coffee capsule

Abstract

Coffee capsule (1), comprising at least - an electric heating element (5) which is part of an aluminium capsule wall (6) and which can heat the capsule contents which are mixed with water from the machine (2), - two mutually insulated current contact points (4) which are installed on the outside of the capsule wall (6), which are coupled to the heating element (5), which can supply the heating element (5) of the coffee capsule (1) with current from a coffee machine (2) via contact pins or contact electrodes (26) installed accordingly in the coffee machine (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coffee capsule whose capsule wall functions like a heating element or forms a heating element.

[0002] The invention is a device and a coffee capsule containing all the ingredients needed to prepare hot coffee. The beverage is brewed directly in the capsule using a built-in heating element. The coffee, for example, is also poured directly from the capsule into the cup without any intermediate steps.

[0003] There are numerous capsule machines that use capsules to prepare coffee or espresso. The capsules contain a small amount of coffee powder (approx. 5-6 grams). They also have a filter built in that filters the coffee as it flows through. During preparation, the capsule is pierced in several places, and hot water flows in through one side, while the coffee flows out the other. However, there are also capsules in which the water-coffee mixture has already been added. The coffee first enters a funnel and is then channeled through a semi-tubular container to the cup. Unfortunately, these detours cool the coffee more or less, which is why the first coffee is usually slightly cooler than the next, for example, if a second capsule is to be prepared immediately after.

[0004] DE 20 2010 017 756 U1 describes a device for preparing a beverage extracted from a capsule, comprising a capsule support and a capsule cage in which at least one water inlet and capsule piercing means are arranged, wherein a cage for receiving capsules therein is dimensioned such that it can deform each capsule formed from a material deformable upon contact with hot water, which is arranged in the cage, at least partially by means of deformation means provided on the inner surface of the cage, so that the capsule is held in the cage after its contact with the hot water.

[0005] WO 2011 / 138 368 A1 describes a brewing or preparation chamber of a beverage preparation device, which is suitable for receiving and extracting a portion capsule filled with powdered or liquid beverage base substances, which portion capsule consists entirely or partially of electrically conductive material, and the brewing or preparation chamber consists of a stationary first chamber part, which is provided with opening means for opening the portion capsule to the beverage outlet and is fluidically connected to a structure for the discharge of the beverage, and a second chamber part, which is horizontally or vertically movable relative to the first chamber part, which is fluidically connected to an extraction liquid pump for supplying the extraction liquid to the portion capsule and is provided with piercing means for opening the portion capsule and for introducing the extraction liquid into the portion capsule.wherein the brewing or preparation chamber is open to receive a portion capsule and closed to extract the portion capsule, wherein electrically conductive contacts which are electrically insulated from one another and which are the ends of an interrupted control circuit of a testing and control device are arranged in the first chamber part or in the second chamber part or in the first chamber part and in the second chamber part.

[0006] The application WO 2014 / 147 256 A1 describes a capsule-based beverage production system with inductive liquid heating. The invention is directed to a beverage production system comprising: a capsule designed to hold at least one beverage ingredient, a beverage production machine designed to produce a beverage from the ingredients of the capsule by allowing a liquid to penetrate the capsule to interact with the ingredients in the capsule, wherein the beverage production machine comprises a bell-shaped enclosing element for enclosing the capsule. According to the invention, at least a portion of the outer surface of a wall of the capsule comprises at least one metallic and / or electrically conductive region, and the beverage production machine comprises means for generating and contactlessly coupling electrical heating power to the metallic and / or electrically conductive region of the capsule.

[0007] US Pat. No. 5,325,765 A discloses a filter cartridge in which the coffee grounds are contained in a filter bag within the cartridge. The outer shell of the cartridge is made of a water-impermeable material, while the filter bag is made of a water-permeable material. The filter bag has a downwardly tapered shape, so that a chamber is formed in the lower region of the filter cartridge between the outer shell and the filter bag. To extract the coffee grounds, the cartridge is pierced on both sides by an upper and lower piercing device. EP 1554958 B1 relates to coffee machines for brewing powdered coffee packaged in a capsule. Coffee machines of the type in question are predominantly used in households.Compared to conventional coffee machines equipped with a grinder for grinding coffee beans, a fundamental advantage of the coffee machines in question is that the use of capsules allows for a high-quality coffee beverage, especially since the coffee powder has an optimal grind and is packaged airtight in the capsules. Furthermore, the coffee machines are subject to relatively low contamination from coffee powder.

