Beverage making machines for forming beverages

Abstract

A beverage making machine may be configured to form a beverage using a brew chamber and may direct the beverage to a cooling unit. The cooling unit may include a cooling liquid, and the cooling liquid may be cooled using a thermoelectric cooler. A cooled beverage may be formed by directing a beverage through a cooling housing. Cooling liquid may be cooled using a thermoelectric cooler and may be directed to a cooling housing. The beverage may be cooled using the cooling liquid. The cooling unit may include phase change material arranged in any appropriate manner.

Description

BEVERAGE MAKING MACHINES FOR FORMING BEVERAGESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application 63 / 584,791, filed on September 22, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Aspects disclosed herein relate to beverage making machines, such as, but not limited to, coffee brewers that use a liquid to form a coffee beverage.BACKGROUND

[0003] Beverage making machines that use a liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are well known. For example, US Patent 8,094,998 and US Patent application publication 2017 / 0307252 disclose systems in which water in a heater tank is forced to flow out of the tank and to a beverage making station or dispensing location by introducing unheated water into the tank.SUMMARY

[0004] According to one aspect, a beverage making machine is provided. The beverage making machine may comprise a brew chamber configured to form a beverage, a thermoelectric cooler, and a cooling housing defining a cooling volume. The cooling housing may have a cooling liquid inlet and a cooling liquid outlet. The beverage making machine may further comprise a cooling liquid passageway fluidly coupled to the cooling liquid inlet and the cooling liquid outlet. The cooling liquid passageway may be in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooler such that the thermoelectric cooler is configured to cool cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passageway. The beverage making machine may further comprise a beverage passageway fluidly coupled to and configured to receive beverage from the brew chamber. The beverage passageway may extend through the cooling housing.

[0005] According to another aspect, a method of forming a beverage is provided. The method may comprise: forming a beverage, cooling a cooling liquid using a thermoelectric cooler, flowing the cooled cooling liquid through a cooling housing, flowing the beveragethrough the cooling housing, and cooling the beverage using the cooled cooling liquid due to transfer of heat from the beverage to the cooled cooling liquid.

[0006] It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Further, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various nonlimiting embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a beverage making machine according to some embodiments;

[0009] FIG. 2A shows a side view of a beverage making machine according to some embodiments;

[0010] FIG. 2B shows a side view of a beverage making machine according to some further embodiments;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an illustrative flow circuit in a beverage making machine according to some embodiments;

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a cooling unit according to some embodiments;

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a cooling unit according to further embodiments;

[0014] FIG. 6 shows a cooling unit according to even further embodiments;

[0015] FIG. 7 shows a beverage making machine with a purge line; and

[0016] FIG. 8 shows a thermoelectric cooler according to some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] It should be understood that aspects of the invention are described herein with reference to the figures, which show illustrative embodiments. The illustrative embodimentsdescribed herein are not necessarily intended to show all embodiments in accordance with the invention, but rather are used to describe a few illustrative embodiments. Thus, aspects of the invention are not intended to be construed narrowly in view of the illustrative embodiments. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the invention may be used alone or in any suitable combination with other aspects of the invention.

[0018] Some beverages may involve heating as a step in forming the beverage. For example, a precursor liquid such as water may be heated prior to being combined with a beverage ingredient such as coffee. In some embodiments, the beverages may be consumed while relatively hot. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to consume the beverage while the beverage is relatively cooler, e.g. in “cold brew” and / or “iced” form. Accordingly, the beverage may be cooled prior to being consumed. Cooling a beverage may include introducing cold material into the beverage (e.g., ice), however this presents the opportunity for the beverage to become diluted with the cold material. For example, ice may be added to a hot beverage to cool the beverage, heat may be transferred from the beverage to the ice, causing the ice to melt into water, which in turn mixes with and dilutes the beverage. A diluted beverage may have an undesired taste and / or texture. The inventors have recognized the desire to form cooled beverages while reducing or eliminating dilution of the beverage.

[0019] To form a cooled beverage, heat may be transferred away from the beverage. In some embodiments, a machine may be configured to transfer heat from a beverage. The systems and methods disclosed herein may be used anywhere and for any appropriate purpose, including at home, commercially, and / or industrially (e.g., large scale production of beverages). The machine may be used to make any appropriate beverage including coffee (e.g., iced coffee), tea (e.g., iced tea), hot chocolate, mineral and / or vitamin infused drink, or any other appropriate beverage.

[0020] The inventors have recognized that a strategy for cooling a formed beverage may include transferring heat from a beverage using a cooling unit prior to dispensing the beverage. A cooling unit may enable cooling of a liquid (e.g., beverage) without diluting the liquid. A beverage may flow through a cooling unit, and the cooling unit may be configured to absorb heat from the beverage flowing through. Cooling liquid may be disposed within the cooling volume and may be in thermal communication with the beverage flowing through the cooling unit such that heat is transferred from the beverage to the cooling unit. In someembodiments, the cooling liquid may be actively cooled using a thermoelectric cooler (also referred to herein as a “TEC”). Actively cooling the cooling liquid may help to increase the amount of heat transferred from the beverage to the cooling unit without substantially increasing the volume of the cooling unit. In some embodiments, decreasing the volume (e.g., dimensions) of the cooling unit may be beneficial in order to decrease the space occupied by the beverage making machine. For example, counter space may be limited in the kitchen or office of a user, so decreasing the beverage making machine footprint may help to decrease the amount of counter space occupied by the beverage making machine.

[0021] It should be understood that “thermoelectric cooler assembly” (also referred to as “TEC assembly”) as used herein may refer to an assembly of components including a thermoelectric cooler. For example, a thermoelectric cooler assembly may comprise an assembly including one or more of a thermoelectric cooler, heat sink, fan, and manifold.

[0022] In some embodiments, the cooling unit may include a phase change material (PCM) configured such that heat is transferred from the beverage to the PCM. For example, in some embodiments, heat may be transferred from a beverage to a cooling liquid, and in turn, heat may be transferred from the cooling liquid to the PCM. In embodiments where the cooling liquid is actively cooled (e.g., with a TEC), heat may be transferred from the PCM to the cooling liquid when the heat of the PCM exceeds the heat of the cooling liquid (e.g., when the temperature of the PCM is greater than the temperature of the cooling liquid). The cooling fluid may be cooled using a thermoelectric cooler such that heat is transferred from the cooling fluid to the thermoelectric cooler.

[0023] In some embodiments, the period of time the beverage is cooled by the cooling unit may be selectively controlled. Increasing the amount of time the beverage is cooled by the cooling unit may result in a cooler beverage, and decreasing the time the beverage is cooled by the cooling unit may result in a relatively warmer beverage (although the beverage may still be cool). In other words, the longer the beverage is cooled by the cooling unit, the cooler the beverage may be. For example, the temperature of the beverage may be proportional to the time the beverage is in contact with the cooling unit.

[0024] The inventors have also recognized that forming a cooling unit with sufficient thermal capacity and sufficient heat transfer from the beverage to the cooling unit may allow for multiple cooled beverages to be formed consecutively. If the cooling unit has insufficientthermal capacity, the cooling unit may rise in temperature due to heat transferred from multiple consecutive beverage formations and the cooling unit may be unable to sufficiently cool a beverage. Accordingly, the systems and methods disclosed herein may enable the cooling of multiple consecutive beverages.

