein the user interface is presented by an application on a user device separate from the coffee brewing system.

12. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive instructions from a user interface configured to allow a user to specify brewing details associated with a plurality of pours to be used during a brewing procedure.

13. The coffee brewing system of claim 12, wherein the brewing details associated with each of the plurality of pours include a water temperature, a water volume, or a pour pattern.

14. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the grinder comprises: A grinding disc assembly, comprising an inner grinding disc and an outer grinding disc, wherein the inner grinding disc is connected to a main shaft member and rotates along an axis of the main shaft member, and the outer grinding disc is positioned and enclosed around the inner grinding disc; and A motor is configured to control a spacing between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc.

15. The coffee brewing system according to claim 14, wherein the distance between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc affects a coarseness of the coffee powder.

16. The coffee brewing system according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to move the inner grinding disc upward to reduce the spacing between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc to reduce the coarseness of the coffee powder.

17. The coffee brewing system according to claim 1, wherein the capsule docking station comprises: a capsule holder configured to receive a capsule; a linear positioning stage configured to horizontally displace the capsule holder; and A connecting component connects the capsule holder and the linear positioning platform.

18. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the capsule docking station is configured to rock during a brewing process.

19. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the capsule docking station comprises an integrated position sensor configured to detect whether the capsule is in a correct position for receiving coffee grounds from the grinder or water from the brewer.

20. The coffee brewing system of claim 1, wherein the brewer includes electrodes configured to generate an electric field to bend water dispensed by the brewer.

21. A grinder for grinding whole coffee beans into coffee powder with automatically adjustable coarseness, comprising: A grinding disc assembly for grinding whole coffee beans, comprising: an inner grinding disc having an inclined and abrasive or serrated side surface; and an outer grinding disc surrounding the inner grinding disc, wherein the side surface of the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc define a gap; a main motor configured to provide a first rotational movement to the inner grinding disc; a main shaft member having one end attached to the inner grinding disc, wherein the main shaft member is configured to transmit the first rotational movement provided by the main motor to the inner grinding disc; a second motor configured to adjust a vertical position of the spindle and the inner grinding disc relative to the outer grinding disc, wherein a change in the vertical position of the inner grinding disc relative to the outer grinding disc changes the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc; and a controller configured to control the main motor and the second motor; The coarseness of the coffee powder depends on the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc.

22. The grinding machine of claim 21, wherein the second motor is a stepper motor configured to provide a second rotational movement for adjusting the vertical position of the spindle member and the inner grinding disc.

23. The grinding machine according to claim 22, further comprising: A plurality of gears are configured to convert the second rotational movement into a linear movement to adjust the vertical position of the main shaft and the inner grinding disc.

24. The grinding machine according to claim 21, wherein the inner grinding disc and the main shaft member rotate along an axis of the main shaft member.

25. The grinding machine of claim 21, wherein the outer grinding disc is stationary and fixed to a housing.

26. The grinder of claim 21, wherein the burr assembly is configured to receive whole coffee beans from above the burr assembly and output ground coffee through an opening below the burr assembly.

27. The grinder of claim 21, wherein the inner burr disc is configured to move downward relative to the outer burr disc to increase the coarseness of the coffee grounds.

28. The grinder of claim 21, wherein the inner burr disc is configured to move upward relative to the outer burr disc to reduce the coarseness of the coffee grounds.

29. The grinding machine of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to calibrate the grinding machine by returning the inner grinding disc to a zero position in which the gap is at a minimum.

30. The grinding machine according to claim 21, wherein the inner grinding disc has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is larger than the top surface.

31. The grinding machine according to claim 21, wherein the inner grinding disc has a conical shape.

32. The grinder of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust the vertical position of the inner burr disc relative to the outer burr disc based on a brew recipe specifying a desired coarseness of coffee grounds.

33. The grinder of claim 32, wherein the brew recipe is selected based on an identification tag associated with a capsule holding whole coffee beans.

34. The grinding machine of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust the vertical position of the inner grinding disc relative to the outer grinding disc based on an input provided by a user through a user interface.

35. The grinding machine of claim 34, wherein the user interface is provided by an application installed on a user device.

36. The grinding machine of claim 21, wherein the grinding disc assembly has a layer of a nitride compound.

37. The grinder of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to position a capsule docking station under the grinder prior to initiating a grinding operation, wherein the capsule docking station is configured to hold a capsule for receiving coffee grounds output by the grinder.

38. The grinding machine of claim 37, wherein the controller is configured to position the capsule docking station below a water injector after a grinding operation is completed.

39. The grinder of claim 21, wherein the grinder is integrated into a coffee brewing system.

40. The grinding machine according to claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to measure an output torque of the main motor to detect whether the gap between the inner grinding disc and the outer grinding disc is at a correct position.

41. A docking station system configured to retain and displace a capsule containing ground coffee during a brewing process, comprising: a capsule docking station configured to receive and hold the capsule; a linear positioning stage configured to displace the capsule docking station; a mounting base configured to mount the linear positioning stage within a housing of a coffee brewing machine; and A controller is configured to cause the linear positioning stage to (a) move the capsule docking station to a first position below a grinder of the coffee brewing machine before and during a grinding operation and (b) move the capsule docking station to a second position below a water injector of the coffee brewing machine before and during a water dispensing operation.

