DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BREWING BEVERAGES - Patent application

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for extracting a desired amount of a beverage, such as an individual serving of coffee. Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a bulk hopper exchange unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter configured to be coupled to an open hopper slot of a bulk hopper assembly of an existing automated bulk coffee extraction system, which is typically used to prepare a bulk beverage using coffee beans stored in a bulk hopper connected to the system. For example, the individual serving feed hopper adapter advantageously enables the existing automated bulk coffee extraction system to prepare individual servings of a particular beverage that includes the use of ingredients (e.g., coffee beans) that are not currently stored in any of the bulk hoppers.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 175,196, filed February 12, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is related to U.S. Patent No. 9,930,987, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to a bulk hopper replacement unit that enables the extraction of relatively small amounts, such as single cups or individual servings, of a beverage (e.g., coffee) after the bulk hopper replacement unit engages with an existing bulk hopper slot of an automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated bulk coffee brewing system).

[0003] Background technology Numerous methods and systems for brewing beverages, such as coffee, are known. Existing commercial coffee brewing systems include multiple hopper slots, each of which stores a different coffee bean to facilitate the bulk preparation of multiple different coffee beverages. However, such beverage brewing systems are limited to preparing coffee beverages using the coffee beans stored in the hoppers.

[0004] overview An automated bulk coffee brewing system (e.g., the Clover® automated brewing system offered by Starbucks Coffee Company) may be utilized in a commercial coffee shop or coffee house to improve the accuracy and repeatability of providing individual servings, such as single cup or traveler (e.g., multiple cup) portions of commonly ordered coffee beverages in an efficient manner. For example, the same grinder assembly and brewing assembly can be advantageously used to prepare individual servings (e.g., single cup) portions of a coffee beverage using coffee beans stored in multiple different hoppers or storage containers. However, if a customer of the store orders a coffee beverage that requires coffee beans different from the coffee beans in any of the hoppers currently installed in the automated bulk coffee brewing system, the barista may need to use a different coffee preparation machine (e.g., a French press coffee maker or a hand drip coffee brewer) to prepare the individual serving (e.g., single cup) portion of the desired coffee beverage. This can result in inefficiencies (e.g., reduced throughput, additional cleaning time, additional preparation time), additional required equipment (and thus additional space in small beverage and / or food preparation areas), and reduced customer satisfaction due to long wait times and / or lack of automation prospects.

[0005] Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter that enables a barista or other user to brew individual servings of a variety of beverages (e.g., coffee beverages) using a single automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., a Clover® automated brewing system, commercially used in coffee stores operated by Starbucks Coffee Company). For example, the bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter includes an adapter component or module configured to removably engage (mounted, mated, coupled, or connected on or within a hopper slot) with an open hopper slot of a bulk hopper assembly of the automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated bulk coffee brewing system). The adapter components may include, for example, a mounting dock that takes the place of a bulk hopper (e.g., fits within an existing bulk hopper slot and engages or couples with components or mechanisms that a conventional bulk hopper would engage or couple with, such as a hopper motor, a chute leading to a grinder assembly, a hopper selector assembly, etc.).

[0006] The bulk hopper replacement unit may further include a container component or module configured to removably mate or engage with an adapter component (e.g., a mounting dock). The container component may engage, mate, or otherwise couple to the adapter component before or after the adapter component is engaged with the bulk hopper slot. The multiple individual serving container components may be pre-filled with appropriate coffee bean material for each desired coffee beverage and may be ready or lined up to be removably engaged with the adapter component to prepare various individual servings of each coffee beverage using an automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated bulk coffee brewing system). In some implementations, the bulk hopper replacement unit may eliminate the need for a French press or hand drip coffee maker in a coffee establishment.

[0007] The receptacle component may include a slide gate or other retention mechanism that retains the contents (e.g., coffee beans) necessary to prepare an individual serving of a desired beverage within the interior volume of the temporary storage receptacle or container until the receptacle component is engaged with the adapter component. Once the receptacle component is engaged with the adapter component, the slide gate or other retention mechanism is automatically moved or transitioned to a second configuration (e.g., an open or unlocked configuration) in which the contents of the storage container of the receptacle component can exit the storage container (e.g., are no longer retained by the slide gate or other retention mechanism). In another implementation, the slide gate or other retention mechanism is manually moved or transitioned between the first and second configurations.

[0008] The adapter component may have an opening configured to receive the contents of the storage vessel or container of the receptacle component when the slide gate or other retention mechanism is removed. The adapter component may have a feed auger at least partially disposed within an interior volume of the adapter component to facilitate controlled metering of the contents (e.g., coffee beans) received from the receptacle component into a grinder assembly of the automated beverage preparation system (e.g., bulk coffee brewing system). Components or modules of the bulk hopper replacement unit may be disassembled without any tools to facilitate cleaning. The adapter component may have a hopper motor connected to the auger. The hopper motor may rotate the auger in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. In another implementation, the hopper motor is a component of a hopper assembly of the automated beverage preparation system (e.g., bulk coffee brewing system).

[0009] Any feature, structure, or step disclosed herein can be substituted or combined with any other feature, structure, or step disclosed herein, or can be omitted. Moreover, for purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and features of the invention are described herein. It is to be understood that it is not necessary for any or all of such advantages to be achieved by any particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein. No aspect of the present disclosure is required or essential.

[0010] Various embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments in any way. Furthermore, various features of the various disclosed embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments, which are part of this disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1A]A perspective view showing an automatic bulk coffee extraction system that can be used with embodiments of the bulk hopper exchange unit or individual serving feed hopper system disclosed herein. [Figure 1B] A front view of the automatic bulk coffee extraction system shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] A rear view of the automatic bulk coffee extraction system shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1D] A side cross-sectional view of the automatic bulk coffee extraction system shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1E] A front cross-sectional view of the automatic bulk coffee extraction system shown in FIG. 1A. [Diagram 2] A schematic block diagram of an automatic beverage preparation system. [Figure 3A] A perspective view showing an embodiment of a bulk hopper exchange unit having two main components connected to each other. [Figure 3B] A perspective view showing an embodiment of a bulk hopper exchange unit having two main components connected to each other. [Figure 3C] A perspective view showing a bulk hopper exchange unit having two separated main components. [Figure 4A] A view showing the operation of the holding member of the bulk hopper exchange unit shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, and a perspective view shown together with the holding member removed from the coffee container component of the bulk hopper exchange unit. [Figure 4B] A view showing the operation of the holding member of the bulk hopper exchange unit shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, and a cross-sectional view showing the coffee container component having the holding member in a closed configuration. [Figure 4C] A view showing the operation of the holding member of the bulk hopper exchange unit shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, and a bottom perspective view showing the coffee container component having the holding member in a closed configuration. [Figure 5A] A side cross-sectional perspective view showing the bulk hopper exchange unit shown in FIG. 3A. [Figure 5B]FIG. 3B is another cross-sectional view of the bulk hopper replacement unit shown in FIG. 3A. [Figure 6A] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit that may be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of FIGS. 1A-1E. [Figure 6B] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit that may be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of FIGS. 1A-1E. [Figure 6C] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit that may be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of FIGS. 1A-1E. [Figure 6D] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit that may be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of FIGS. 1A-1E. [Figure 7A] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of how another embodiment of the bulk hopper replacement unit disclosed herein can be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of FIGS. 1A-1E, with the bulk hopper replacement unit shown mounted in one of the hopper slots of the bulk hopper assembly of the automated bulk coffee brewing system. [Figure 7B] FIG. 1C illustrates an example of how another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit disclosed herein can be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of FIGS. 1A-1E, where the container component of the bulk hopper replacement unit has been removed from the adapter component, which remains attached for further use with the same or a different container component.