[0025] The inventors have recognized that, in some embodiments, the colder the cooling liquid, the faster the beverage may be cooled by the cooling unit. For example, if the average temperature of the cooling liquid is decreased, the beverage may be cooled faster by the cooling unit. As such, if the flow rate of the beverage through the cooling unit (e.g., through a beverage passageway) is constant, the cooler the average temperature of the cooling liquid is, the cooler the dispensed beverage may be. Thus, the temperature of the cooling liquid may be controlled depending on the desired temperature / heat of the dispensed beverage. The inventors have also recognized that, in some embodiments, it may be preferable to cool the cooling liquid without freezing the cooling liquid. In some embodiments, freezing the cooling liquid may damage one or more portions of the cooling unit, including the cooling housing, beverage passageway, and any other appropriate portion of the cooling unit. Additionally, frozen cooling liquid may not be able to flow through the cooling volume and / or cooling liquid passageway.

[0026] In some embodiments, the cooling unit may be activated such that the cooling liquid and / or PCM of the cooling unit is cooled prior to forming and cooling the beverage. The cooling unit may be activated such that the cooling liquid is cooled some time before an anticipated use of the cooling unit.

[0027] In some embodiments, the cooling liquid may be cooled to a temperature less than or equal to approximately 20°C, 15°C, 14°C, 13°C, 12°C, 11°C, 10°C, 9°C, 8°C, 7°C, 6°C, 5°C, 4°C, 3°C, 2°C, 1°C, 0°C, and / or any other appropriate temperature. The cooling liquid may also be cooled to a temperature greater than or equal to 0°C, 1°C, 2°C, 3°C, 4°C, 5°C, 6°C, 7°C, 8°C, 9°C, 10°C, 11°C, 12°C, 13°C, 14°C, 15°C, 20°C and / or any other temperature. Combinations of the foregoing, including temperatures between or equal to 0°C and 10°C, 0°C and 9°C, 0°C and 5°C, 2°C and 4°C are also contemplated, as well as temperatures above and below the ranges listed above, as the present disclosure is not limited by the temperature the cooling liquid is cooled to.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cooling liquid may be cooled for a time prior to an anticipated use of the cooling unit of less than or equal to approximately 12 hours, 8 hours, 7 hours, 6 hours, 5 hours, 4 hours, 3 hours, 2 hours, and / or any other appropriate time. The cooling liquid may be cooled for a time prior to an anticipated use of the cooling unit greater than or equal to 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, and / or any other time. Combinations of the foregoing, including times between or equal to 2 hours and 12 hours are also contemplated, as well as times above and below the ranges listed above, as the present disclosure is not limited by the time the cooling liquid is cooled for before an anticipated use.

[0029] As described herein, one or more thermoelectric coolers (TEC) may be used to transfer heat associated with the beverage making machine and / or cooling unit. TECs (sometimes referred to as Peltier coolers, solid state refrigerators, or thermoelectric heat pumps) serve to transfer heat using the Peltier effect. In some embodiments, a TEC may comprise two sides and may be configured to have current (e.g., DC electric current) flow through the device, wherein the flow of current transfers heat from one side to the other. Accordingly, upon activating the device (e.g., flowing current through the device) the side configured to lose heat gets cooler and the side configured to gain heat gets hotter, creating a “cold” side and a “hot” side. In some embodiments, the hot side may be coupled to a heat sink including any appropriate heat transferring elements, including, but not limited to, one or more radiators and / or fans. In some embodiments, the direction and quantity of heat transferred from the cold side to the hot side may be selectively changed by controlling the direction and quantity of current applied to the TEC. In some embodiments, the cold side may be coupled to a manifold through which the cooling liquid flows, and the TEC may be configured to cool the manifold. For example, the cooling liquid passageway may be fluidly coupled to an inlet and an outlet of the manifold and cooling liquid may enter the inlet of the manifold and exit the outlet of the manifold. As such, the TEC may be configured to transfer heat from the manifold, and the manifold may be configured to transfer heat from the cooling liquid passageway and / or cooling liquid inside the cooling liquid passageway. The inventors have recognized cooling a manifold with the TEC may offer advantages in thermal and electric efficiencies, thereby improving performance and / or saving cost. In some embodiments, the beverage making machine avoids the use of vapor-compression (e.g.,refrigeration) cycles and compressors for cooling. However, in other embodiments, a vaporcompression cycle may be utilized.

[0030] Sensors may be used to sense parameters associated with one or more liquids associated with a beverage making machine. For example, a sensor may sense a temperature, pressure, volume, level, flow rate, conductivity, salinity, turbidity, and / or any other appropriate parameter associated with a liquid. Accordingly, any appropriate sensors may be used herein. For example, the beverage making machine may include any appropriate combination of temperature sensors, pressure sensors, volume sensors, level sensors, flow rate sensors, and / or any other appropriate type of sensor. In some embodiments, a conductive probe may be arranged to contact liquid in a liquid supply line, tank, valve, or any other appropriate element e.g., to detect a presence or absence of liquid.

[0031] In some embodiments, a sensor component may include at least one conductive element that contacts a liquid to detect the presence or absence of liquid, and a temperature component to detect temperature, and may be arranged in different ways and / or to detect other physical characteristics of the liquid. For example, a sensor can include a sensor arrangement to detect pressure, conductivity, salinity, turbidity and / or other characteristic of the liquid, etc. In some embodiments, the sensor can detect three or more characteristics of the liquid, such as temperature, conductivity, and presence / absence.

[0032] In some embodiments, a beverage making machine may be used to form a beverage by combining a beverage precursor liquid with a beverage ingredient. The beverage making machine may allow a user to prepare a small quantity of a beverage such as a single serving or a small batch of beverage. Multiple users can use the same machine to prepare different beverages, such as individual servings of different beverage types or beverage flavors quickly and without wasting unconsumed beverage.

[0033] In some embodiments, the beverage making machine may be used with a beverage pod to form a beverage such as tea, coffee, espresso, cocoa or other infusion type beverages. The beverage pod may include beverage ingredients such as suitably prepared coffee beans, tea leaves, etc. The beverage making machine may form such beverages using a beverage precursor liquid, such as water, that may be combined with the beverage ingredients of the beverage pod under suitable conditions to form the beverage.

[0034] In some embodiments, the beverage machine may be used with package-less beverage pods. The package-less beverage pod may be able to hold its own shape, and thus may not require individual packaging to prevent dispersing of the beverage ingredients prior to use in forming a beverage. Such beverage pods may, for example, be in the form of a compacted tablet or a capsule (which may or may not be made of compacted materials). The beverage ingredients may be contained without separate, removable packaging. In some embodiments, the beverage ingredients of the package-less beverage pod have been compacted. In some embodiments, the package-less beverage pod may be bound together with a food-grade binder or with another beverage ingredient that promotes formation of the beverage tablet into a cohesive structure. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, a package-less beverage pod need not include binder or other beverage ingredient for cohesion. Some package-less beverage pods may be formed through processing alone, such as by compacting, heating, or drying into the desired form.