[0008] EP 2476633 B1 relates to a capsule, a system, and a method for preparing a beverage. Here, the stiffening region is arranged, in particular, rotationally symmetrically around the penetration region, wherein the stiffening region is protected as at least one recess formed in the base in a substantially circumferential direction.

[0009] DE 27 52 733 A1 discloses a cartridge containing a substance for producing a beverage using a corresponding machine. This cartridge has a sealed housing with an acute-angled truncated cone shape and is typically made of aluminum sheet.

[0010] WO 2010 / 041179 A2 discloses a capsule for producing beverages such as coffee. The capsule can contain ground coffee and has a top surface with a weakened area incorporated into it.

[0011] EP 1 944 248 A1 discloses a plastic capsule containing a powder for making a beverage using a corresponding machine. A reinforced wall is built into a central area of ​​the base of the capsule to prevent the base from sagging immediately prior to penetration. Such machines have complex components, such as the thermoblock, high-pressure pump, monitoring elements, control system, etc. A disadvantage of these machines is that the thermoblock, where the water is heated, requires more or less descaling depending on the lime content of the water pipe. In addition, each time coffee is prepared, coffee residue clings to the machine components, which can lead to mold growth over time. The components that conduct the coffee flow from the capsule to the cup are particularly at risk.In addition, the machines are relatively complex in construction, as they contain many components that can be compromised by limescale. The brewing unit in the machine is one of the most expensive components, after the high-pressure pump.

[0012] The invention is based on the object of creating a capsule that can almost completely replace a coffee machine and can brew and pour a hot beverage (coffee, tea).

[0013] This object is achieved by a coffee capsule having the features listed in patent claims 1 to 21.

[0014] Advantages of the capsule are: - it delivers a first-class beverage that is brewed directly, especially ideal for a very tasty coffee, - simple construction of the capsule, which can imitate a conventional coffee machine, - lightweight construction so that it can be taken and carried anywhere, - no mold-forming spots present, - no risk of limescale formation, - ideal for outdoor leisure activities.

[0015] Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to Fig. 1 to 5. They show: Fig. 1 a coffee capsule whose capsule wall forms a heating element, Fig. 2 a capsule with a spiral heating element embossed into the capsule wall, Fig. 3 a capsule with a double-chamber construction, Fig. 4 the structure of the double-chamber capsule, Fig. 5 an extremely simplified “coffee machine”.

[0016] This coffee capsule is visually very similar to a conventional coffee capsule, but with one crucial difference. Its capsule wall also serves as a heating element. Instead of a homogeneous wall structure, the capsule here features narrow conductive tracks that are either arranged parallel along the capsule and meet at a point at the capsule tip, for example, or simply form U-shaped loops, or they spiral around the capsule.

[0017] This coffee capsule 1 can brew the coffee directly inside and a coffee machine 2 that is built for such a capsule 1 capsule does not need a brewing group or heating block and also no high-pressure pump to pump water into the capsule 1. Only cold water is injected into the capsule 1 through an injection unit / injection needle 3 of the coffee machine and a current is passed through the heating element 5 directly into the capsule wall 6 through two current contact points 4 built into the capsule 1, whereby the capsule contents 7 are instantly heated and steam is created inside, which exerts high pressure on the contents.Because the capsule 1 is located in the machine 2 in a stable capsule receptacle 8, it cannot expand and the pressure is inevitably released downwards through the capsule tip 9 and the coffee-water mixture (the freshly brewed coffee 10) from the capsule 1 is poured directly into the cup 12, filtered through a filter 11 built into the capsule 1. On the . Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a capsule 1 in which the capsule wall 6 has several parallel or nearly parallel current conductor tracks 13 that function as heating elements 5. The current contact points 4 are laid on the top side of the capsule 1 and consist of two aluminum pad surfaces or two concentric aluminum foil rings 14 that are electrically insulated from each other.

