Equipment for grinding ingredients

Abstract

This consumer countertop coffee grinding and brewing machine, or grinder for nut butters and similar ingredients, features a connected grinding burr and a container for ground ingredients that can be interchanged as an assembly. Therefore, families who prefer caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, or peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter, can each grind their preferred ingredients and then interchange the grinders, preventing cross-contamination.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 546,231, entitled "Appliance for Grinding of Foodstuffs," filed October 29, 2023, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 532,662, entitled "Appliance for Grinding of Foodstuffs," filed August 14, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 433,327, entitled "Appliance for Grinding of Foodstuffs," filed December 16, 2022. The priority applications are incorporated by reference.

[0002] (Technical field) The present application relates to an apparatus for grinding foodstuffs. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] (overview) In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method and an apparatus for practicing the method. A first cup of coffee is brewed in a consumer coffee brewing machine. The machine is a consumer countertop appliance including a motor designed to drive a grinding burr and an area for receiving ground ingredients. A first grinder / container assembly includes a grinding burr and a container designed to hold all of the whole coffee beans to be ground. A coupling between the countertop appliance and the grinder / container assembly coupling is designed to transmit power from the motor to the grinding burr. The coupling is designed to separate the grinder / container assembly from the countertop appliance and allow replacement of another grinder / container assembly in the countertop appliance. The replacement can be accomplished without the use of tools. After the first cup of coffee is brewed, the first grinder / container assembly is removed from the countertop appliance, often without the use of tools. A second grinder / container assembly is coupled to the countertop appliance without the use of tools.

[0004] In general, in a second aspect, the invention features an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a grinding burr, a grinder housing, and a grinder-tool interface. The grinder housing is designed to mount the grinding burr to a countertop tool. The grinder housing is designed to receive power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr. The grinder housing is designed to hold a container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly. The grinder housing is designed to hold the container in position for gravity feeding to the grinding burr. The grinder housing is designed to facilitate handling of the container and grinding burr as an assembly. The grinder housing is designed to hold the grinding burr in a manner and position such that ingredients flow from the container into the grinding burr and ground ingredients are delivered into a receptacle. The grinder-tool interface is designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and replace a different container / grinder assembly with the tool.

[0005] In general, in a third aspect, the invention features an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a container for unground ingredients. The container has a connector for connecting to a grinder housing. The grinder housing is designed to mount a grinding burr to a countertop appliance. The grinder housing is designed to receive power from a motor of the countertop appliance to drive the grinding burr. The grinder housing is designed to hold the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding burr and for handling the container and grinding burr as an assembly. The grinder housing is designed to hold the grinding burr in a manner and position designed to allow ingredients to flow from the container into the grinding burr and to deliver ground ingredients into a receiver. The grinder-tool interface of the grinder housing is designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop appliance assembly and to replace a different container / grinder assembly with the appliance.

[0006] In general, in a fourth aspect, the invention features an apparatus and method for using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a grinding bar and a filter basket. The grinding bar is configured to rotate about a vertical axis and distribute grounds from its bottom in a conical shape, causing them to fall into an annular area. A filter basket below the grinding bar is configured to collect grounds from the grinding bar and to infuse water into the grounds via a water heating and distribution system and computer control. The filter basket is formed of a material suitable for use with ingredients and exposure to hot water. The filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a hot beverage grinding and brewing machine. The filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space diametrically disposed to collect grounds falling from the grinding bar. The filter basket has a perforated screen that directs hot beverage flow through the screen while preventing grounds from flowing through. The raised center and screen are designed to facilitate water flow through the grounds for a desired level of brewing.

[0007] In general, in a fifth aspect, the invention features an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a container, a grinder housing, a grinder-container interface, and a grinder-tool interface. The unground food container has a connector for connecting to the grinder housing. The container is designed to hold up to approximately 3 liters of food. The grinder housing is designed to mount a grinding burr to the countertop appliance. The grinder housing is designed to receive power from the countertop appliance motor to drive the grinding burr. The grinder housing is designed to hold the unground food container as a container / grinder assembly, with the container positioned for gravity feeding to the grinding burr and for handling the container and grinding burr as an assembly. The grinder housing is designed to hold the grinding burr in a manner and position that allows food to flow from the container into the grinding burr. The grinder-tool interface of the grinder housing is designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop appliance assembly. The container and / or container-grinder connection is designed to prevent refilling of the container.

[0008] In general, in a sixth aspect, the invention features an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a filter basket. The filter basket is formed of a material suitable for use with ingredients and exposure to hot water. The filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a grinding and brewing machine for hot beverages. The filter basket is designed to contain ground ingredients ground by the grinding bars and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to brew a hot beverage. The bottom of the filter basket has a raised central portion that slopes outward from the center and is designed to promote the outward flow of water. A screen opening is provided at or near the outer periphery of the filter basket. The ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket is at least about 2.5 to 1.

[0009] In general, in a seventh aspect, the invention features an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a grinding bar, a filter basket, and a steam shield. The grinding bar is designed to grind ingredients. The filter basket is designed to contain the ground ingredients ground by the grinding bar and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to brew a hot beverage. The steam shield is designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket. The steam shield is designed to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during brewing to protect the grinding bar from leakage of steam generated during the brewing process. The steam shield has one or more dispensing openings on its underside designed to dispense water onto the ground ingredients in the filter basket for brewing.

[0010] In general, in an eighth aspect, the invention features an apparatus and method of using the apparatus. A hot beverage brewer includes a water pump and a controller. The water pump is configured to dispense hot water to ground coffee within a brewing chamber of the coffee brewing device. The controller is configured to pulse the water pump during brewing to improve wetting of or extraction from the ground ingredient during brewing.

[0011] In general, in an eighth aspect, the invention features an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a rotating grinding burr and a filter basket. The filter basket is designed to contain ground coffee ground by the grinding burr and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to extract the coffee. A brew basket surrounding the filter basket is designed to catch the extracted coffee as it exits the filter basket. The brew basket has a drip valve actuated by the appliance motor, the drip valve designed to allow or prevent the flow of coffee as determined by the appliance controller.

[0012] In general, in a ninth aspect, the invention features an apparatus and method of using the apparatus. The consumer countertop appliance includes a motor configured to drive a grinding burr and an area for receiving ground food. A controller controlling rotation of the motor and grinding burr is programmed to drive the motor in a grinding direction to drive the grinding burr and grind food during a grinding cycle. The controller is programmed to briefly rotate the grinding burr in the reverse direction after completing a grinding cycle to remove any remaining ground food from the grinding burr and other rotating components.

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the following features. These features may be used alone or in combination with one another. The grinder-to-tool interface and the grinder-to-container interface may be designed in conjunction to allow the grinder / container assembly to be easily removed and replaced from the tool while retaining the container from the container / grinder assembly. The grinder-to-tool interface may be designed to allow a user to easily attach and remove the container / grinder assembly from a countertop tool assembly without using tools. The grinder-to-container interface may be designed to allow a user to remove the container from the grinder housing without using tools. The grinder-to-container interface may be designed to impair reuse of the container after removal. The path from the grinder to the receiving area for the ground ingredients may be designed to provide a nearly vertical drop. The path from the grinder to the receiving area may be designed to reduce adhesion of the ground ingredients. The container and grinding burr may be designed for unground whole bean coffee. The container and grinding bar may be designed to grind unground beans into grounds for brewing. The appliance may have a water supply system and a water heater to provide water for brewing coffee. The rotational axis of the drive motor may be different from the vertical rotational axis of the grinding bar. Gears and / or belts may be designed to transmit rotational impulses from the motor to the rotating grinding bar. Support ribs may be designed to hold the grinding bar in position relative to the filter basket. The support ribs may be angled to reduce adhesion of falling grindings. A vertical fixed wall in the drop path from the grinding bar may be designed to shield the rotating wall from the grinding bar to reduce adhesion. The container and / or container-grinder connection may be designed to allow the grinding bar to be removed from the container without the use of tools, preventing refilling of the container, and to allow a new container to be reconnected.The container-grinder connection and / or container may have features that may be designed to deform the container and / or features on the container-grinder connection when the grinder is removed from the container, preventing reuse of the container-grinder connection. The container-grinder connection may have features that activate a safety switch on the appliance when the grinder and container are connected. Deformations on the container and / or container may be designed to prevent activation of the safety switch after deformation. Components of the container-grinder connection may be designed to snap and hold features on the container-grinder connection in an inactivated position to prevent reuse of the container-grinder connection. The container-grinder connection may be designed with an inclined ramp and features that ride on the ramp during rotation of the connection components. The container-grinder connection may have features that may be designed to bend the first connection when the grinder is removed from the container, preventing reuse of the first connection. The container-grinder connection may have a feature that the user must deform to release the container from the grinder. The bottom of the filter basket may be water-impermeable. The screen openings may be located on the vertical sides of the filter basket. The bottom of the filter basket may be in the form of a surface of revolution about the central axis of the filter basket, with a curve that increases in pitch toward the center and flattens toward the periphery. The ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket may be at least approximately 3:1. The steam shield and the water pipe leading to the distribution opening may be formed as a single piece designed to move together on a common mechanism. The steam shield and the water pipe leading to the distribution opening may be formed as a single piece by joining separately molded parts together. The water control may be programmed to deliver relatively short pulses and spray various locations on the grinds. The water control may be programmed to deliver relatively long pulses and achieve a flood-and-drain extraction effect.The water control may be programmed to pulse between on and off or between low and high flow rates. The water control may be programmed to deliver water and pulse patterns depending on the brew volume. The valve may be a stopper valve or a bit valve. The brew basket and filter basket may be designed to be user removable from the appliance for cleaning. The drip valve may be configured in a normally closed position so that the valve remains closed when the brew basket is removed from the appliance.

[0014] The above advantages and features are of exemplary embodiments and are presented merely to aid in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not to be construed as limitations on the invention, which is defined by the claims. Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] 1A-1J, 2A, 3C, 5A, 5F, 6A-6J, 7A, 9A, 9C, 9D, 10B, 10E, 12B, 12E, 13E, 13G, 13H, 13I, and 14A-14D are perspective views.

[0016] 2B to 2D, 5H, 6K, 8A, 8C, 8D, 8F, 10A, 10G, 10I, 10K, 12A, 12C, 13F, 14E, and 14F are plan views.

[0017] 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D-4O, 5C, 5D, 5G, 7B, 7C, 8B, 8E, 9B, 10C, 10D, 10F, 10H, 10J, 10L, 11A-11E, 11G, 11H, 11J, 11K, 12F-12I, 13J, 14G, and 14H are plan cross-sectional views.