42. The docking station system of claim 41, further comprising: A connecting component connects the capsule docking platform and the linear positioning platform.

43. The docking station system of claim 41, wherein the capsule docking station comprises an integrated force sensor.

44. The docking station system of claim 43, wherein the integrated force sensor is configured to measure a weight of the capsule.

45. The docking station system of claim 44, wherein the integrated force sensor is configured to measure the weight of the capsule in real time during at least one of the grinding operation or the water dispensing operation.

46. ​​The docking station system of claim 45, wherein the weight of the capsule is used by the controller of the coffee brewing machine to control at least one of the grinding operation or the water dispensing operation.

47. The docking station system of claim 43, wherein the integrated force sensor is configured to detect a force applied to a front end of the capsule docking station.

48. The docking station system of claim 47, wherein the controller is configured to initiate a brewing process based on the force applied to the front end of the capsule docking station.

49. The docking station system of claim 41, wherein the linear positioning stage comprises an integrated position sensor configured to detect a position of the capsule docking station on the linear positioning stage.

50. The docking station system of claim 41, wherein the linear positioning stage comprises a stepper motor.

51. The docking station system of claim 50, wherein the stepper motor is configured to provide tactile feedback when a force is applied to a front end of the capsule docking station.

52. The docking station system of claim 50, wherein the stepper motor is configured to rock the capsule docking station to thereby agitate the coffee grounds in the capsule during the water dispensing operation.

53. The docking station system of claim 52, wherein the stepper motor is configured to shake the capsule docking station at a preset vibration frequency during the water dispensing operation.

54. The docking station system of claim 52, wherein the stepper motor is configured to rock the capsule docking station for a predetermined amount of time during the water dispensing operation.

55. The docking station system of claim 52, wherein the stepper motor is configured to shake the capsule docking station during the water dispensing operation during and a predetermined time after pouring water.

56. The docking station system of claim 41, wherein the capsule docking station includes a holder having an opening for receiving the capsule.

57. The docking station system of claim 56, wherein the opening is circular and smaller than at least a portion of a cross-section of the capsule.

58. The docking station system of claim 41, wherein the controller is configured to move the capsule docking station from the first position to the second position after a determination that the grinding operation is complete.

59. The docking station system of claim 58, wherein the determination of completion of the grinding operation is based on time.

60. The docking station system of claim 58, wherein the determination that the grinding operation is complete is based on a weight on the capsule docking station.

61. A brewing machine, comprising: a nozzle configured to distribute a stream of water downwardly; a holder configured to hold a container of coffee grounds or tea beneath the nozzle to receive the water flow; a first electrode disposed adjacent to the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle; a voltage source electrically coupled to the first electrode through a circuit and configured to apply a voltage to the first electrode; and a controller communicatively coupled to the circuit and configured to control a magnitude of the voltage applied from the voltage source to the first electrode, The change in the magnitude of the voltage applied to the first electrode generates an electric field that changes a distance between the water flow and the first electrode.

62. The brewing machine of claim 61, further comprising: a second electrode disposed adjacent to the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle and electrically coupled to the voltage source via a second circuit, The controller is communicatively coupled to the second circuit and configured to control a magnitude of the voltage applied from the voltage source to the second electrode.

63. The brewing machine of claim 62, further comprising: a third electrode disposed adjacent to the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle and electrically coupled to the voltage source via a third circuit; and a fourth electrode disposed adjacent to the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle and electrically coupled to the voltage source via a fourth circuit, The controller is communicatively coupled to the third circuit and to the fourth circuit and is configured to control a magnitude of the voltage applied from the voltage source to the third electrode and a magnitude of the voltage applied to the fourth electrode.

64. The brewing machine of claim 63, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode and the fourth electrode are positioned circumferentially equidistant from each other around an axis of the nozzle.

65. The brewing machine of claim 61, wherein the first electrode comprises an electrical conductor enclosed in an electrically insulating material.

66. The brewer of claim 65, wherein the first electrode comprises a hydrophobic coating surrounding the electrically isolating material.

67. The brewing machine of claim 61, wherein the circuit comprises a transformer configured to amplify an electrical signal transmitted from the voltage source to the first electrode.

68. The brewing machine of claim 67, wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.

69. The brewing machine of claim 67, wherein the transducer is an electromagnetic transducer.

70. The brewer of claim 61, wherein the first electrode is separated and spaced apart from the nozzle.

71. The brewing machine of claim 61, wherein the first electrode is integrated onto an outer edge of the nozzle.

72. The brewing machine of claim 61, wherein the nozzle is configured to output the water flow in a laminar flow system.

73. A method for controlling a water flow output from a brewing machine, the method comprising: dispensing the water flow from a nozzle of the brewing machine into a container of coffee powder or tea; charging the one or more electrodes surrounding the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle using one or more circuits coupled between the one or more electrodes and a voltage source; and controlling, via a controller, a magnitude of a voltage output to each of the one or more electrodes based on instructions received at the controller regarding a pouring pattern of the water flow; and An electric field is generated using the one or more charged electrodes to bend the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle according to the pouring pattern.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the water stream is a laminar flow of water output from the nozzle of the brewing machine.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising amplifying a voltage output from the voltage source via a converter positioned in one of a plurality of circuits.

