Method and device for controlling a coffee making process

Abstract

Method of providing a set of operational instructions for use by a capsule-based single-serve coffee making machine in a single-serve coffee making process, comprising: receiving a taste indication regarding a taste preference of a user; by the machine, automatically detecting a capsule size of a coffee capsule in the machine; automatically determining a coffee making recipe depending on at least the detected capsule size and the received taste indication; and providing a set of operational instructions for use by the machine in the coffee making process, the set of operational instructions depending on the determined coffee making recipe. Further aspects provide a computing device, a coffee making machine, and a method of controlling a coffee making process.

Description

[0001] Title: Method and device for controlling a coffee making process

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The invention concerns a method of providing a set of operational instructions for use by a capsule-based single-serve coffee making machine in a single-serve coffee making process. The invention further concerns: a computing device configured to perform the method; a coffee making machine provided with the computing device; and a method of controlling a single-serve capsule-based coffee making process using the computing device and the coffee making machine.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Capsule-based single-serve coffee making machines are known as such for use in a single-serve coffee making process in which a coffee beverage is produced automatically using a coffee capsule. Such machines are typically operated by a non-expert user such as a consumer, who may for example insert a selected coffee capsule, where after the machine may automatically detect the size of the inserted capsule and conduct the coffee making process using the capsule. In some cases the user may indicate a coffee volume preference, for example by selection from a set of labeled options such as ‘ristretto’, ‘espresso’ or ‘lungo’, which may be represented as such on a user interface of the machine, e.g. in the form of buttons. The coffee making machine may be configured to perform the coffee making process differently depending on the detected capsule size and the indicated volume preference, for example involving different water volumes and / or temperatures. As a result, a user can easily obtain a coffee beverage with consistent quality and taste at a desired volume, while different capsule sizes can be used.

[0006] By contrast, trained professional coffee makers, often called ‘baristas’, tend to use relatively complex, large and expensive coffee making machines that enable to produce a wide variety of coffee beverages in a largely manually controlled process. Not only a volume of the coffee beverage can be influenced, but also various taste parameters such as acidity, bitterness and so-called ‘body’, referring to a concentration of solid particles in the coffee beverage. Such taste parameters tend to depend on a relatively complex combination of a large set of process parameters such as time-variable water pressures and temperatures, which may all be influenced by how the barista operates the various elements of the machine throughout the coffee making process. Good baristas have learned through training and experience how to operate their coffee making machine precisely to control the coffee making process so as to produce coffee beverages that are fine-tuned to individual taste preferences of their customers.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] It has been found that there is a desire among consumers to have access to coffee beverages that better match their individual taste preferences, without depending on baristas or other experts, and without using large and expensive machines. An object of the invention is to accommodate this desire, in particular by enabling an improved or at least alternative method of controlling a single-serve capsule-based coffee making process.

[0009] To that end, an aspect of the invention provides a method of providing a set of operational instructions for use by a capsule-based singleserve coffee making machine in a single-serve coffee making process. The method comprises: receiving a taste indication regarding a taste preference of a user; by the machine, automatically detecting a capsule size of a coffee capsule in the machine; automatically determining a coffee making recipe depending on at least the detected capsule size and the received taste indication; and providing a set of operational instructions for use by the machine in the coffee making process, the set of operational instructions depending on the determined coffee making recipe.

[0010] Such a method advantageously enables a consumer or other nonexpert user to obtain coffee beverages that better match their individual taste preferences in a relatively easy and economical way, in particular without requiring a barista or a professional type of coffee making machine. Conveniently, different capsule sizes can be accommodated, without the user having to be aware of how the factor of capsule size interacts with various other factors in the coffee making process to result in a particular taste of the produced coffee beverage. Compared to a smaller capsule, a larger capsule may for example be used to produce a larger volume coffee beverage of a same concentration, or a higher concentration coffee beverage of a same volume. Thus, a relatively large overall variety of coffee beverages can be provided, allowing to accommodate a relatively wide range of consumer preferences, without requiring special training or experience.

[0011] A coffee making recipe may be defined by a set of operational instructions that when executed under normal conditions results in a coffee beverage having particular properties, e.g. a particular volume, temperature, taste, appearance, etc. In the above described method, the determined coffee making recipe may thus correspond to the provided set of operational instructions, although this is not strictly necessary. Alternatively, for example, the coffee making recipe may specify the capsule size and / or the type of coffee making machine, while the provided set of operational instructions may omit such information.

[0012] A taste indication regarding a taste preference of a user may be provided by the user, for example via any suitable user interface such as a touch screen or a set of buttons. The taste indication may for example include a taste description such as one or more keywords, an indication on a scale relating to taste, or a visual indication such as an image relating to taste. In some cases, the taste indication may be relative to a taste reference, for example relative to a previously produced and tasted coffee beverage. In some cases, the taste indication may be estimated automatically, for example by comparing available user data of the user to a set of reference data from a reference group of other users.