[0018] 4C, 5B, 5E, 7D, 11F, 11I, 12D, 13A-13D, and 14I are cutaway perspective views. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] (Detailed explanation) This description is structured as follows. I. Overview II. Removable / replaceable grinder and attachment between the bean container and the rest of the grinding and brewing equipment II.A. Non-concentric grinder drive motor II.B. Alternatives III. Water, Grinder Drive Train, and Steam Shield III.A. Grinders and Meal Distribution III.B. Heating Water III.C. Steam shields and showerheads III.D. Filter Basket Assembly III.E. Drip Valve IV. Bean Container IV.A. Reusable Bean Container IV.B. Single-Use Bean Containers with Mechanical Key Features IV.C. Disposable containers using tear-off IV.D. Single-use bean container using near-field communication IV.E. Alternative Approaches to Single-Use Bean Containers IV.F. Single-Serving Reusable Container V. Other Embodiments

[0020] I. Overview 1A-1J and 2A-2F, a grinding and brewing apparatus 100 for coffee and / or beverage / food preparation can include a grinder and bean container that are interchangeable as an integrated assembly 110 so that each cup of coffee or each serving of food can utilize the specific beans (e.g., light roast, dark roast, decaffeinated, etc.) and grind size desired for that individual serving. The container can be configured to hold multiple servings of coffee beans. As a result, the container / grinder assembly 110 can be left in the apparatus 100 if successive brews of the same type of coffee bean are desired, or it can be detached and later reattached if the type of coffee bean is to be brewed again. Residue from the previous grinding cycle can be minimized by one of two factors: by replacing the grinder to avoid transferring residue to the grinder itself, and by simplifying the grinder's fall path. These two technologies prevent cross-contamination of whole, partially ground, or pre-ground beans traveling through the grinder or drop chute between brew cycles. This improves freshness and reduces cross-contamination. This is especially important when switching from caffeinated to decaffeinated beans. The device 100 may offer a non-pressurized drip grind-and-brew feature so that ground coffee is freshly ground from whole beans. In other cases, the device 100 may provide either low-pressure or high-pressure (espresso) brewing, or have a switch to select either. Rather than using a fixed amount of coffee for different sized cups, the device 100 may provide a quantity of ground coffee proportional to the amount of water and desired serving size and strength. Strength may also be adjusted separately from cup size, allowing the grind-to-water ratio to be adjusted for any cup size. In some cases, the size of the beverage provided ranges from 6 to 18 fluid ounces, and the amount of ground coffee is adjusted accordingly.Grinder assembly 300 may be dishwasher safe. To provide single-cup grinding and brewing, appliance 100 may be designed to use a cup or mug of the user's choice rather than a fixed-height carafe, and may be sized to fit a variety of cups up to 7 inches tall. 1 2F, the appliance 100 may be designed to fit within a standard 17 inch height between a kitchen countertop 190 and an overhanging cabinet 192 to allow for installation / removal of the grinder / container assembly 110.

[0021] FIG. 3B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the appliance 100 taken along the cross-sectional line shown in FIG. 3A. The bean container 900 (see FIG. 5B) is located on top and may be attached to the grinder assembly 300 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). The grinder may be a ceramic grinding burr having a generally conical inner burr 310 and a circular, cylindrical outer burr 312. In some cases, flat burrs may be used, in which case both grinding burrs are puck-shaped or disc-shaped. In some cases, steel or plastic burrs may be used. The inner burr 310 is attached to the inner grinder housing 404, which may be driven by the grinder drive motor 520 via a gear train. The cylindrical outer burr 312 may be attached to the outer grinder housing 402. The ground coffee may fall into the filter basket 700, a paper filter, or a filter of other material within the filter basket 700. The grinder drive motor 520 may be positioned off-axis from the grinder shaft so that the coffee falls directly into the filter basket 700. After the coffee is ground, a steam shield 600 with a showerhead 610 may rotate into place to provide hot water to the grounds in the filter basket 700 while simultaneously protecting the grinder from rising steam. The filter basket 700 is provided with mesh sides or openings 720 to allow the brewed coffee to flow into the outer basket 702, which collects the coffee liquor and passes it through an orifice and through a pathway that may have a control valve 800 to pour into a mug.

[0022] The grinder, grounds drop path, filter basket 700, and showerhead 610 for the water distribution pattern may be designed together using a systems approach to have dimensions and other characteristics to improve characteristics that affect coffee quality (amount of coffee grounds per unit of water volume, water temperature, contact time and flow path of water through the grounds), while allowing the filter basket 700, grinder, and bean container to be replaceable for each cup and fit within the dimensions of a standard kitchen counter 190, 192.

[0023] The connections between the grinder assembly 300 and the rest of the machine 100 (FIGS. 4A-4O) and the connection 1000 between the bean container 900 and the grinder assembly 300 (FIGS. 10A-12I) may be designed to allow for easy removal and replacement of the grinder / container assembly 110 from the machine 100 without accidentally separating the bean container 900 from the grinder assembly 300. The connections may allow for removal and replacement of the grinder / container assembly 110 from the machine 100 without the use of tools, or may require the use of a simple tool such as a butter knife. For example, the connection between the grinder assemblies 300 may be a simple vertical lift, while the connection between the container and grinder assembly may require a twist, pressing a release button, or tearing a tear strip. This allows the user to quickly change bean types without risking cross-contamination. This may also prevent a user from accidentally separating the bean container 900 from the grinder assembly 300 prematurely, which could result in spilling and / or wasting coffee beans. Thus, in some cases, when the grinder assembly 300 is installed in the machine, the release button 1110 for separating the bean container 900 from the grinder assembly 300 may be covered and inaccessible by a feature of the machine 100. The connection between the grinder assembly 300 and the bean container 900 may allow for removal and replacement of the grinder / container assembly 110 without the use of tools, or may require the use of a simple tool such as a butter knife or a special tool sold with the machine.

[0024] The device 100 and grinder assembly 300 may also be designed to use other ingredients, such as hot chocolate or other hot beverages, nut butters, condiments, etc.

[0025] A microprocessor or other controller may control the timing of various operations, pump pressure, motors, display screen, etc.

[0026] II. Removable / replaceable grinder and attachment between the bean container and the rest of the grinding and brewing equipment II.A. Non-concentric grinder drive motor 2E-2F, the grinder and bean container may be removable as an assembly 110 from the remainder of the device 100.

[0027] 4A-4B, a rotatable connector 450 may allow the grinder to be detached from the rest of the grinding and brewing device 100. The exterior of the outer grinder housing 402 may have several raised protrusions 432. Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, a receiving collar 420 at a fixed attachment point of the device may have recesses that receive the protrusions 432. The rotatable connector 450 may have one or more locking features 452 that can engage with the raised protrusions 432 on the outer grinder housing 402. When the grinder is lowered into place, the receiving collar 420 can guide the protrusions 432 on the outer grinder housing 402 toward the locking features on the rotatable connector 450. As the grinder is lowered, the protrusions 432 engage the locking features 452, causing the rotatable connector 450 to rotate. The rotatable connector 450 is biased toward its original position and may be rotated back to this position after the protrusion 432 passes under the locking feature 452 of the rotatable connector 450. The locking feature 452 may be engaged to prevent the protrusion 432 from moving vertically upward. The position of the outer grinder housing 402 in all other directions (rotational and translational) may be fixed by the position of the protrusion 432 within the receiving collar 420. This may be done in the same recess in the receiving collar 420 that contains the locking feature of the rotatable connector 450, or in a separate recess as shown in FIG. 4A . A user can remove the grinder by rotating the rotatable connector 450, moving the locking feature 452 to allow the protrusion 432 to move vertically upward, and lifting the grinder upward while holding the rotatable connector in this position. For example, the outer grinder housing 402 may be provided with eight protrusions 432 that engage with eight recesses in the receiving collar 420, sufficient in number and strength to position the grinder and hold it rotationally and translationally against forces applied by the grinder drive motor 520.Referring to FIG. 4D , as the grinder assembly is lowered into the receiving collar 420, gear teeth on the inner grinder housing 404 may engage gear teeth on a hubless drive ring 530 ( FIG. 5E ) mounted beneath the receiving collar 420. The outer grinder housing 402 may be held securely in place by features on the receiving collar 420 and the locking features 452 of the rotatable connector 450. The hubless drive ring 530 may then be engaged to drive the inner grinder housing 404 while the outer grinder housing 402 is held in place. In typical grinder drive arrangements, the grinder engages the grinder drive train at a small diameter, often via a central shaft. However, in this case, engagement between the gear teeth on the hubless drive ring 530 and the gear teeth on the inner grinder housing 404 may occur at a much larger diameter, larger than the outer diameter of the inner burr 310 and larger than the outer diameter of the outer burr 312. In this case, the gear teeth on the outer grinder housing 402 are on the outer periphery / diameter, while the gear teeth on the hubless drive ring 530 are on the inner periphery / diameter. This configuration allows for a vertical drop path for the grindings. The vertical drop reduces cross-contamination between different bean types and reduces grinding buildup, while providing greater access when cleaning is required.

[0028] 3A-3D and 4C, to minimize cross-contamination of residual grounds between grinding cycles, the grinding and extraction tool 100 is generally configured to allow grounds to fall directly from the grinding bar into the filter basket 700 without the use of a chute or other collection point. To achieve this, the grinder drive motor 520 is positioned off-axis from the grinding bar. A gear train including a hubless drive ring 530 transmits rotational power from the grinder drive motor 520 to the inner grinding bar through the inner grinder housing 404. In some cases, a user can access a rotatable step adjustment at the bottom of the grinding bar to adjust the grind particle size. In some cases, another method of adjusting the grind particle size may be used. This adjustment method may require the user to remove the grinder assembly 300 from the tool 100. In other cases, a feature / button may be provided on the tool 100.

[0029] 4F-4O show the time sequence for the grinder assembly to be lowered into the receiving collar 420 and locked into place. In FIG. 4F, one of the projections 432 on the outer grinder housing 402 is shown above the receiving collar 420. FIGS. 4G and 4H show the bean container / grinder assembly 110 lowered into the receiving collar 420 just as the projection reaches the locking feature on the rotatable connector 450, represented by the triangle 452. The triangular locking feature 452 is spring-biased to the right in these figures. There may be one of these triangular locking features 452 for each recess on the receiving collar 420, or there may be a fewer number of locking features (e.g., four out of eight), as long as the number of locking features is sufficient to securely hold the grinder in place. In Figures 4J and 4K, the bean container / grinder assembly 110 continues to lower, causing the triangular locking feature 452 to displace to the left against the bias of the spring. Figure 4L shows the rotatable connector 450 (with the tab at the 6 o'clock position) rotated slightly counterclockwise. Figures 4M and 4N show the bean container / grinder assembly 110 fully lowered and seated within the receiving collar 420. The triangular locking feature 452 returns to its original position, holding the raised protrusion 432 vertical. Figure 4O shows the rotatable connector 450 returned to its original rotated position.

[0030] II.B. Alternatives In some cases, the grinder drive motor 520 and necessary gear train may be aligned on the same axis as the underlying grinding burr. In some cases, the grinder drive may be clickable to engage and disengage with the grinding burr. The centrifugal force of the rotating grinding burr may cause the powder to fly out the sides of the chute. Ribs that rotate with the grinder may impart motion to the powder, forcing it through the chute. The bottom of the chute may be angled to reduce adhesion of powder to the bottom of the chute, which can cause cross-contamination and make cleaning difficult.

[0031] In some cases, the grind size can be adjusted by the user by turning an adjustment knob at the bottom of the grind bar, or a rotatable elevator dial can be provided to raise or lower the outer, fixed grind bar relative to the inner, rotating grind bar, thereby adjusting the grind size.