[0035] In some embodiments, the package-less beverage pod may include a shell, such as a coating, disposed along the outer surface at the periphery of the pod. In some embodiments, the shell may bind the beverage ingredients within the interior of the pod. The beverage ingredients within the pod may be loose, such as loose ground coffee, or compacted. The shell may be a food grade binder, an alginate, edible, soluble, non-soluble, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the shell may serve as a barrier to reduce infiltration of oxygen and / or moisture such as to maintain freshness of the beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, the shell is configured to be insoluble in water, whereas in other embodiments, the shell may be configured to dissolve in water. Material of the package-less beverage pod, including a shell of the pod if one is present, may directly contact some portion of the beverage machine, such as the brew chamber, before brewing the beverage, without intervening packaging in-between.

[0036] The package-less beverage pod may be configured to break into pieces during brewing or it may be configured to remain intact during brewing. In some embodiments, the package-less beverage pod is configured to be insoluble in water, whereas in other embodiments, the package-less beverage pod may be configured to at least partially or completely dissolve. In some embodiments, the package-less beverage pod may contain roasted coffee grounds (e.g. that remain behind after forming a beverage), soluble coffee,soluble materials, binders or other materials, and any combination of the above. The package-less beverage pod may be any suitable shape, such as a cylinder, a sphere, an ellipsoid, an elliptical prism, a teardrop shape, a frustrum of a cone, a cone or other shape.

[0037] In other embodiments, however, the beverage pod may be an individually packaged serving of beverage ingredients, such as, but not limited to a K-CUP pod, and other similar types of beverage pods. The individual package of beverage ingredients may be removed from the beverage making machine and discarded after the beverage has been prepared. In some embodiments, at least a portion of or the entire packaging may be made of a biodegradable, recyclable and / or compostable (e.g. home compostable and / or industrially compostable) material, or any combination thereof.

[0038] Turning to the figures, specific non-limiting embodiments are described in further detail. It should be understood that the various systems, components, features, and methods described relative to these embodiments may be used either individually and / or in any desired combination as the disclosure is not limited to only the specific embodiments described herein.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage making machine 100, e.g., a beverage making machine, that incorporates various features of the disclosure. Although the beverage making machine 100 may be used to form any suitable beverage, such as tea, coffee, other infusion-type beverages, beverages formed from a liquid or powdered concentrate, soups, juices or other beverages made from dried materials, carbonated or uncarbonated beverages, or other, in this illustrative embodiment, the machine 100 is arranged to form coffee beverages. In some embodiments, a beverage pod 1 may be provided to the machine 100 and used to form a beverage that is dispensed into a user’s cup or other suitable container 2. The pod 1 may be manually or automatically placed in a brew chamber 15 that can include a pod holder 3 and cover 4. For example, the pod holder 3 may include a cup-shaped or otherwise suitably shaped opening in which the pod 1 may be placed. With a pod 1 placed in the pod holder 3, a handle 5 may be moved (e.g., downwardly) so as to move the cover 4 to a closed position (as shown in FIG. 1). In the closed position, the cover 4 may at least partially cover the pod 1, e.g., so the pod is at least partially enclosed in the brew chamber 15. Water or other liquid may be provided to the pod 1 (e.g., by injecting the liquid into the pod interior) to form a beverage that exits the pod 1 and is provided via a beverageoutlet to a cup 2 or other container. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 for example, liquid may be provided to a brew chamber 15 or other dispensing station from a reservoir 7. In some embodiments, the reservoir 7 may be manually filled by a user, e.g. by a user introducing water into the reservoir 7. In some embodiments, the reservoir 7 may be removable from the beverage machine to facilitate introduction of water into the reservoir. For example, the beverage machine may include a reservoir base 17, and the reservoir 7 may be removable from the reservoir base 17.

[0040] Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments, the reservoir 7 may be provided with liquid from a mains water connection which allows the machine 100 to be connected to a plumbed water source.

[0041] The machine 100 shown in FIGS. 1-2B is only one example of a beverage making machine that can incorporate inventive features described herein. Thus, inventive features may be employed with any suitably arranged machine 100, including drip-type coffee brewers, espresso-type coffee machines, carbonated beverage making machines, and other systems that dispense a beverage. Such systems need not necessarily use a beverage pod, but instead the brew chamber or other dispensing station may accept ground coffee (e.g., in loose form) or other beverage material in other ways to make a beverage. Also, the brew chamber 15 need not necessarily include a pod holder 3 and a cover 4. For example, the brew chamber may include a filter basket or other receptacle arranged to receive beverage material and to combine the beverage material with water or other liquid to form a beverage. In some embodiments, the brew chamber need not be user accessible, but instead beverage material may be automatically provided to, and / or removed from, the brew chamber. Moreover, the machine 100 need not have a brew chamber 15, but instead other types of dispensing stations, e.g., that dispense hot and / or cold water or other liquid (whether still or carbonated) at a beverage outlet such as a dispensing nozzle without mixing with any beverage ingredient. Accordingly, a wide variety of different types and configurations of beverage making machines may be employed with inventive features.

[0042] Regardless of the type and / or configuration, the beverage making machine 100 may include a cooling unit 200. In some embodiments, the cooling unit 200 may be disposed inside of the beverage making machine housing 10, such as the depicted embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. In further embodiments, the cooling unit 200 may be disposed outside of thebeverage making machine housing 10, such as the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2B. The cooling unit 200 may be, in some embodiments, positioned on a base 400 that may be connected to the beverage making machine housing 10, as shown in FIG. 2B. Any of the systems (e.g., beverage makers) and methods as described herein may include a cooling unit 200 disposed inside, partially inside, partially outside, or outside of the beverage making machine housing 10 as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a liquid supply and other components of an illustrative beverage making machine 100 for forming a beverage. As noted above, the liquid supply of the machine 100 may include a reservoir 7, which may be configured to be manually filled by a user. A level sensor 83 may be included to detect a liquid level in the reservoir 7.

[0044] In some embodiments, the machine 100 may include a mains water connection 8 having a connector 81 to fluidly connect to mains water, a mains valve 82 that controls flow to the reservoir 7. The mains valve 82 can be controlled by a controller or control circuitry 11 based on information from the liquid level sensor 83, e.g., the mains valve 82 can be operated to establish a desired water level in the reservoir 7. It should be appreciated, however, that in some embodiments, the machine 100 is not configured to connect to a plumbed water source. In some embodiments, the machine does not include a mains water connection 8, connector 81, and / or mains valve 82.

[0045] A valve 9 can selectively couple the reservoir 7 to the brew chamber 15 or other dispensing station for delivery of liquid. Beverage parameters may be set by default by the controller 11, by a user interacting with a user interface, and / or by reading a machine readable feature on a pod 1 and using corresponding parameters.

[0046] A pump 12 may deliver liquid from the valve 9 to a heater 13 or other liquid conditioning device, e.g., to heat, carbonate, or otherwise condition water or other liquid for forming a beverage. Employing a pump 12 may allow the machine 100 to vary a flow rate and / or pressure of the liquid as desired, e.g., to form espresso-type or other beverages using higher pressure liquid as well as drip-type coffee or other beverages made using lower pressure liquid. In some embodiments, pumping of water or other liquid into the heater 13 causes heated liquid to flow to the brew chamber 15 for mixing with a beverage medium (or not) and for dispensing as a beverage.