[0013] A further aspect provides a computing device configured to perform a method of providing a set of operational instructions as described herein, the computing device being operatively connectable to a coffee making process controller of the coffee making machine, the coffee making process controller being configured to receive the set of operational instructions and to control the coffee making machine in accordance with the set of operational instructions in the coffee making process.

[0014] Such a computing device facilitates implementation of the described method, thereby providing corresponding advantages.

[0015] A further aspect provides a single-serve capsule-based coffee making machine provided with a computing device as described herein, for example as an internal or external device with respect to the coffee making machine, the computing device being operatively connected to the coffee making process controller of the coffee making machine.

[0016] Such a coffee making machine facilitates implementation of the described method and exploitation of its described advantages.

[0017] A further aspect provides a method of controlling a single-serve capsule-based coffee making process, comprising: providing a coffee making machine as described herein; by the computing device, performing the method of providing a set of operational instructions as described herein; and by the coffee making process controller, controlling the coffee making machine in accordance with the set of operational instructions in the coffee making process.

[0018] Such a method of controlling exploits the described advantages of the described method of providing the set of operational instructions. Advantageous optional further elaborations are provided by the features of the dependent claims, as explained further in the detailed description.

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following, the invention will be explained further using examples of embodiments and drawings. The drawings are schematic and merely show non-limiting examples. Although the drawings are referred to herein, these merely serve as illustrations, so that the description may also be understood without reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a coffee making machine provided with a computing device;

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a method of providing a set of operational instructions;

[0023] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method of controlling a coffee making process;

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a graph indicating experienced tastes for recipes associated with different taste indications; and

[0025] Figs. 5A-C show visual clues for a user relating to different respective taste indications.

[0026] As explained in the summary section, now with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 as illustrations, an aspect provides a method of providing a set of operational instructions for use by a capsule-based single-serve coffee making machine 2 in a single-serve coffee making process. The method comprises: receiving 102 a taste indication regarding a taste preference of a user; by the machine 2, automatically detecting 104 a capsule size of a coffee capsule 4 in the machine 2; automatically determining 108 a coffee making recipe depending on at least the detected capsule size and the received taste indication; and providing 110 a set of operational instructions for use by the machine 2 in the coffee making process, the set of operational instructions depending on the determined coffee making recipe.

[0027] The operational instructions are preferably provided automatically, although user involvement in the provision of the instructions is not necessarily excluded.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 1, it shall be appreciated that the machine 2 may comprise various elements as in known consumer grade coffee making machines, for example: a water reservoir 16, a pump 12, and a heater 14, those elements typically being arranged along a fluid line that feeds into a brewing chamber 20. A coffee cup 10 or other beverage container may be placed under an outlet of the brewing chamber 20 to receive the coffee beverage therein. The machine 2 is preferably provided with a coffee making process controller 6 operatively connected to relevant elements such as the pump 12 and the heater 14. Sensors (not shown) such as a temperature sensor and a flow sensor may be provided at various positions in the machine 2 to provide respective sensor signals to the controller 6 to enable feedback control of the coffee making process.

[0029] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions is provided to the coffee making process controller 6 of the coffee making machine 2, in particular for use by the coffee making process controller 6 in the coffee making process.

[0030] In Fig. 1, as an example, two possible sizes of the capsule 4 are shown schematically in the brewing chamber 20, namely a smaller size in a continuous line and a larger size in a dotted line. It shall be appreciated that preferably only a single capsule is present in the brewing chamber 20 at any one time, the actual capsule size typically depending on a selection by the user who inserts the capsule 4 into the machine 2. The machine 2 is configured to accommodate and detect at least two different capsule sizes. The capsule size detection may employ one or more sensors that are preferably operatively connected to the coffee making process controller 6. The capsule size may correspond to and / or comprise one or more dimensions of the capsule, for example radial and / or axial dimensions. Alternatively or additionally to detection of a capsule size, a capsule shape could be detected.

[0031] The taste indication may be received before, after or during the capsule size detection. The detection of the capsule size is preferably independent from the receiving of the taste indication. The receiving of the taste indication may in some cases be dependent on the detecting of the capsule size. For example, a set of receivable taste indications may be dependent on the detected capsule size. However, preferably, the receiving of the taste indication is independent from the detecting of the capsule size. Block 106 in Fig. 2 represents an optional elaboration explained elsewhere herein, and may thus be omitted.

[0032] In embodiments, the method is implemented by a computing device 8 that is operatively connected to a coffee making process controller 6 of the coffee making machine 2.