[0032] In some cases, the outer burr 312 and outer grinder housing 402 are driven by a grinder drive motor 520, while the inner burr 310 and inner grinder housing 404 are stationary.

[0033] In some cases, the grinder drive motor 520 may be on the shaft, above the grinding burr, and the beans may be injected slightly off-axis.

[0034] Various non-rotating vertical surfaces may be interposed to capture the grinding material as it exits the rotating grinder and allow it to fall directly into the filter basket 700. In some cases, this vertical capture surface may be located at the exit of the grinder. In some cases, this component may also serve to retain the outer burr 312 within the outer grinder housing 402. These vertical surfaces may have texture or ribs to add a small amount of friction to control the path of the grinding material, thereby reducing the angular velocity of the grinding material and allowing it to fall. In other cases, these fixed vertical surfaces may be positioned over rotating surfaces, such as those on the inner diameter of the hubless drive ring 530, to shield the grinding material from falling from these rotating surfaces. Due to friction and centrifugal forces, falling grinding material is more likely to adhere to rotating vertical surfaces compared to fixed vertical surfaces. Static electricity may also be a cause of adhesion. In some cases, other features, such as static grounding, may be employed to directly address static electricity.

[0035] III. Water, Grinder Drive Train, and Steam Shield Figures 5A and 5B show the five main subsystems: Water pump 510 and water heater 512 Grinder drive train from grinder drive motor 520 to hubless drive ring 530 Steam Shield 600 and Shower Head 610 (motor and track for guiding movement) A drip valve 800 and its motor, and A microprocessor that controls all of the above

[0036] III.A. Grinders and Meal Distribution 3B, 3D, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E, the grinder drive motor 520 is positioned off-axis from the grinder shaft, allowing the grounds from the grinding burr to fall directly into the filter basket 700. Because the grinder imparts angular and centrifugal motion to the grounds, the fall path from the grinder tends to be conical, increasing in diameter as the grounds fall slightly off-vertical. This may tend to distribute the coffee grounds in a circular or open-center configuration within the filter basket 700. This may improve water distribution, allowing for more complete wetting and flavor extraction. This configuration may reduce contact between the grounds and mechanical parts, thereby reducing sticking, dirt, clogging, and mold growth.

[0037] The grinder assembly may include two bearing surfaces that allow smooth and controlled rotational movement of the inner burr 310 and inner grinder housing 404 relative to the outer burr 312 and outer grinder housing 402. The first bearing surface may be a small-diameter plain bearing mounted on the outer grinder housing 402 above the grinding burr. This plain bearing may engage a central shaft that rotates with the inner burr 310 and inner grinder housing 404. The second bearing surface is a large-diameter plain bearing that stabilizes the relative rotational movement between the inner grinder housing 404 and the outer grinder housing 402. This plain bearing may have an inner diameter that is larger than the diameter of the inner burr 310 and larger than the diameter of the outer burr 312. This plain bearing may be located axially overlapping the inner and outer burrs 310, 312. In this case, the large-diameter plain bearing may be mounted on the inner grinder housing 404 and rotate with it, or it may be mounted on the stationary outer grinder housing 402. In some cases, small or large diameter bearings may be directly integrated into the inner grinder housing 404 or outer grinder housing 402 components using low friction materials.

[0038] In some cases, the flour may be channeled into a chute that directs the flour to fall elsewhere.

[0039] 5D and 5E are exploded views that separate the components that rotate with the inner grinding burr from the stationary or non-rotating components, including the outer grinding burr. The top component is the bean container 900, a hollow container that holds whole coffee beans. The next layer is the non-rotating components, including the outer grinding burr 312, the outer grinder housing 402 including the funnel feature that guides the beans into the grinder, a small-diameter plain bearing that engages the central axis of rotation, several additional retention and mounting components within the grinder assembly, two thin-plate ball bearing assemblies 538 to stabilize the rotational motion of the hubless drive ring 530 and intermediate gear, and mounting components (including the receiving collar 420, the rotatable connector 450, and the ball bearing assembly housing) that hold these components in place relative to the tool housing. 5D shows the rotating parts, including the inner burr 310, inner grinder housing 404, several additional components of the grinder assembly including the center shaft, spring, washer, retaining clip, and grind size adjustment mechanism, large diameter plain bearing, hubless drive ring 530, intermediate gears, and grinder drive motor 520. The grinder drive motor 520 transfers energy to one or more intermediate gears, which drive the hubless drive ring 530, which in turn drives the inner grinder housing 404, which is rigidly connected to the inner burr 310, in rotation.

[0040] Another anti-sticking design element is that the cylindrical wall directly below the inner grinder housing 404 is fixed and non-rotating. To stabilize the rotation of the rotating inner burr 310, the hubless drive ring 530 can have a downwardly protruding sleeve 532. The hubless drive ring 530 is supported on the sleeve 532 via a ball bearing assembly 538 or other bearing, maintaining the rotating components on the axis and in their position. The stationary chassis can have a fixed sleeve 534 that fits non-contactingly inside the rotating sleeve 532 of the hubless drive ring 530. The sleeve 532 can slide within a channel 536 via the bearing 538. Because the fixed sleeve 534 is located on the inside, the grinding powder from the grinding burr collides with the fixed sleeve 534, slowing its speed and allowing the powder to fall into the filter basket 700 while reducing adhesion to the wall. Without the stationary sleeve 534, the grinding material may adhere to the walls of the rotating sleeve 532 due to friction, centrifugal force, and possibly static electricity.

[0041] Referring to Figures 5F-5H, while the goal is for the grinding material to fall more or less straight, at high grinder speeds, centrifugal force can cause the grinding material to move horizontally enough to become lodged in some of the rotating components (e.g., the gap between the rotating and stationary housings, or within the spokes connecting the inner and outer portions of the inner grinder housing 404). The inner portion of this housing can be fitted with the inner bar 310, while the outer portion can be designed to transfer rotational energy from the hubless drive ring 530. To reduce adhesion (material buildup), the connecting spokes 560 of the inner grinder housing 404 can have an angled fan blade shape. The grinding material adheres significantly less to the angled spokes 560 than to vertical spokes. The angled spokes 560 follow the path of the grinding material and pass by it as it falls. Meanwhile, the vertical spokes intercept the grinding material, and centrifugal force and friction push the grinding material outward, where it adheres to the rotating surface. Alternatively, the angled fan blade spokes 560 may be part of the hubless drive ring 530 (which would then no longer be hubless), and the engagement between the inner grinder housing 404 and the hubless drive ring 530 may occur at a much smaller diameter (possibly as a central axis) than the inner and outer burrs 310, 312. This method is simpler in some respects, but may be more susceptible to cross-contamination and may reduce cleanability.

[0042] III.B. Heating Water In parallel with the grinding, the water heater 512 can heat the water being injected.

[0043] III.C. Steam shields and showerheads 6A-6K, the grinder may be shielded from the brewing chamber of the grinding and brewing device 100 when hot water is introduced. Reducing the ingress of steam and other water vapor into the grinder and drop path can reduce buildup and clogging, as well as undesirable effects on the coffee and grounds, such as mold growth and reduced freshness.

[0044] 6A, 6B, 6F, and 6G, a steam shield door 600 is located between the filter basket 700 and the grinder. The steam shield 600 may be rotated away from the extraction path during grinding to allow grounds to fall from the grinding bar into the filter basket 700.

[0045] Once grinding is complete, the controller may allow a short period of time for the grinding powder to finish dropping from the grinder into the filter basket 700. The controller may then operate the grinder in reverse for a short period of time (approximately 0.5 seconds) to allow any remaining grinding powder to fall into the filter basket 700. This reverse rotation can reduce the amount of residual grinding that can clog the grinder assembly 300, reduce loose grinding that may fall off when the grinder is changed, and provide a means for cleaning the grinding powder burr. A short reverse rotation can reduce dirt, cross-contamination, and the buildup of unwanted grinding powder.

[0046] The controller can then send a control signal to the steam shield motor 620 to close the steam shield 600 .

[0047] 6C, 6D, and 6E, the underside of the steam shield 600 may be provided with a shower head 610 designed to distribute hot water onto the grounds. The hot water flows through distribution openings or channels 612 and falls onto the grounds, extracting the extracted coffee. The extracted coffee flows through a screen mesh 720 in the filter basket 700. Locating the shower head 610 at the bottom of the steam shield 600 may reduce the number of parts and complexity and may allow multiple distribution openings 612 to be distributed over a predetermined area so that water is not injected at a single point. The diameter of the point where the water hits the grounds may be inside the ring / volcano of grounds dropping from the grinder. Distributing the water injection over a predetermined area may result in more uniform wetting of the grounds and more complete extraction of the coffee from the grounds. The off-axis position of the showerhead 610 (the bottom of the steam shield 600) during grinding allows the coffee grounds to fall directly from the grinding bar into the filter basket 700, reducing cross-contamination between brews when the user switches to a different bean. Moving the showerhead 610 to an off-axis position allows the showerhead's water distribution pattern through the multiple dispensing openings to match the size and shape (in this case, annular) of the distribution pattern of the dropped grounds. The showerhead 610 can then be moved to an on-axis position to dispense the hot water. In some cases, the showerhead 610 and steam shield 600 may be separate components. In this case, they may move together but may be thermally insulated or mechanically separated to reduce the thermal mass of the showerhead 610 and the associated heat loss as the hot water flows through it.

[0048] The water intake channels flow radially into the distribution manifold and lead to the distribution openings, as shown in Figure 6D. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6E, the water intake channels may enter the distribution manifold 612 tangentially to reduce turbulence. Reducing turbulence equalizes pressure and flow through the distribution openings 612, which may result in more uniform wetting of the flour.

[0049] The steam shield 600 can be moved between an open position (FIGS. 6G and 61) to allow grounds to fall from the grinding bar into the filter basket 700, and a closed position (FIGS. 6F and 6H) for dispensing and extracting hot water. Coupling the steam shield 600 to the shower head 610 alleviates control timing and sequence issues. Ensure the steam shield 600 is closed when water is injected.

[0050] Referring to Figures 6J and 6K, the moving end of the steam shield 600 can travel within a track 622. The track 622 provides support for the steam shield 600, which is supported at both the motor end and the track end, eliminating the need for either end to support cantilever forces. The track 622 may have a slight riser 624. Once grinding is complete, the steam shield 600 can begin closing. For most of the arc of travel 626, the steam shield 600 may be 1-2 millimeters below the gasket that closes the grinding chamber. The riser 624 may be positioned a few millimeters from the end of the arc of travel to the closed position to reduce the distance the steam shield 600 travels before it is fully sealed and at its maximum frictional load. The steam shield 600 may contact a position sensor switch 618 when it reaches the closed home position. The home position sensor can send a signal to the controller to turn off the steam shield rotation motor 620 and request water injection. The controller may signal the water pump 510 and water heater 512 to begin heating the water sooner to increase efficiency, but the controller limits the pump 510 so that water does not come out of the shower head 610 until the steam shield 600 returns to its home position.