[0018] The heating element 5 is a component of the capsule wall 6 and can be in the form of narrow conductor tracks 13 made of aluminum foil. The U-shaped conductor tracks 13 can be partially installed parallel to the capsule wall 6, run through the capsule tip 9, and be connected at each end to one of the contact points of the capsule 1.

[0019] However, they can also be constructed in the form of heating coils 15 and consist of the capsule wall material or be a component of the capsule wall 6. The coil, made of an aluminum strip of the capsule wall 6, is connected to the current contact points at both ends.

[0020] The capsule 1 does not necessarily have to be made of aluminum. It can be made of wood, paper, or bamboo, for example. This capsule wall 6 can also easily be fitted with aluminum foil heating elements. The foil, which here is shaped or cut like a heating coil 15, can be attached to the inner wall surface of the capsule 1 or fixed to the outer wall surface. Installing the aluminum heating coil inside can make the coffee brew faster. The aluminum spiral heating foil can easily be heated up to 200°C by the flow of current. Wood can withstand these temperatures for a short time, as can bamboo or paper. Aluminum also only melts at 660°C, so there is sufficient temperature potential upwards.

[0021] This capsule 1 simplifies the coffee machine 2 enormously. A heating block, which typically consumes a lot of power (approx. 2000W), and a high-pressure pump are completely missing here. A low-pressure pump 16 can be installed, which only injects the water 17 into the capsule 1. The water is injected via a fine injection needle 3, which inserts into the capsule 1 from above and pierces it. The injection point 18 is isolated from the environment by a rubber ring seal 19. For an espresso, only approximately 15-25ml of water is injected into the capsule 1 once, after which the brewing process begins. A current is switched through the heating element into the capsule wall. The heating element is heated to approximately 200°C, and the coffee-water mixture in the capsule 1 is brought to a rapid boil. This creates steam pressure that attempts to displace the capsule contents.Because the capsule is housed in a sturdy capsule receptacle 8 of the machine 2, it cannot expand. Only the downward path, through the capsule tip 9, is open, and the contents are pushed outward through this tip and a built-in coffee filter. A cup is placed underneath, into which the coffee will flow directly.

[0022] Because the coffee machine 2 and the associated coffee capsule 1 are relatively simple in construction, this capsule 1 can be very practical for outdoor and leisure use. In addition, it consumes very little power compared to conventional machines. The thermal energy is transferred directly into the coffee capsule contents with virtually no loss, and therefore the brewing process can be completed in seconds. The capsule 1 itself is practically a coffee machine, or rather a simple device for preparing a coffee beverage. However, it is also conceivable to prepare other hot beverages, such as tea, using the tea contents in such a capsule 1.