[0033] Correspondingly, a further aspect provides a computing device 8 configured to perform the described method of providing a set of operational instructions. The computing device 8 is operatively connectable to a coffee making process controller 6 of the coffee making machine 2, the coffee making process controller 6 being configured to receive the set of operational instructions and to control the coffee making machine 2 in accordance with the set of operational instructions in the coffee making process.

[0034] A further aspect provides a single-serve capsule-based coffee making machine 2 provided with such a computing device 8, the computing device 8 being operatively connected to the coffee making process controller 6 of the coffee making machine 2.

[0035] In Fig. 1, as an example, the computing device 8 is shown as an external device with respect to the coffee making machine 2. However, it shall be appreciated that the computing device 8 may alternatively be internal to the machine 2 where it may even be combined with the process controller 6 in a single device. As a further alternative, the computing device 8 could be a distributed computing device that is partly internal and partly external to the machine 2. Part or all of the computing device 8 could be implemented by a mobile device such as a smart phone of the user. In that case, and also more generally, the computing device 8 may comprise a user interface 18 such as a touch screen, e.g. of the mobile device, in particular for receiving the taste indication from the user. Alternatively or additionally, such a user interface could be part of the coffee making machine 2, for example in the form buttons and / or a touch screen on an outside of the machine. The process controller 6 is preferably internal to the coffee making machine 2, but could also be at least partly external, for example in the form of a distributed controller.

[0036] In case the computing device is a distributed computing device, the automatic determining of the coffee making recipe may be distributed among the different parts of the computing device. For example, a first determining step may be performed by an external part of the computing device, resulting in an indication being sent from the external part to an internal part of the computing device, wherein the internal part then performs a second determining step based on said indication. The first determining step may for example be or comprise a preselection of two or more coffee making recipes, wherein the second determining step may then be or comprise a selection of a single recipe from the preselected recipes. The two or more preselected recipes may in particular correspond to a set of recipes all corresponding to the same received taste indication but each corresponding to a different possible capsule size. In this way, advantageously, the external part of the computing device can participate in the automatic determining without requiring knowledge of the result of the automatic capsule size detection, so that communication between the external and internal parts of the computing device may be implemented as essentially one-way communication from the external part to the internal part. Meanwhile, in such a scenario, the internal part of the computing merely has to select one recipe from the preselected set that corresponds to the capsule size detected by the machine, without requiring direct knowledge of all possible recipes or of the received taste indication. Thus, and also in a general sense, the automatic determining of the coffee making recipes may comprise multiple steps, which may or may not be performed at a same device or device part, and which may or may not comprise and / or rely on communication among different devices or device parts.

[0037] An operative connection between the computing device 8 and the process controller 6 may be a wireless connection, in particular in case of an external computing device 8 and an internal process controller 6 such as in Fig. 1. Such a wireless connection may be direct, e.g. using Bluetooth, or indirect, e.g. via a remote router or server, or both. In some examples, the operative connection may involve, or even be limited to, optical recognition of a visual code such as a QR-code, for example displayed on a mobile device and read by the machine 2. More generally, the operative connection between the computing device 8 and the process controller 6 may be transient, e.g. only being active at or around the time of providing the set of operational instructions.

[0038] With reference to Fig. 3, a further aspect provides a method of controlling a single-serve capsule-based coffee making process. The method of controlling comprises: providing 202 the coffee making machine 2 provided with the computing device 8; by the computing device 8, performing 204 the method of providing a set of operational instructions, in particular to the provided coffee making machine 2; and by the coffee making process controller 6, controlling 206 the coffee making machine 2 in accordance with the set of operational instructions in the coffee making process. In Fig. 3, block 204 may thus be considered as representing the method illustrated in Fig. 2, including blocks 102, 104, 108 and 110, and optionally block 106.

[0039] So, when a user wishes to obtain a coffee beverage, they may insert a capsule 4 into the machine 2 and provide a taste indication. It is also possible that a taste indication provided earlier is reused, as explained further elsewhere herein. In either case, after insertion of the capsule 4, the capsule size of the capsule 4 may then be detected by the machine 2, and a coffee making recipe is automatically determined, e.g. by the machine 2, by the smartphone, by a server, or otherwise, depending on at least the capsule size and the taste indication. Then, depending on the determined recipe, a set of operational instructions may be provided for use by the machine 2, e.g. provided by the machine 2 itself, by the smartphone, by the server, and / or otherwise. The operational instructions may then be complied to by the machine 2, in particular by the coffee making process controller 6, in a single-serve coffee making process that results in a coffee beverage. Such a coffee beverage may for example be a ristretto, an espresso or a lungo, or, in particular in case of a larger capsule size, a so called ‘double’ ristretto, ‘double’ espresso or ‘double’ lungo. Such use of the term ‘double’ shall be understood as indicating a larger but not necessarily exactly doubled volume, at a similar composition, concentration or strength, as is customary in the field of coffee beverages.