[0012] Detailed Description 1A-1E illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an automated bulk coffee brewing system 2 designed to quickly and automatically brew individual servings, such as single cup or traveller (e.g., multi-cup) portions of a coffee beverage. Generally, the coffee brewing system 2 may have an upper portion 4 and a lower portion 6. The upper portion 4 and lower portion 6 house internal components including a grinder assembly 34 and a brewing assembly 36 (shown in FIG. 1D). The external components include a bulk hopper assembly 8, a hopper selector assembly 10, a user interface assembly 12, a waste container assembly 14, a dispensing assembly 16, and a base portion 18.

[0013] As described above, the coffee brewing system 2 allows a user to quickly and easily brew single cup or traveler portions of a variety of bulk coffee beverages. To accommodate different types of coffee beverages, the bulk hopper assembly 8 of the coffee brewing system 2 is adapted to accommodate multiple hoppers 20, each of which can accommodate a different type of coffee beverage ingredient (e.g., dark roast coffee beans, medium roast coffee beans, light roast coffee beans, and / or decaffeinated coffee beans). The bulk hopper assembly 8 of the coffee brewing system 2 may be configured to accommodate three bulk hoppers (as shown), or more than three or less than three hoppers.

[0014] The bulk hopper assembly 8 may be disposed above the upper portion 4 of the coffee brewing system 2. For example, the bulk hopper assembly 8 may include a hopper holder 22 for holding the hoppers 20. The hopper selector assembly 10 has a plurality of paddles 24 that can be used to select one or more hoppers 20 based on a desired beverage ingredient (e.g., type of coffee beans). Additionally, the paddles 24 may be mechanically reset to indicate completion of a brew cycle. Each paddle 24 corresponds to a separate hopper slot. The paddles 24 may be aligned with the hopper 20. Alignment of the paddles 24 with the hopper 20 may provide visual confirmation of the correspondence between each paddle 24 and a selected hopper slot.

[0015] Depressing one or more of the paddles 24 may initiate a brewing cycle for the coffee brewing system 2. Depressing one or more of the paddles 24 may actuate a controlled feed assembly (e.g., auger 38) of one or more of the hoppers 20. When one or more of the paddles 24 is manually released (e.g., lifted), the paddles 24 may terminate the brewing cycle (e.g., prior to dispensing a beverage). The paddles 24 and / or auger 38 may be configured to provide a visual confirmation to a user of the device and / or a customer when a particular hopper has been selected. For example, selection of one or more paddles may initiate agitation of the contents of each hopper, which may be visible from outside the coffee brewing system 2.

[0016] The user interface assembly 12 may include a display screen 26 capable of displaying data or information regarding the coffee brewing system 2, such as beverage parameters, settings, or maintenance reminders. The coffee brewing system 2 may include a display control 28 for controlling the type of information displayed or for inputting particular parameters or settings. The display screen may have a touch panel display or multiple input buttons for scrolling through and selecting menu options. The waste container assembly 14 has a container for containing "spent" coffee grounds after brewing. The container may be removable to facilitate draining of the contents.

[0017] The dispensing assembly 16 facilitates dispensing of the brewed coffee beverage into a container 30 disposed on a base portion 18. The base portion 18 may include a drip plate 32 to capture any spilled beverage. The base portion 18 may be in fluid communication with a drain.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 1D, the internal components of the coffee brewing system 2 may include a grinder assembly 34 and a brewing assembly 36. The hopper 20 includes a feed auger 38 and a hopper motor 40. The hopper motor 40 is configured to rotate the feed auger 38, which is configured to provide a controlled amount of coffee beans to the grinder assembly 34. With reference to FIG. 1E, the grinder assembly 34 is disposed below the hopper 20, and the hopper assembly 8 may have a tapered chute 39 to facilitate feeding of the coffee beans from the hopper 20 to the grinder assembly 34. In some implementations, the hopper motor may be a component of the hopper assembly 8 (e.g., the hopper holder 22) but not the hopper 20.

[0019] Each hopper 20, or a subset of the hoppers 20, may be in communication with a single grinder assembly 34. Using a single grinder assembly 34 collectively for all the hoppers may reduce production costs, reduce points of failure, and reduce the size of the coffee brewing system 2.

[0020] The grinder assembly 34 is configured to grind the coffee beans into a powder and may be configured to provide a controlled grind size. The grinder assembly 34 may include a grind adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust the grind size based on the beverage selected. Additionally, the grinder assembly 34 may also have various safety features to clear blockages or prevent operation when the grinder assembly 34 is not properly positioned in the coffee brewing system 2.

[0021] The brewing assembly 36 is configured to brew a coffee beverage using hot water and coffee grounds from the grinder assembly 34. The brewing assembly 36 then delivers the prepared coffee beverage to the dispensing assembly 16.

[0022] With reference to FIG. 1C, one or more power cables 37a, 37b can be connected to the back of the coffee brewing system 2 to provide electricity to the coffee brewing system 2. The coffee brewing system 2 can also have multiple vents 41 for cooling the coffee brewing system 2. The back of the coffee brewing system 2 can also have multiple Ethernet or USB ports 42 for transmitting information to and from the coffee brewing system 2, for example forming a daisy chain. As another example, information about the use of the coffee brewing system 2 can be transmitted to a central database to collect the data. In yet another example, software updates can be transmitted to the coffee brewing system 2. The coffee brewing system 2 can communicate with another coffee brewing system, for example to regulate power usage. Furthermore, the coffee brewing system 2 can include a circuit breaker 43 located on the back of the coffee brewing system 2.