[0023] Another version shows capsule 1, which not only has the coffee powder integrated, but also the water. This capsule 1 has a double-chamber construction and consists of two chambers: a water chamber 20 and a coffee powder chamber 21. This capsule can be slightly larger than conventional coffee capsules, weighs approximately 50g including its contents, and is designed with an internal volume of approximately 30-50cm 3are manufactured. The two chambers are integrated into the capsule 1 and separated from each other by a thin partition 23 equipped with predetermined breaking points 22. When the capsule 1 is placed vertically in a brewing position, or when the longitudinal axis 24 of the capsule 1 is arranged vertically, the upper chamber is the water chamber 20, while the lower chamber is the coffee powder chamber 21 (or tea powder chamber). The partition 23 can break or tear if a certain excess pressure in the water chamber 20 occurs, causing the water to mix with the dry coffee powder. The heating element 5 is built into the water chamber wall and is integrated into the capsule wall in the form of a conductor heating coil. Here, too, the heating element 5 can be a thin spiral heating conductor in the capsule wall 6, which is integrated directly into the capsule wall or made of the capsule wall material.The capsule 1 has a second predetermined breaking point 22 (or perforable foil) which is installed at the very bottom in the vertical brewing position (e.g. at the tip of the capsule). This will only tear or break when higher pressure is applied inside the capsule 1, releasing the contents (the coffee) out into the cup. This can be an aluminum foil with radial predetermined breaking points arranged in a ring or radial line from a point in the center. A coffee filter is installed directly above the predetermined breaking point 22 and its task is to filter the coffee-water mixture that will flow out of the capsule 1. The capsule 1 has two insulated electrical contact points (contact pads) or concentrically arranged electrical contact rings on the outer wall, or better yet, on the top, at two points. These contact points are electrically connected to the heating element 5 in the capsule wall 6.The electrical contact points are preferably constructed in the form of two concentric rings because then the construction is isometric and no matter how the capsule 1 is placed in the machine 2, the contact points can always create an electrical contact via contact pins or electrodes 26 of the coffee machine. Because the dry coffee powder 38 and the water 17 (sterilised water or distilled water!) are strictly separated from each other, the capsule contents have a long shelf life and can be kept or stored in much the same way as conventional coffee capsules. If distilled water is to be found in the water chamber, then a few ingredients should be added to the coffee powder 38 to compensate for elements missing in the water (e.g. salt, calcium, minerals, etc.). This capsule 1 also has stable inner walls that can withstand approximately 4 - 5 bar. The lower predetermined breaking point 22 should break after approximatelyApply 1.5-3 bar of pressure, and the coffee should then be able to flow downwards. The separating wall / separating film allows the capsule 1 to be equipped with predetermined breaking points 25 along the edge, through which the hot water penetrates the coffee powder chamber 21 under pressure in several jets, swirling the powder vigorously and thus creating a relatively homogeneous mixture.

[0024] To prepare the coffee, this capsule 1 is placed in a simple machine, which consists, for example, only of a frame or housing 27 with a funnel or a capsule receiving chamber 28, two contact pins or contact electrodes 26, a switch 29, and a power source 30. As soon as the capsule 1 is inserted into the funnel, the user closes a small lid 31, in which two current electrodes or current contact pins 26 are located, for example by pressing the lid downwards along a telescopic tube construction 43. The contact electrodes or pins 26 can be spring-loaded and, when the lid 31 is closed, rest directly on the current contact points of the capsule 1. Because the capsule 1 has two concentric metal or foil rings, which can also be aluminum foil rings 14, as current contact points, one does not have to pay much attention to where the contact points are when inserting the capsule 1.The only important thing is that the capsule 1 is facing downwards with the narrower surface / tip 9. The concentric rings are attached to the wider surface 32 with the capsule rim 33. A cup is placed under the funnel in the frame 27 of the machine 2. After the lid 31 is closed, the user activates the switch, which closes an electrical circuit from a power supply (or a battery) to the heating element 5 of the capsule 1, and the heating element 5 in the capsule wall 6 begins to heat the water in the water chamber 26 at lightning speed. Because the amount of water is relatively small (approx. 15-25 ml for an espresso), very high temperatures of over 100°C can be reached within seconds. As soon as the water is heated to approximately 101-105°C, the separating film / wall between the chambers collapses, and the water from the water chamber 20 mixes with the coffee powder 38 below.The temperature drops abruptly due to the mixing of the mixture, but then rises again within seconds to approximately 102–105°C, which generates enough steam pressure to tear open the lower break-proof foil. From then on, the coffee, espresso, or tea flows into a cup below. The coffee 10 is really hot, freshly brewed, and poured directly from the capsule 1 into the cup 12. The machine 2 can have an electronic control 34 that stops the brewing process after approximately 10 seconds, for example, or interrupts the circuit to the heating element 5 in the capsule 1. Of course, a temperature sensor and a controller can also be built into the machine 2, allowing the coffee temperature to be slightly adjusted and temperature monitoring of the brewing process is possible. The machine 2 can be equipped with a rechargeable energy source. A power connection for a charger should also be integrated.USB ports are ideal for this because any USB power supply can then be used.

