Coffee making device, coffee making method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technology relating to a coffee brewing device that can provide various types of coffee. [Solution] The coffee making device 1 comprises a first canister 2A for storing a first coffee ingredient, a second canister 2B for storing a second coffee ingredient, a first feeder 3A for delivering the first coffee ingredient from the first canister 2A, a second feeder 3B for delivering the second coffee ingredient from the second canister 2B, and a receiving unit 13 for receiving a taste specified by a user; when the first taste is specified in the receiving unit 13, both the first feeder 3A and the second feeder 3B operate to prepare a coffee ingredient that is a blend of the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient, and coffee is provided using the coffee ingredient.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee brewing device, a coffee brewing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Coffee beverage production devices are available that include a plurality of coffee bean canisters for storing roasted coffee beans, and that feed the stored coffee beans by rotating a screw feeder (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-120665 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-165486 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of device, one canister stores coffee beans blended for hot coffee, and the other canister stores coffee beans blended for iced coffee. When hot coffee was selected, the screw feeder in one canister rotated to deliver the coffee beans for hot coffee, and when iced coffee was selected, the screw feeder in the other canister rotated to deliver the coffee beans for iced coffee. There were as many variations of coffee flavors as there were canisters.

[0005] Even if hot coffee and iced coffee are made using coffee beans stored in each of a plurality of canisters, the variation in coffee taste is limited to twice the number of canisters.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a technique relating to a coffee brewing device that can provide various types of coffee. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A coffee making apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first canister for storing a first coffee ingredient, a second canister for storing a second coffee ingredient, a first feeder for delivering the first coffee ingredient from the first canister, a second feeder for delivering the second coffee ingredient from the second canister, and a receiving unit for receiving a taste specified by a user; when the first taste is specified in the receiving unit, both the first feeder and the second feeder are activated to prepare a coffee ingredient that is a blend of the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient, and coffee is provided using the coffee ingredient.

[0008] A coffee making method according to one aspect of the present invention includes specifying a coffee taste to a receiving unit, activating both a first feeder and a second feeder if the specified taste is a first taste, preparing a coffee ingredient blended with the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient by having the first feeder deliver a first coffee ingredient from a first canister and the second feeder deliver a second coffee ingredient from a second canister, and serving coffee using the prepared coffee ingredient.

[0009] A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a coffee making device to specify a coffee taste in a receiving unit, and if the specified taste is a first taste, to operate both a first feeder and a second feeder, to prepare a coffee ingredient that is a blend of the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient by having the first feeder feed a first coffee ingredient from a first canister and the second feeder feed a second coffee ingredient from a second canister, and to serve coffee using the prepared coffee ingredient.

[0010] These aspects make it possible to provide coffee with a taste using a first coffee ingredient, a taste using a second coffee ingredient, and a taste using a coffee ingredient that is a blend of the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient, thereby providing technology related to a coffee brewing device that can provide a variety of coffees.

[0011] In the above aspect, when the first taste is designated to the receiving unit, both the first feeder and the second feeder may be operated simultaneously.

[0012] According to this aspect, the operation of the first feeder and the operation of the second feeder proceed simultaneously, thereby reducing the user's waiting time while the coffee ingredients are being measured out. The first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient are blended more uniformly, improving the flavor of the coffee.

[0013] In the above aspect, when a first taste is specified in the receiving unit, both the first feeder and the second feeder may be activated to deliver equal amounts of the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient.

[0014] According to this embodiment, it is possible to enjoy a first taste that is different from the taste produced by using the first coffee ingredient and the taste produced by using the second coffee ingredient. Note that the blend ratio is not limited to equal parts, and various blend ratios are possible.

[0015] In the above embodiment, the first feeder may be a screw feeder that rotates a spiral screw to feed the first coffee ingredient.

[0016] According to this aspect, the coffee ingredients can be delivered in an amount corresponding to the number of rotations of the screw, and the coffee ingredients can be measured with a simple configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology relating to a coffee brewing device that can provide various types of coffee. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a coffee making device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the first to third feeders shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of a coffee making method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows examples of the first to third coffee ingredients. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, components with the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a coffee brewing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The coffee brewing device 1 is installed in, for example, a convenience store to provide freshly brewed coffee. The coffee brewing device 1 may be operated by a customer or by an employee.

[0020] 1, the coffee making device 1 includes a plurality of canisters 2 for storing coffee ingredients and a plurality of feeders 3 corresponding one-to-one to the plurality of canisters 2. In the illustrated example, the plurality of canisters 2 include first to third canisters 2A, 2B, and 2C, and the plurality of feeders 3 include first to third feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C. The number of the plurality of canisters 2 and the plurality of feeders 3 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be two, or may be four or more.