[0023] Although the coffee brewing system 2 has been described with certain features, one or more of the above-mentioned assemblies or components may be omitted, substituted, integrated, or divided into multiple subassemblies, and may also include additional structural and operational features as described below in connection with FIG. 2 or as described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 9,930,987, which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0024] 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a beverage machine 1000 for brewing a beverage. The components of the beverage machine 1000 may be implemented in a coffee brewing system 2. The beverage machine 1000 and the coffee brewing system 2 may brew beverages other than coffee (e.g., tea, cocoa), but for purposes of explanation, the structure and operation of the beverage machine 1000 will be described in relation to a machine for brewing coffee (e.g., coffee brewing system 2).

[0025] The beverage machine 1000 may include a water intake assembly 1002. The water intake assembly 1002 may have a water filter for filtering the water used to extract the beverage. However, if the coffee brewing system 2 is installed in an installation that has a water purification system separate from the machine, the water filter may not be required. The water intake assembly 1002 may include a heat sink through which the water may flow. The heat sink may dissipate heat, such as conductive or radiant heat, by heat transfer to the water through the heat sink. The heat transfer to the water may preheat the water before it enters the boiler 1004. Preheating the water before it enters the boiler 1004 may reduce the power required for the boiler 1004 and / or other components in the coffee brewing system 2. At least some of the water may flow directly to the boiler 1004 and may bypass the water intake assembly 1002, if present.

[0026] The boiler 1004 can receive and store water from the water intake assembly 1002 and can heat the stored water to a desired temperature, for example, a temperature in the range of 150°F to just below the boiling point of water, for example, from about 190°F to about 200°F.

[0027] The beverage preparation machine 1000 may include one or more sensors for measuring the temperature of the water in or flowing from the boiler 1004. For example, the beverage machine 1000 may have a water temperature control assembly 1006 that may vary the temperature of the water from the boiler 1004 to provide different brewing temperatures for different cups. The water temperature control assembly 1006 may receive water from the boiler 1004 during a brewing cycle and may adjust the temperature of the water received from the boiler 1004 in response to the controller 1026. The water temperature control assembly 1006 may mix heated water from the boiler 1004 with cooler water from the water intake assembly 1002 or water inlet to lower the temperature of the water used to brew the beverage. The water temperature control assembly 1006 may have a heat exchanger that allows cooler water to cool the heated water without actually mixing with the heated water. The water temperature control assembly 1006 may also heat the water used to brew the beverage above the temperature of the water in the boiler 1004.

[0028] The water temperature control assembly 1006 can sense the temperature of the fluid in the brewing chamber. Based on the sensed temperature, the water temperature control assembly 1006 can control the temperature of the water flowing to the brewing chamber. For example, if the temperature of the fluid in the brewing chamber is too high, cold water can be directed to the brewing assembly 1010. If the temperature of the fluid in the brewing chamber is too low, hot water can be directed to the brewing assembly 1010.

[0029] Alternatively, the beverage machine 1000 may not have a water temperature control assembly 1006 and may rely on the boiler 1004 to heat the water to a desired temperature.

[0030] The water metering and delivery assembly 1008 delivers a predefined amount of water from the temperature control assembly 1006 to the brewing assembly 1010 during a brewing cycle. The brewing assembly 1010 can receive heated water from the water metering and delivery assembly 1008, receive ground ingredients from the grinder assembly 1024, brew a beverage, and then provide the brewed beverage to a dispensing assembly 1014 via a fluid delivery assembly 1012.

[0031] The water metering and delivery assembly 1008 may not include a pump and may rely on gravity and / or external fluid line pressure to move fluid to the brewing chamber 1010. The controller 1026 may determine the amount of water provided to the brewing assembly 1010 based on a number of flow meters in the beverage machine 1000. However, the water metering and delivery assembly 1008 may also include a pump to direct water to the brewing assembly 1010. The controller 1026 may determine the amount of water provided to the brewing assembly 1010 based on the pump speed and the amount of time the pump is operating.

[0032] The water metering and conveying assembly 1008 may also convey a predetermined amount of water to the brewing assembly 1010 during a cleaning cycle. The brewing assembly 1010 may also have a cleaning system, such as a plow assembly, to move used ground materials and residues from the brewing assembly 1010 to the solid waste disposal unit 1020. The solid waste disposal unit 1020 may have a container that is periodically removed for discharge, or connected to an electronic waste disposer, or directly connected to the sewer line of the facility in which the coffee brewing system 2 is installed. Furthermore, the solid waste disposal unit 1020 may be connected to receive tap water, or tap water may be used to flush the "ground-out" used coffee from the disposal unit into a waste disposer unit or directly into the sewer line. The solid waste disposal unit 1020 may periodically initiate an automatic cleaning sequence, for example after each cup of coffee is brewed, or the cleaning sequence may be initiated manually. In some implementations, the solid waste disposal unit 1020 is the same as the liquid waste disposal unit 1016.

[0033] The beverage machine 1000 may have a fluid delivery assembly 1012 that directs the beverage to a dispense assembly 1014 and / or directs liquid waste to a liquid waste disposal 1016 (e.g., a waste container or drain). The fluid delivery assembly 1012 may have a valve or valve assembly that can transition between a first valve position, in which fluid communication is provided between an interior of the extraction assembly 1010 and the dispenser assembly 1014, and a second valve position, in which fluid communication is provided between the extraction assembly 1010 and the liquid waste disposal 1016. The fluid delivery assembly 1012 may move between the first and second valve positions in response to a controller 1026.

[0034] The dispense assembly 1014 can include one or more dispensers. For example, the dispense assembly 1014 can include a beverage dispenser capable of dispensing a selected beverage. The dispense assembly 1014 can include a water dispenser. The water dispenser can have one or more fluid inlets connected to a water source external to the boiler 1004 and / or the apparatus 1000. The dispense assembly 1014 can include one or more valve assemblies that control the inflow and outflow of fluid.

[0035] The base assembly 1018 can hold or house the container while the dispenser assembly 1014 fills the container with the brewed beverage (or water, as described below). The base assembly 1018 can have a drainage portion, for example, to absorb spills from the cup and drips from the dispenser assembly 1014. The drainage portion can be removable for drainage, connected to a liquid waste disposal 1016, or directly connected to a sewer line of the facility in which the coffee beverage system 2 is installed. The base assembly 1018 can include a container detection unit (not shown) for indicating to the controller 1026 whether a container is present in the base assembly 1018 or not. If the container is not present after the brewing assembly 1010 brews the beverage, the controller 1026 can stop or close the fluid delivery assembly 1012 to prevent the dispensing of the brewed beverage. As another example, if a container is present during a cleaning cycle, the controller 1026 can stop or close the fluid delivery assembly 1012 to prevent the dispensing of rinse water into the container. The cup detection unit may include any type of sensor, such as an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0036] The beverage machine 1000 may have one or more hopper assemblies 1022 for holding beverage ingredients to be delivered to the grinder assembly 1024. The controller 1026 may display the amount of beverage ingredients to be delivered to the grinder assembly 1024. If the coffee brewing system 2 has multiple hopper assemblies 1022, each hopper assembly 1022 may be filled with a different type of beverage ingredient.

