Beverage tablets and methods of making and / or using the same

Abstract

Some aspects of the present disclosure are generally related to tablets of beverage ingredients for forming beverages. In some embodiments, the tablets comprise ground coffee and are for forming a coffee beverage. Some aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to aspects of tablets for forming beverages related to improving sensory profiles of the beverage formed therefrom. For example, in some embodiments, the beverage ingredients in the tablet may have a density that varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc within the tablet, which may enhance the sensory profile of the resulting beverage brewed therefrom. In some embodiments, tablets comprise a coating and have relatively large particles of beverage ingredients disposed therein, e.g., having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 600 microns. Still other aspects are related to methods for forming and / or using the tablets, or the like.

Description

BEVERAGE TABLETS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND / OR USING THE SAMECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application serial number 63 / 560,503, filed March 1, 2024, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD

[0002] Disclosed embodiments are related to beverage tablets and methods of using and / or making the same.BACKGROUND

[0003] Tablets of compacted beverage ingredients can be used for forming a beverage. In some arrangements, such beverage tablets are mixed directly with hot water to form a beverage. In some arrangements, water is permitted to percolate through beverage tablets to form a beverage.SUMMARY

[0004] Some aspects are related to beverage tablets. In some embodiments, a beverage tablet is for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage and the beverage tablet comprises a body comprising ground coffee, wherein a density of the ground coffee varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc within the tablet. In some embodiments, a beverage tablet is for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage and the beverage tablet comprises a body comprising ground coffee comprising particles having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 600 microns; and a coating surrounding the ground coffee, wherein less than or equal to 0.1 g of a material of the coating dissolves in 1000 g of water at 95 degrees C.

[0005] Some aspects are related to methods. In some embodiments, a method of preparing a tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage is described, and the method comprises compressing ground coffee only a single time into a body using a compressive stress of greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa toform the tablet. In some embodiments, a method of preparing a tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage is described, and the method comprises filling a die or mold with a first population of ground coffee particles having a first average density and a second population of ground coffee particles having a second average density, the first and second average densities being different by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc; and compressing the ground coffee within the die or mold to form a tablet. In some embodiments, a method of preparing a tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage is described, and the method comprises forming a first population of ground coffee particles having a first average density using a first compressive stress; mixing the first population of ground coffee particles with a second population of ground coffee particles having a second average density to form a mixture of ground coffee, wherein the first average density is different than the second average density; and compressing the mixture of ground coffee using a second compressive stress to form a tablet, the second compressive stress being less than the first compressive stress.

[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] FIGS. 1A-1D show schematic diagrams of tablets having various shapes, according to some embodiments;

[0009] FIGS. 2A-2C show plots of density as a function of position along a cross section of tablets, according to some embodiments;

[0010] FIGS. 2D-2K show schematic diagrams of tablets having first and second populations of beverage ingredient particles, according to some embodiments;

[0011] FIGS. 3A-4B show schematic diagrams of piercing a tablet, according to some embodiments; and

[0012] FIGS. 5A-5B show a schematic diagram of applying a force to a tablet, according to some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Some aspects of the present disclosure are generally related to beverage tablets of beverage ingredients for forming beverages, for example, for forming beverages having an enhanced sensory profile for a consumer of the beverage. For instance, in some embodiments, the tablets comprise ground coffee and are for forming a coffee beverage. In some embodiments, the beverage ingredients in the tablet may have a density that varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc within the tablet. In some embodiments, tablets comprise a coating and have relatively large particles of beverage ingredients disposed therein, e.g., particles having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 600 microns. Still other aspects are related to methods of making and / or using the tablets.

[0014] Tablets of compacted beverage ingredients can be used for forming a beverage. In some arrangements, such beverage tablets are mixed directly with hot water to form a beverage. In some arrangements, water is permitted to percolate through at least a portion of the beverage tablet to form a beverage. Common arrangements for brewing such beverages include pods of beverage ingredients, which are individually packaged, single-use pods for forming a beverage. Individual packaging may be used to retain a shape of the tablet throughout transport, storage, and / or other steps within the supply chain that occur before use of the tablet. Additionally, the single-use nature of the packaging facilitates the discretization of the beverage ingredients, for example, for brewing individual servings of the beverage.

