Method for preparing coffee

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for producing a coffee beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus, said apparatus comprising : - at least one supply of roasted and ground coffee : beans container + grinder - at least one supply of soluble coffee : powder or liquid - a water supply system, - at least one extraction unit for receiving and extracting roasted and ground coffee with water, where the method for producing a coffee beverage comprises at least the following steps : - preparing a first coffee beverage (C1) in the extraction unit, and - preparing a second coffee beverage (C2) from soluble coffee, - producing the final coffee beverage by mixing the first and the second coffee beverages (C1, C2).

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR PREPARING COFFEE

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the preparation of a coffee beverage with a beverage preparation machine

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] In the field of preparation of coffee beverages, machines are usually split between machines preparing coffee by dissolution of soluble coffee (also called instant coffee) with water and machines preparing coffee by extracting roasted and ground coffee.

[0006] The preparations from the different starting coffee ingredients provide different coffee beverages with different sensorial properties, with often a preference for coffee beverages prepared from roasted and ground coffee. Yet, this preparation presents some drawbacks :

[0007] - the time for preparation is longer than for soluble coffee and uses more energy due to pressurization of hot water and the operations for grinding and for coffee cake evacuation.

[0008] - for the preparation of the same type of coffee beverage (for example, an espresso) it requests more green coffee beans for a preparation from roast and ground coffee than for a preparation from soluble coffee. For that reason, roast and ground coffee can be considered as less sustainable than soluble coffee.

[0009] - the costs of preparation of a cup of coffee is higher compared to the preparation of the same cup with soluble coffee due to the need of pressurised water, the evacuation and posttreatment of important volumes of coffee cakes.

[0010] For coffee beverages prepared from roast and ground coffee, there is a need for reducing the sustainability impact of their preparation, for reducing their cost of preparation and having a better control of their components.

[0011] An object of the invention is to address the above existing problem.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] According to the invention, there is provided a method for producing a coffee beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus, said apparatus comprising :

[0014] - at least one supply of roasted and ground coffee,

[0015] - at least one supply of soluble coffee,

[0016] - a water supply system,

[0017] - at least one extraction unit or receiving and extracting roasted and ground coffee with water, where the method for producing a coffee beverage comprises at least the following steps :

[0018] - ordering one final coffee beverage, - preparing a first coffee beverage (C1) in the extraction unit, and

[0019] - preparing a second coffee beverage (C2) from soluble coffee,

[0020] - producing the final coffee beverage by mixing the first and the second coffee beverages (C1 , 02).

[0021] Accordingly, the preparation enables the preparation of one final coffee beverage wherein, once the coffee beverage is ordered from the beverage preparation machine, a first part of the ordered coffee is prepared from roasted and ground coffee extracted in an extraction unit and a second part of the ordered coffee is prepared from soluble coffee. The final ordered coffee beverage owns the sensory characteristics of a beverage prepared from roast and ground coffee but presents a more sustainable impact because it requests the use of less green coffee beans.

[0022] As developed below, the steps of preparation of the first and second coffee beverage can happen :

[0023] - separately in different chambers, operated either simultaneously or successively, according to a first embodiment. Then, both parts are mixed together to produce the final ordered coffee beverage. or

[0024] - simultaneously in the same chamber, according to a second embodiment. In that case, both parts are simultaneously produced and mixed.

[0025] Generally, the volume of the first coffee beverage (01) represents 10 to 90 % of the volume of the final coffee beverage (C1 + 02).

[0026] Any percentage of the first and second coffee beverages between these limits can be implemented. The lower the percentage of the first coffee beverage (01), the more sustainable becomes the final beverage. Yet, this percentage can be adapted to keep the specific taste of a coffee obtained by extraction of roast and ground coffee. The ratio can depend on the type of final coffee beverage : the small volume of an espresso coffee type can require a higher percentage in volume of the first coffee beverage to keep the sensory characteristics of roast and ground beans whereas a long cup of lungo or americano coffee type can require a higher percentage in volume of the second coffee beverage to decrease the preparation time.

[0027] In order to implement the method, the beverage preparation apparatus comprises at least one supply of roasted and ground coffee. This supply can be a canister configured to store, dose and dispense the dose of roasted and ground coffee such as container comprising a dosing auger, a dosing screw or any powder dosing device.

[0028] Alternatively, this supply can comprise a container of roasted coffee beans configured to supply beans to a coffee grinder. The outlet of the grinder is positioned to feed roast and ground coffee to the extraction unit.

[0029] The apparatus can comprise different roasted and ground coffee canisters or beans containers storing different types of coffees (different by their origins, their roasting degrees, their blends, caffeine level ...) to offer various types of coffee beverages and even to enable the preparation of a coffee with a mixture of the different coffees.