[0037] In response to the controller 1026, the grinder assembly 1024 can grind the beverage ingredients from the hopper assembly 1022 and then provide a predetermined amount of the ground ingredients to the brewing assembly 1010. Because grind size can affect the taste and other characteristics of the brewed coffee, the controller 1026 may indicate one of a number of grind sizes (e.g., coarse, medium, fine) to the grinder assembly 1024.

[0038] The beverage machine 1000 may include a barrier 1028 to separate the controller 1026 and associated circuitry from other components of the machine 1000. For example, hot water and steam resulting from the extraction of the beverage may condense and damage or otherwise render the controller 1028 inoperable. Additionally, condensation on pipe surfaces carrying cold tap water may cause similar problems. Thus, the moisture barrier 1028 helps to keep the controller 1026 and associated circuitry dry.

[0039] The controller 1026 controls the operation of some or all of the other components of the beverage machine 1000 as described above, and includes a processor 1032 , a memory 1038 , a control panel and display 1030 , and a communication port 1036 .

[0040] The processor 1032 executes software programs stored in the memory 1038, or in another memory (not shown), to control the operation of the components of the beverage machine 1000, as described above and below.

[0041] In addition to storing one or more software programs, the memory 1038 may store a set of predetermined brewing parameters or recipes, as described in more detail below. The memory 1038 may also store data regarding machine operation (e.g., the number of brewed beverages, the type of brewed beverage, or the size of the brewed beverage).

[0042] The control panel and display 1030 allows the operator to input brewing options (e.g., coffee type, cup size, and brewing parameters) or select brewing options from a menu that the processor 1032 can generate on the display. For example, the operator can select individual brewing parameters (e.g., grind size, water temperature, brewing time, and coffee ground to water ratio) or a set of predefined brewing parameters stored in the memory 1038 via the control panel and display 1030. As an example of the latter, a coffee roaster may have determined preferred brewing parameters for his coffee. In this case, these preferred parameters can be stored as a set in the memory 1038 and the set can be associated with an identifier, such as the name or type of coffee. Thus, instead of inputting or selecting each brewing parameter individually, which can be a time-consuming task, the operator can simply input or select an identifier from the menu and the controller 1026 will cause the beverage machine 1000 to brew coffee according to the set of parameters corresponding to the identifier.

[0043] In some embodiments, alternatively or in addition to a control panel and display, the beverage machine 1000 may include a number of alternative input controls 1034 for selecting brewing options.

[0044] The communication port 1036 allows the processor 1032, memory 1038, and control panel and display 1030 to communicate with one or more devices external to the beverage machine 1000. For example, the port 1038 may be connected to a computer, which allows programming or diagnostics to be performed from the computer. The port 1038 may be connected to another beverage machine 1000 to communicate information (e.g., brewing parameters or power information). As another example, the port 1036 may be connected to the Internet, which allows data such as a set of brewing parameters to be downloaded to the memory 1038 or usage statistics to be uploaded from the beverage machine 1000. Additionally, the port 1036 may receive, via a wireless channel, a set of brewing parameters, or the like, from an RFID tag or barcode on a coffee container or coffee cup (the tag may carry the cup owner's preferred coffee type, cup size, or brewing parameters). Additionally, port 1036 may enable processor 1032 to download demographic information, such as coffee drinker preferences and number of cups brewed, to a coffee roaster or supplier, or to the manufacturer / supplier of beverage machine 1000.

[0045] Many of the features described herein, including but not limited to grind size adjustment, brewing assembly, water input system, beverage dispensing features, and plow assembly, are designed to brew beverages quickly. Existing brewing processes for individual servings (e.g., single cups) of beverages often take more than 60 seconds. In contrast, the coffee brewing system 2 described herein can grind, brew, and dispense individual servings (e.g., single cups) of beverages in about 60 seconds or less, such as less than 40 seconds, less than about 35 seconds, or less than about 30 seconds. In some embodiments, the coffee brewing system 2 can dispense individual servings (e.g., single cups) of beverages in less than about 10 seconds or less than about 5 seconds. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the reset process, including cleaning of the brewing assembly, can also take about 30 seconds or less.

[0046] Alternate embodiments of the beverage machine 1000 are contemplated. For example, one or more of the units or components described above may be omitted, the functions of multiple units may be combined into fewer units, or the functions of a single unit may be split among multiple units.

[0047] 3A-3C, an embodiment of a bulk hopper exchange unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 is shown that may be used with an automated bulk beverage preparation system or apparatus (e.g., coffee brewing system 2 and / or beverage machine 1000). The individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 includes two main components or modules: an adapter component 301 and a container component 302. While the two main components may be particularly advantageous, additional intermediate components may be used or the two main components may be subdivided into subcomponents.

[0048] The adapter component 301 is a mounting dock adapted to be mounted on or within an open bulk hopper slot of an automated bulk brewing system (e.g., hopper holder 22 of coffee brewing system 2) as a replacement for a bulk hopper. The adapter component 301 may have the same mating or engagement features as the bulk hopper. The adapter component 301 may include an outer housing 303 having a rear portion 304 and a front portion 305. The rear portion 304 may be generally vertical and the front portion may be generally horizontal, thereby forming a generally "L" shape. The rear portion 304 may have structural features sized and shaped to allow the adapter component 301 to mate or engage with corresponding structural features of a hopper slot of the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., hopper assembly 8 of coffee brewing system 2), thereby facilitating the preparation of a beverage (e.g., brewing a coffee beverage) using the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., coffee brewing system 2). For example, the rear portion 304 of the adapter component 301 may include an auger coupling 306 adapted to couple the adapter auger 307 (shown in FIG. 5A ) to a hopper motor of the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., hopper motor 34 of coffee brewing system 2). In some implementations, the adapter component 301 may include a hopper motor coupled to the auger coupling 306.

[0049] 3B, the rear portion 304 may have a rear connector 308 adapted to interface with a corresponding structure of a hopper slot of an automated bulk brewing system, such that the adapter component 301 properly engages with (e.g., is mounted on or in) the hopper slot. As best shown in FIG. 3A, the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301 may include a tab 309 configured to facilitate engagement of the adapter component 301 with the hopper slot or to facilitate initiation of easy removal of the adapter component 301 from the hopper slot. The adapter component 301 may appear in all respects to the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., coffee brewing system 2) as if a bulk hopper were connected, rather than a bulk hopper replacement unit.