[0025] Because this machine 2 is quite simply constructed, it also weighs very little and can be built very compact. The housing 27 can be a simple wire frame / skeleton that can be folded using built-in joints, in which a funnel (can also be made of wire mesh or a ring holder) is positioned over a cup placed underneath. No piercing needles or perforators, no water supply, and above all, no heating block or high-pressure pump are required. This makes the device extremely simple, yet the quality of the coffee preparation / espresso creation is paramount. Despite its extremely simple design, the device brews first-class coffee / espresso that is really hot and tastes delicious. The machine 2 weighs very little and can, for example, weigh less than approximately 100g. The battery makes up most of the device's weight. Because the power consumption is relatively low, and the battery is only used for a short time (approx.10 seconds), the user can prepare approximately 50 - 100 espressos with one battery charge, which is sufficient for a medium-sized group of people on a nature hike, for example.

[0026] The power button on the housing / frame 27 of the machine 2 will activate the heating element 5 in the capsule 1 or energize it, which causes the water in the capsule 1 to heat up rapidly. The heating element 5 must not release any metal residues into the water during heating, as this would render the coffee undrinkable.

[0027] In contrast to the prior art, the heating element 5 is installed directly into the capsule 1. This eliminates the need for a water heater in the machine 2. The design with the built-in dual-chamber construction (water chamber 20 in the capsule, separate from the coffee powder chamber 21) also simplifies the device because no water tank is required. The coffee is completely brewed directly in the capsule 1. By heating the water directly in the capsule 1, steam pressure is created in the capsule 1, which forces the capsule contents downwards through the built-in filter in the capsule 1, directly into the cup. The design of this device is thus greatly simplified, allowing it to be optimally designed as a portable device.

[0028] It goes without saying that additional features or elements can be integrated into the machine, such as a touch display 37, a Wi-Fi interface (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth module 35, for whatever purpose), and a USB interface 36, which can be used not only for charging but also for bidirectional data exchange with a PC or smartphone. The data exchange function with a PC would be interesting for research, coffee brewing optimization, or statistical purposes. This would allow each user to determine the optimal current flow values ​​in the heating element 5 for the coffee brewing process that best suit their taste and adjust them using a built-in controller in the device or via the interface.

[0029] The electric current is conducted through two contact points on the outside of the capsule 1, via two electrodes or contact pins 26 of the machine 2, into the capsule 1, and the heating element 5, which is embedded in the capsule wall 6 (or the capsule wall 6 itself forms the heating element 5), is heated instantly. With the dual-chamber capsule construction, the capsule contents (coffee powder 38 and water 17) will mix as soon as the pressure in the water chamber 20 exceeds the holding capacity of the barrier / partition wall via the predetermined breaking points. The mixture in the capsule 1 is then heated again very quickly, generating a further, somewhat higher overpressure in the capsule 1. Because the capsule 1 is located in the funnel or in the capsule receiving chamber of the machine 2, it is somewhat protected and cannot easily expand or burst uncontrollably. Thus, the capsule 1 can withstand higher pressures than if it were outside the chamber.The current flows through heating element 5 for only a very short time, heating it to approximately 110–130°C. This is usually enough to rapidly heat approximately 25ml of water-coffee mixture to over 103°C. The heat creates vapor pressure in capsule 1, which increases rapidly. Heating the contents and pressure buildup takes a few seconds or up to several dozen seconds, depending on the design of the heating element. The excess pressure causes the tip of the capsule to break at a predetermined breaking point, perforate it, or, in the case of radially arranged predetermined breaking lines, open in a ring-like manner. The coffee then flows directly into the coffee cup through the coffee capsule tip 9, which opens automatically due to excess pressure.A tiny area in the capsule tip 9 can be equipped with a flow moderator / disruptor / slowdown device in the form of a small part designed like a solid foam (mini filter), which slows and swirls the coffee (tea) flow slightly so that no sharp jet shoots onto the cup. A cover or cup lid with a hole in the middle can also be placed over the cup to prevent splashing from the cup. Usually, however, the flow moderator / disruptor is completely sufficient. The pressure in the capsule 1 increases to several bar within seconds, causing the contents to be forced downwards because there is no other way for the coffee to drain. The capsule 1 is well protected from the sides and top by the funnel walls, so the only way open is down through the capsule tip 9.