[0047] In some embodiments, the heater comprises any appropriate type of heater, boiler, or heat exchanger. For example, in some embodiments, the heater may be a flow- through heater that has a relatively small volume, e.g., a tube with associated heating element to heat liquid in the tube. Examples of flow-through heaters include a flat flow through heater, a spiral flow through heater, a U-shaped flow through heater, or any other type of heater. In some embodiments, the heater may be a heating element that heats a heater tank. The heater may be in thermal communication with the heater tank, e.g. inside the heater tank in direct contact with the water or other precursor liquid inside the tank, or in a non-contact arrangement in which the heater is provided outside the tank or embedded within the tank wall. The heater may be in electrical communication with a controller and / or a user interface. Liquid may enter the heater tank and remain within the heater tank for some period of time, during which the liquid is heated.

[0048] In some embodiments, the heater tank may include a sensor configured to sense the temperature of the liquid within the heater tank. In some embodiments, liquid may exit the heater tank after a period of time has lapsed, and / or after a sensed temperature of the liquid is above a temperature threshold.

[0049] The beverage making machine 100 may include a distribution valve that may be moveable between different configurations to direct flow of fluid. In a first configuration, the valve 300 may be configured to direct beverage from the brew chamber to a cooling unit 200. In a second configuration, the valve 300 may be configured to dispense the beverage from the brew chamber 15 and out of the beverage making machine 100 through a dispensing outlet 301, thereby bypassing the cooling unit, e.g. to form a non-cooled beverage such as, but not limited to, a hot or room temperature beverage. The valve 300 may be operatively coupled to the controller 11 and the controller 11 may be configured to control the valve 300 to maintain or change configurations. In some embodiments, the beverage making machine 100 may include a user interface (not shown) which may be configured to receive an input from a user. In some embodiments, the input from the user may move the valve 300 from the first configuration to the second configuration and / or from the second configuration to the first configuration. As such, input from the user may determine whether beverage is directed to the cooling unit 200 to be cooled or dispensed from the beverage making machine 100.

[0050] A cooling unit 200 may be fluidly coupled to the brew chamber 15 and the dispensing outlet 301 via the valve 300 as shown in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, a beverage inlet 406 disposed on the cooling unit housing 402 may be configured to receive beverage (e.g., brewed beverage) from the brew chamber 15. The beverage may move (e.g., flow) through the cooling housing 402 in a beverage passageway 404 according to some embodiments. The cooling housing 402 may contain a cooling liquid which may be configured to transfer (e.g., absorb) heat from beverage flowing through or otherwise disposed in the beverage passageway 404. Accordingly, as the beverage flows through the cooling housing 402, heat may be transferred from the beverage and as such the beverage may be cooled. The cooling passageway 404 may be formed in any appropriate geometry including a cylinder, spherical cone, clover leaf, or any other appropriate geometry. The beverage may exit the cooling housing 402 through a beverage outlet 408 and may move towards the dispensing outlet 301 to be dispensed. In some embodiments, the cooling housing 402 may be formed as a tower (e.g., a cooling tower) which may be disposed internal or external to the housing of the beverage making machine. The cooling housing 402 and corresponding cooling volume 410 may be formed in any appropriate geometry, including a cylinder, oval, rectangular prism, and any other appropriate shape or geometry as the disclosure is not limited in this fashion. The cooling house may be insulated using air, plastic insulation, or any other appropriate material according to some embodiments.

[0051] The beverage passageway as described herein may be formed of any appropriate material, including aluminum, copper, plastic, rubber, or any combination thereof, or any other appropriate material as the disclosure is not limited to the material of the beverage passageway. In some embodiments, the beverage passageway may be formed out of a non-corrosive material such as aluminum. In some embodiments, the beverage passageway may be formed out of a material having a high thermal conductivity. In some embodiments, the beverage passageway may be formed out of a food safe material.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the beverage may move through a beverage passageway 404 disposed within a cooling volume 410 of the cooling unit 200. The beverage passageway 404 may be fluidly coupled to the beverage inlet 406 and a beverage outlet 408 of the cooling unit 200. The cooled beverage may move through the beverage outlet 408 to the brew chamber 15 and may be dispensed.

[0053] In some embodiments, the cooling liquid disposed in the cooling volume 410 may be cooled with a TEC assembly 412. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the beverage passageway 404 may be substantially submerged in (e.g., surrounded by) the cooling liquid. For example, a majority of the cooling volume 410 may be filled with the cooling liquid such that most or all of the beverage passageway 404 is submerged in the cooling liquid.

[0054] In some embodiments, the cooling liquid may enter the cooling housing 402 through a cooling liquid inlet 416 and exit the cooling housing 402 through a cooling liquid outlet 418. In some embodiments, the cooling liquid may be directed to the TEC assembly to be cooled via a cooling liquid passageway 413 using one or more pumps 414.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as the depicted embodiments of FIGS. 4-6, the cooling liquid passageway 413 may be disposed external to the cooling housing 402. The cooling liquid may exit the cooling housing 402 through the cooling liquid outlet 418 in order to enter the cooling liquid passageway 413. Cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passageway 413 may be cooled by the TEC assembly, and then enter the cooling housing 402 through the cooling liquid inlet 416.

[0056] As shown in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 3, the TEC assembly 412 and / or the one or more pumps 414 may be operatively coupled to the controller 11. The controller 11 may be configured to control one or both of the TEC assembly 412 and the one or more pumps 414 according to some embodiments. As such, the controller 11 may activate and deactivate the TEC assembly 412.

[0057] In some embodiments, the cooling liquid may be circulated within the cooling volume 410. Circulating the cooling liquid may help to form a more uniform temperature distribution within the cooling volume 410. Uniform temperature / heat distributions within the cooling volume 410 may help to more uniformly cool the beverage within the beverage passageway 404. For example, circulating the cooling liquid may help to prevent any portion of the cooling volume from becoming too hot or too cold resulting from stagnant cooling liquid. The cooling liquid may be continuously circulated in some embodiments. In further embodiments, the cooling liquid may be intermittently circulated. Regardless, the circulation of the cooling liquid through the cooling volume 410 and the cooling beverage passageway 413 may be controlled via the pump 414, which may be controlled using the controller 11according to some embodiments. Circulating the cooling liquid may also form a crossflow between the flow of the cooling liquid and the flow of the beverage in the cooling volume 410, which may help to increase the cooling of the beverage.

[0058] The quantity of heat transferred from the fluid may be selectively controlled by the controller 11 according to some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the temperature of the beverage exiting the cooling unit 200 could be a cold beverage (e.g., 32° F to 50° F), or an ambient temperature beverage (e.g., 60° F to 80° F). It should be appreciated that the TEC may be controlled such that the temperature of the beverage may be of any appropriate range as the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, the beverage machine 100 may achieve both cold temperature beverages and ambient temperature beverages, depending on a desired outcome. The desired outcome may depend on, e.g., user preferences, user inputs, a sensed beverage pod type and associated brew recipe, etc. In other embodiments, the beverage machine 100 may be capable of producing only either a cold temperature beverage or an ambient temperature beverage.