[0050] 3C, the top surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301 may include an engagement member 310. The engagement member 310 includes a central opening 311. The engagement member 310 has a slot or groove 312 formed on each lateral surface of the engagement member 310. The slot or groove 312 is adapted to receive a corresponding rail 313 formed on or extending from a lower portion 314 (e.g., a horizontal platform) of the container component 302. An inner surface of the rail 313 may be rounded to facilitate insertion into and sliding movement along the slot or groove 312. The rail 313 is adapted to be inserted into and slide along the slot or groove 312 of the engagement member 310 of the adapter component 301 as the container component 302 advances horizontally along the top surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301. The mating interface between the slots or grooves 312 and the corresponding rails 313 facilitates a removable engagement or mating between the single-cup receptacle component 302 and the adapter component 301. Other suitable coupling designs or features than those shown may be used as desired and / or required. When the receptacle component 302 is fully advanced along the engagement member 310 (e.g., upon contact with the front wall 316 of the rear portion 303), the central opening 311 is adapted to be aligned with a corresponding lower opening in the bottom of the storage vessel or container 315 of the receptacle component 302. As shown and described in further detail in connection with FIG. 5A, the adapter component 301 has a feed auger 317 disposed below the central opening 311. The feed auger 317 is operably coupled to the adapter auger 307 to facilitate rotation of the feed auger 317.

[0051] The container component 302 has a storage container 315, a handle 318, and a retaining member 319. The storage container 315 includes an upper opening 320 suitable for receiving coffee beans (or other beverage contents) and a lower opening 321 adapted to align with the central opening 311 of the adapter component 301, facilitating the release of the coffee beans into the feed auger 317 when the retaining member 319 is moved so as not to block or cover the lower opening 321. As shown, the upper opening 320 is larger than the lower opening 321, and there is a decrease in cross-sectional dimension along the height of the storage container 315 between the upper opening 320 and the lower opening 321. The relatively large upper opening 320 allows for easy insertion of the coffee beans without spilling. In another embodiment, the storage container 315 may have a uniform or near-uniform cross-sectional dimension along its height. The storage container 315 may define an interior volume that is sized to accommodate sufficient coffee beans to prepare an individual serving (e.g., a single cup serving) of coffee. In some implementations, the interior volume may be sized to accommodate sufficient coffee beans to prepare a traveler-sized serving (e.g., multiple single cup servings) of coffee. The handle 318 is adapted to facilitate easy grasping and carrying of the container component 302 with one hand of a barista or other user.

[0052] Although "single cup" or "individual serving" portions are referenced throughout this disclosure, the individual serving feed hopper adapter or bulk hopper replacement unit 300 may be adapted and used to adjust the desired portion size using a storage container (e.g., hopper, receptacle) sized to hold a smaller portion of the beverage contents (e.g., coffee beans) than the bulk hopper 20. For example, an individual serving or single cup portion may be a portion or serving size suitable for consumption by one individual, which may be more or less than an actual cup of beverage (e.g., 8 fluid ounces) (e.g., 4 fluid ounces to 24 fluid ounces, 4 fluid ounces to 16 fluid ounces, 8 fluid ounces to 24 fluid ounces). An individual serving portion may be a traveler portion (e.g., multiple servings, such as 1 to 4 individual serving sizes, or up to 96 fluid ounces) in some implementations. According to some implementations, the storage container 315 may define an internal volume (e.g., maximum storage capacity) that is less than 20% (1:5 ratio), less than 15% (3:20 ratio), less than 10% (1:10 ratio), or less than 5% (1:20 ratio) of the internal volume of the bulk hopper 20 that the bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 is replacing. The ratio of the internal volume of the storage container 315 to the internal volume of the bulk hopper 20 may be between 1:100 and 1:5 (e.g., 1:100 to 1:20, 1:50 to 1:20, 1:50 to 1:10, 1:20 to 1:10, 3:20 to 1:20, 1:10 to 1:5). The storage container 315 may be sized to contain less than 20%, less than 15%, less than 10%, or less than 5% of the amount of coffee beans that the bulk hopper 20 is sized to contain (e.g., has a maximum storage capacity). The storage container 315 may be sized to have a maximum storage capacity of between 15 grams and 250 grams of coffee beans (e.g., between 15 grams and 60 grams, up to 60 grams, up to 250 grams, between 20 grams and 60 grams, between 30 grams and 60 grams, between 15 grams and 100 grams, overlapping ranges thereof, or any value within the recited ranges)."Maximum storage capacity" may have its plain and ordinary meaning, e.g., coffee beans in the storage container 315 that exceed the capacity will overflow or spill out and cannot be contained within the storage container. In some implementations, the storage container 315 may be sized to contain between 15 grams and less than 250 grams of coffee beans (e.g., between 15 grams and less than 60 grams, less than 60 grams, less than 250 grams, between 20 grams and less than 60 grams, between 30 grams and less than 60 grams, between 15 grams and less than 100 grams, overlapping ranges thereof, or any value within the recited ranges).

[0053] In some implementations, a bulk hopper having a first maximum storage capacity is replaced with an individual serving feed hopper adapter or bulk hopper replacement unit 300, in which case the storage container 315 of the individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 has a second maximum storage capacity. The second maximum storage capacity may be less than the first maximum storage capacity. For example, the second maximum storage capacity may have the maximum storage capacity described in the previous paragraph. A barista or other user may fill the storage container 314 with less than 20% (1:5 ratio), less than 15% (3:20 ratio), less than 10% (1:10 ratio), or less than 5% (1:20 ratio) of the amount of coffee beans that the bulk hopper is sized to store (e.g., the bulk hopper's maximum storage capacity). A barista or other user may fill or load the storage container 314 with between 15 grams and 250 grams of coffee beans (e.g., between 15 grams and 60 grams, up to 60 grams, up to 250 grams, between 20 grams and 60 grams, between 30 grams and 60 grams, between 15 grams and 100 grams, overlapping ranges thereof, or any value within the recited ranges). The amount of coffee beans may be sufficient to brew a coffee beverage between 3 fluid ounces and 96 fluid ounces (e.g., between 3 fluid ounces and 20 fluid ounces, between 3 fluid ounces and 30 fluid ounces, between 8 fluid ounces and 30 fluid ounces, between 8 fluid ounces and 64 fluid ounces, overlapping ranges thereof, or any value within the recited ranges, e.g., 3 fluid ounces, 4 fluid ounces, 8 fluid ounces, 12 fluid ounces, 16 fluid ounces, 20 fluid ounces, 30 fluid ounces, 31 fluid ounces, 48 ​​fluid ounces, 96 fluid ounces). The storage container 314 may be filled before or after the individual serving feed hopper adapter or bulk hopper exchange unit 300 is coupled or engaged with a bulk hopper slot of the automated coffee brewing system. The automatic coffee brewing system, in this case, may be operated (manually or automatically) to brew individual servings of coffee using the amount of coffee beans placed in the storage container 314 by the barista or other user.