[0015] The inventors have recognized benefits of providing package-less beverage consumables that can be used with a beverage machine to form a beverage. In some embodiments, a beverage consumable comprises a tablet which includes beverage ingredient compacted into a desired shape and / or density. The tablet may be at least partially surrounded by a coating. Such beverage tablets may allow for the increased convenience of single-serve beverage consumables while reducing waste.

[0016] In some embodiments, the beverage ingredients of the beverage tablet have been compacted to form the tablet. The beverage tablet may be able to hold its own shape, and thus may not require individual packaging to prevent dispersing of the beverage material prior to use in forming a beverage. The beverage tablet may be configured to be received within a beverage machine without packaging such that the beverage ingredients of the beverage tablet directly contact the beverage machine (e.g., a brew chamber) during a brewing process (e.g., without requiring the beverage machine to pierce through or otherwise open packaging to access the beverage ingredients).

[0017] In some embodiments, the beverage tablet comprises a solid body comprising a beverage ingredient. For example, one or more beverage ingredients of the beverage tablet may be formed into a solid body by compression, adhesion, solidification in a mold, or any of a variety of other suitable methods for making a rigid body from one or more beverage ingredients. The use of a rigid body in a beverage ingredient may provide any of a number of advantages, including greater ingredient density, brewing predictability, and tablet formability during manufacturing.

[0018] Conventional tablets of beverage ingredients are designed to minimize density gradients of the beverage ingredients, as locations within the tablets corresponding to the density gradients of the beverage ingredients are often susceptible to breaking or otherwise degrading when compared to locations having uniform densities of the beverage ingredients. Thus, conventional tablets of beverage ingredients often are designed to have uniform densities to avoid fragile areas within the tablet.

[0019] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized that certain density profiles of the beverage ingredients within the tablet may desirably impact the resulting beverage brewed therefrom. For example, in some embodiments, compressing the beverage ingredients of the tablets may be selectively performed to form tablets of beverage ingredients having density gradients of the ingredients. Variations in density of the beverage ingredients may impact the extraction kinetics of components from the beverage ingredients when brewing, which may thus affect the resulting beverage composition. The beverage composition is related to the sensory profile of the beverage, as the components of the beverage affect a consumer’s experience (e.g., taste, scent). In view of this, some aspects arerelated to engineered tablets of beverage ingredients having density variations for brewing beverages with improved sensory profiles.

[0020] Additionally, the inventors have further recognized the benefits associated with tablets that decrease the amount of associated waste (e.g., due to packaging), where the tablets may survive the various stages of the supply chain. In some embodiments, tablets for brewing beverages are at least partially, and in some cases completely, biodegradable. For example, in some embodiments, the tablets may only comprise the beverage ingredients, which may be compressed as described above and elsewhere herein to make strong tablets that survive the supply chain in the absence of conventional individual packaging. Moreover, in some embodiments, the tablets are coated with a biodegradable and / or compostable coating that helps maintain the integrity of individual tablets during the supply chain. That is, in some embodiments, the tablets comprise a coating surrounding the beverage ingredients of the tablets, where the coating is biodegradable and / or compostable. The biodegradability of the tablets may decrease the waste associated with each tablet following the use thereof. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the beverage tablet features described herein help the tablets to maintain their integrity throughout the various portions of the supply chain.

[0021] The tablets disclosed herein may be suitable for forming beverages such as coffee, tea, and / or hot chocolate. Other beverages are also possible, depending on the beverage ingredients included within the tablet. The beverage ingredients present in the tablets may contain any of a variety of ingredients for forming beverages, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, a beverage ingredient is water insoluble. A beverage ingredient may be water-infusible, such that upon contact with water, one or more components of the beverage ingredient is extracted into the water from the beverage ingredient, leaving a residual beverage ingredient, in some embodiments. Nonlimiting examples of beverage ingredients include ground coffee, loose leaf tea (e.g., green tea, black tea, and / or any of a variety of other types of vegetation commonly referred to as teas and / or used as ingredients of teas, such as mint leaves, jasmine flowers, and / or dried fruit such as dried apples or citrus zest), cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chicory. According to some embodiments, a beverage ingredient is water soluble. Non-limiting examples of water- soluble beverage ingredients include instant coffee, sweeteners (e.g., sugar, honey, fructose, caramel), real or synthetic plant extracts (e.g., vanilla, hazelnut extract, mint extract).According to some embodiments, a beverage ingredient is partially water-insoluble but not water-infusible. For example, a beverage ingredient may be configured to form a suspension in a beverage without leaving a residual beverage ingredient. Examples of beverage ingredients that are configured to form suspensions include, but are not limited to, creamers such as dairy creamers and non-dairy creamers. Other beverage ingredients are also possible in the tablets described herein.