[0040] In embodiments, depending on the received taste indication, a coffee beverage resulting from the coffee making process differs in terms of at least one of: acidity, bitterness, and body. It shall be appreciated that such characteristics or inverse counterparts thereof may also be known by different names. For example, in the context of taste indications for coffee, the inverse of acidity may also be indicated as ‘smooth’ or ‘balanced’. Also, in some cases, different names may be used to refer to combinations of such characteristics. For example, a combination of ‘bitterness’ and ‘body’ may sometimes be referred to as ‘intensity’.

[0041] It has been found that taste preferences among consumers tend to differ in terms of acidity, bitterness and body, so that it is beneficial for the coffee making process to be able to result in different values for these parameters. In the context of a coffee beverage, the term ‘body’ generally refers to a concentration of solid particles in the coffee beverage.

[0042] In embodiments, the coffee making recipe is determined by selection from a set of predefined coffee making recipes.

[0043] The automatic determination of the coffee making recipe can be simplified thereby. For example, a look-up table could be used to select the recipe depending on at least the capsule size and taste indication. The set of predefined recipes may for example comprise three, four, five, six, seven or more predefined recipes.

[0044] In embodiments, the received taste indication corresponds to a selection from a set of predefined taste indications.

[0045] Such a set of predefined taste indications can support a user in providing the taste indication in a relatively easy way while at the same time resulting in a relatively well-defined taste indication for use in the automatic determination of the coffee making recipe. The set of predefined taste indications may for example comprise two, three or more predefined recipes.

[0046] With reference to Fig. 2, in embodiments, the method further comprises receiving 106 a coffee volume indication regarding a coffee volume preference of a user, wherein the automatic determining 108 of the coffee making recipe additionally depends on the received coffee volume indication.

[0047] A same capsule size may in some cases allow a variety of volumes of the coffee beverage. For example, a smaller capsule may allow a ristretto, espresso or lungo as possible volumes, while a larger capsule may allow a double ristretto, double espresso or double lungo as possible volumes. In such cases, the receiving 106 of such a coffee volume indication advantageously enables a preference of the user in this respect to be taken into account for the determination of the coffee making recipe. The coffee volume indication may in principle be received at any time prior to the determining of the coffee making recipe, so for example before, during or after insertion of the capsule, and before, during or after receipt of the taste indication. In embodiments, the received coffee volume indication corresponds to a selection from a set of predefined coffee volume indications. Such a set may conveniently be presented to a user in a user interface, for example in the form of corresponding buttons on the machine and / or as selectable elements on a touch screen.

[0048] In embodiments, the receiving of the taste indication and the receiving of the coffee volume indication are mutually independent. In other words, the receipt of the taste indication need not limit the possibilities for receipt of the coffee volume indication, and vice versa.

[0049] For example, in case both indications correspond to selections from a predefined set, a selection made in one of the sets does not affect the subsequent selectability of elements in the other one of the sets, so that each combination of selections is allowed and possible. It shall be understood that in case of a set of n predefined taste indications and a set of m predefined coffee volume indications, this amounts to n times m possible receivable combinations of indications.

[0050] Thus, in this way, a relatively large variety of user preference can be accommodated, in particular both in terms of volume and / or strength and in terms of taste.

[0051] In embodiments, the user is prompted to provide the taste indication.

[0052] Such prompting advantageously supports the user in providing the taste indication. Prompting may be realized via a user interface, e.g. of the machine and / or of a mobile device, for example presenting input options on a touch screen, displaying a prompting message, or flashing indicator lights of relevant buttons.

[0053] The prompt to provide the taste indication may be part of a series of prompts to the user, wherein one or more further prompts of the series preferably relate to one or more further taste preferences of the user. In this way, the provision of the taste indication by the user may be integrated in a more elaborate user interaction experience for the user, possibly benefiting overall user satisfaction, e.g. through additional attention, and possibly facilitating guiding and / or priming and / or nudging of the user with respect to the taste indication. The series of prompts may for example be presented to the user in the form of a questionnaire or quiz.

[0054] The automatic determining of the coffee making recipe may be independent from any received indication regarding the one or more further taste preferences. Alternatively, the automatic determining of the coffee making recipe may be additionally dependent from one or more received further taste indications regarding the one or more further taste preferences. Thus, the receiving of the taste indication regarding the taste preference of the user may be part of a receiving of multiple taste indications regarding the taste preference, wherein the automatic determining of the coffee making recipe may then depend on multiple of the received taste indications. In this way, in the context of providing the set of operational instructions, the user can be enabled to express their taste preference through a combination of multiple taste indications. For example, for the automatic determining of the recipe, one of the received taste indications may be used to select a subset of recipes, wherein a further one of the received taste indications may be used to select a recipe or a subsubset of recipes from the subset.