[0054] 4A-4C, the retaining member 319 may be sized and shaped to fit into a slot or groove formed above the rail 313 of the container component 302 and slide along the rail 313 along the slot or groove. The lateral surfaces of the retaining member 319 may be rounded to facilitate insertion into the slot or groove and sliding along the rail 313 within the slot or groove. The retaining member 319 may be partially (as shown in FIG. 4A) or completely removed from the slot or groove. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the retaining member 319 may be advanced distally until it covers a lower opening 321 at the bottom of the storage container 315, thereby achieving retention (or prevention of dispensing or release) of the coffee beans or other beverage ingredients filled therein.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3A , by advancing the container component 302 along the upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301 and distally towards the wall 316 of the rear portion 304, the retaining member 319 contacts the front (e.g., proximal) portion 322 of the engagement member 310 protruding upwardly from the upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301, causing the retaining member 319 to automatically slide proximally (forward or towards the barista) along the upper slot or groove of the rail 313, thereby uncovering the lower opening 321 and allowing the coffee beans to fall through the central opening 311 towards the feed auger 317 in the adapter component 301.

[0056] In some implementations, no biasing member (e.g., a spring) is provided to automatically return the retaining member 319 to a closed (or locked) configuration in which the lower opening 321 of the reservoir 315 is covered. In some implementations, no magnetic assembly or other actuation mechanism is provided to controllably transition the retaining member 319 between the closed and open configurations. Instead, the retaining member 319 is transitioned between these configurations by mechanical or physical contact provided by manual force. Thus, the retaining member 319 need not have a defined configuration.

[0057] In another implementation, a biasing member (e.g., a spring) may be provided that automatically returns the retaining member 319 to a closed (or locked) configuration in which the lower opening 321 of the reservoir 315 is covered. Thus, the retaining member 319 may have a defined closed or locked configuration.

[0058] 5A and 5B show an embodiment of an auger assembly of a bulk hopper exchange unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300. The auger assembly includes an auger coupling 306, an adapter auger 307, and a feed auger 317. The adapter auger 307 and the feed auger are mechanically and operatively coupled such that rotation of the adapter auger 307 (e.g., by the hopper motor 34) causes corresponding rotation of the feed auger 317. The feed auger 317 can advantageously prevent coffee beans from entering the grinder assembly 34 below the feed auger 317 until the auger rotates such that the coffee beans can be metered into the grinder assembly 34 at a predetermined rate.

[0059] FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of the feed auger 317 to aid in its cross-section. As shown, the feed auger 317 may have a flat paddle wheel design with an inner core 323 and blades or flutes 324 that at least partially surround the inner core 323. However, in some implementations, the feed auger 317 may have curved or corrugated blades or flutes 324 designed to reduce the required and / or desired drive force and noise. The hopper motor 34 can rotate the adapter auger 307 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, which in turn can rotate the feed auger 317. In some implementations, the hopper motor 34 is a component of the auger assembly of the adapter component 301. An auger retainer 325 at the proximal end of the feed auger 317 can secure the proximal end of the feed auger 317 in a slot in the adapter component 301.

[0060] FIG. 5B further illustrates that the bottom portion of the adapter component 301 can have one or more engagement features 326, 327 (e.g., lips, ridges, protrusions, recesses, grooves, or openings) that can extend intermittently or continuously along at least a portion of the bottom portion of the adapter component 301. The engagement features 326, 327 are adapted to facilitate engagement with mating or interlocking features of a hopper slot of an automated bulk brewing system (e.g., coffee brewing system 2). In some implementations, the adapter component 301 is slid distally along or into the hopper slot in a generally horizontal (e.g., non-vertical) orientation. In other implementations, the adapter component 301 is mated from a generally vertical orientation and dropped onto or into the hopper slot. FIG. 5B further illustrates in a close-up view how the rails 313 of the container component 302 fit into corresponding slots or grooves 312 of the engagement members 310 of the adapter component 301.

[0061] The braids or flutes 324 may be evenly distributed along the circumference of the inner core 323. The inner core 323 and braids 324 may comprise the same material or different materials. For example, the inner core 323 may comprise stainless steel, and the braids 324 may be injection molded around the inner core 323 using nylon, PVC, a polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof. As another example, the inner core 323 and braids 324 may each comprise nylon, PVC, a polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof.

[0062] Manufacturing the feed auger 317 can include a two-stage injection molding process. First, the inner core 323 can be injection molded using nylon, PVC, polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof. After the inner core 323 has cooled, the blades 324 can be injection molded onto the inner core 323 using nylon, PVC, polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof.

[0063] Figures 6A-6D show another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 that may be used in connection with an automated bulk coffee brewing system, such as the automated coffee brewing system 2 shown in Figures 1A-1E. Figure 6A is a side perspective view of the bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300, and Figure 6B is a side cross-sectional view of Figure 6A.

[0064] The bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300' may have similar structural and operational features as the bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 described in connection with Figures 3A-5B. For example, the bulk hopper replacement unit 300' includes an adapter component 301' and a container component 302', which may have similar structural and operational features as the adapter component 301 and the container component 302 described above. The container component 302' further includes a removable retention member 319' (e.g., a gate or other retention mechanism) that may provide a retention function similar to the retention member 319 described above.

[0065] However, the container component 302' may be adapted to engage, couple or mate with the adapter component 301' from a generally vertical orientation rather than a generally horizontal orientation (e.g., a top-loading rather than a side-loading fitment). FIG. 6C shows the container component 302' positioned above a central opening 311' formed in a raised upper surface of a platform of the front portion 305' of the adapter component 301'. The central opening 311' is sized and shaped to receive a distal binding member or portion 330 of the container component 302'. The distal binding member 330 is inserted into the central opening 311' in a generally vertical trajectory from a position above the central opening 311'. The container component 302' also has a proximal coupling member or portion 331 that is sized and shaped to be longer and wider than the central opening 311' of the adapter component 301' (and than the distal coupling member 330) such that a lower periphery of the proximal coupling member 331 rests on the raised upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305' of the adapter component 301'. The proximal coupling member 331 includes a slot 333 that is sized and shaped to receive the retaining member 319'. In a manner similar to that described with respect to the retaining member 319, when the retaining member 319' is fully inserted into the slot 333, all contents (e.g., coffee beans) within the container component 302' are retained within the container component 302'. However, upon the act of removing (partially or completely) the retaining member 319' from the slot 333, the contents of the container component 302' are no longer retained within the container component 302' and may enter (e.g., fall) into the central opening 311' of the adapter component 301' and then into the feed auger 317.