[0022] A beverage tablet may comprise any of a variety of suitable beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, a beverage tablet comprises greater than or equal to 1 beverage ingredient, greater than or equal to 2 beverage ingredients, greater than or equal to 3 beverage ingredients, greater than or equal to 4 beverage ingredients, greater than or equal to 5 beverage ingredients, greater than or equal to 6 beverage ingredients, greater than or equal to 7 beverage ingredients, greater than or equal to 8 beverage ingredients, or greater than or equal to 9 beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, a beverage tablet comprises less than or equal to 10 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 9 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 8 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 7 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 6 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 5 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 4 beverage ingredients, less than or equal to 3 beverage ingredients, or less than or equal to 2 beverage ingredients. Combinations of these ranges are also possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 beverage ingredient and less than or equal to 10 beverage ingredients). Other ranges are also possible.

[0023] The package-less tablets described herein may have any of a variety of shapes, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, consider FIGS. 1A-D, which show schematic diagrams of exemplary shapes that the package-less tablets described herein may comprise. That is, in some embodiments, the tablets may comprise a body 100 having a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 1A and IB, with 1A being a shorter cylinder (e.g. disc shape), and IB being a taller cylinder, a spherical shape as shown in FIG. 1C, or an elliptical prism shape as shown in FIG. ID. Note that the shapes shown in FIGS. 1A-1D are nonlimiting examples, and that other shapes are also possible. For instance, the tablets may comprise a shape that is conical, prismatic, or any of a variety of irregular shapes, as disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, the tablet may comprise curved surfaces, flat surfaces, one or more protrusions, and / or one or more indentions. In some embodiments,the shape of the tablet may be configured to be pierced and / or broken. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, portions of the shape of the tablet may be associated with one or more density gradients of the beverage ingredients within the tablet. The density gradients may be associated with a sensory profile of the beverage formed using the tablet, as described elsewhere herein.

[0024] The tablets described in this disclosure may be any of a variety of sizes, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the size of the tablet is associated with the amount of beverage ingredient(s) present in the tablet. In some embodiments, substantially the entire tablet comprises beverage ingredient(s). In some embodiments, the amount of beverage ingredient(s) in each of the tablets is associated with the amount of beverage ingredient(s) suitable for forming a single serving of the beverage. In some embodiments, the amount of beverage ingredient(s) in each of the tablet is greater than or equal to 1 gram, greater than or equal to 2 g, greater than or equal to 3 g, greater than or equal to 4 g, greater than or equal to 5 g, greater than or equal to 6 g, greater than or equal to 7 g, greater than or equal to 8 g, greater than or equal to 9 g, greater than or equal to 10 g, greater than or equal to 11 g, greater than or equal to 12 g, greater than or equal to 13 g, greater than or equal to 14 g, greater than or equal to 15 g, greater than or equal to 16 g, greater than or equal to 17 g, greater than or equal to 18 g, or greater than or equal tol9 g. In some embodiments, the amount of beverage ingredient(s) in each of the tablet is less than or equal to 20 g, less than or equal to 19 g, less than or equal to 18 g, less than or equal to 17 g, less than or equal to 16 g, less than or equal to 15 g, less than or equal tol4 g, less than or equal to 13 g, less than or equal to 12 g, less than or equal to 11 g, less than or equal to 10 g, less than or equal to 9 g, less than or equal to 8 g, less than or equal to 7 g, less than or equal to 6 g, less than or equal to 5 g, less than or equal to 4 g, less than or equal to 3 g, or less than or equal to 2 g. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 g and less than or equal to 20 g, greater than or equal to 10 g and less than or equal to 15 g). Other ranges are also possible.