[0055] In some cases, the prompting may be omitted, so that a new taste indication may be received only at the initiative of the user, which may then result in a renewed prompting to receive a new taste indication. In the absence of a newly received taste indication, a default recipe may be used or an earlier taste indication may be reused. Therefore, in embodiments, the received taste indication is stored for reuse in a further single-serve coffee making process. Regarding storage of the taste indication, it shall be appreciated that different taste indications may be stored for and / or by different users, e.g. using respective mobile devices of the users. Thus, when a stored taste indication is reused, this may comprise retrieving a stored taste indication for the specific user, e.g. using the specific user’s mobile device.

[0056] In embodiments, in the further single-serve coffee making process, the machine 2 detects a different capsule size and the stored taste indication is reused. In embodiments, in the further single-serve coffee making process, a different coffee volume indication is received and the stored taste indication is reused. Thus, the capsule size detection and the coffee volume indication need not be dependent on, nor limiting to, the taste indication: in principle all possible combinations of capsule size, coffee volume indication and taste indication may be allowable. Nevertheless, in some cases dependencies among those parameters may be applied. For example, a detection of a larger capsule size may force the coffee volume indication to be limited to the set of ‘double ristretto’, ‘double espresso’ and ‘double lungo’, whereas a smaller capsule size may limit the coffee volume indication to the set of ‘ristretto’, ‘espresso’ and ‘lungo’. In some cases, the coffee volume indication may be interpreted differently depending on the detected capsule size. For example, an indication of ‘espresso’ may be interpreted as ‘espresso’ (i.e. single espresso) in case of a smaller capsule, but as ‘double espresso’ in case of a larger capsule.

[0057] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target temperature to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2. Alternatively or additionally, the set of operational instructions may include at least one instruction regarding at least one temperature limit to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2.

[0058] In the context of controlling a process, in this case a coffee making process, a target temperature may be understood as a reference temperature applied in a temperature control process, in particular in a temperature control feedback loop. If the process is well-controlled, a related actual temperature, e.g. as observed using a temperature sensor, will generally track the target temperature relatively closely, at least after some initial settling time. In this way, different target temperatures in a process tend to result in different actual temperatures, which in turn tend to influence the product, in this case the produced coffee beverage. Importantly, an actual temperature in the process may not only influence a temperature of the coffee beverage, but also tends to affect one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage, such as acidity, bitterness and / or body. Thus, by including at least one instruction regarding at least one target temperature, one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage can be influenced, in particular towards greater correspondence with the received taste indication. A temperature limit, e.g. a maximum or minimum temperature to be observed in a temperature control process, may similarly influence taste parameters of the coffee beverage, in particular by allowing a related actual temperature to vary in a well-controlled way, for example in a cooling phase at the end of the coffee making process.

[0059] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target volume to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2.

[0060] In the context of controlling a process, in this case a coffee making process, a target volume may be understood as a reference volume applied in a volume control process, in particular in a volume control feedback loop. If the process is well-controlled, a related actual volume, e.g. as observed using a flow sensor, will generally match the target volume relatively closely. In this way, different target volumes in a process tend to result in different actual volumes, which in turn tend to influence the product, in this case the produced coffee beverage. Importantly, an actual volume in the process may not only influence a volume of the coffee beverage, but also tends to affect one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage, such as acidity, bitterness and / or body. Thus, by including at least one instruction regarding at least one target volume, one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage can be influenced, in particular towards greater correspondence with the received taste indication.

[0061] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target flow rate to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2. Alternatively or additionally, the set of operational instructions may include at least one instruction regarding at least one flow rate limit to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2.

[0062] In the context of controlling a process, in this case a coffee making process, a target flow rate may be understood as a reference flow rate applied in a flow rate control process, in particular in a flow rate control feedback loop. If the process is well-controlled, a related actual flow rate, e.g. as observed using a flow rate sensor, will generally track the target flow rate relatively closely, at least after some initial settling time. In this way, different target flow rate in a process tend to result in different actual flow rate, which in turn tend to influence the product, in this case the produced coffee beverage. Importantly, an actual flow rate in the process may not only influence a volume and / or production speed of the coffee beverage, but also tends to affect one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage, such as acidity, bitterness and / or body. Thus, by including at least one instruction regarding at least one target flow rate, one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage can be influenced, in particular towards greater correspondence with the received taste indication. A flow rate limit, in particular a maximum flow rate to be observed in a flow rate control process, may similarly influence taste parameters of the coffee beverage, in particular by allowing a related actual flow rate to vary in a well-controlled way, for example depending on available pumping power and actual flow resistance.