[0051] The home position sensor switch 618 can also facilitate the grinding and brewing appliance 100 regaining operational stability upon start-up. For example, if power is interrupted mid-cycle, the home switch can assist the controller in rediscovering the current position of the steam shield 600. Upon power-up, the controller checks whether the home position switch is closed, and if not, the controller can instruct the steam shield door 600 to close.

[0052] The controller can be programmed for different types of coffee. For example, a drip Americano can be prepared by first quickly brewing an espresso or other very strong coffee and then adding water to dilute the strong coffee. This additional water may be dispensed through the showerhead 610 or through an additional faucet that dispenses water directly into a coffee mug or other drinking container without passing it through the ground coffee.

[0053] The water distribution opening 612 may be slightly angled, and the water pump 510 may pulse the water supply pressure, which changes the radial distribution of water from the opening 612 and further distributes the water over a wider area. The control system may be programmed to slightly oscillate the steam shield 600 during the brewing cycle, further dispersing the water and more evenly wetting the grounds. The shape of the shower head 610 and / or steam shield 600 may be modified to a bean shape to accommodate this oscillating motion and maintain a seal during vibration. The pressure and flow rate of the water pump 510 may be strategically switched between on, high pressure, low pressure, and off, allowing the filter basket 700 to flood and drain for more efficient brewing. The controller may be programmed to control the water flow to optimize brewing. For example, it may be desirable to initially add about 40% (or a certain volume) of water, then pause to allow dwell time between the water and the grounds before adding more water. Water may then be added in cycles of five seconds of water and five seconds of water off. This allows time for the water to drain through a repeated steeping and draining process. This brewing method may be closer to a pour-over coffee machine than a typical drip coffee machine, but it may have elements that are different from both.

[0054] The steam shield 600 may have a large horizontal footprint because (a) the steam shield 600 must be similarly large to cover the relatively large filter basket 700 (to accommodate variations in cup size) and distribute steam evenly; (b) the diameter of the opening between the grinder assembly and the filter basket 700 must be as large as the pattern of the grounds falling from the grinding bar to receive the grounds directly from the grinder without an intermediate channel or chute; and (c) the horizontal footprint may be required to move the steam shield 600 between its closed and open positions. The steam shield 600 may be large enough to cover the entire opening to protect the grinding area from rising steam. In some cases, the steam shield 600 may pivot inward toward the rear of the extractor rather than toward the front or side of the extractor. A fixed shower head would need to be positioned significantly off-center on the filter basket 700, which would prevent uniform wetting of the grounds, so for steam shields 600 with large footprints, the shower head 610 would need to move with the steam shield 600.

[0055] In some cases, the steam shield 600 may be formed as a butterfly shape with two halves that open. In some cases, the steam shield 600 may have alternating cutouts like a piano hinge to allow for the installation of additional water injection tubes within the steam shield 600 without increasing the overall height. In some cases, the steam shield 600 may be formed by two semicircles that pivot or translate open.

[0056] III.D. Filter Basket Assembly 7A-7D, the filter basket 700 may be designed to improve water flow through the coffee grounds. The filter basket 700 may be designed to increase the surface area per unit volume of coffee. The filter basket 700 may be designed to improve contact time between the water and the grounds. The filter basket 700 may be designed to promote a water flow path that efficiently utilizes all of the grounds. The filter basket 700 may be designed to prevent water from taking the path of least resistance, which would allow water to quickly pass through the filter mesh 720 without ensuring sufficient contact time with the grounds. This allows for appropriate grounds-to-water ratios (e.g., a higher grounds-to-water ratio for a stronger coffee) for different cup sizes (typically 6 ounces (175-200 ml) to 18 ounces (500-550 ml)). The filter basket 700 may be designed to provide a low stack height, allowing the entire grinding and brewing apparatus 100 to use tall mugs and fit under a standard cabinet height of 17 inches.

[0057] The inner diameter of the filter basket 700 may be approximately 4.25 inches in diameter and approximately 1.75 inches in height. To achieve a low stack height, the diameter-to-height ratio of the filter basket 700 may be relatively large compared to other coffee makers brewing a similar amount of coffee. This diameter-to-height ratio may be approximately 1.5:1 or greater, 1.8:1 or greater, 2:1 or greater, 2.4:1 or greater, 3:1 or greater, 3.5:1 or greater, 4:1 or greater, 4.5 or greater, or 5:1 or greater (e.g., in FIGS. 7B and 7C , the size of the filter basket 700 is approximately 2.5:1). The central conical ridge of the filter basket 700 enhances extraction with small amounts of ground coffee by trapping the ground coffee densely within a relatively small volume, slowing the flow of water through, increasing contact time, and ensuring good extraction of flavor and dissolved solids. For all grinding amounts, the central ridge pushes water through the grinding and into the filter screen on the side of the filter basket 700. The central ridge may be a solid wall without a filter mesh 720, thereby reducing the outflow of water that does not pass through the grinding. In some cases, the central ridge may include a filter mesh 720, but when installed in the brew basket 702, water cannot pass through it because the solid wall of the brew basket 702 adheres to the filter mesh 720 of the filter basket 700 and prevents water from passing through. In this case, the central ridge includes a filter mesh 720, allowing water to pass through from the other side to wash away used ground coffee when the user cleans the filter basket 700 after the brewing process. Because grinding powder from the grinding burrs tends to fall in a circular pattern, they tend to fall to the outer (vertically lower) part of the filter basket 700. The central conical ridge directs water flow to the grinding powder at that location. The center of the ring has little or no grounds, so without the central cone-shaped ridge, water would pool in this center instead of passing through the grounds, resulting in suboptimal extraction and inconsistent coffee cup volume.

[0058] Referring to Figures 7C and 7D, in some cases, the filter basket 700 may have multiple features that provide wall space for a through-flow screen. The amount of flow-through space may be designed to ensure adequate contact time between the water and the grounds. The overall volume may be designed to accommodate an appropriate amount of grounds for a large, strong cup of coffee, with the user being able to adjust the settings to reduce the amount of coffee. In some cases, the filter basket 700 may be conical or frusto-conical, with a solid wall and amount of through-flow screen balanced to ensure adequate contact time between the water and the grounds. In some cases, the flow screen may be located on the outer, generally vertical wall of the filter basket. In some cases, the flow screen may be located on the flat bottom of the filter basket (typically located on the periphery) to allow water to drain away to minimize water retention within the filter basket. In some cases, the filter channels at the bottom of the filter basket 700 may be covered for the first portion of the brew time to force the water through the side filters, and then opened after a predetermined time to allow all the water to drain.

[0059] In some cases, components may be designed to promote airflow that disperses aromas into the room in which the grinding and brewing device 100 is operated. In some cases, a fan may be driven by one of the motors. A fan built into one of the motors may be oriented to provide this function. Aromas and vapors resulting from the brewing process, which are blocked by the steam shield 600, may be directed toward the user and dispersed by the fan.

[0060] Referring to Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, and subsequent figures, the filter basket 700 may be designed to optimize between several parameters. The filter or filter mesh 720 should be positioned to ensure that water passes through the coffee grounds rather than through portions of the filter that are not clogged with coffee grounds. To shorten extraction times, the flow should be reasonably fast, but slow enough to allow sufficient contact time with the grounds to ensure adequate extraction. The amount of grounds may vary depending on the cup size and strength setting selected by the user. The shape of the filter basket 700 and filter mesh 720 pattern may be designed to allow consistent, optimal extraction quality across the full range of possible grounds amounts. The vertical stack height should be kept small so that the entire grinding and brewing apparatus 100 fits within the height of a standard 17-inch cabinet. The overall shape could take many forms, including a cone with a flat base that slopes downward, a flat base with a raised volcano in the middle, a series of nested truncated cones, a flat (or solid) base with a filter, a filter on the side, multiple nested cones with filters on the side of each cone, filters only on the lower part of the side, or filters that extend down most of the side. After modeling and testing, a shape with a solid base, a cone with a raised base, and filter panels on the side was chosen to balance these concerns.

[0061] Disposable, single-use filters made of paper or other porous materials with a raised center are also available. In some cases, such paper filters may be sold for use with filter baskets shaped as shown in Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C. In some cases, these single-use paper filters may be placed inside and on top of the filter basket 710, or may replace the filter basket and be placed directly within the outer basket 702. In other cases, these filters may be sold for use with traditional flat-bottom filter baskets or with a solid (e.g., cone-shaped) centered within a traditional flat-bottom basket. These single-use filters may have a raised bottom and a relatively large diameter-to-height ratio. The width-to-height ratios described above may also be used for these paper filters. By distributing the grounds in a circular fashion, such filters tend to increase the time the water is in contact with the grounds, improving extraction and resulting in a different flavor blend. These single-use filters also simplify the cleaning process, as the user simply removes the filter and discards it along with the grounds.

[0062] III.E. Drip Valve Referring to FIGS. 8A-8F, the filter basket 700 is positioned within a slightly conical outer brew basket 702 to collect the brewed coffee and direct it to a flow / drip valve 800, which allows the coffee to flow into the cup. To accommodate the user's preferred cup (as opposed to fixed carafes, which have a special lid to open the dedicated flow valve 800), the outer brew basket 702 may be equipped with a normally closed valve 800. The valve 800 can be opened by a motor during the brew cycle, allowing the coffee to flow from the inner filter basket 700 into the user's cup. The valve 800 closes upon brewing completion (after the pump 510 has stopped, followed by a delay until the water flow is complete) to prevent dripping of the outer brew basket 702, inner filter basket 700, and residual liquid from the grounds when they are transported to a trash can for removal. The valve 800 can be opened and closed via a motor and cam. The valve 800 may be a simple slit / bite valve built into a temperature-stable, deformable plastic, such as silicone. To open the valve 800, a cam may push against a spring-loaded actuator rod, which exerts pressure laterally on the valve 800 or valve mechanism, deforming the valve 800 itself or moving a lever 810 that opens the valve 800. The valve 800 can be other types of valve, the most common being a normally closed valve to limit dripping during shutdown or meal disposal.

[0063] By providing valve 800, grinding and brewing apparatus 100 can provide a clear shutoff indicating the end of the brew cycle (rather than simply requiring the user to observe when the coffee stops dripping as in a typical carafe brewer). Valve 800 can also control the last drop of coffee to prevent potentially over- or under-extracted brewed coffee from reaching the cup.

[0064] In some cases, the motor 620 powering the steam shield 600 may be the same motor that powers the drip valve operation. In this case, the steam shield 600 may be provided with additional positions to perform different functions. In some cases, the steam shield 600 may be bean-shaped so that it can move in an arc, sealing under the grinder and over the circular brew chamber in multiple positions.

[0065] In some cases, a simple slit / bite valve 800 may be formed from a temperature-stable, deformable plastic such as silicone. The valve 800 may have a bellows or accordion fold to allow the valve 800 to move more freely during actuation. Additional ribs may help guide the flow of coffee through the valve 800. The bellows or accordion fold can encircle the valve 800 by more than 180° or less than 180°. Instead of a simple slit / bite valve made from deformable plastic, the valve 800 may be a spring-loaded mechanical valve. The mechanical valve 800 can be actuated by a translating rod 810 and / or a pivoting lever. The rod or lever 810 may be controlled by a motor and cam system. The mechanical valve 800 may be normally closed, with a spring rotating a lever arm.