[0025] The dimensions of the tablets may be associated with the amount of beverage ingredient present in the tablet and / or the shape of the tablet. In some embodiments, the average maximum dimension of the tablet may be greater than or equal to 1 cm, greater than or equal to 2 cm, greater than or equal to 3 cm, greater than or equal to 4 cm, greater than orequal to 5 cm, greater than or equal to 6 cm, greater than or equal to 7 cm, greater than or equal to 8 cm, or greater than or equal to 9 cm. In some embodiments, the average maximum dimension of the tablet is less than or equal to 10 cm, less than or equal to 9 cm, less than or equal to 8 cm, less than or equal to 7 cm, less than or equal to 6 cm, less than or equal to 5 cm, less than or equal to 4 cm, less than or equal to 3 cm, or less than or equal to 2 cm. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 cm and less than or equal to 10 cm). Other ranges are also possible. In some embodiments, the average maximum dimension of the tablet may be selected such that the tablet may contain a desirable amount of beverage ingredients and such that the tablet may be sized and adapted for use with some brewing methods.

[0026] In some embodiments, as described above, the average maximum dimension of the tablet may at least partially depends on the shape of the tablet. For example, the tablet may be substantially spherically shaped, and the average maximum dimension may correspond to a diameter of the sphere, which may correspond to an average dimension of the tablet. In contrast, in other embodiments, the shape of the tablet may correspond to the disc shown in FIG. 1A, and in such cases, an average maximum dimension of the tablet may correspond to a diameter of the circular face of the disc. When comparing the disc and sphere examples, where each tablet contains approximately the same amount of beverage ingredients, the average maximum dimension of the disc may be larger than the diameter of the sphere to accommodate an equivalent total amount of beverage ingredients between the two shapes. Accordingly, the selection of the shape and the amount of beverage ingredients in the tablets may influence the dimensions of the tablets.

[0027] In some embodiments, a minimum average dimension of the tablet is greater than or equal to 0.5 cm, greater than or equal to 1 cm, greater than or equal to 2 cm, greater than or equal to 3 cm, greater than or equal to 4 cm, greater than or equal to 5 cm, greater than or equal to 6 cm, greater than or equal to 7 cm, greater than or equal to 8 cm, or greater than or equal to 9 cm. In some embodiments, the average minimum dimension of the tablet is less than or equal to 10 cm, less than or equal to 9 cm, less than or equal to 8 cm, less than or equal to 7 cm, less than or equal to 6 cm, less than or equal to 5 cm, less than or equal to 4 cm, less than or equal to 3 cm, less than or equal to 2 cm, or less than or equal to 1 cm.Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0.5 cm and less than or equal to 10 cm). Other ranges are also possible.

[0028] In some environments, the size of the particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) in the tablet may be associated with the type of brewing and or the resulting sensory profile of the beverage obtained from the tablet. In some embodiments, the size of the particles in the tablet may be configured for use with a drip apparatus, e.g., ground coffee for forming drip coffee. In some embodiments, the size of the particles in the tablet may be configured for a high pressure and high temperature percolation, for example, ground coffee configured for brewing of espresso. Still, in some embodiments, the size of the particles in the tablet may be configured to steep and / or to dissolve when forming the beverage, e.g., when the beverage ingredients comprise loose leaf tea.

[0029] In some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) present in the tablet have an average maximum size. In accordance with some embodiments, the average maximum size of the particles of beverage ingredients in the tablet may be related to the surface area to volume ratio of the particles, which may affect the beverage formed from the beverage ingredients (e.g., coffee formed from coffee grounds). For example, without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the surface area to volume ratio of the beverage ingredients present in the tablet may affect the rate at which components may be extracted from the beverage ingredients into the water used to form the beverage, and thus the size of the particles of beverage ingredients may alter the chemical composition and resulting sensory profile of the beverage formed from the tablet. For instance, in some embodiments where the particles of beverage ingredients are ground coffee, when small particles of ground coffee are used in the tablet, espresso coffee may be brewed using the tablet. In some embodiments where large particles of ground coffee are used in the tablet, drip coffee may be brewed from the tablet.