[0063] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target pressure to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2. Alternatively or additionally, the set of operational instructions may include at least one instruction regarding at least one pressure limit to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2.

[0064] In the context of controlling a process, in this case a coffee making process, a target pressure may be understood as a reference pressure applied in a pressure control process, in particular in a pressure control feedback loop. If the process is well-controlled, a related actual pressure, e.g. as observed using a pressure sensor, will generally track the target pressure relatively closely, at least after some initial settling time. In this way, different target pressure in a process tend to result in different actual pressure, which in turn tend to influence the product, in this case the produced coffee beverage. Importantly, an actual pressure in the process may not only influence a flow rate and thereby a volume and / or production speed of the coffee beverage, but also tends to affect one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage, such as acidity, bitterness and / or body. Thus, by including at least one instruction regarding at least one target pressure, one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage can be influenced, in particular towards greater correspondence with the received taste indication. A pressure limit, e.g. a minimum or maximum pressure to be observed in a flow rate control process, may similarly influence taste parameters of the coffee beverage, in particular by allowing a related actual pressure to vary in a well-controlled way, for example depending on available pumping power and actual flow resistance.

[0065] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one pump duty cycle to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine 2.

[0066] In the context of controlling a process, in this case a coffee making process, a pump duty cycle may be applied directly in the control of a pump, i.e. without the need for feedback. Depending on the applied duty cycle, among other factors, operation of the pump may result in a particular pressure and / or flow rate in the process. Importantly, such a pressure and / or flow rate may not only influence a volume and / or production speed of the coffee beverage, but also tends to affect one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage, such as acidity, bitterness and / or body. Thus, by including at least one instruction regarding at least one pump duty cycle, one or more taste parameters of the coffee beverage can be influenced, in particular towards greater correspondence with the received taste indication.

[0067] As explained in the summary section, the coffee making recipe may be at least partly defined by the set of operational instructions to be provided. Alternatively or additionally, the coffee making recipe may be at least partly defined by at least one deviation from a set of standard operational instructions that may correspond to a standard recipe. Such a deviation could for example relate to a deviating target temperature or target volume. For example, the coffee making recipe may specify such a deviation explicitly while relying on a standard recipe as an implicit or explicit reference to which the deviation is to be applied. In this way, data storage needs and data transfer times may be reduced.

[0068] In embodiments, the coffee making recipe distinguishes multiple subsequent phases in the coffee making process. Such a multi-phased coffee making process may result in a higher quahty coffee beverage compared to a single-phase process, i.e. a process in which all process parameters are essentially constant or stationary throughout the process. Different phases may be distinguished by one or more differences in process parameters such as target parameters or durations.

[0069] In embodiments, the set of operational instructions includes instructions for differing target parameters and / or parameter limits for at least two of the phases.

[0070] In this way, the above-mentioned advantage of a multi-phase process can be effectively exploited, in particular in combination with enabling variety in taste as explained elsewhere herein. Examples of such target parameters, e.g. a target temperature or target volume, and parameter limits, e.g. a flow rate limit or temperature limit, have been discussed above.

[0071] In embodiments, the coffee making recipe specifies a duration of at least one of the phases.

[0072] Importantly, taste parameters of the produced coffee beverage may be influenced by such a duration, for example in case coffee in the capsule is allowed to soak in stagnant water during the respective phase.

[0073] Possible examples of coffee making recipes for different taste indications, capsule sizes and coffee volume indications may be indicated in a look-up table. Possible values for the taste indication may be listed therein. Meanwhile, possible coffee volume indications and corresponding capsule sizes may be indicated in the table as well, e.g. on a different table axis. For each combination of taste indication and coffee volume indication, a respective coffee making recipe may be indicated in the table. Each recipe may distinguish multiple subsequent phases. For each phase, a set of relevant process parameters may be specified. Target values of those parameters can then be looked up under the relevant coffee volume indication.

[0074] For example, a coffee making recipe for a taste indication A (“Mild and round with a generous crema layer”) and a coffee volume indication ‘espresso’ and a capsule size ‘Zl’ may distinguish an initial heat-up phase, and one or more subsequent brewing phases. The purpose of the heat-up phase may be to heat up water held in the heater 14 before feeding water to the brewing chamber 20. For the heat-up phase, a heat-up temperature may be specified, indicating the temperature to which the water should be heated in the heater. For the subsequent brewing phase or phases, a target or minimum brewing temperature may be specified, and a brew volume may be specified.

[0075] To recapitulate, in case taste indication A is received as the taste indication regarding the taste preference of the user, and a capsule size ‘Zl’ is detected, and a coffee volume indication ‘espresso’ is received, the corresponding coffee making recipe may be automatically determined as comprising, e.g. being defined by, the above-described target and limit values of process parameters. The set of operational instructions provided for use by the machine may then correspond to instructions to apply those values in the control of the coffee making process. In some cases, for example in case a relevant computing device 8 is internal to the machine 2, the operational instructions may be provided by the machine itself, e.g. in response to the machine itself determining the coffee making recipe or receiving the determined coffee making recipe or an indication thereof.