[0059] In some embodiments, a user may selectively determine how much cooling fluid is disposed in the cooling volume 410. For example, the user may manually fill the cooling volume 410 with a desired amount of cooling fluid. In some embodiments, the cooling housing may include a user-accessible opening (not shown) configured to permit the user to add and / or remove cooling liquid from the cooling housing 402. In some embodiments, the user may add cooling liquid into the cooling housing through the user- accessible opening. The user accessible opening may take any appropriate form, including a moveable and / or removable lid, latch, cover, drain, valve, any combination thereof, and any other appropriate user accessible opening configured to permit adding and / or removing of cooling liquid by the user. Further, in some embodiments, the user may optionally add material such as ice or any other appropriate material configured to cool the cooling volume via the user-accessible opening. In some embodiments, the user- accessible opening may be configured to allow the user to clean the cooling volume. In some embodiments, the cooling unit 200 may include more than one user accessible opening, as the disclosure is not so limited. For example, the cooling unit may include a removable cover configured to permit the user to add cooling fluid to the cooling housing 402 and may also include a drain configured to permit the user to remove the cooling liquid from the cooling housing 402.

[0060] As previously discussed, the cooling unit 200 may include a cooling liquid passageway 413 fluidly coupled to a pump 414. The pump 414 may move a cooling liquid, such as water, or any other appropriate type of fluid, through the cooling liquid passageway 413. Also previously discussed, the cooling unit 200 may also include a TEC assembly 412 configured such that heat is transferred from the cooling liquid disposed in and / or flowing through the cooling liquid passageway 413 to the TEC assembly 412. Heat may be transferred from the cooling liquid in the cooling liquid passageway 413 to the TEC assembly upon activating the TEC assembly. As previously described, activating the TEC assembly may involve flowing current through the TEC of the TEC assembly. It should be appreciated that the beverage passageway 404 and the cooling liquid passageway 413 may be formed in any appropriate arrangement, pattern, or layout. For example, the depicted beverage passageway 404 may include one or more conduits, such as tubing, pipes, etc., inside of which the beverage travels, and the conduit(s) may be arranged in any appropriate manner as the disclosure is not so limited. In the depicted embodiments of FIGS. 4-6, the beverage passageway 404 forms a plurality of coils within the cooling volume 410. However, the beverage passageway 404 need not form coils as the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, the cooling liquid passageway 413 may include one or more conduits that convey the cooling liquid out of the cooling housing 402, to the TEC assembly 412, and back into the cooling housing 402. In some embodiments, once inside the cooling housing 402, the cooling liquid may exit the conduit(s) of the cooling liquid passageway 413 and may freely move inside the cooling volume 410 of the cooling housing 402. In other words, in some embodiments, the cooling liquid passageway 413 may be mostly external to the cooling housing 402. In some embodiments, the cooling liquid passageway may be mounted to one or more interior and / or exterior walls of the cooling housing 402.

[0061] In some embodiments, the controller may control the TEC of the TEC assembly to alter the amount of heat transfer. For example, the controller 11 may cause an increased amount of current flow through the TEC to increase the amount of heat transferred from the cooling fluid to the TEC, in turn increasing the amount of heat transferred from the beverage to the cooling fluid, which may result in a colder beverage. In some embodiments, the current which flows through the TEC may be positively correlated with a wattage of the TEC. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the controller may control the flowrate of the beverage through the beverage passageway 404 depending on the degree of heat transfer desired. For example, the controller may decrease the flow rate if more heat transfer is desired (e.g. a colder beverage), or may increase the flow rate if less heat transfer is desired (e.g. a warmer beverage). In some embodiments, flow rate may be controlled by controlling a pump that moves the beverage through the beverage passageway 404. In some embodiments, the pump 12 (see FIG. 3) that moves precursor liquid into the brew chamber 15 may also serve to move brewed beverage through the beverage passageway 404. However, in other embodiments, a distinct, dedicated pump may be used to move the beverage through the beverage passageway.

[0062] In some embodiments, the cooling liquid may be configured to be directed through the cooling housing in a direction opposite to a direction of the beverage directed through the cooling housing. This may increase the heat transferred from the beverage to the cooling liquid according to some embodiments. The cooling unit 200 may include the pump 414 configured to move the cooling liquid through the cooling housing 402 in a flow direction opposite to a flow direction of the beverage passageway 404 through the cooling housing 402. For example, in the depicted embodiments of FIGS. 4-6, the beverage flows generally downwardly through the cooling housing 402, entering through the beverage inlet 406 at an upper portion of the cooling housing 402, flowing downwardly through the beverage passageway 404, and exiting through the beverage outlet 408 at a lower portion of the cooling housing 402. In contrast, the cooling liquid flows generally upwardly through the cooling housing 402, entering through the cooling liquid outlet 418 at a lower portion of the cooling housing, flowing upwardly through the cooling volume 410, and exiting through the cooling liquid inlet 416 at an upper portion of the cooling housing 402. As such, the beverage and the cooling liquid may flow in generally opposite directions through the cooling volume 410. It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the flow directions of the beverage and the cooling liquid may be swapped, e.g. such that the beverage flows generally upwardly and the cooling liquid flows generally downwardly through the cooling volume 410. It should be appreciated that other flow directions, e.g. left / right, can be implemented alternatively or in addition. In other embodiments, the beverage and the cooling liquid may flow in generally the same direction.

[0063] According to one aspect, in some embodiments, phase change material (PCM) may be used in the beverage making machine described herein. PCM is a substance that can be used to release or absorb thermal energy at phase transition. In some embodiments, PCM may be associated with a cooling unit. For example, PCM may be disposed within a volume of space (e.g., a housing) of a cooling unit and may be configured to absorb heat from any appropriate material (e.g., fluid) associated with the cooling unit. In another example, PCM may be disposed within capsules located inside of a housing of the cooling unit and also may be configured to absorb heat from any appropriate material (e.g., cooling liquid) associated with the cooling unit. PCMs include any substance that can be used to release or absorb thermal energy, including, but not limited to, organic, inorganic, and eutectic PCMs.Examples of organic PCMs include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons such as alkanes (e.g., paraffins), alcohols, fatty acids, and esters. Examples of inorganic PCMs include, but are not limited to, salt hydrates, nitrates, and metallics. Eutectic PCMs include combinations of organic and inorganic PCMs in any suitable arrangement. In some embodiments, water may be used as a PCM. In some embodiments, paraffin wax may be used as a PCM.

[0064] In some embodiments, the cooling unit of a beverage making machine may utilize a PCM arranged in any appropriate manner. The PCM may serve to absorb relatively large amounts of heat, thereby improving the capacity of the cooling unit to cool the beverage.