[0030] In some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) present in the tablet have an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 100 microns, greater than or equal to 150 microns, greater than or equal to 200 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns, greater than or equal to 300 microns, greater than or equal to 350 microns, greater than or equal to 400 microns, greater than or equal to 450 microns, greater than equal to 500 microns, greater than or equal to 550 microns, greater thanor equal to 600 microns, greater than or equal to 650 microns, greater than or equal to 700 microns, greater than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 800 microns, greater than or equal to 850 microns, greater than equal to 900 microns, greater than or equal to 950 microns, greater than or equal to 1000 microns, or greater than or equal to 1500 microns. According to some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients present in the tablet have an average maximum dimension of less than or equal to 2000 microns, less than or equal to 1500 microns, less than or equal to 1000 microns, less than or equal to 950 microns, less than or equal to 900 microns, less than or equal to 850 microns, less than or equal to 800 microns, less than or equal to 750 microns, less than or equal to 700 microns, less than or equal to 650 microns, less than or equal to 600 microns, less than or equal to 550 microns, less than or equal to 500 microns, less than or equal to 450 microns, less than or equal to 400 microns, less than or equal to 350 microns, less than or equal to 300 across, less than or equal to 250 microns, less than or equal to 200 microns, or less than or equal to 150 microns. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 100 microns and less than or equal to 2000 microns, greater than or equal to 100 microns and less than or equal to 1000 microns greater than or equal to 100 microns and less than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 500 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns, greater than or equal to 500 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns, greater than or equal to 700 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns). Other ranges are also possible. As an example, in some embodiments, the tablet for preparing a beverage comprises ground coffee having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 500 microns. As an additional example, in some embodiments, the tablet for preparing a beverage comprises ground coffee having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 700 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns.

[0031] Conventionally, relatively small particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee sized for espresso brew, for instance, having an average maximum dimension of less than or equal to 600 microns) may be used to form tablets. Small particles were used to minimize the pore volume (e.g., empty space) between particles within the tablets.

[0032] As described elsewhere herein in more detail, relatively large compressive forces may be used to form the tablets, which facilitates the use of relatively large particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 600 microns and being sized for drip coffee). The relatively large compressive forces used to form the tablets, according to some embodiments, may help to decrease the pore volume within the tablet when using the large particles of beverage ingredients, thereby making the tablet more robust than when smaller or no compressive forces are used to form the tablets of beverage ingredients.

[0033] According to some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) are substantially spherical and, as a result, have an average minimum dimension that is approximately equivalent to an average maximum dimension of the particles of beverage ingredients. For example, when the beverage ingredient is ground, in some embodiments, the grinding method used to form the particles of beverage ingredients may result in a shape of the particles of beverage ingredients being irregular. Accordingly, in some such embodiments, the average minimum dimension of the particles of beverage ingredients may be smaller than the average maximum dimension of the particles of beverage ingredients.

[0034] In some embodiments, the average minimum dimension of the particles is greater than or equal to 10 microns, greater than or equal to 50 microns, greater than or equal to 100 microns, greater than or equal to 150 microns, greater than or equal to 200 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns, greater than or equal to 300 microns, greater than or equal to 350 microns, greater than or equal to 400 microns, greater than or equal to 450 microns, greater than or equal to 500 microns, greater than or equal to 550 microns, greater than or equal to 600 microns, greater than or equal to 650 microns, greater than or equal to 700 microns, greater than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 800 microns, greater than or equal to 850 microns, greater than equal to 900 microns, or greater than or equal to 950 microns. According to some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients present in the tablet have an average minimum dimension of less than or equal to 1000 microns, less than or equal to 950 microns, less than or equal to 900 microns, less than or equal to 850 microns, less than or equal to 800 microns, less than or equal to 750 microns, less than or equal to 700 microns, less than or equal to 650 microns, less than or equal to 600microns, less than or equal to 550 microns, less than or equal to 500 microns, less than or equal to 450 microns, less than or equal to 400 microns, less than or equal to 350 microns, less than or equal to 300 across, less than or equal to 250 microns, less than or equal to 200 microns, less than or equal to 150 microns, less than or equal to 100 microns, or less than or equal to 50 microns. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 10 microns and less than or equal to 1000 microns, greater than or equal to 10 microns and less than or equal to 1000 microns, greater than or equal to 10 microns and less than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 500 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns, greater than or equal to 500 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns, greater than or equal to 700 microns and less than or equal to 900 microns). Other ranges are also possible.