[0066] IV. Bean Container The bean container 900 may be formed as a generally cylindrical aluminum can. The bean container 900 may have a funnel-shaped bottom. The container 900 may have a maximum capacity of, for example, 4 ounces, 5 ounces, 16 ounces, 24 ounces, or 32 ounces of whole coffee beans, or a single-serving size (see §IV.F, beginning at '||

[0098] below), or 8 ounces, 12 ounces, or 16 ounces of nuts. In some cases, it may be desirable to size the container 900 to match package sizes commonly sold in retail stores. A smaller size may contribute to freshness retention, while a larger size may contribute to convenience by reducing the frequency of refilling or replacing the container. Some containers may be transparent (allowing the user to see how many beans are left in the container 900). Other containers may be opaque. In some cases, a connector between the grinder and the reusable bean container may be convenient enough to allow two users to share one grinder moving between two reusable bean containers. In other cases, the bean container 900 and grinder may be connected to a "cassette" assembly 110 that can be easily removed and replaced cup by cup, as described above in connection with Figures 1A-1F, 4A, 4B, and 4F-4O. In some cases, the grinder and reusable bean container may be a single piece with a cap that can be removed to add beans and replaced to preserve the freshness of the beans.

[0067] IV.A. Reusable Bean Container In some cases, the bean container 900 and grinder may be designed so that the bean container 900 is refillable. For example, in Figures 9A-9D, the bottom of the bean container 900 may be designed to rotate between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the container 900 confines the beans for transport and storage, protecting them from moisture and other intrusions. In the open position, a ramp 910 allows the beans to flow into the grinder through an opening 912. In some cases, opening this rotating door may require engagement with an opening feature and mechanism on the grinder. This can prevent accidental opening and spillage.

[0068] In some cases, the bean container 900 and grinder may be designed as a single part or assembly, with the bean container 900 being built into the grinder assembly and being refillable.

[0069] IV.B. Single-Use Bean Containers with Mechanical Key Features 10A-13J, the connector 1000 between the bean container 900 and the grinder assembly 300 can have a mechanical feature that limits the bean container 900 to single-use of multiple servings before disposal or recycling. In this case, single-use allows for multiple servings, but inhibits or prevents filling the container for further use. The container 900 may have a container connector collar 1010. The container connector collar 1010 may be part of the container 900 or may be assembled to the container 900. FIG. 10C is a perspective cross-sectional view of the container connector collar 1010 with snap features 1012. FIG. 10C shows one snap feature 1012 on the right, one on the left, and one in the center. FIG. 10D is a cross-sectional view through the container connector collar 1010 showing the snap features 1012, and FIG. 10E is a perspective view showing the snap features 1012. The snap feature 1012 and mating recess 1014 in the container connector collar 1010 have parallel mating angled surfaces that are used to force the snap feature 1012 through the slot in the container connector collar 1010 in a manner that either locks the component in an inoperative position, deforms the component, breaks the component, or otherwise causes a deformation that ensures single-use.

[0070] The bean container 900 may be sold to consumers with the container connector collar 1010 already attached. Referring to FIGS. 1G, 1H, 10A, and 10B (FIGS. 10A-10F are shown upside down for consumer use for consistency with other figures), to attach a grinder to the container 900, a consumer can begin by placing the container 900 upside down on a table surface. The consumer can remove the protective cap that covered the bean opening during shipping and storage. The consumer can also remove the foil seal or can ring end that covered the opening to maintain the freshness of the beans. The foil seal, container connector collar 1010, and the bottom of the container 900 can be designed to allow the foil seal to be removed. For example, the engagement surface between the container 900 and the container connector collar 1010 can be arranged around the outer periphery of the container 900 rather than on the surface of the container opening to allow for easy removal of the foil seal. The consumer can lower the grinder assembly 300 by aligning the male threads of the grinder side connector 1020 with the threaded features of the container side connector collar 1010. The consumer can press down on the grinder assembly 300 to lock the bean container 900 assembly and grinder together.

[0071] Referring to Figures 10A-10F, various components interact during the process of connecting the halves of the connector 1000. Figures 10A-10F show the assembly in the correct orientation, with the container 900 on top and the grinder assembly 300 on the bottom, although the actual connection is performed upside down to prevent beans from spilling out of the container. In these figures, the container 900 is lowered onto the grinder. The container connector 1010 and the grinder connector 1020 may have lead-in features to guide the two components into proper alignment with each other. Figures 10B-10F show the snap feature 1012 of the container connector 1010 in a neutral position before contacting the mating feature of the grinder connector 1020. 10G and 10H, when the grinder assembly 300 is lowered into the container 900, the beveled surface 1030 of the snap feature 1012 of the container side connector 1010 just begins to contact and engage with the angled feature 1032 of the grinder side connector 1020.

[0072] 10I and 10J, as the container 900 is lowered further, the ramps 1032 of the grinder-side connector 1020 displace the snap feature 1012 outward. In FIG. 10J, the snap feature 1012 is bent as the ramps 1030 ride over the ramps 1032 of the grinder-side connector 1020. In FIG. 10K and 10L, the sides 1010, 1020 of the connector 1000 are fully engaged and the snap feature 1012 has cleared the ramps 1032 of the grinder-side connector 1020 and springs back to its neutral position, thereby locking 1040 the two halves of the connector together, thereby locking the container 900 and grinder together.

[0073] 10G-10L, as the container 900 and grinder assembly 300 approach each other, the actuator 1050 moves vertically, pushing down against a spring. This displacement can be read by a sensor and used as a safety lockout to ensure the bean container is in place before power is applied to the grinder. This can protect against counterfeit components or attempts to reuse or refill the bean container.

[0074] Figures 10K and 10L show the fully connected position, in which a consumer can use the grinder to grind beans for multiple servings from container 900 through the extractor until container 900 is empty. Figures 11A-11K show the removal of container 900 from the grinder and activation of the one-time-use feature.

[0075] 10K, 10L, and 11A, when the two halves of the connector are mated, snap features 1012 secure the bean container 900 and grinder together by engaging at 1040. The column of snap features 1012 may be unable to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise because it is blocked by a release button 1112. Rotation of the snap features 1012 may be prevented in the other direction by features on the grinder-side connector 1020. Due to the snap engagement 1040 shown in FIG. 10L, the two halves of the connector cannot be separated vertically. The externally visible release button 1110 is connected to an internal boss 1112, shown as a thick trapezoid in FIG. 11A. When the release button 1110 is in its neutral state, the boss 1112 abuts against the outer collar of the container-side connector 1010, preventing the column of snap features 1012 from passing through and providing a rotation lock. The release button 1110 is spring biased to this neutral position.

[0076] 11B, once the beans in the container 900 are gone, the consumer removes the container / grinder assembly 110 from the extractor. The consumer presses the release button 1110, causing the bosses 1112 to move radially inward, rotating the column portions of the snap features 1012 and opening the channels through which they pass. The consumer then twists the container-side connector collar 1010 relative to the grinder-side connector 1020. In FIG. 11C, the collar 1010 and snap features 1012 have been rotated 10° from the locked position of FIGS. 10K and 10L, and the release button 1110 has been released, returning the locking bosses 1112 to their neutral position.

[0077] 11D (with reference to FIGS. 11E and 11F), the grinder-side connector 1020 can have an increasing radius ramp surface 1120. As the consumer continues to rotate the container-side connector collar 1010, the column of snap features 1012 rides up the ramp 1120. This movement forces the snap features 1012 outward (arrows 1122).

[0078] 11G, when the container connector collar 1010 is rotated approximately 30°, the snap feature 1012 is pushed 1122 past a constriction 1124 located on the container connector collar 1010 and reaches a landing zone 1126. Referring to FIGS. 11G-11J, the snap feature 1012 and a feature 1126 on the container connector collar 1010 hold the snap feature 1012 in a radially extended position 1128.

[0079] From the snapped-out, radially extended position 1128 in FIGS. 11G, 11H, and 11I, the snap feature 1012 is designed to be unable to re-engage with the retaining feature of the grinder-side connector 1020. The walls of the landing zone 1126 may extend outward to prevent the snap feature 1012 from being manually pushed back through the narrowed portion 1124 of the container-side connector collar 1010, preventing the snap feature 1012 of the container-side connector 1010 from re-engaging with the mating feature of the grinder-side connector 1020 (contrast FIGS. 10K and 10L with FIG. 11K). Similarly, with the snap feature 1012 held in the radially extended position 1128, it cannot engage with the actuator 1050 and cannot be depressed. Because the actuator 1050 is not depressed, the sensor does not detect the presence of a container above the grinder, and therefore the controller does not allow power to be supplied to the grinder 310.

[0080] The connector component 1000 may have one or more of the following advantages: The container connector collar 1010 can rotate freely on the neck of the container 900, allowing consumers to easily engage the threads of the container connector 1010 with the threads of the grinder connector 1020. In contrast, removing the container 900 from the grinder is a relatively difficult process, requiring the consumer to simultaneously press the release button 1110 and rotate the container connector collar 1010. Once removed, the bean container 900 cannot be reconnected to the grinder (resulting in unusable beans or potential spillage), so accidental removal must be prevented and requires deliberate removal, such as two simultaneous actions (similar to a child-resistant cap on a medicine container). The container connector collar 1010 is free to rotate on the neck of the container 900 so that accidental or unintended rotation of the connector collar 1010 and / or the container 900 relative to the grinder 300 will not cause damage or unintentional detachment of the container 900 from the grinder 300. This free spinning also allows the user to align the container 900 according to their preference after installation in the tool 100, such as with the container's branding or graphics facing forward.

[0081] Similarly, the container-side connector collar 1010 may extend over most of the connector mechanisms of both the container 900 and the grinder to prevent consumer confusion and tampering.

[0082] A single-use coffee bean container 900 for multiple servings of coffee beans may use a multi-layered, multi-material bag (often non-recyclable) containing up to 32 ounces of whole coffee beans.

[0083] In some cases, the container connector collar 1010 may be detachable from the container 900 by a user so that they can be recycled independently if they are made of different materials. This can be done by compressing or deforming (permanently or temporarily) a feature on the container 900 or the container connector collar 1010. Alternative detachment methods can also be used. The grinder connector 1020 may have a feature that prevents this detachment when the container connector collar 1010 is attached to the grinder 300. This requires the user to first detach the connector collar 1010 from the grinder 300 and activate a one-time-use feature. This prevents the user from detaching the container 900 from the connector collar 1010 while the container 900 is attached to the grinder 300, and then refilling and reattaching the container 900 to the connector collar 1010.

[0084] IV.C. Single-use containers with tear-off 12A-12I, a single-use feature can be achieved via a connector that splits upon disconnection. Figures 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D show a collar 1250 that can be connected to the neck of a bean container 900. The container-side connector collar 1250 can have a rectangular feature 1252 that slides into a mating feature on the grinder-side connector 1020 during connection. During disconnection, a circular feature 1254 on the container-side connector collar 1250 rides over a ramp feature 1262 on the grinder side, stretching and deforming a component 1256 of the container-side connector collar 1250, causing it to bend.