[0021] The first canister 2A stores a first coffee ingredient, the second canister 2B stores a second coffee ingredient with a different taste from the first coffee ingredient, and the third canister 2C stores a third coffee ingredient that is different from both the first and second coffee ingredients. The first to third coffee ingredients may be coffee beans roasted from green beans, coffee powder (ground beans) made by grinding roasted coffee beans in advance, or instant coffee made by drying coffee extract.

[0022] In the illustrated example, the coffee making device 1 includes a mill 4 that grinds the coffee beans supplied from each of a plurality of feeders 3 to a predetermined particle size, a brewer unit 5 that extracts coffee from coffee ingredients such as coffee powder, a water tank 6 that supplies water to the brewer unit 5, a dregs container 7 that disposes of coffee grounds and paper filters after extraction, and a controller 10 that controls the operation of the coffee making device 1.

[0023] However, these components are optional and may be omitted. For example, if the coffee ingredients stored in the multiple canisters 2 are coffee powder or instant coffee, the mill 4 may be omitted. If the coffee ingredients stored in the multiple canisters 2 are instant coffee, the grounds container 7 may be omitted.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the controller 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a receiving unit 13, etc. The control unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU, and controls the operation of the motors of the feeders 3, the motor of the mill 4, the paper filters and valves of the brewer unit 5, the pump of the water tank 6, etc. The storage unit 12 includes memories such as ROM and RAM, and stores a program for operating the coffee brewing device 1. Note that this program may be updatable via a communication medium or a storage medium.

[0025] The receiving unit 13 is an interface or the like, and receives the taste specified by the user. The user may be a purchaser or an employee. The user may specify the coffee taste by operating the operation unit 14, such as a touch panel or operation buttons. The coffee taste may be specified by placing the cup 100 directly under the nozzle of the brewer unit 5 and having the sensor 15 read the color or pattern printed on the cup 100.

[0026] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the first to third feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C shown in Figure 1. In the example shown, each of the first to third feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C is configured as a screw feeder that delivers coffee ingredients by rotating a first to third helical screw 32A, 32B, and 32C, respectively.

[0027] The first to third canisters 2A, 2B, and 2C are attached directly above the inclined surfaces of the corresponding first to third troughs 31A, 31B, and 31C, respectively. The first to third screws 32A, 32B, and 32C are attached to the bottoms of the corresponding first to third troughs 31A, 31B, and 31C, respectively.

[0028] 3 is a diagram showing an example of first to third coffee ingredients. In the example shown, the first coffee ingredient is an A-origin blend, in which 30% or more of coffee beans from the A-origin, which is designated as the origin, are blended. Similarly, the second coffee ingredient is a B-origin blend, in which 30% or more of coffee beans from the B-origin, which is designated as the origin, are blended. The third coffee ingredient is a C-origin blend, in which 30% or more of coffee beans from the C-origin, which is designated as the origin, are blended.

[0029] The coffee making apparatus 1 described above and the coffee making method described below can provide coffees of various flavors by blending first to third coffee ingredients. In the example shown in Figure 3, it is possible to provide hot coffee (first flavor) brewed from coffee beans of a standard hot blend, which is a mixture of equal parts of coffee beans from an A-origin blend and coffee beans from a B-origin blend, iced coffee (second flavor) brewed from coffee beans of a standard iced blend, which is a mixture of equal parts of coffee beans from an A-origin blend and coffee beans from a C-origin blend, hot coffee and iced coffee (third and fourth flavors) brewed from coffee beans from an A-origin blend, hot coffee and iced coffee (fifth and sixth flavors) brewed from coffee beans from a B-origin blend, and hot coffee and iced coffee (seventh and eighth flavors) brewed from coffee beans from a C-origin blend.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a coffee brewing method according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, in the coffee brewing method, the user specifies the coffee taste via the receiving unit 13 (step S1), and if the specified taste is the first taste (step S1: Yes), the controller 10 operates both the first feeder 3A and the second feeder 3B (step S3).

[0031] The first feeder 3A delivers the first coffee ingredient from the first canister 2A, and the second feeder 3B delivers the second coffee ingredient from the second canister 2B, thereby preparing a blend of the first and second coffee ingredients (Step S4).The brewer unit 5 receives the prepared coffee ingredients from the mill 4 or the first and second feeders 3A and 3B, and serves coffee using the coffee ingredients (Step S5).

[0032] In the above-mentioned step S2, if the designated taste is not the first taste (step S1: No) but the designated taste is the second taste (step S6: Yes), the controller 10 operates both the first feeder 3A and the third feeder 3C (step S7).

[0033] The first feeder 3A delivers the first coffee ingredient from the first canister 2A, and the third feeder 3C delivers the third coffee ingredient from the third canister 2C, thereby preparing a blend of the first and second coffee ingredients (step SS8).The brewer unit 5 receives the prepared coffee ingredients from the mill 4 or the first and second feeders 3A and 3C, and serves coffee using the coffee ingredients (step S5).