[0035] In some embodiments, the maximum dimension and / or the minimum dimension of a particle of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) may not vary much from the average dimensions as described above. In some embodiments, the maximum dimension and / or the minimum dimension of a particle of beverage ingredient varies by less than or equal to 100%, less than or equal to 75%, less than or equal to 50%, less than or equal to 40%, less than or equal to 30%, less than or equal to 20%, less than or equal to 10%, less than or equal to 5%, or less than or equal to 1% of the average maximum dimension and / or the average minimum dimension of the particles of beverage ingredients, respectively.

[0036] The tablets described herein may comprise a coating. For example, a coating may be a relatively thin layer of material at least partially, and in some cases fully, surrounding the beverage ingredients. The coating, according to some embodiments, may provide further structural stability to the tablets, facilitating the ability of the tablets to retain a shape while proceeding through the supply chain.

[0037] A coating of the tablet may comprise or be any of a variety of materials. In some embodiments, the material of the coating may be biodegradable, for example, to decrease waste (e.g., non-biodegradable waste) associated with the tablets. In some embodiments, the material of the coating of the tablet comprises or is one or more food-safe materials. In some embodiments, the material of the coating of the tablet comprises or is one or more biodegradable polymers. According to some embodiments, the material of thecoating comprises a polysaccharide (e.g., a food-safe and / or a biodegradable polysaccharide). A polysaccharide generally comprises a polymerized sugar. The polysaccharide may be a natural polysaccharide, a synthetic modification of a natural polysaccharide, or a purely synthetic polysaccharide, depending on the embodiments. The polysaccharide may be a homopolysaccharide or a heteropolysaccharide. Any of a variety of suitable polysaccharides, including but not limited to cellulose, chitin, starch, glycogen, alginate (e.g., sodium alginate, calcium alginate), and galactogen may be used in a coating of a beverage tablet, according to some embodiments.

[0038] A pore size of a coating on the tablet, when present, may be selected so as to retain the particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) therein. In some embodiments, the pore size of the coating of the tablet is smaller than the average maximum dimension of the beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, the pore size of the coating of the tablet is smaller than the average minimum dimension of the beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, the average pore size of the coating on the tablet may be selected based on the average minimum dimension of the particles of the beverage ingredients. For example, the average pore size of the coating on the tablet may be selected to be greater than or equal to 5%, greater than or equal to 10%, greater than or equal to 20%, greater than or equal to 30%, greater than or equal to 40%, or greater than or equal to 50% of the minimum average dimension of the particles of beverage ingredients smaller than the minimum average dimension of the particles of beverage ingredients.

[0039] According to some embodiments, an average pore size of a coating on the tablet greater than or equal to 1 micron, greater than or equal to 5 microns, greater than or equal to 10 microns, greater than or equal to 50 microns, greater than or equal to 100 microns, greater than or equal to 150 microns, greater than or equal to 200 microns, greater than or equal to 250 microns, greater than or equal to 300 microns, greater than or equal to 350 microns, greater than or equal to 400 microns, greater than or equal to 450 microns, greater than or equal to 500 microns, greater than or equal to 550 microns, greater than or equal to 600 microns, greater than or equal to 650 microns, greater than or equal to 700 microns, greater than or equal to 750 microns, greater than or equal to 800 microns, greater than or equal to 850 microns, greater than equal to 900 microns, or greater than or equal to 950 microns. According to some embodiments, the average pore size of the coating on thetablet is less than or equal to 1000 microns, less than or equal to 950 microns, less than or equal to 900 microns, less than or equal to 850 microns, less than or equal to 800 microns, less than or equal to 750 microns, less than or equal to 700 microns, less than or equal to 650 microns, less than or equal to 600 microns, less than or equal to 550 microns, less than or equal to 500 microns, less than or equal to 450 microns, less than or equal to 400 microns, less than or equal to 350 microns, less than or equal to 300 across, less than or equal to 250 microns, less than or equal to 200 microns, less than or equal to 150 microns, less than or equal to 100 microns, less than or equal to 50 microns, less than or equal to 10 microns, or less than or equal to 5 microns. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 micron and less than or equal to 1000 microns). Other ranges are also possible.