[0066] 6D shows the retaining member 319' in an open or removed configuration in which any contents of the container component 302' are no longer prevented from entering the central opening 311' of the adapter component 301'. As shown, the retaining member 319' may be inserted and removed at the side of the proximal coupling member 331 on the handle 318' side of the container component 301'. The retaining member 319' may have a length and width sized to completely cover the lower opening 321' of the container component 302' such that when the retaining member 319' is fully inserted into the slot 333, the ejection or discharge of any contents is prevented.

[0067] The first end of the retaining member 319' may have a gripping member 334 extending substantially perpendicular to the first end of the retaining member to facilitate insertion and removal of the retaining member 319' into and from the slot. The gripping member 334 may also prevent overinsertion of the retaining member 319'. The gripping member 334 may alternatively have a tab, which need not extend perpendicular to the first end of the retaining member. According to some implementations, the retaining member 319' is inserted and removed into and from the slot manually (e.g., by pushing and pulling the gripping member 334) and does not automatically transition between the closed and open configurations when the container component 302' is coupled or mated to the adapter component 301'. The retaining member 319' may not be automatically biased to the closed configuration.

[0068] In another implementation, the movement of the retaining member 319' can be automated (in one or both directions). For example, a mechanical cam system (e.g., a rotating and / or sliding cam mechanism, and / or a crank mechanism) can be operatively coupled (e.g., mechanically attached) to the retaining member 319' and to the auger assembly (e.g., feed auger 317) of the adapter component 301' such that as the feed auger 317 rotates, the cam system transitions the retaining member 319' between the closed and open configurations. The cam system may have a one-way cam system that is manually reset (e.g., the retaining member 319' is manually transitioned to the closed configuration) once coffee beans or other contents are filled into the container component 302'. In some implementations, the cam system is automatically reset.

[0069] How to use 7A shows an embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 mounted in a bulk hopper slot of an automatic coffee brewing system 2. As shown in FIG. 7A, the bulk hopper replacement unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 can be located in one of the bulk hopper slots, and a bulk hopper can be located in the other bulk hopper slot. Of course, in some examples, multiple bulk hopper replacement units or individual serving feed hopper adapters 300 can be coupled to multiple bulk hopper slots as desired and / or required. Furthermore, to increase throughput, multiple container components 302 can be pre-filled, prepared or lined up with beverage contents and interchangeably engaged with the adapter component 301 mounted in one of the bulk hopper slots.

[0070] A bulk hopper replacement unit or an individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 may be selected for use by selecting an appropriate hopper selector (e.g., paddle 24) of the automated coffee brewing system 2. In some forms, when the individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 (e.g., adapter component 301 and / or container component 302) is coupled (e.g., mated, engaged) with one of the bulk hopper slots of the coffee brewing system 2, the coffee brewing system 2 immediately and automatically detects or recognizes that the individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 has been coupled and causes a menu screen corresponding to the individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 to be displayed on the display screen 26. The menu screen may allow the barista or user to select a beverage (e.g., coffee) type and / or other beverage parameters. In some forms, the menu screen is pre-populated with various options for beverage (e.g., coffee) type for selection based on the inventory of beverages (e.g., coffee types) available at the coffee shop. After the automatic coffee brewing system 2 is activated, the bulk hopper exchange unit or individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 can dispense individual servings (eg, single cup amounts) of beverage ingredients to the grinder assembly 500.

[0071] A controlled amount can be fed into the grinder assembly 34 via a chute 39. The grinder assembly 34 can be set to a specific grind size based on the hopper selection. After the grinder assembly 34 grinds the beverage ingredients, the beverage ingredients can flow into the brewing assembly 36 and then from the brewing assembly to the dispensing assembly 16 and then into the beverage container 30 located below the discharge spout of the dispensing assembly 16. The container component 302 can be removed from the adapter component 301 (as shown in FIG. 7B ) and a new container component 302 filled with beverage contents (e.g., coffee beans) can be fitted or engaged with the adapter component 301 and the brewing process can be repeated. The adapter component 301 can be left in position coupled to the coffee brewing system 2 for an extended period of time to prepare for the preparation of additional beverages, or can be replaced with a bulk hopper after a single use or a short period of time. The bulk hopper replacement unit or the individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 of FIGS. 6A-6D can also be used additionally or interchangeably.

[0072] The use of a single grinder assembly 34 for both the bulk hopper and the individual serving feed hopper adapter 300 can reduce the amount of space required for the grinder assembly, reduce product costs, reduce failure points, and reduce the amount of calibration required. The grinder assembly 34 can grind the beverage ingredients to a controlled grind size. The grind size can be varied based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the type of beverage ingredient or the type of beverage.

[0073] Terminology For purposes of description, the term "horizontal" as used herein is defined as a plane parallel to a plane or surface in which the described apparatus is used or the described method is performed, regardless of its orientation. The term "vertical" refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as defined above. Terms such as "upper", "lower", "bottom", "top", "side", "higher", "lower", "upper", "above" and "below" are defined with respect to the horizontal plane.

[0074] As used herein, the relative terms "proximal," "distal," "front," and "rear" are defined with respect to a user (e.g., a barista) facing the controls, i.e., proximal means the side of the machine that has the user-operable controls, and distal means the opposite side of the machine.

[0075] Conditional language such as "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless otherwise specified or interpreted differently in the context in which it is used, is generally intended to indicate that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, but other embodiments do not. Thus, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that those features, elements, and / or steps are in any way essential to one or more embodiments, regardless of whether those features, elements, and / or steps are included in or performed by any particular embodiment. Terms such as "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, are synonymous and are used in an inclusive and non-exclusive manner and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, etc. The term "or" is also used in an inclusive (and not exclusive) sense, and thus, for example, when used to connect listed elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the listed elements.

[0076] The terms "approximately", "about" and "substantially" as used herein refer to an amount close to the stated amount that can perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. For example, as may be specified by the context, the terms "approximately", "about" and "substantially" may refer to an amount that is within 10% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms "approximately parallel" and "substantially parallel" refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that is within 10 degrees of strict parallelism, as may be specified by the context.

[0077] Disjunctive language, such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z," is generally interpreted differently depending on the context in which it is used to indicate that an object, term, etc. can be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and / or Z), unless specifically stated otherwise. Thus, such disjunctive language is generally not intended, and should not be intended, to imply that a particular embodiment requires at least one X, at least one Y, or at least one Z, respectively, to be present.