76. The method of claim 73, comprising: Distributing the water flow from the nozzle of the brewing machine to a container of coffee powder; and The electric field is generated to bend the stream of water dispensed by the nozzle according to a pour-over coffee pour pattern.

77. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for controlling pouring water from a brewing machine, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform a method comprising: Receiving or accessing a pouring pattern indicative of a dynamic pattern in which a stream of water is dispensed in different directions relative to a stationary nozzle; ensuring that a container of ground coffee or tea is positioned under the stationary nozzle and is ready to receive the water flow; causing the stream of water to be dispensed by the stationary nozzle in response to the determination; Control signals are output to one or more circuits to adjust a magnitude of voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes surrounding the water stream as the water stream is being dispensed, the output control signals being generated based on the pouring pattern.

78. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 77, wherein the casting pattern comprises an expanding spiral, an inwardly moving spiral, a circle, a dot, a line, a wave, or a zigzag.

79. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 77, wherein the instructions cause the processor to: Control signals are output to four circuits to adjust a magnitude of voltage applied to each of four electrodes surrounding the water stream as the water stream is being dispensed.

80. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 77, wherein at least one of the control signals causes the magnitude of a voltage applied to an electrode to be adjusted according to a sinusoidal curve, a Gaussian curve, or a linear function.

81. A single-serve coffee capsule comprising: a hollow capsule having an opening at a first end and at least one smaller opening in a second end opposite the first end; a filter disposed in the capsule; a plurality of whole coffee beans positioned within the capsule; and A removable cover is disposed over the opening of the capsule.

82. The single serve coffee cartridge of claim 81, wherein the plurality of whole coffee beans comprises a number of whole coffee beans sufficient to brew a single cup of coffee.

83. The single serve coffee cartridge of claim 81, further comprising a second removable cover disposed over the at least one smaller opening in the second end of the capsule.

84. The single serve coffee cartridge of claim 81, wherein a plurality of whole coffee beans are positioned within the coffee filter.

85. The single serve coffee cartridge of claim 81, wherein the capsule, the coffee filter, or both are made of a biodegradable material.

86. The single-serve coffee cartridge of claim 81, further comprising a removable container disposed within the capsule and covered by the removable cover, wherein a plurality of whole coffee beans are positioned in the removable container.

87. The single serve coffee pod of claim 86, wherein the removable container includes a septum configured to enable a user to lift the removable container from the capsule.

88. The single serve coffee cartridge of claim 81, further comprising an identification tag representing or containing information stored thereon regarding whole coffee beans and / or regarding a method for brewing coffee from whole coffee beans.

89. The single serve coffee capsule of claim 88, wherein the identification tag is disposed along a side wall of the capsule or on the second end of the capsule.

90. The single serve coffee pod of claim 81, wherein the capsule includes a pattern of indentations and / or protrusions along a side wall of the capsule.

91. The single serve coffee pod of claim 81, wherein the capsule includes a pattern of indentations and / or protrusions on the second end of the capsule.

92. The single serve coffee capsule of claim 81, wherein the capsule is frustoconical in shape.

93. A single-serve coffee capsule comprising: a hollow capsule configured to retain whole coffee beans therein and to receive ground coffee made from the whole coffee beans; and an identification tag disposed on the capsule, the identification tag being configured to be scanned by a reader, wherein the identification tag is configured to provide or trigger access to information corresponding to whole coffee beans held in the capsule, a recipe for brewing coffee from the whole coffee beans in the capsule, or both, upon scanning of the identification tag by the reader.

94. A single-serve coffee cartridge according to claim 93, wherein the information corresponding to the coffee beans includes a bean name, a bean type, a bean growing region, a grower, a roaster, a packaging date or a best before date.

95. A single-serve coffee cartridge according to claim 93, wherein the information corresponding to the recipe for brewing coffee from coffee beans includes a grind size, a water temperature, a water volume, a pour pattern, a pour number, or a stirring instruction.

96. The single serve coffee pod of claim 93, wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag).

97. The single serve coffee capsule of claim 93, further comprising: a filter disposed in the capsule; an opening disposed at a first end of the capsule; and A smaller opening is disposed at a second end of the capsule opposite to the first end.

98. The single serve coffee capsule of claim 97, wherein the identification tag is disposed on the second end of the capsule.

99. The single serve coffee capsule of claim 93, wherein the identification tag is disposed along a side wall of the capsule.

100. A single serving beverage brewing system, comprising: A brewing machine, comprising a reader; and A single serving cartridge comprising: a hollow capsule configured to retain an infusion agent therein; and an identification label disposed on the capsule, The brewing machine further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the reader, wherein in response to the reader reading the identification tag, the processor is configured to access or obtain information about: the brewing agent, a recipe for brewing a beverage from the brewing agent, or both.

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