[0065] In some embodiments, a PCM may have a transition temperature range between -20°C and 40°C and a latent heat of fusion range between 20 Joules per gram and 340 Joules per gram. While these ranges of transition temperatures and latent heat of fusion for a PCM are disclosed, a PCM may have any suitable transition temperature and latent heat of fusion as the disclosure is not limited in this regard. In some embodiments, a PCM may have a transition temperature that is greater than or equal to -20°C, -10°C, 0°C, 10°C, 11°C,12°C, 13°C, 14°C, 15°C, 16°C, 17°C, 18°C, 19°C, 20°C, 21°C, 22°C, 23°C, 24°C, 25°C,30°C, 40°C. In some embodiments, a PCM may have a transition temperature that is less than or equal to 40°C, 30°C, 25°C, 24°C, 23°C, 22°C, 21°C, 20°C, 19°C, 18°C, 17°C, 16°C, 15°C, 10°C, 0°C, -5°C, -10°C, or -20°C. In some embodiments, combinations of the abovereferenced ranges are also possible. For example, in some embodiments, a PCM may have atransition temperature of -20 to 40°C, -10 to 35°C, 0 to 30°C, 10 to 25 °C, 12 to 23°C, 14 to 21°C, or 17 to 19°C, inclusive.

[0066] In some embodiments, a PCM may have a latent heat of fusion that is greater than or equal to 20 Joules per gram, 50 Joules per gram, 100 Joules per gram, 150 Joules per gram, 160 Joules per gram, 170 Joules per gram, 180 Joules per gram, 190 Joules per gram, 200 Joules per gram, 210 Joules per gram, 220 Joules per gram, 230 Joules per gram, 240 Joules per gram, 250 Joules per gram, 300 Joules per gram, 400 Joules per gram, or 500 Joules. In some embodiments, a PCM may have a latent heat of fusion that is less than or equal to 500 Joules per gram, 400 Joules per gram, 300 Joules per gram, 250 Joules per gram, 240 Joules per gram, 230 Joules per gram, 220 Joules per gram, 210 Joules per gram, 200 Joules per gram, 190 Joules per gram, 180 Joules per gram, 170 Joules per gram, 160 Joules per gram, 150 Joules per gram, 100 Joules per gram, 50 Joules per gram, or 20 Joules per gram. In some embodiments, combinations of the above-referenced ranges are also possible. For example, in some embodiments, a PCM may have a transition temperature of 20 to 400 Joules per gram, 50 to 300 Joules per gram, 100 to 250 Joules per gram, 150 to 240 Joules per gram, 160 to 240 Joules per gram, 170 to 230 Joules per gram, or 180 to 220 Joules per gram, inclusive.

[0067] In some embodiments, PCM may be provided at an outer portion of a cooling unit 200 to help maintain the cooling liquid in the cooling unit at a cooler temperature. As an illustrative example, a first arrangement of PCM is shown in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5. The first arrangement comprises a cooling unit 200 having a second housing 502 that includes a second volume 510. The second housing 520 may substantially surround the cooling housing 402. PCM 504 may be disposed in the second housing 520 and may partially or entirely fill the second volume 510. As such, PCM may be configured to substantially surround the cooling housing 402 and the cooling volume 410. The PCM 504 may be configured such that heat is transferred from the cooling volume 410 (e.g., the cooling liquid disposed in the cooling volume) to the PCM 504. Accordingly, the PCM 504 may be configured to cool the cooling volume 410. This may in turn increase the amount of heat transferred from the beverage to the cooling volume 410, thereby further cooling the beverage. It should be appreciated that the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5 merely represents some embodiments contemplated by the inventors, and that further arrangements of thesecond housing 502 and PCM 504 are contemplated. For example, the second housing 502 and PCM 504 may be arranged such that one, two, three, four, all, or any other appropriate number of sides of the cooling housing 402 are substantially surrounded by PCM 504. In some embodiments, PCM 504 may be arranged to cover the top portion of the cooling housing 402, relative to the view of FIG. 5. As shown in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5, the cooling liquid passageway 413 may extend through the second housing 502 and PCM 504 according to some embodiments. Also shown in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5, the beverage passageway 404 may extend through the second housing 502 and PCM 504 such that the beverage travels through the second housing 502 and PCM 504 into the cooling volume 410.

[0068] In some embodiments, the PCM may transition states when a sufficient amount of heat is transferred to the PCM (e.g., from beverage in the beverage passageway). For example, the PCM may transition from a solid to a liquid upon sufficient heat being transferred from the beverage to the PCM. In another example, the PCM may transition from a liquid to a gas upon heat being transferred from the beverage to the PCM. However, the PCM need not necessarily transition states as the disclosure is not so limited. For example, heat may be transferred from the beverage to the PCM without the PCM changing states.

[0069] A second arrangement of the cooling unit 200 including PCM is shown in FIG. 6. In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 6, a plurality of capsules 600 are disposed in the cooling volume 410 of the cooling housing 402. The capsules 600 include an encasing 602 which may be at least partially filled with PCM 604. In some embodiments, the encasing 602 may be entirely filled with PCM. The capsules 600 may be arranged in any appropriate fashion within the cooling volume 410 as the disclosure is not limited in this fashion. For example, the capsules 600 may move freely within the cooling volume 410. In some embodiments, the capsules 600 may be fixed in position (e.g., may be configured to not move) within the cooling volume 410. In some embodiments, the capsules 600 may be tethered to one or more portions of the cooling housing 402 and / or cooling volume 410 such that a limited amount of movement of the capsules within the cooling volume 410 is permitted by the tether, the amount of movement being limited by the length of the tether.

[0070] The capsules 600 may be configured to transfer (e.g., absorb) heat from the cooling liquid disposed in the cooling volume 410 to the PCM 604 of the capsules 600,thereby cooling the cooling liquid. In some embodiments, the encasing 602 of the capsules may be formed of material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), aluminum (Al), mild steel (MS), styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, organic polymer materials, or any combination of the foregoing, and any other appropriate material as the disclosure is not limited in this fashion. Additionally, while the capsules 600 are depicted as oval-shaped in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 6, the capsules may be formed of any appropriate shape and geometry as the disclosure is not so limited. Further, the capsules may be formed of any appropriate size and / or dimension as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0071] In some embodiments, the cooling volume may include a volume of PCM from the capsules that is less than or equal to approximately 50% to 25% of the volume of the cooling volume, and / or any other appropriate volume of PCM from the capsules. The cooling liquid may also include a volume of PCM from the capsules greater than or equal to 25%, 50%, and / or any other percentage of the volume of the cooling volume. Combinations of the foregoing, including volumes of PCM from the capsules between or equal to 25% and 50% of the volume of the cooling volume are also contemplated, as well as quantities above and below the ranges listed above, as the present disclosure is not limited by the volume of PCM from the capsules in the cooling volume. The quantity and / or individual volume of capsules 600 disposed in the cooling volume 410 in any embodiment described herein may be altered depending on the desired thermal capacity and associated cooling ability of the cooling unit 200. For example, if a greater thermal capacity of the cooling unit 200 is desired, more capsules 600 may be added to the cooling volume 410 and / or the individual volume of PCM contained in the capsules may be increased.

[0072] The inventors have also contemplated a cooling unit having PCM which combines aspects of the depicted embodiment of FIG. 5 and the depicted embodiment of FIG. 6. For example, the cooling unit 200 may include both a second housing 502 having PCM 504 and capsules 600 of PCM within the cooling volume 410. Such an embodiment may further increase the thermal capacity of the cooling unit 200 and may accordingly help to cool the beverage.