[0085] 12F and 12G, during connection, the container-side connector collar 1250 is rotated until the rectangular feature 1252 of the collar 1250 engages with the vertical slot 1258 of the grinder-side connector 1020, and then the grinder is engaged with the bean container 900. In FIG. 12H, the rectangular feature 1252 of the container-side connector collar 1250 engages with the vertical slot 1258 of the grinder-side connector 1020, firmly holding the bean container 900 in its operating position.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 12I, once the bean container 900 is empty, the consumer presses the release button 1260. This allows the rectangular feature 1252 of the container-side connector collar 1250 to rotate (to the right in FIGS. 12H and 12I). As the collar 1250 rotates, the circular feature 1254 rides on the ramp 1262. The ramp 1262 separates the circular feature 1254 and the rectangular feature 1252. This increase in distance causes the links 1256 in the container-side connector collar 1250 to break, releasing the collar 1250 from the grinder-side connector 1020 and ensuring that the collar 1250 and bean container 900 cannot be reused due to permanent damage. The number of circular features 1254 and links 1256 may be the same as or less than the number of rectangular features 1252. When link 1256 is broken, connector collar 1250 separates into one or more pieces and separates from container 900, allowing for separate recycling of connector collar 1250 and container 900. This separation also severs the connection between the grinder and container, allowing for their separation.

[0087] IV.D. Single-use bean container using near-field communication In some cases, the extractor may have a Near Field Communication (NFC) reader, an RFID reader, or similar near field communication, and each bean container may have a readable tag. This technology may be RFID tag, ISO / IEC 13157, or ISO / IEC 18000-3. The tag may be attached to the bean container 900 by an adhesive backing or by being embedded in a connector mechanism.

[0088] The tag may record the farm from which the beans originated, the date the beans were harvested, the roaster, the roasting method, the roasting date, and other similar characteristics related to their origin. The information stored on the tag may be used for inventory tracking and reordering by the user. A reader in the extractor can verify that the bean container 900 is not a counterfeit container and has not been reused beyond its intended single-use, multi-serving lifespan. The tag can record the volume of the container 900 so that its lifespan can be calculated. The extractor's computer can record how many times a given container has been used or the total grinding time for a given container. The total grinding time may be used to calculate reorder times for the consumer's use of the beans. This ensures that the beans are delivered to the consumer in a timely manner and remain fresh. The computer can inform the user of the number of beans remaining in the container and warn them when they are low on beans.

[0089] The tag may record the type of beans in the container 900. The tag may contain information that acts as a key to lock or unlock features of the brewer. For example, a particular brewer may be programmed to support certain features with bean containers having one key value but not with bean containers having another key value. For example, an brewer may be sold at a lower price but may be programmed to only work with bean containers sold at a higher price. In some cases, the brewer may be programmed to only work with bean containers having a predetermined key value. In some cases, the brewer may be programmed with brewing characteristics tailored to different members of a consumer family, and those brewing characteristics may be tied to bean containers with specific keys associated with those family members. In some cases, a roaster may identify desired brewing characteristics (such as temperature, steeping time, and ground coffee to water ratio) for a particular bean and roast and program those brewing characteristics into that container's tag.

[0090] In some cases, the information described above for an RFID or NFC tag may be stored in an optical code, such as a QR code.

[0091] In some cases, RFID or NFC tags may be used on the reusable container. In some cases, RFID or NFC tags may reside on the reusable grinder assembly 300 instead of the single-use container. In such cases, a computer can track usage of a particular grinder or container and know how many beans are left in it. The computer may monitor the current to the grinder motor and detect when a bean container is empty due to a drop in current. This drop in current, along with the user's act of removing the grinder / container assembly 110 from the tool 100, tells the computer that this particular grinder or reusable container is being installed with a new bean container or refilled. The computer can then reset its counter and begin tracking usage from the known point when the container was full.

[0092] Whether RFID or not, this current drop information can be used by a computer if the bean container runs out of beans during the grinding process. From monitoring the current, the computer knows how much has been ground so far and how much more needs to be ground to achieve the selected size and strength. The computer can then offer the user the option to add more beans and grind and brew at the original size, or to use the available beans to brew a smaller cup with the same desired coffee-to-water ratio.

[0093] IV.E. Alternative Approaches to Single-Use Bean Containers 13A-13D, in some cases, container 900 may be designed for single-use disposable use. In some cases, the bean container may be sold with a seal over the bean opening, which can be opened when connecting the container to grinder 300, thereby preserving the freshness of the beans during the connection and opening process. Single-use bean containers may be designed based on several concepts. In each case, it may be desirable for the single-use container to be recyclable, which generally means being made of a single material.

[0094] 13A-13D, in one design, the bean container 900 is designed with a peelable outer scull / lid. Even when the outer scull / lid is peeled away, an inner seal or wall 1322 continues to protect the beans. The grinder support structure has a post 1320. When the grinder assembly 300 is attached to the bean container 900, for example by twisting, the post 1320 opens the container's inner seal 1322, allowing the beans to flow into the grinder. The conical shape of the seal 1322 allows the beans to flow around the seal and into the grinder 300. Once attached, the grinder / container assembly can be used with the grinding and brewing device 100. After using the empty bean container 900, the grinder 300 can be released from the container 900, for example by unscrewing it.

[0095] 13D, inner seal 1310 may be designed to prevent reuse of bean container 900. When bean container 900 is emptied, the grinder and bean container are separated from each other. Inner seal 1322 may be sized to fit into the opening of bean container 900 so that it fits securely, but large enough to block the opening to prevent refilling of container 900.

[0096] Referring to FIGS. 13E-13J, the bean container 900 can be formed as a thin aluminum container, for example, using deep drawing, stamping, or other aluminum manufacturing processes. In some cases, other materials may be used. The container 900 is typically sold sealed with an aluminum or aluminized paper tear-off seal / lid. A plastic snap-off connector ring 1330 can serve as a connector to the grinder. The grinder can be attached by clicking 1332 into the snap-off connector ring 1330. The grinder can be used until the bean container 900 is empty. To separate the grinder from the container 900 (and transfer it to the next container), the pull tab can be used to tear the snap-off connector ring, or the container 900 can be squeezed to deform it, releasing the seal with the connector (FIGS. 13I and 13J). As an ergonomic feature, the tear-off tab can be designed to prevent premature use of the tear-off before the beans are exhausted. In some cases, the tabs may be recessed so that they cannot be grasped before the bean container 900 is secured to the grinder. Only once the grinder is snapped into place does the tear strip tab push outward, exposing and allowing for grasping. The grinder can be completely separated for reuse with the next bean container. The grinder may be attached to the container via a twist ring. The container may be formed of thin aluminum. During the twisting process, the twist ring collar may dent or deform the thin aluminum container, releasing it from the snap feature and allowing it to be removed, but preventing it from being reused (or discouraging a user from attempting to reuse it). In some cases, deformation of the container 900 may occur upon initial engagement of the container 900 with the grinder, preventing it from being reused later once removed from the grinder. Alternatively, the container 900 and grinder may be separated by squeezing the container 900 to release it from the snap. By crushing aluminum containers, users permanently deform the containers, preventing them from being reused.To facilitate this crushing, the container 900 may be oval rather than circular, and the receiving feature on the grinder may be similarly oval and conform to it. The oval shape allows the user to intuitively crush the container 900 in the direction of release from the snap. The oval shape also reduces the amount of force that must be applied to release the snap connector. The container 900 itself is separate and made of a single piece of aluminum, making it easy to recycle. The connector ring is also made of a single material and is similarly recyclable. A consumer's ability to refill the container 900 with beans may be limited because the bean container 900 no longer attaches to or becomes distorted by the snap-off connector ring. The bean container 900 cannot be removed from the grinder without tearing the snap-off connector ring. Without the snap-on ring, it is impractical to reattach or reinstall the container 900 to the grinder or grinding / brewing device 100.

[0097] When the container 900 is empty, the user twists the twist ring collar 1010 or the like to release the bean container 900 .

[0098] IV.F. Single-Serving Reusable Container 14A-14I, a single-serving reusable bean container 1400 can contain a single serving of beans, allowing a user to create a single-serving coffee sample with any bean selected by the customer. The single-serving bean container 1400 may have a threaded feature similar to that of the container-side connector collar 1010 described in FIGS. 10A-11K, designed to engage and lock with the external threads of the grinder-side connector 1020. Referring to FIGS. 14D-14I, and in contrast to FIGS. 11D-11F, the single-serving reusable bean container 1400 may have a component that engages a safety interlock switch via an actuator 1050 to enable operation of the grinder (similar to FIG. 10L), but does not have a single-use self-destruct function. The container 1400 can have a capacity equivalent to a single serving (typically 0.5 ounces to 1.5 ounces of whole beans (e.g., 0.5 ounces, 0.6 ounces, 0.7 ounces, 0.8 ounces, 0.9 ounces, 1.0 ounces, 1.2 ounces, 1.4 ounces, and 1.5 ounces of whole beans)). In some cases, a range of sizes is sold as a kit, allowing the user to choose one that corresponds to their preferred cup size and coffee strength. In some cases, the same concept may be used with containers designed to hold a larger amount of beans, enough for multiple servings of coffee. In some cases, this can be achieved by integrating the grinder and container into one piece. In some cases, this single-serving reusable container may be configured as a simple cover over the grinder, which also activates a safety switch via actuator 1050. In this case, the grinder may be configured to hold enough beans for a single serving, allowing the user to directly load the beans into the grinder and place the cover over them.

[0099] Referring to Figure 14A, a consumer can place a single serving of beans into container 900. Referring to Figure 14B, the grinder assembly can be lowered onto the single-serving container and pushed in to engage. Referring to Figure 14C, the single-serve container and grinder can be lowered into grinding and brewing apparatus 100 and used to prepare a single serving of coffee.

[0100] V. Other Embodiments Because the grinder and container are interchangeable, the grinder apparatus 100 can also be used to grind other ingredients. For example, the grinder apparatus 100 can be used to grind fresh nut butters, such as peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter. In some cases, the grinder apparatus 100 may be specialized for grinding spices. When grinding nut butters, the ingredient container may contain whole nuts or partially ground nuts to aid in the grinding process. In some cases, coffee, nut, and spice grinders and containers can be interchanged within the same grinder apparatus 100. These grinders may function on the same grinder apparatus 100, or there may be other apparatuses 100 with similar grinder drive train configurations. In some cases, for example, when grinding nuts, the ingredient container may be designed to accommodate single-serving sized ingredients, thereby allowing for cleaning of the grinder after each use, as required for grinding nut butters or other ingredients. This may also be true for containers containing whole coffee beans.