[0030] It should be mentioned that the latest version represents a completely new dimension in the coffee machine sector. Here, the coffee capsule is designed in such a way that it can almost replace an entire coffee machine on its own! The heating element is carved into the capsule wall, the 25ml of water and 6g of coffee / espresso powder are already inside and separated from each other by the partition. All you need to do is touch the two contact aluminum rings with two power pins from a battery or rechargeable battery and the hot coffee flows out into a coffee cup. Just don't touch the capsule 1 with your hand because it gets too hot. To do this, you would have to put a cup lid 39 with a hole in the middle (or a cup funnel 42 in the middle) over the cup, insert the capsule 1 into the hole / funnel and apply current (e.g. 5V and 2A) to the power contact points (4, 14).This could be easily achieved by lowering a lid 31, which is coupled to the cup lid 39 via a joint 41. As soon as the lid 31 is lowered, the two contact pins 26 touch the electrical contact points (4, 14) of the capsule 1 and, when the switch 29 is activated, close an electrical circuit that heats the heating element (5, 13, 15). The battery 30 is to be installed on the lid 31. Pressing the switch 29 closes the electrical circuit. This would be enough to make a hot coffee within 10 seconds, without any other tools. This coffee machine, consisting only of a lid 31, battery 30, and a capsule 1 with a dual-chamber construction, would be the simplest espresso machine in the world, truly capable of delivering a very hot, freshly brewed espresso. Therefore, this variant is ideally suited for taking on the go and can be manufactured as a portable version.

[0031] During production, a small tube 40 can be incorporated into the capsule 1, which further simplifies the flow of coffee into the cup.

[0032] The heating element 5 in the capsule 1 should be constructed as simply as possible. The aluminum capsule wall 6 can serve as a heating element if it is spirally cut and insulated, or if it has conductor strips arranged quite thinly along the insulated wall, allowing the current to flow in a spiral pattern or in narrow conductor paths with high electrical resistance. The pressure is generated solely by the heat in the capsule 1, and the steam generated there displaces the water-coffee powder mixture from the capsule 1. Because no high-pressure pump or water heater is required, the machine can be built as small as a thick felt-tip pen or a cigarette pack.

[0033] As soon as the water-filled capsule 1 is supplied with power, the water mixture is heated within seconds. The steam in the capsule 1 takes care of the rest. An electronic control unit can be installed there that monitors the power supply and shuts off the power after a few seconds, preventing any melt from emerging from the heating element 5. A temperature sensor can also be installed in the capsule receiving chamber / hopper, although this is not absolutely necessary.

[0034] The machine's functionality allows for very fast coffee preparation. It can brew a really hot espresso, for example, in less than 10 seconds.

[0035] The capsule 1 must withstand the heat of the internal heating element 5, or the capsule wall 6 must be made of a material that wouldn't melt immediately at 150-200°C. Aluminum is suitable for this. The capsule receiving chamber in the machine 2 should also be heat-resistant. However, the machine 2 can be equipped with a temperature monitor or current flow regulator to prevent overheating of the heating element 5 in the capsule 1. Generally, it would be perfectly sufficient if the heating element 5 could be heated to a maximum of 130-140°C outdoors. Immersed in water, it doesn't reach this temperature, but it can heat the water enclosed in the capsule 1 to over 100°C.