[0073] According to one aspect, the beverage making machine may include an ability to clean the beverage passageway. For example, the beverage making machine may be configured to direct water or any other appropriate fluid through the beverage passageway toclean the beverage passageway. In some embodiments, the beverage making machine may include a purge line configured to receive liquid used to clean the beverage passageway. In some embodiments, the purge line may receive liquid from the same source of liquid that forms the beverage precursor liquid of the beverage, e.g. a water reservoir. In other embodiments, however, a dedicated source of fluid may be provided for the purge line. The purge line may direct cleaning fluid to a distribution valve that may enable or close fluid communication of the cleaning fluid to the beverage passageway. In some embodiments, the cleaning fluid may be a liquid, such as water, or a cleaning solution. In some embodiments, the cleaning fluid may be mostly gaseous, such as steam, or air.

[0074] FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative example of a purge line 70, which includes a purge line conduit 71 that conveys liquid from the reservoir 7 to serve as cleaning fluid. The purge line 70 may include a solenoid 72 and pump 74 to move liquid from the reservoir 7 and through the conduit 71. A check valve 76 may be included to prevent reverse flow. In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 7, the purge line directs the cleaning fluid to a distribution valve 300. The distribution valve may then direct the cleaning fluid into a beverage conduit403 that may convey the beverage from the brew chamber 15 to the beverage passageway404 inside the cooling unit 200.

[0075] The beverage conduit 403 may be in fluid communication with the beverage passageway 404. In some embodiments, the beverage conduit 403 and the beverage passageway 404 are a single continuous conduit. In other embodiments, however, the beverage conduit 403 and beverage passageway 404 may be separate conduits that are connected together.

[0076] In some embodiments, the purge line may be configured to bypass a brew chamber to avoid mixing the cleaning fluid with the contents of the brew chamber. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 7, the purge line 70 is separate and distinct from a supply line 80 that directs liquid from the reservoir 7 to the brew chamber 15 to form a beverage. As such, cleaning fluid passing through the purge line 70 may be sent directly to the beverage conduit 403 and beverage passageway 404 without first passing through the brew chamber 15.

[0077] In some embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 7, the purge line directs cleaning fluid to the same distribution valve 300 that also controls flow of beverage to thecooling unit. As discussed above, the distribution valve 300 may direct beverage from the brew chamber 15 to the cooling unit, or may direct the beverage to bypass the cooling unit and be dispensed into a container 2. The distribution valve 300 may also control flow of cleaning fluid from the purge line 70 into the beverage conduit 403 / beverage passageway 404.

[0078] The controller 11 may be configured to control the distribution valve 300 to maintain or change configurations in order to control a purge process. For example, the distribution valve 300 may have a beverage passageway purge configuration in which the valve 300 directs the cleaning fluid from the purge line 70 to the beverage conduit 403 and beverage passageway 404. The distribution valve 300 may have a purge bypass configuration in which the valve 300 directs the cleaning fluid from the purge line 70 to bypass the beverage conduit 403 and beverage passageway 404.

[0079] In some embodiments, the distribution valve 300 may have a beverage outlet that directs fluid (e.g., a formed beverage) into the dispensing outlet 301 and a cooling unit outlet that directs fluid (e.g., cleaning fluid) into the beverage conduit 403. The distribution valve 300 may be controlled by a controller 11 to open and close the outlets depending on the desired flow path.

[0080] In some embodiments, cleaning fluid from the purge line 70 may be directed through the brew chamber 15 to clean the brew chamber.

[0081] In some embodiments, the beverage machine may include a purge tray 700 into which the cleaning fluid flows. The purge tray may be removable from the beverage machine for emptying. In some embodiments, the distribution valve 300 may direct purge fluid into the purge tray 700. As such, the distribution valve 300 may have a purge output configuration in which the valve 300 directs fluid (e.g., cleaning fluid) into the purge tray 700. The distribution valve 300 may also having a beverage dispensing configuration in which the valve 300 directs fluid (e.g., formed beverage) to the dispensing outlet 301.

[0082] As discussed above, in some embodiments, the distribution valve 300 may have a beverage outlet that directs fluid (e.g., a formed beverage) into the dispensing outlet 301 and a cooling unit outlet that directs fluid (e.g., cleaning fluid) into the beverage conduit 403. The distribution valve 300 may also have a purge outlet that directs fluid (e.g., cleaningfluid) into the purge tray 700. The distribution valve 300 may be controlled by the controller 11 to open and close the various outlets depending on the desired flow path.

[0083] In other embodiments, a purge valve separate and distinct from the distribution valve 300 may be included to direct cleaning fluid into a purge tray.

[0084] In some embodiments, the beverage making machine 100 may include a user interface (not shown) which may be configured to receive an input from a user. In some embodiments, the input from the user may move the valve 300 from the beverage passageway purge configuration to the purge bypass configuration and / or from the purge bypass configuration to the beverage passageway purge configuration. As such, input from the user may determine whether cleaning fluid is directed to the beverage passageway 404 or to bypass the beverage passageway 404 and, e.g., be sent out to the purge tray 700. In other embodiments, however, it should be appreciated that a dedicated valve that is separate and distinct from the distribution valve 300 may be used to control flow of cleaning fluid from the purge line into the beverage conduit 403 / beverage passageway 404. A controller may be configured to control this dedicated valve in a similar manner as discussed above with respect to distribution valve 300.

[0085] One illustrative embodiment of a TEC assembly 412 is shown in FIG. 8. A TEC assembly 412 may include a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) 804 thermally coupled to a manifold 802 and a heat sink 806. The heat sink 806 may be thermally coupled to a fan 808 which may be configured to increase the rate of cooling of the heat sink 806. The heat sink 806 may be thermally coupled to the hot side of the TEC 804 and the manifold 802 may be thermally coupled to the cold side of the TEC 804. The manifold 802 may include a manifold inlet 810 and a manifold outlet 811.

[0086] The manifold may include a manifold passageway 809 connecting the manifold inlet 810 to the manifold outlet 811. In some embodiments, the manifold passageway 809 may be serpentine or otherwise tortuous to increase heat transfer as the cooling liquid flows through the manifold. Cooling liquid may be adapted to enter the manifold 802 via the manifold inlet 810, flow through the manifold passageway 809, and exit the manifold 802 via the manifold outlet 811. As the cooling liquid flows through the manifold passageway 809, heat is removed from the cooling liquid and transferred to the manifold 802 and TEC 804, thereby cooling the cooling liquid.

[0087] In some embodiments, the manifold passageway 809 may form at least a portion of the aforementioned cooling liquid passageway 413. In some embodiments, the manifold passageway 809 may form a majority or all of the cooling liquid passageway 413. In other words, cooling liquid exiting the cooling housing 402 may flow directly into the manifold without intervening tubing or other conduit (or with a very short tubing / conduit). Likewise, cooling liquid exiting the manifold may flow directly into the cooling housing 402 without intervening tubing or other conduit (or with a very short tubing / conduit).

[0088] It should be understood that the TEC assembly may be formed in any appropriate fashion as the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment depicted by FIG. 8.