[0101] For clarity of explanation, the above description focuses on a representative sampling of all possible embodiments, i.e., samples that teach the principles of the present invention and convey the best mode contemplated for carrying it out. The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Well-known features may not have been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the principles related to the claimed invention. In this application and related file history, the term "invention" refers to the entire collection of ideas and principles described. The formal definition of exclusive protective property rights, however, is set forth in the claims, which have exclusive effect. This description does not attempt to exhaustively list all possible variations. Other undescribed variations or modifications may be possible. When multiple alternative embodiments are described, it is often possible to combine elements from different embodiments or combine elements of the embodiments described herein with other modifications or variations not expressly described. The listing of items does not imply that any or all items are mutually exclusive, nor does it imply that any or all items are inclusive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. In many cases, a single feature or group of features may be used separately from the entire apparatus or method described. Many of these undescribed alternatives, variations, modifications, and equivalents are within the literal scope of the following claims, and others are equivalent. The claims can be practiced without some or all of the specific details set forth in the specification. In many cases, method steps described herein can be performed in a different order than shown herein, or in parallel rather than sequentially.

Claims

1. brewing a first cup of coffee in a coffee brewing machine designed for consumer use, The machine, a countertop appliance having a motor designed to drive a grinding burr and an area for receiving ground ingredients; a first grinder / container assembly having a grinding burr and a container designed to hold the whole coffee beans to be ground; a coupling between the countertop appliance and the grinder / container assembly, the coupling designed to transmit power from the motor to the grinding burr and to allow the grinder / container assembly to be separated from the countertop appliance and replaced with another grinder / container assembly without the use of tools; After the first cup of coffee has been brewed, removing the first grinder / container assembly from the countertop appliance without the use of tools; connecting a second grinder / container assembly to the countertop appliance without the use of tools.

2. disconnecting a container for unground ingredients from said grinder / container assembly with a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, said grinder housing being designed to mount said grinding burr on a countertop appliance; 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting a new container of unground food material to the grinder housing to form a new container / grinder assembly.

3. grinding the coffee for the first cup via the grinding bar, a filter basket below the grinding bar designed to collect grounds from the grinding bar and to allow water to penetrate the grounds, a water heating and distribution system, and computer control; the grinding bar is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to dispense grinds in a conical arrangement from its bottom; 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed diametrically therearound for collecting the meal falling from the grinding bars, and the filter basket has a porous screen that allows water to penetrate behind the screen while preventing meal flow through, the raised center and screen being designed to facilitate water flow through the meal to a desired extraction level.

4. disconnecting a container designed to hold up to about 3 liters of food material from the grinder / container assembly with a connector for connecting to a grinder housing designed to mount the grinding burr to a countertop appliance, the container and / or the connection between the container and the grinding burr being designed to inhibit refilling of the container; 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting a new container of unground food material to the grinder housing to form a new container / grinder assembly.

5. brewing the first cup of coffee into a filter basket of the countertop appliance, the filter basket defining a circular brewing vessel, the filter basket being circular, the bottom of the filter basket sloping outward from the center and having a raised central portion designed to promote outward flow of water, the basket bottom flattening toward its radially outer extent to provide adequate volume for grounds, the filter basket having openings at or near its outer periphery, and the filter basket having a diameter to depth ratio of at least about 2.5 to 1; the filter basket is constructed of a material suitable for use with foodstuffs and exposure to boiling water; 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter basket has features that engage with mating features on the countertop appliance.

6. Grinding burr; a grinder housing designed to mount the grinding burr on a consumer countertop appliance, comprising: receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding a container for unground food material as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a grinder housing for holding the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar and ground food material is delivered into a receiver; The apparatus includes a grinder-tool interface designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and to replace the tool with a different container / grinder assembly.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the grinder-to-tool connection and the grinder-to-container connection are cooperatingly designed to allow the grinder / container assembly to be removed from and replaced by the tool while the container remains attached to the container / grinder assembly.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the grinder-tool connection is designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly without the use of tools.

9. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the grinder-container connection is designed to allow the user to remove the container from the grinder housing without the use of tools.

10. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the grinder-container connection is designed to impair reuse of the container after removal.

11. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the path from the grinder to the receiving area for the ground ingredient is designed to have a nearly vertical drop to reduce adhesion of the ground ingredient.

12. the container and the grinding bar are designed for unground whole bean coffee and for grinding the unground beans into a ground coffee for brewing; 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the appliance further comprises a water supply system and a water heater for supplying water for brewing coffee.

13. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a container for unground ingredients, the container having a connector for connecting to the grinder housing.

14. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a filter basket below the grinding bar designed to collect the grinding powder from the grinding bar and allow water to percolate through the grinding powder, a water heating and distribution system, and a computer control. the grinding bar is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to dispense grinds in a conical arrangement from its bottom; The filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed diametrically for collecting the meal falling from the grinding bars, and the filter basket has a porous screen for directing water to flow behind the screen while preventing the meal from flowing through, the raised center and screen being designed to promote water flow through the meal to a desired extraction level.

15. a container for unground ingredients having a connector for connecting to the grinder housing and designed to hold up to about 3 liters of ingredients; 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the container and / or the connection between the container and the grinding burr assembly is designed to inhibit refilling of the container.

16. a circular filter basket, the bottom of which slopes outward from the center and has a raised central section designed to promote outward flow of water, the bottom of which flattens toward its radially outer extent to provide volume for grounds, the filter basket having screen openings at or near its outer periphery, the ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket being at least about 2.5 to 1; the filter basket is constructed of a material suitable for use with foodstuffs and exposure to boiling water; 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a hot beverage grinding and brewing machine.

17. a filter basket designed to contain the ground ingredients crushed by said crushing bar and to direct the flow of hot water in a manner designed to extract a hot beverage; a steam shield designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket, and to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during extraction to protect the grinding bar from steam leakage during extraction of the hot beverage; 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the steam shield has one or more dispensing openings in its underside designed to dispense water onto the ground food material in the filter basket for extraction.

18. a water pump configured to dispense hot water onto the grounds within the brewing chamber of the device; and 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a controller designed to pulse the water pump during brewing to improve wetting of or extraction from the ground ingredient during brewing.

19. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a controller for controlling rotation of the motor and grinding burr, the controller being programmed to drive the motor in a grinding direction to drive the grinding burr to grind food material during a grinding cycle and to drive the grinding burr in a reverse rotation direction for a short period of time to remove residual ground food material from the grinding burr and other rotating components and complete the grinding cycle.

20. A container for unground ingredients having a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, the grinder housing designed to mount a grinding burr in a consumer countertop appliance; receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; said container being designed to hold said grinding bar in a manner and position designed to allow food material to flow from said container into said grinding bar and to allow ground food material to be delivered into a receiver; The apparatus comprises a grinder-tool connection on the grinder housing that is designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and to replace a different container / grinder assembly with the tool.

21. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the grinder-to-tool connection and grinder-to-container connection are co-designed to allow the grinder / container assembly to be removed from the tool and replaced while the container remains attached to the container / grinder assembly.

22. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the grinder-tool connection is designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly without the use of tools.

23. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the grinder-container connection is designed to allow the user to remove the container from the grinder housing without the use of tools.

24. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the grinder-container connection is designed to impair reuse of the container after removal.

25. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the path from the grinder to the receiving area for the ground ingredient is designed to have a nearly vertical drop to reduce adhesion.

26. the container and the grinding bar are designed for unground whole bean coffee and for grinding the unground beans into a ground coffee for brewing; 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the appliance further comprises a water supply system and a water heater for supplying water for brewing coffee.

27. Grinding burr; 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a grinder housing designed to mount the grinding burr on a countertop appliance.

28. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a filter basket below the grinding bar designed to collect the grinding powder from the grinding bar and to allow water to percolate through the grinding powder, a water heating and distribution system, and a computer control. the grinding bar is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to dispense grinds in a conical arrangement from its bottom; The filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed diametrically for collecting the meal falling from the grinding bars, and the filter basket has a porous screen for directing water to flow behind the screen while preventing the meal from flowing through, the raised center and screen being designed to promote water flow through the meal to a desired extraction level.

29. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a container for unground food having a connector for connecting to the grinder housing and designed to hold up to about 3 liters of food, The apparatus, wherein the container and / or the connection between the container and the crushing burr assembly is designed to inhibit refilling of the container.

30. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a circular filter basket, the bottom of the filter basket sloping outward from the center and having a raised central portion designed to promote outward flow of water, the bottom of the basket flattening toward its radially outer extent to provide volume for the grounds, the filter basket having screen openings at or near its outer periphery, and a ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket of at least about 2.5 to 1; the filter basket is constructed of a material suitable for use with foodstuffs and exposure to boiling water; The filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a hot beverage grinding and brewing machine.

31. a filter basket designed to contain the ground ingredients crushed by the crushing bar and to transfer hot water therethrough in a manner designed to extract a hot beverage; 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a steam shield designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket, and to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during extraction to protect the grinding bar from steam leakage during extraction of the hot beverage, The steam shield has one or more dispensing openings in its lower surface designed to dispense water onto the ground food material in the filter basket for extraction.

32. a water pump configured to dispense hot water onto the grounds within the brewing chamber of the device; and 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a controller designed to pulse the water pump during brewing to improve wetting of or extraction from the ground ingredient during brewing.

33. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a controller for controlling rotation of the motor and grinding burr, the controller being programmed to drive the motor in a grinding direction to drive the grinding burr to grind food material during a grinding cycle and to drive the grinding burr in a reverse rotation direction for a short period of time to remove residual ground food material from the grinding burr and other rotating components and complete the grinding cycle.

34. a grinding bar arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and arranged to distribute grounds from its bottom in a conical arrangement to fall into the annulus; 1. An apparatus comprising: a filter basket below the grinding bar designed to collect meal from the grinding bar and allow water to percolate through the meal; a water heating and distribution system; and a computer control; The filter basket is formed of a material suitable for use with food ingredients and exposure to hot water, the filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a consumer hot beverage grinding and brewing machine, the filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed at a diameter for collecting the powder falling from the grinding bar, and has a porous screen that directs the hot beverage flowing through the screen while preventing the powder from passing through, the raised center and screen being designed to promote water flow through the powder for the desired level of brewing.

35. a motor whose rotation axis is different from the vertical rotation axis of the grinding burr; 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising gears and / or belts designed to transmit rotational impulses from the motor to the rotary grinding burr.

36. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising support ribs designed to hold the grinding bar in position relative to the filter basket, the support ribs being angled to reduce adhesion of falling grindings.

37. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a vertical fixing wall in the drop path from the grinding bar, the vertical fixing wall designed to shield the rotating wall from the grinding powder to reduce adhesion.

38. A container for unground ingredients having a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, the grinder housing being designed to mount a grinding burr in a countertop appliance; receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a container designed to hold the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar and ground food material is delivered into a receiver; 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a grinder-tool interface on the grinder housing designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and to exchange a different container / grinder assembly for the tool.

39. A container for unground ingredients designed to hold up to approximately 3 liters of ingredients, the container having a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, the grinder housing being designed to mount a grinding burr in a countertop appliance; receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a container designed to hold the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar; 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a grinder-tool interface on the grinder housing, the grinder-tool interface being designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to and from the countertop tool assembly, The above apparatus, wherein the container and / or the connection between the container and the grinding burr assembly is designed to inhibit refilling of the container.

40. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the filter basket has a bottom that slopes outward from the center and has a raised central portion designed to promote outward flow of water, the bottom of the basket flattening toward its radially outer extent to provide volume for grounds, the filter basket having screen openings at or near its outer periphery, and the ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket is at least about 2.5 to 1.

41. a filter basket designed to contain the ground ingredients crushed by the crushing bars and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to extract a hot beverage; a steam shield designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket, and to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during extraction to protect the grinding bar from steam leakage from the extraction process; 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the steam shield has one or more dispensing openings in its underside designed to dispense water onto the ground food material in the filter basket for brewing.

42. a water pump designed to dispense hot water to ground coffee within a brewing chamber of the coffee brewing apparatus; and 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a controller designed to pulse the water pump during brewing to improve wetting of or extraction from the ground ingredient during brewing.

43. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a brew basket surrounding the filter basket, the brew basket designed to receive brewed coffee exiting the filter basket, the brew basket having a drip valve actuated by a motor of the appliance, the drip valve designed to allow coffee flow or prevent coffee flow as determined by a controller of the appliance.

44. a countertop appliance having a motor designed to drive a grinding burr and an area for receiving ground ingredients; 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a controller that controls rotation of the motor and grinding burr, the controller being programmed to drive the motor in a grinding direction to drive the grinding burr to grind food material during a grinding cycle and to drive the grinding burr in a reverse rotational direction for a short period of time to dislodge any remaining ground food material from the grinding burr and other rotating components and complete the grinding cycle.

45. A container for unground food designed to hold up to approximately 3 liters of food, having a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, the grinder housing being designed to mount a grinding burr in a consumer countertop appliance; receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a container designed to hold the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar; an apparatus comprising: a grinder-tool connection portion of the grinder housing, the grinder-tool connection portion being designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to and from the countertop tool assembly; The apparatus wherein the container and / or container-grinder connection is designed to inhibit refilling of the container.

46. 46. ​​The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the container and / or container-grinder connection is designed to allow the grinding burr to be removed from the container, to prevent refilling of the container, and to allow reconnection of a new container without the use of tools.

47. 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the container-grinder connection and / or container has features designed to deform features of the container and / or container-side of the container-grinder connection when the grinder is removed from the container, such that the container-grinder connection cannot be reused.

48. the container-grinder connection has a feature that activates a safety switch of the tool when the grinder and container are connected; 48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the container and / or deformation on the container is designed to prevent activation of a safety switch after deformation.

49. 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein components of the container-grinder connection are designed to snap and hold features of the container-grinder connection in an inoperative position to prevent reuse of the container-grinder connection.

50. 50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the container-grinder interface is designed with an inclined ramp and features that ride on the ramp during rotation of the interface components.

51. 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the container-grinder connection has features designed to bend when the grinder is removed from the container such that the first connection cannot be reused.

52. 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the container-grinder interface includes a feature that the user must deform to release the container from the grinder.

53. 46. ​​The apparatus of claim 45, comprising a rotating grinding bar mounted on a vertical shaft, a filter basket below the grinding bar designed to collect meal from the grinding bar and allow water to percolate through the meal, a water heating and distribution system, and computer control; the grinding bar is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to dispense grinding material from its bottom in a conical arrangement; The filter basket is formed of a material suitable for use with food ingredients and exposure to hot water, the filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a grinding and brewing machine for hot beverages, the filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed diametrically for collecting the grounds falling from the grinding bar, and has a porous screen that directs water to flow behind the screen while preventing the grounds from flowing through, the raised center and screen being designed to encourage water flow through the grounds for the desired level of extraction.

54. 1. An apparatus comprising a filter basket formed of a material suitable for use with ingredients and exposure to hot water, said filter basket having features for engaging with mating features of a consumer grinding and brewing machine for hot beverages, said filter basket designed to contain ground ingredients ground by a grinding bar and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to brew a hot beverage; the bottom of the filter basket slopes outward from the center and has a raised central section designed to promote outward flow of water, the filter basket has screen openings at or near the outer periphery of the filter basket, and the ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket is at least about 2.5 to 1.

55. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the bottom of the filter basket is impermeable and the screen openings are in the vertical sides of the filter basket.

56. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the bottom of the filter basket is in the form of a surface of revolution about a central axis of the filter basket, with a curve that increases in pitch toward the center and flattens toward the periphery.

57. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the filter basket has a diameter to depth ratio of at least about 3 to 1.

58. Grinding burr; a grinder housing designed to mount the grinding burr on a countertop appliance, comprising: receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding a container for unground food material as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a grinder housing for holding the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar and ground food material is delivered into a receiver; 55. The device of claim 54, comprising a grinder-tool interface designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and to exchange a different container / grinder assembly for the tool.

59. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, comprising: a rotating grinding burr mounted on a vertical shaft; a water heating and distribution system; and computer control; the grinding bar is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to distribute grounds from its bottom in a conical arrangement onto the annular portion of the filter basket; The filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed diametrically for collecting the meal falling from the grinding bars, and has a porous screen for directing water to flow behind the screen while preventing the meal from flowing through, the raised center and screen being designed to promote water flow through the meal to achieve the desired extraction level.

60. A container for unground ingredients designed to hold up to approximately 3 liters of ingredients, the container having a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, the grinder housing being designed to mount a grinding burr in a countertop appliance; and receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; said container designed to hold said grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from said container into said grinding bar and directs grounds into said filter basket; 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a grinder-tool interface on the grinder housing, the grinder-tool interface being designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to and from the countertop tool assembly, The apparatus wherein the container and / or container-grinder connection is designed to inhibit refilling of the container.

61. a steam shield designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket, and to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during extraction to protect the grinding bar from steam leakage from the extraction process; 55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the steam shield has one or more dispensing openings in its underside designed to dispense water onto the ground food material in the filter basket for brewing.

62. a water pump designed to dispense hot water to ground coffee within a brewing chamber of the coffee brewing apparatus; and 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a controller designed to pulse the water pump during brewing to improve wetting of or extraction from the ground ingredient during brewing.

63. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a brew basket surrounding the filter basket, the brew basket designed to receive brewed coffee exiting the filter basket, the brew basket having a drip valve actuated by a motor of the appliance, the drip valve designed to allow coffee flow or prevent coffee flow as determined by a controller of the appliance.

64. a countertop appliance having a motor configured to drive the grinding burr and an area for receiving ground food; 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a controller that controls rotation of the motor and grinding burr, the controller being programmed to drive the motor in a grinding direction to drive the grinding burr to grind food material during a grinding cycle and to drive the grinding burr in a reverse rotational direction for a short period of time to dislodge any remaining ground food material from the grinding burr and other rotating components and complete the grinding cycle.

65. A grinding burr designed to crush ingredients; a filter basket designed to contain the ground ingredients ground by the grinding bars and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to extract a hot beverage; a steam shield designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket, and to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during extraction to protect the grinding bar from steam leakage from the extraction process; The steam shield has one or more dispensing openings in its lower surface designed to dispense water onto the ground food material in the filter basket for extraction.

66. 66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the steam shield and the water pipe leading to the distribution opening are formed as a unitary part designed to move together on a common mechanism.

67. 67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the steam shield and the water pipe leading to the distribution opening are formed as separately molded components joined together into a single unit.

68. a grinder housing designed to mount said grinding burr on a countertop appliance, said housing comprising: receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding a container for unground food material as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a grinder housing for holding the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar and ground food material is delivered into a receiver; 66. The device of claim 65, further comprising a grinder-tool interface designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and to exchange a different container / grinder assembly for the tool.

69. the grinding bar is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to distribute the grinding material in a conical arrangement from its bottom; and 66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising a filter basket below the grinding bar designed to collect meal from the grinding bar and to allow water to percolate through the meal, a water heating and distribution system, and a computer control; The filter basket is formed of a material suitable for use with ingredients and exposure to hot water, the filter basket has features that engage with mating features of a grinding and brewing machine for hot beverages, the filter basket has a raised center and a peripheral annular space disposed at a diameter for collecting the powder falling from the grinding bar, and has a porous screen that directs the hot beverage to flow through the screen while preventing the powder from flowing through, the raised center and screen designed to encourage water flow through the powder for the desired level of extraction.

70. a container for unground ingredients designed to hold up to approximately 3 liters of ingredients, the container having a connector for connecting to a grinder housing, the grinder housing being designed to mount the grinding burr in a countertop appliance; receiving power from a motor of the countertop tool to drive the grinding burr; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a container designed to hold the grinding bar in a manner and position such that food material flows from the container into the grinding bar; 66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising a grinder-tool interface on the grinder housing, the grinder-tool interface being designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to and from the countertop tool assembly, The apparatus wherein the container and / or container-grinder connection is designed to inhibit refilling of the container.

71. 66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising a filter basket formed of a material suitable for use with ingredients and exposure to hot water, the filter basket having features that engage with mating features of a hot beverage grinding and brewing machine, the filter basket designed to contain ground ingredients ground by the grinding bars and to direct the flow of water in a manner designed to brew a hot beverage; the bottom of the filter basket slopes outward from the center and has a raised central section designed to promote outward flow of water, the filter basket has screen openings at or near the outer periphery of the filter basket, and the ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket is at least about 2.5 to 1.

72. a container for unground ingredients having a connector for connecting to the grinder housing and designed to hold up to about 3 liters of ingredients; a grinding burr arranged to rotate on a vertical axis; A grinder housing, holding the grinding burr in a consumer countertop appliance for rotation on a vertical axis; receiving a drive force from a motor of the countertop appliance to drive the grinding burr, the burr distributing grinding material from its bottom in a conical arrangement to fall into an annulus; holding the container for unground ingredients as a container / grinder assembly, the container arranged for gravity feeding to the grinding bar and for handling the container and grinding bar as an assembly; a grinder housing designed to hold the grinding bar in a manner and position designed to allow food material to flow from the container into the grinding bar and to allow ground food material to be delivered into a receiver; a grinder-tool interface of the grinder housing designed to allow a user to easily attach and detach the container / grinder assembly to the countertop tool assembly and to exchange a different container / grinder assembly for the tool; the container and / or container-grinder connection being designed to inhibit refilling of the container; a filter basket formed of a material suitable for use with food ingredients and exposure to boiling water, the filter basket having features that engage with mating features of a consumer hot beverage grinding and brewing machine, the bottom of the filter basket sloping outward from the center and having a raised center designed to promote outward flow of water and a peripheral annular space disposed at a diameter for collecting the grounds falling from the grinding bar, the filter basket having screen openings at or near the outer periphery of the filter basket, the ratio of diameter to depth of the filter basket being at least about 2.5 to 1, and the filter basket having a porous screen to direct the hot beverage flowing through the screen while preventing the grounds from flowing through, the raised center and screen designed to encourage water flow through the grounds for a desired level of brewing; water heating and distribution systems; computer control; and a steam shield designed to be maintained in an open position during operation of the grinding bar to transfer grounds from the grinding bar to the filter basket, and to be maintained in a closed position after grinding and during extraction to protect the grinding bar from steam leakage from the extraction process; The steam shield has one or more dispensing openings on its underside designed to dispense water onto the ground food material in the filter basket for extraction.

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