[0036] The capsule receiving chamber of machine 2 is designed to prevent capsule 1 from expanding; therefore, it should be sturdily constructed and made of a heat-resistant material. Ceramic, metal, or certain heat-resistant plastics are suitable for this purpose. Long, narrow, cigarette-shaped capsules can be used very well as coffee capsules 1. A power line (e.g., made from parts or strips of the capsule wall) would simply be installed inside the capsule 1, which would be quickly heated by the electrical resistance. In this case, the contact points could be installed at each end of the cigarette-shaped capsule, or both at one end. Whether capsule 1 is made of metal foil, wood, paper, bamboo, or heat-resistant plastic is up to the manufacturer. The capsule 1 itself does not necessarily have to be able to withstand very high pressure values.Stability is supported by the funnel / capsule chamber, so a few bar of pressure is sufficient. However, it can withstand higher pressures when located in the capsule chamber because it is supported there on almost all sides by the funnel / chamber walls. Generally, pressures of 3-5 bar are perfectly sufficient because these values ​​are generated directly within the capsule and not by an external pump, which would suffer significant pressure losses through the pipes. The 3-5 bar of pressure generated directly here is almost analogous to a pressure pump in a coffee machine, which generates 20 bar.

[0037] Because the capsule 1 already features the heating element 5, one would think that it would be more environmentally harmful than conventional capsules, but this is not necessarily the case. The heating element 5 consists of a metal coil that is either part of the capsule wall 6 or integrated into the capsule wall 6. Integration into the capsule wall 6 is an optimal solution because it eliminates the need to install any extra metal parts. All that is required is a special "cut" in the conventional capsule wall 6, which converts the wall into narrower conductor tracks that can be heated by the flow of current. Nothing more is necessary. This does not make the capsule heavier or make its construction more complicated. The narrow aluminum conductor tracks (windings or parallel loops), which are "scratched" into the capsule wall 6 and form the heating element 5, conduct the current directly from the contact points and heat up in the process.The conductor tracks can be designed in strip form, for example, approximately 1 mm or slightly wider, and with a total length of approximately 15-30 cm of all turns on the capsule wall 6, , they offer enough electrical resistance so that they can be heated up instantly. However, they should not be subjected to such high current that they melt or burn, but only so that they heat up to approximately 110 - 130°C, which they almost never reach due to the water present in the capsule 1. A current flow controller can regulate the precise current strength and voltage so that the desired water temperatures of over 100°C are achieved. The coffee water in the capsule 1 heats up within seconds and creates the necessary pressure to open the tip 9 of the capsule 1, which is positioned downwards, and allow the coffee to flow directly into the cup.The filter at the bottom of the tip prevents the coffee from escaping explosively and slows down the flow rate slightly so that it can land in the cup smoothly and without splashing.

[0038] The electronic control limits the current to precise values, thus protecting the user and the machine from burns. The outer wall of the capsule chamber is designed to insulate the heat emanating from the capsule 1. This allows the machine 2 to be touched safely. The outer wall can be designed so that it only heats up slightly, even after several capsules 1 have been used in succession and several coffees have been prepared.

[0039] With slight modifications, the machine could also accept balls of compressed coffee grounds and brew them into coffee. However, it would then have to be equipped with a water tank and a heating element in the shape of an injection needle that pierces the ball.

[0040] In one variant, a separation of the lid 31 is possible. Because the battery 30 and the contact pins 26 are built into the lid 31, coffee can be brewed directly by contact with the electrical contact points of the capsule 1, even without the device and the capsule receiving chamber. For this purpose, one would only have to use a cup lid, in which the capsule is inserted into a hole (or, for greater stability, into a cup funnel 42) in the middle up to the top edge with the tip facing down, and then touch the electrical contact points of the capsule 1 with the lid 31 from the device. The cup lid 31 can be equipped with concentrically arranged recesses, which would be suitable for different cup sizes. In the middle, the