[0089] The various methods disclosed above may be implemented by one or more controllers including at least one processor operatively coupled to the various controllable portions of a beverage making machine as disclosed herein. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the disclosed methods may be performed at least in part, and in some instances completely, on a computing device that is separate and removed from the disclosed beverage making machine. In either case, the disclosed methods may be embodied as computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable memory associated with the at least one processor such that when executed by the at least one processor the associated system, which may be a beverage making machine in some embodiments, may perform any of the actions related to the methods disclosed herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the disclosed order of the steps is exemplary and that the disclosed steps may be performed in a different order, simultaneously, and / or may include one or more additional intermediate steps not shown as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0090] The above-described embodiments of the technology described herein can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, the embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single computing device or distributed among multiple computing devices. Such processors may be implemented as integrated circuits, with one or more processors in an integrated circuit component, including commercially available integrated circuit components known in the art by names such as CPU chips, GPU chips, microprocessor,microcontroller, or co-processor. Alternatively, a processor may be implemented in custom circuitry, such as an ASIC, or semi-custom circuitry resulting from configuring a programmable logic device. As yet a further alternative, a processor may be a portion of a larger circuit or semiconductor device, whether commercially available, semi-custom or custom. As a specific example, some commercially available microprocessors have multiple cores such that one or a subset of those cores may constitute a processor. Though, a processor may be implemented using circuitry in any suitable format.

[0091] Also, a computing device may have one or more input and output devices. These devices can be used, among other things, to present a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used to provide a user interface include display screens for visual presentation of output and speakers or other sound generating devices for audible presentation of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user interface include keyboards, individual buttons, and pointing devices, such as mice, touch pads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, a computing device may receive input information through speech recognition or in other audible format.

[0092] The various methods or processes outlined herein may be implemented in any suitable hardware. Additionally, the various methods or processes outlined herein may be implemented in a combination of hardware and of software executable on one or more processors that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Examples of such approaches are described above. However, any suitable combination of hardware and software may be employed to realize any of the embodiments discussed herein.

[0093] Also, the various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded as software that is executable on one or more processors that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number of suitable programming languages and / or programming or scripting tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine language code or intermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual machine.

[0094] In this respect, various inventive concepts may be embodied as at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flash memories, circuit configurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor devices, etc.)encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, implement the various embodiments of the present disclosure. The non-transitory computer-readable medium or media may be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereon may be loaded onto any computer resource to implement various aspects of the present disclosure as discussed above.

[0095] The terms “program” or “software” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of computer-executable instructions that can be employed to program a computer or other processor to implement various aspects of embodiments as discussed above. Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the present disclosure need not reside on a single computer or processor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion among different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0096] Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

[0097] The embodiments described herein may be embodied as a method, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

[0098] Further, some actions are described as taken by a “user.” It should be appreciated that a “user” need not be a single individual, and that in some embodiments, actions attributable to a “user” may be performed by a team of individuals and / or an individual in combination with computer-assisted tools or other mechanisms.

[0099] While the present teachings have been described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass variousaltematives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A beverage making machine, comprising: a brew chamber configured to form a beverage; a cooling unit comprising: a thermoelectric cooler; a cooling housing defining a cooling volume, the cooling housing having a cooling liquid inlet and a cooling liquid outlet, a cooling liquid passageway fluidly coupled to the cooling liquid inlet and the cooling liquid outlet, the cooling liquid passageway being in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooler such that the thermoelectric cooler is configured to cool cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passageway; and a beverage passageway fluidly coupled to and configured to receive beverage from the brew chamber, wherein the beverage passageway extends through the cooling housing.

2. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling liquid passageway is positioned external to the cooling housing.

3. The beverage making machine of claim 1, further comprising a switch moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the switch is configured to direct the beverage from the brew chamber to the cooling unit, and wherein in the second configuration, the switch is configured to dispense the beverage from the brew chamber and out of the beverage making machine through a dispensing outlet.

4. The beverage making machine of claim 3, further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input from a user, wherein the input from the user moves the switch from the first configuration to the second configuration and / or from the second configuration to the first configuration.

5. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage is a brewed beverage.

6. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling housing includes a user-accessible opening configured to permit a user to add cooling liquid into the cooling housing.

7. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the beverage is formed at a temperature of 40 to 100 degrees Celsius.

8. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit cools the beverage to a temperature of 7 to 30 degrees Celsius.

9. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling volume has a volume of 0.5 liters to 5 liters.

10. The beverage making machine of claim 1, further comprising a phase change material disposed on an exterior of the cooling housing.

11. The beverage making machine of claim 10, wherein the phase change material has a latent heat of 190J / g to 400 kJ / kg.

12. The beverage making machine of claim 1, further comprising one or more capsules containing a phase change material disposed within the cooling volume of the cooling unit, wherein heat is transferred from the cooling volume to the one or more capsules.

13. The beverage making machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit further comprises a cooling unit pump configured to move cooling liquid through the cooling housing in a flow direction opposite to a flow direction of the beverage passageway through the cooling housing.

14. The beverage making machine of claim 1, further comprising a purge line configured to direct cleaning fluid to the beverage passageway.

15. The beverage making machine of claim 14, further comprising a reservoir, wherein the purge line is configured to direct liquid from the reservoir to the beverage passageway.

16. The beverage making machine of claim 15, further comprising a supply line configured to direct liquid from the reservoir to the brew chamber to form a beverage, wherein the purge line is separate and distinct from the supply line.

17. The beverage making machine of claim 14, further comprising a distribution valve and a dispensing outlet configured to dispense beverage out of the brew chamber, wherein the purge line is configured to direct cleaning fluid to the distribution valve, and the distribution valve has a purge configuration configured to direct the cleaning fluid to the beverage passageway, and a purge bypass configuration configured to direct the cleaning fluid to bypass the beverage passageway and to exit through the dispensing outlet.

18. The beverage making machine of claim 17, wherein the distribution valve has a first configuration configured to direct beverage from the brew chamber to the cooling unit, and a second configuration configured to direct beverage to bypass the cooling unit and to exit through the dispensing outlet.

19. The beverage making machine of claim 1, further comprising a manifold, wherein at least a portion of the cooling liquid passageway comprises a passageway through the manifold and wherein the thermoelectric cooler is configured to cool the manifold.

20. A method of forming a beverage, the method comprising: forming a beverage; cooling a cooling liquid using a thermoelectric cooler; flowing the cooled cooling liquid through a cooling housing; flowing the beverage through the cooling housing; and cooling the beverage using the cooled cooling liquid due to transfer of heat from the beverage to the cooled cooling liquid.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising dispensing the cooled beverage.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the beverage is cooled to a temperature of 7 to 30 degrees Celsius.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein forming the beverage includes forming the beverage at a temperature of 40 to 100 degrees Celsius.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the cooled cooling liquid and the beverage flow in opposite directions through the cooling housing.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein forming the beverage includes brewing the beverage.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising flowing a cleaning fluid through a beverage passageway, wherein the cleaning fluid bypasses a brew chamber in which the beverage is formed, and wherein the beverage passageway passes through the cooling housing.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the cleaning fluid is supplied from a reservoir that also supplies liquid to the brew chamber through a supply line, wherein the cleaning fluid flows through a purge line that is separate and distinct from the supply line.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein cooling the cooling liquid using the thermoelectric cooler comprises cooling a manifold through which the cooling liquid flows using the thermoelectric cooler.

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