[0034] In the aforementioned step S6, when the designated taste is not the second taste (step S6: No), the controller 10 operates the feeders corresponding to the designated tastes (for example, the aforementioned third to eighth tastes), i.e., the first feeder 3A corresponding to the third or fourth taste, the second feeder 3B corresponding to the fifth or sixth taste, and the third feeder 3C corresponding to the seventh and eighth tastes.

[0035] The designated coffee ingredients are prepared by sending out the coffee ingredients from any of the first to third feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C (step S10). The brewer unit 5 receives the prepared coffee ingredients from the mill 4 or any of the first to third feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C, and serves coffee using the coffee ingredients (step S5).

[0036] The program stored in the storage unit 12 causes the coffee making device to execute the steps S1 to S10 described above. The program may be stored on a storage medium.

[0037] The coffee brewing apparatus 1, coffee brewing method, and program of the present invention configured as described above can provide a variety of coffees without being limited by the number of canisters. For example, in addition to the third and fourth flavors using only the first coffee ingredient, the fifth and sixth flavors using only the second coffee ingredient, and the seventh and eighth flavors using only the third coffee ingredient, it is possible to provide a first flavor coffee using coffee ingredients blended in equal parts with the first and second coffee ingredients. It is also possible to provide a second flavor coffee using coffee ingredients blended in equal parts with the first and third coffee ingredients. Note that the blend ratio is not limited to equal parts and can be varied. Flavors other than the first through eighth flavors may also be provided by blending all of the first through third coffee ingredients.

[0038] When a first taste is specified in the receiving unit 13, both the first feeder 3A and the second feeder 3B may operate simultaneously. When a second taste is specified in the receiving unit 13, both the first feeder 3A and the third feeder 3C may operate simultaneously. Since the multiple feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C operate simultaneously in parallel, the user's waiting time when the coffee ingredients are measured out can be reduced. Compared to when the feeders 3A, 3B, and 3C are operated at different times, the multiple coffee ingredients are blended more uniformly, improving the flavor of the coffee.

[0039] In the example shown in Figure 2, the first to third feeders 3A, 3B, 3C are screw feeders that rotate the first to third spiral screws 32A, 32B, 32C to feed the coffee ingredients, so that the amount of coffee ingredients can be fed according to the rotation speed of the first to third screws 32A, 32B, 32C. The coffee ingredients can be measured with a simple configuration.

[0040] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The elements of the embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, etc., are not limited to those illustrated and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...Coffee making device, 2A...First canister, 2B...Second canister, 2C...Third canister, 3A...First feeder, 3B...Second feeder, 3C...Third feeder, 4...Mill, 5...Brewery unit, 6...Water tank, 7...Dregs container, 10...Controller, 11...Control unit, 12...Memory unit, 13...Receiving unit, 14...Operation unit, 15...Sensor, 31A...first trough, 31B...second trough, 31C...third trough, 32A...first screw, 32B...second screw, 32C...third screw, 100...cup.

Claims

1. a first canister for storing a first coffee ingredient; a second canister storing a second coffee ingredient; a first feeder for delivering the first coffee ingredient from the first canister; a second feeder for delivering the second coffee ingredient from the second canister; a receiving unit that receives a taste designated by a user, when a first taste is designated in the receiving unit, both the first feeder and the second feeder are operated to prepare a coffee ingredient in which the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient are blended, and coffee using the blended coffee ingredient is served. Coffee making equipment.

2. When the first taste is specified in the receiving unit, both the first feeder and the second feeder operate simultaneously. Coffee making device according to claim 1.

3. when the first taste is designated by the receiving unit, both the first feeder and the second feeder are operated to feed the first coffee ingredient and the second coffee ingredient in equal amounts; Coffee making device according to claim 1.

4. the first feeder is a screw feeder that rotates a spiral screw to feed the first coffee material; Coffee making device according to claim 1.

5. The receiver can specify the coffee flavor, If the designated taste is the first taste, operate both the first feeder and the second feeder; preparing a coffee ingredient blended with the first coffee ingredient by feeding a first coffee ingredient from a first canister using the first feeder and feeding a second coffee ingredient from a second canister using the second feeder; Providing coffee using the blended coffee ingredients. Coffee making method.

6. Using a coffee making device, The receiver can specify the coffee flavor, If the designated taste is the first taste, operate both the first feeder and the second feeder; preparing a coffee ingredient blended with the first coffee ingredient by feeding a first coffee ingredient from a first canister using the first feeder and feeding a second coffee ingredient from a second canister using the second feeder; Producing coffee using the prepared coffee ingredients. program.

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