[0041] Cup lid 31 has a hole or funnel 42 into which the capsule 1 is inserted ( Fig.5). The edge of the capsule 1, on whose surface the electrical contact points of the capsule 1 are also built, prevents the capsule 1 from completely sinking into the cup. When the current is passed through the electrical contact points, the heating element 5 in the capsule 1 is heated, and the brewing process can begin. However, care should be taken not to touch the capsule 1 again, as it is too hot and could cause burns. Instead, the entire cup lid 31 is lifted off, and the capsule 1 can then be set aside, for example, to cool down. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 coffee capsule 2 coffee machines 3 Injection unit / injection needle 4 power contact points 5 Heating element 6 Capsule wall 7 capsule contents 8 capsule containers 9 Capsule tip 10 Brewed coffee 11 filters 12 cups 13 current conductors / conductor tracks 14 aluminum foil rings 15 Heating coil 16 Low-pressure pump 17 Water 18 Puncture site 19 Rubber ring seal 20 water chamber 21 Coffee powder chamber 22 predetermined breaking points 23 Partition wall 24 Longitudinal axis of the capsule 25 predetermined breaking point 26 contact pins or electrodes 27 Frame or housing 28 funnel / capsule receiving chamber 29 switches 30 Energy source / battery 31 lids 32 Wider capsule surface 33 Capsule edge 34 Electronic control 35 WLAN interface / Bluetooth module, 36 USB interface 37 touch display 38 coffee powder 39 cup lids 40 capsule tubes 41 joint 42 funnel on the cup lid / cup funnel 43 Telescopic tube construction

Claims

[1] Coffee capsule (1), comprising at least - an electric heating element (5) which is part of an aluminium capsule wall (6) and which can heat the capsule contents which are mixed with water from the machine (2), - two mutually insulated current contact points (4) which are installed on the outside of the capsule wall (6), which are coupled to the heating element (5), which can supply the heating element (5) of the coffee capsule (1) with current from a coffee machine (2) via contact pins or contact electrodes (26) installed accordingly in the coffee machine (2). [2] Coffee capsule (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the capsule wall (6) forms the heating element (5). [3] Coffee capsule (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the aluminum wall (6) of the coffee capsule (1) is divided into narrow electrical conductor tracks (13) which form the heating element (5). [4] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the aluminum wall (6) of the coffee capsule (1) is scored in the form of narrow current conductor tracks (13) which are electrically insulated from one another and which form the heating element (5). [5] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the aluminum wall (6) of the coffee capsule (1) is equipped with closely laid or built-in current conductor tracks (13) which are electrically insulated from one another and which form the heating element (5). [6] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the current conductor tracks (13) run in a U-shape along a longitudinal axis (24) of the capsule (1) at a distance from one another and are electrically connected to one another at a tip (9) of the coffee capsule (1). [7] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the capsule wall (6) is designed in the form of a spiral current conductor track (13) and forms the heating element (5) in the circumference of the coffee capsule (1). [8] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the coffee capsule wall (6) consists of an electrical insulator and is equipped with a heating element (5) made of a spiral foil or a spiral current conductor. [9] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the capsule wall (6) consists of an electrical insulator instead of aluminum and the heating element (1) is constructed from at least one conductor track (13) fixed to the coffee capsule wall (6) along a longitudinal axis of the capsule (1). [10] Coffee capsule (1) according to claim 9, characterized bythat the capsule wall (6) consists of a plurality of conductor tracks (13) arranged along a longitudinal axis of the coffee capsule (1), which are electrically insulated from one another or which run at a distance from one another and whose ends are connected to the current contact points (4) of the coffee capsule (1) which form the heating element (5). [11] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conductor tracks (13) are components of the capsule wall (6). [12] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heating element (5) is constructed from narrow strips or electrical conductors made of the material structure of the aluminum wall (6) of the coffee capsule (1). [13] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized bythat the conductor tracks (13) consist of narrow foil strips which are constructed from the coffee capsule wall material and form the heating element (5). [14] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heating element (1) is built into the inner wall or the outer wall of the coffee capsule (1). [15] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the capsule wall (6) is made of a renewable or sustainable material. [16] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the capsule wall (6) is made of bamboo or wood or paper in which the current conductor tracks (13) are incorporated. [17] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the coffee capsule (1) has a tip equipped with a predetermined breaking point (25) which gives way when the pressure inside the coffee capsule (1) increases. [18] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is empty of air or that there is a negative pressure / vacuum inside. [19] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the capsule wall (6) is heat-resistant. [20] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer wall of the capsule (1) is equipped with a thermal insulation layer or consists of a thermal insulation material. [21] Coffee capsule (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is equipped with two separate chambers, each of which contains coffee powder (38) and water (17) during production, which are separated from each other by a predetermined breaking foil.

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