[0076] Target and limit parameters such as temperatures, volumes and flow rates for various phases may generally differ depending on the taste indication and the coffee volume indication, wherein the possible coffee volume indications in turn may be dependent on the used and detected capsule size. However, some of the target and limit parameters may have equal values for different taste indications, different coffee volume indications, or both. For example, the parameters for a particular brewing phase may be equal across all taste indications and coffee volume indications, so that the particular brewing phase is essentially universal, i.e. not dependent on the taste indication, coffee volume indication or detected capsule size. As another example, the limit value for flow rate in a particular brewing phase may be independent of the taste indication, but not fully independent of the coffee volume indication, e.g. because the value may be different in case of a volume indication ‘double lungo’. Meanwhile, within each taste indication, the target value for brew volume in a particular brewing phase may be different for each coffee volume indication. A particular brewing phase may be only applicable in case of a coffee volume indication of ‘double lungo’, whereas in all other cases this phase may be absent and the respective recipes at that point may proceed to another brewing phase instead.

[0077] In the recipes for one or some taste indications, additional phases may be included compared to the other taste indications, namely a ‘pre-wet’ phase, and / or a so-called ‘blooming’ phase. In the ‘pre-wet’ phase, a relatively small amount of hot water is fed into the capsule, where after in the blooming phase, the coffee in the capsule is allowed to soak in this water, e.g. for ten seconds, before the brewing is continued in another brewing phase 1. During the blooming phase, the pump 12 may be controlled in order to maintain a pressure on the capsule during the soaking, without actual brewing in the sense of causing a flow of coffee from the capsule.

[0078] Fig. 4 illustrates differences in experienced taste parameters as a result of differences among coffee making recipes for different taste indications. In Fig. 4, horizontal axis x corresponds to bitterness, increasing from left to right; vertical axis y corresponds to acidity, increasing in upward direction; and circumferential axis q corresponds to ‘body’, increasing in clockwise direction along the arrow. The origin O in Fig. 4 corresponds to recipes for a default or no taste indication. At the origin, bitterness, acidity and body are at reference levels that may correspond to a general or average taste of a user population. Arrows or vectors A, B and C correspond to recipes for possible taste indications A, B and C, respectively, wherein the arrows indicate how the experienced tastes resulting from the respective differences differs from the reference levels. So, compared to the default or reference levels, arrow A indicates relatively low levels of bitterness (x), acidity (y) and body (q); arrow B indicates a high level of acidity and somewhat high levels of bitterness and body; and arrow C indicates a high level of bitterness, a somewhat low level of acidity and a high level of body.

[0079] Textual descriptions for each of the taste indications A, B and C may be used as explanations to a user when presented with taste indications A, B and C as options, e.g. in a prompt. Alternatively or additionally, one or more visual clues may be presented to the user to convey a sense of taste characteristics associated with the different taste indications. The visual clues may be directly related to coffee beverages, but may alternatively or additionally reflect other items which the user is nevertheless able to associate with taste of a coffee beverage, in particular in combination with other clues such as other visual clues, textual clues, etc. Figs. 5A-C highly schematically show examples of possible visual clues, for taste indications A to C, respectively. Fig. 5A, corresponding to taste indication A, shows, from left to right, a creamy coffee beverage, a sand garden, and a sweet and creamy dish. Fig. 5B, corresponding to taste indication B, shows, from left to right, a cold citrus beverage, glowing ambers, and an explosion of spices. Fig. 5C, corresponding to taste indication C, shows, from left to right, cherries, a flow of coffee from a machine, and a chocolate souffle. In this way, a user can be supported in a visual way in selecting a taste indication that matches their individual taste preferences, without necessarily or only depending on linguistic or numeric communication. It shall be appreciated that in practice such visual clues may be less schematic, e.g. in the form of photographic images or even videos. Further alternatively or additionally, sounds such as music and / or ambient soundscapes may be used. Although the invention has been explained herein using examples of embodiments and drawings, these do not limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Within said scope, many variations, combinations and extensions are possible, as will be appreciated by the skilled person having the benefit of the present disclosure. In particular, it shall be appreciated that any descriptions of recipes and associated figures and explanations merely reflect examples, and that many different taste indications and coffee making recipes are possible.