[0030] The extraction unit is configured to extract coffee from roasted and ground coffee with hot water, preferably hot pressurised water. After the extraction operation, extracted coffee beans are compressed as a cake and evacuated to a bin.

[0031] Usually the extraction unit comprises :

[0032] - a brewing chamber for receiving roasted and ground coffee powder, and

[0033] - an upper piston, and

[0034] - a water inlet, and

[0035] - a liquid outlet duct guiding extracted coffee beverage to a dispensing area, and

[0036] - a lower piston wherein the brewing chamber and / or the pistons are relatively movable between :

[0037] . an open position for introducing roast and ground coffee powder or ejecting extracted roast and ground coffee powder, where the upper piston is at a distance from the upper rim of the chamber and outside the chamber, and

[0038] . at least one closed position configured for brewing roasted and ground coffee powder. Preferably, the extraction unit can comprise :

[0039] - a brewing chamber for receiving roasted and ground coffee powder, said chamber comprising an upper rim and a bottom wall, and

[0040] - an upper piston, said upper piston being configured to be movable through the upper rim of the brewing chamber and inside the brewing chamber further to the relative movement of the brewing chamber and the upper piston, and

[0041] - a water inlet,

[0042] - a liquid outlet duct guiding extracted coffee beverage to a dispensing area,

[0043] - a lower piston movable inside said brewing chamber between :

[0044] . a lowest position wherein the lower piston lies at the bottom of the brewing chamber, and . a highest position wherein the lower piston is at the upper rim of the brewing chamber,

[0045] - a discharge device for spent coffee, wherein the brewing chamber and / or the upper piston are relatively movable between :

[0046] . an open position for introducing roast and ground coffee powder or ejecting extracted roast and ground coffee powder, where the upper piston is at a distance from the upper rim of the chamber and outside the chamber, and . at least one closed position configured for brewing roasted and ground coffee powder.

[0047] The extraction unit can be the type of extraction unit described in WO2022096457, WO2016116981 , W02015015271A1 or W02007144749.

[0048] The beverage preparation apparatus used in the method comprises a water supply system to feed water at least to the brewing chamber of the extraction unit. The water supply system comprises at least a water supply and a water pump, and preferably a water heating device. This system is connected to the water inlet of the brewing chamber. Accordingly, pressurized water is supplied to the brewing chamber for the extraction of roasted and ground coffee powder.

[0049] In addition, the beverage preparation apparatus used in the method comprises at least one supply of soluble coffee This soluble or instant coffee can be a soluble powder or a coffee liquid concentrate. This supply can be a canister configured to store, dose and dispense the dose of soluble coffee such as container comprising a dosing auger, a dosing screw or any powder dosing device.

[0050] The apparatus can comprise several canisters to supply different types of soluble coffee.

[0051] According to the method, once one coffee beverage is ordered from the beverage preparation apparatus, the method is implemented.

[0052] The coffee beverage is usually ordered through a user interface such as a touch screen, an actuable selecting button or any other means.

[0053] The hardware of the user interface may comprise any suitable device(s), for example, the hardware comprises one or more of the following : buttons, such as a joystick button, knob or press button, joystick, LEDs, graphic or character LDCs, graphical screen with touch sensing and / or screen edge buttons.

[0054] A part of the user interface can also be on a mobile app when the beverage preparation machine is provided with a communication interface. In that case, at least a part of input and output can be transmitted to the mobile device through the communication interface.

[0055] In one first embodiment, the beverage preparation apparatus comprises at least one mixing chamber (also called dissolution chamber) for receiving and mixing a dose of soluble coffee with water and the second coffee beverage (C2) is prepared in said mixing chamber. This chamber is connected to the water supply system.

[0056] This mixing chamber is designed to enable the contact of soluble coffee and water to obtain the dissolution of soluble coffee. This chamber can comprise a mixing device or whipper to improve dissolution and, if desired, to create a coffee with a layer of foam (e.g. for the preparation of espresso coffee type). Alternatively, this mixing chamber can be devoid of mixing device and can comprise a water inlet designed to introduced water in the form of a waterjet that fills the chamber and strongly impacts the soluble coffee to dissolve it.

[0057] According to this first embodiment, each of the first coffee beverage (C1) and the second coffee beverage (C2) is prepared in a corresponding dedicated chamber - brewing chamber and mixing chamber respectively - before both coffee beverages are mixed together to form the final coffee beverage.

[0058] Generally, the step of mixing the first and the second coffee beverages (C1 , 02) happens in the final drinking cup.

[0059] In one mode, the preparation steps of the first and second coffee beverages can happen simultaneously which enables a rapid preparation.