[0078] Ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all overlaps, subranges, and combinations thereof. Words such as "up to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," "between," and the like, include the referenced number. Numbers preceded by terms such as "about" or "approximately" include the referenced number. For example, "about 5 inches" includes "5 inches."

[0079] While specific embodiments and examples have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many aspects of the systems and devices shown and described in this disclosure can be variously combined and / or modified to form further embodiments or acceptable implementations. All such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. A wide variety of designs and approaches are possible. No feature, structure, or step disclosed herein is essential or critical.

[0080] Some implementations are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale. Distances, angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do not necessarily bear an exact relationship to the actual dimensions and layout of the illustrated devices. Components can be added, removed, and / or rearranged. Furthermore, any particular features, aspects, methods, properties, characteristics, qualities, attributes, elements, etc. disclosed herein in connection with various embodiments can be used in all other embodiments described herein. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that any method described herein may be implemented using any device suitable for performing the described steps.

[0081] For purposes of disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. It is to be understood that not all such advantages may necessarily be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. That is, for example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be realized or embodied in a manner that achieves one advantage or group of advantages taught herein, without necessarily achieving other advantages that may be taught or suggested herein.

[0082] Furthermore, while exemplary embodiments are described herein, the scope of any and all embodiments includes equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations, and / or alterations as would be recognized by a person skilled in the art based on this disclosure. The limitations in the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the terms used in the claims and should not be limited to the examples described herein or during the prosecution of this application, which examples should be interpreted as non-exclusive. Furthermore, the operations of the disclosed processes and methods may be modified in any manner, including by rearranging the order of operations and / or inserting additional operations and / or deleting operations. Thus, it is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the full scope of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A bulk hopper replacement unit for replacing a bulk hopper of a hopper assembly of an automatic coffee brewing system, said bulk hopper replacement unit comprising: an adapter component configured to removably engage a bulk hopper slot of the hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system; a container component configured to removably engage the adapter component; and It has the receptacle component having a container defining an interior volume sized and shaped to hold a quantity of coffee beans that is less than the quantity of coffee beans that can be stored in the bulk hopper; the adapter component having an opening and a feed auger located below the opening and configured to control the distribution of the coffee beans into a grinder assembly of the automated coffee brewing system; when the container component is engaged with the adapter component, the opening of the adapter component aligns with a lower opening of the container of the container component to facilitate transfer of the coffee beans into the adapter component; Bulk hopper exchange unit.

2. The replacement unit of claim 1 , wherein the adapter component has one or more hopper engagement features adapted to facilitate engagement with the bulk hopper slot of the hopper assembly of the automated coffee brewing system.

3. 3. The replacement unit of claim 1, wherein the adapter component has a generally vertical rear portion and a generally horizontal front portion, the upper surface of the front portion having an engagement member disposed thereon to facilitate engagement with the container component, the engagement member having the opening.

4. A replacement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container element comprises a handle.

5. The replacement unit of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter component has an adapter auger operably connected to the feed auger to control rotation of the feed auger, the adapter auger having an auger coupling adapted to connect to a hopper motor of the hopper assembly of the automatic extraction system.

6. The replacement unit of claim 1 , wherein the feed auger is positioned along the adapter component such that the feed auger is generally aligned with a grinder assembly of the automated extraction system.

7. 7. A replacement unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receptacle component has a slot located above the lower opening of the container, the receptacle component having a removable retaining member adapted to be inserted into the slot and sized to cover the lower opening of the container, whereby the coffee beans are retained within the container until the removable retaining member is at least partially removed from the slot.

8. 4. The replacement unit of claim 3, wherein said engagement member has notches extending along opposing side surfaces of said engagement member.

9. The replacement unit of claim 8 , wherein the lower portion of the container component has inwardly extending side rails adapted to fit within the notches.

10. 10. The replacement unit of claim 9, wherein the container component has retaining members configured to removably engage the side rails, such that the coffee beans are retained within the container until the container component is engaged with the adapter component.

11. 11. The replacement unit of claim 10, wherein the retaining member is configured to slide along the rail between a closed configuration that prevents transfer of the coffee beans from the container and an open configuration in which the coffee beans are no longer retained in the container.

12. 12. The replacement unit of claim 11, wherein contact of the leading surface of the retaining member with the front side of the engagement member causes the retaining member to slide proximally along the rail of the container component, thereby uncovering the lower opening of the container and allowing transfer of the coffee beans to the adapter component.

13. 1. A bulk hopper replacement unit for replacing a bulk hopper of a hopper assembly of an automatic coffee brewing system, said bulk hopper replacement unit comprising: an adapter component configured to removably engage a bulk hopper slot of the hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system; a container component configured to removably engage the adapter component; and It has the receptacle component having a container defining an interior volume sized to have a maximum storage capacity of less than 250 grams of coffee beans; the receptacle component includes a removable gate that is adapted to be moved from a closed configuration to an open configuration to allow the coffee beans to exit the container; Bulk hopper exchange unit.

14. The replacement unit of claim 13 , wherein the removable gate is slidably attached to the container component.

15. The replacement unit of claim 14 , wherein contact by a leading surface of the removable gate with a front side of an engagement member on the adapter component causes the removable gate to slide proximally to the open configuration.

16. 16. The replacement unit of claim 15, wherein the adapter component has an opening and the container of the container component has a lower opening, the openings being configured to be aligned when the container component is fully engaged with the adapter component and the removable gate is moved to the open configuration.

17. 17. The replacement unit of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the removable gate is not automatically biased into the closed configuration.

18. 1. A method for preparing individual servings of a coffee beverage using an automated coffee brewing system having a bulk hopper assembly, the method comprising: removably mounting an adapter component of a bulk hopper replacement unit onto a bulk hopper slot of the bulk hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system; filling a container component of a bulk hopper replacement unit with a sufficient amount of coffee beans for preparation of said individual servings of said coffee beverage; coupling the container component to the adapter component; operating the automated coffee brewing system to prepare the coffee beverage; The method includes:

19. removing the container component from the adapter component; filling a second container component with coffee beans in an amount sufficient for preparation of an individual serving of a second coffee beverage; coupling the second container component to the adapter component; and operating the automated coffee brewing system to prepare the second coffee beverage; 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

20. 20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the step of operating the automatic coffee brewing system includes the step of operating a hopper selector of the bulk hopper assembly that corresponds to the bulk hopper slot in which the adapter component is installed.

21. 21. The method of any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising the step of removing the adapter component from the bulk hopper slot of the bulk hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system.

Images