Claims

Claims1. Method of providing a set of operational instructions for use by a capsule-based single-serve coffee making machine (2) in a single-serve coffee making process, comprising: a. receiving (102) a taste indication regarding a taste preference of a user; b. by the machine (2), automatically detecting (104) a capsule size of a coffee capsule (4) in the machine (2); c. automatically determining (108) a coffee making recipe depending on at least the detected capsule size and the received taste indication; and d. providing (110) a set of operational instructions for use by the machine (2) in the coffee making process, the set of operational instructions depending on the determined coffee making recipe.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the coffee making recipe is determined by selection from a set of predefined coffee making recipes.

3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the received taste indication corresponds to a selection from a set of predefined taste indications.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising receiving (106) a coffee volume indication regarding a coffee volume preference of a user, wherein the automatic determining (108) of the coffee making recipe additionally depends on the received coffee volume indication.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the receiving of the taste indication and the receiving of the coffee volume indication are mutually independent.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target temperature and / or temperature limit to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine (2).

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target volume to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine (2).

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target flow rate and / or flow rate limit to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine (2).

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one target pressure and / or pressure limit to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine (2).

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the set of operational instructions includes at least one instruction regarding at least one pump duty cycle to be applied in the coffee making process by the coffee making machine (2).

11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coffee making recipe is at least partly defined by the set of operational instructions to be provided, and / or by at least one deviation from a set of standard operational instructions.

12. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coffee making recipe distinguishes multiple subsequent phases in the coffee making process.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the set of operational instructions includes instructions for differing target parameters and / or parameter limits for at least two of the phases.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the coffee making recipe specifies a duration of at least one of the phases.

15. Method according to any of claims 12 - 14, wherein the multiple subsequent phases include a heat-up phase and subsequently at least two brewing phases, wherein in the heat-up phase no water is fed to the capsule, wherein in each of the brewing phases water is fed to the capsule according to a specified target volume at a water temperature according to a specified target temperature or minimum temperature.

16. Method according to claim 15 dependent from at least claim 4, wherein in case of a coffee volume indication corresponding to ‘double lungo’, the at least two brewing phases comprise at least three brewing phases.

17. Method according to any of claims 12 - 16, wherein the coffee making recipe specifies a ‘pre-wet’ phase followed by a ‘blooming’ phase, wherein in the pre-wet phase hot water is fed to the capsule without causinga flow of coffee from the capsule, wherein in the blooming phase the ingredients of the capsule are allowed to soak in the hot water for a predefined duration of at least five seconds, preferably at least eight seconds, for example about ten seconds.

18. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coffee making recipe is determined by selection from a set of predefined coffee making recipes using a look-up table.

19. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the user is prompted to provide the taste indication.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the prompting comprises presenting textual and / or visual clues to the user, the clues corresponding to taste experiences associated with selectable taste indications.

21. Method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the prompt to provide the taste indication is part of a series of prompts to the user, wherein one or more further prompts of the series preferably relate to one or more further taste preferences of the user.

22. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the received taste indication is stored for reuse in a further single-serve coffee making process.

23. Method according to claim 22, wherein in the further single-serve coffee making process, the machine (2) detects a different capsule size and the stored taste indication is reused.

24. Method according to claim 22 or 23, as dependent from claim 4, wherein in the further single-serve coffee making process, a different coffee volume indication is received and the stored taste indication is reused.

25. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the set of operational instructions is provided to a coffee making process controller (6) of the coffee making machine (2), in particular for use by the coffee making process controller (6) in the coffee making process.

26. Method according to any of the preceding claims, implemented by a computing device (8) that is operatively connected to a coffee making process controller (6) of the coffee making machine (2).

27. Computing device (8) configured to perform the method according to any of the preceding claims, the computing device (8) being operatively connectable to a coffee making process controller (6) of the coffee making machine (2), the coffee making process controller (6) being configured to receive the set of operational instructions and to control the coffee making machine (2) in accordance with the set of operational instructions in the coffee making process.

28. Computing device (8) according to claim 27, comprising a mobile device such as a smart phone, in particular with a user interface for receiving the taste indication.

29. Single-serve capsule-based coffee making machine (2) provided with a computing device (8) according to claim 27 or 28, for example as an internal and / or external device with respect to the coffee making machine (2), the computing device (8) being operatively connected to the coffee making process controller (6) of the coffee making machine (2).

30. Method of controlling a single-serve capsule-based coffee making process, comprising: providing (202) a coffee making machine (2) provided with the computing device (8) according to claim 29; - by the computing device (8), performing (204) the method according to any of claims 1 - 26; and by the coffee making process controller (6), controlling (206) the coffee making machine (2) in accordance with the set of operational instructions in the coffee making process.

31. Method according to claim 30, wherein depending on the received taste indication, a coffee beverage resulting from the coffee making process differs in terms of at least one of: acidity, bitterness, and body.

32. Computer-readable storage medium storing data representative of a look-up table containing a set of coffee making recipes for use in a method according to claim 30 or 31.

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