[0060] Alternatively, the preparation steps of the first and second coffee beverages start successively. This implementation can be required when the design of the water supply system enables the supply of one chamber only. In that case, depending on the type of coffee beverage prepared and the ratio of the first coffee beverage to the second coffee beverage, the order of preparation can vary. The order is usually defined so as to limit the global time of preparation of the final coffee beverage. For example, if an important volume of second coffee beverage is required, the dissolution of the soluble coffee can happen during the step of dosing and grinding the coffee beans that can be necessary for the first coffee beverage preparation.

[0061] In one second embodiment, the supply of soluble coffee of the apparatus can be configured to dispense a dose of soluble coffee in the brewing chamber of the extraction unit where the first coffee beverage is prepared, which means that the second coffee beverage (02) is prepared in the brewing chamber too.

[0062] Preferably, the doses of roast and ground coffee and soluble coffee are both supplied to the brewing chamber simultaneously or successively before the brewing chamber is closed and water is supplied in the chamber to brew the roast and ground coffee and to dissolve the soluble coffee simultaneously.

[0063] In another aspect, there is provided a beverage preparation apparatus, said apparatus comprising :

[0064] - at least one supply of roasted and ground coffee,

[0065] - at least one supply of soluble coffee,

[0066] - a water supply system,

[0067] - at least one extraction unit for receiving and extracting roasted and ground coffee with water, said extraction unit comprising a brewing chamber,

[0068] - at least one user interface for ordering one coffee final beverage, - a control system operable to perform the method such as described above.

[0069] In another aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions to cause the above beverage preparation apparatus to perform the method.

[0070] In another aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon the above computer program.

[0071] In the present application :

[0072] - coffee beverage means a beverage comprising coffee only. Additional components, like milk, are not part of the coffee beverage.

[0073] - coffee ingredient means the coffee solid ingredient from which a coffee beverage is prepared either by extraction or by dissolution.

[0074] The above aspects of the invention may be combined in any suitable combination. Moreover, various features herein may be combined with one or more of the above aspects to provide combinations other than those specifically illustrated and described. Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the claims, from the detailed description, and annexed drawings.

[0075] Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

[0076] As used in this specification, the words "comprises", "comprising", and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to".

Claims

CLAIMS1. Method for producing a coffee beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus, said apparatus comprising :- at least one supply of roasted and ground coffee,- at least one supply of soluble coffee,- a water supply system,- at least one extraction unit for receiving and extracting roasted and ground coffee with water, said extraction unit comprising a brewing chamber, where the method for producing a coffee beverage comprises at least the following steps :- ordering one final coffee beverage,- preparing a first coffee beverage (C1) in the extraction unit, and- preparing a second coffee beverage (C2) from soluble coffee,- producing the ordered final coffee beverage by mixing the first and the second coffee beverages (C1 , C2).

2. Method according to Claim 1 , wherein the volume of the first coffee beverage (C1) represents 10 to 90 % of the volume of the final beverage.

3. Method according to Claim 1 ,or 2 wherein the extraction unit comprises :- a brewing chamber for receiving roasted and ground coffee powder, and- an upper piston, and- a water inlet, and- a liquid outlet duct guiding extracted coffee beverage to a dispensing area, and- a lower piston wherein the brewing chamber and / or the pistons are relatively movable between :. an open position for introducing roast and ground coffee powder or ejecting extracted roast and ground coffee powder, where the upper piston is at a distance from the upper rim of the chamber and outside the chamber, and. at least one closed position configured for brewing roasted and ground coffee powder.

4. Method according to any one of the precedent claims, wherein the beverage preparation apparatus comprises at least one mixing chamber for receiving and mixing a dose of soluble coffee with water, and wherein the second coffee beverage (C2) is prepared in said mixing chamber.

5. Method according to the precedent claim, wherein the step of mixing the first and the second coffee beverages (C1 , C2) happens in the final drinking cup.

6. Method according to any one of Claims 4 or 5, wherein the preparation steps of the first and second coffee beverages happen simultaneously.

7. Method according to any one of Claims 4 or 5, wherein the preparation steps of the first and second coffee beverages start successively.

8. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the supply of soluble coffee is configured to dispense a dose of soluble coffee in the brewing chamber of the extraction unit, and wherein the second coffee beverage (C2) is prepared in the extraction unit.

9. A beverage preparation apparatus, said apparatus comprising :- at least one supply of roasted and ground coffee,- at least one supply of soluble coffee,- a water supply system,- at least one extraction unit for receiving and extracting roasted and ground coffee with water, said extraction unit comprising a brewing chamber,- at least one user interface for ordering one coffee final beverage,- a control system operable to perform the method of any one of Claims 1 to 8.

10. A computer program comprising instructions to cause the apparatus of Claim 9 to perform the method of any one of Claims 1 to 8.11 . A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon the computer program of Claim 10.