[0040] A material of a coating of the tablet, in some embodiments, may be biodegradable as described above. In some embodiments, the material of the coating of the tablet may be relatively insoluble in water, for example, such that when water is percolated over and / or through the tablet to form a beverage therefrom, the majority of the material of the tablet continues to surround (e.g., encapsulate) the particles of beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, the coating does not substantially disintegrate, dissolve, or otherwise degrade when contacted with water, for example, when an average temperature of the water is at approximately 95 °C.

[0041] In accordance with some embodiments, the solubility of the coating surrounding the coffee may be determined by measuring the amount of the material of the coating that dissolves in 1000 g of water when an average temperature of the water is at approximately 95°C. For example, in some embodiments, the material of the coating of the tablet is considered insoluble, and less than or equal to 0.1 g, less than or equal to 0.09 g, less than or equal to 0.08 g, less than or equal to 0.07 g, less than or equal to 0.06 g, less than or equal to 0.05 g, less than or equal to 0.04 g, less than or equal to 0.03 g, less than or equal to 0.02 g, or less than or equal to 0.01 g of the material of the coating of the tablet may dissolve in 1000 g of water when the water is at 95°C. As an example, in some embodiments, the tablet for preparing a beverage comprises ground coffee with a particle size having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 100 microns or greater than or equalto 600 microns with a coating surrounding the ground coffee, where less than or equal to 0.1 g of the material of the coating dissolves in 1000 g of water at 95 degrees C.

[0042] Note that, in some embodiments, a coating may be absent from the tablet. For example, in some embodiments, if the adherence of the particles of beverage ingredients is sufficiently high to maintain an integrity of the tablet during the supply chain, then a coating may be absent from the tablets. For example, the beverage ingredients may be compressed as described elsewhere herein, which may result in the beverage ingredients adhering together via van der Waals forces and / or frictional interlocking.

[0043] Additionally, in some embodiments, tablets described herein may incorporate binders to maintain an integrity of the tablets, e.g., during the supply chain. Binders may be incorporated into the tablet, in some embodiments, in the absence or presence of a coating. In other embodiments, no binders may be added to the beverage ingredients of the tablet, and the beverage ingredients of the tablets may adhere as described above in the absence of the binder and / or coating.In some embodiments, the tablets described herein (e.g., in the absence or presence of a coating as described above) may be relatively strong and maintain a shape even after a force is applied in any direction towards the tablet. For example, to maintain its shape, the tablet may not fracture, break, or otherwise degrade when a force is applied to the tablet, e.g., uniformly and / or anisotropically. In some embodiments, a tensile strength of the tablet is greater than or equal to 0.1 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.15 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.2 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.25 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.3 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.35 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.4 MPa, or greater than or equal to 0.45 MPa. According to some embodiments, a tensile strength of the tablet is less than or equal to 0.5 MPa, less than or equal to 0.45 MPa, less than or equal to 0.4 MPa, less than or equal to 0.35 MPa, less than or equal to 0.3 MPa, less than or equal to 0.25 MPa, less than or equal to 0.2 MPa, or less than or equal to 0.15 MPa. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0.1 MPa and less than or equal to 0.5 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.1 MPa and less than or equal to 0.4 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.1 MPa and less than or equal to 0.4 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.1 MPa and less than or equal to 0.2 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.05 MPa and less than or equal to 0.2 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.06 MPa and less than or equal to 0.18 MPa, greater than or equal to 0.07 MPa and less thanor equal to 0.16 MPa, or greater than or equal to 0.08 MPa and less than or equal to 0.14 MPa). Other ranges are also possible.

[0044] As described above, some of the tablets described herein include beverage ingredients having relatively large density gradients throughout the tablet. The inventors have recognized that, in some embodiments, forming a first beverage from a beverage material having a first density and forming a second beverage from the beverage ingredient having a second density results in the first and second beverages having different sensory profiles. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the extraction of components from the beverage ingredients is affected by the density of the beverage ingredients of the tablet, and thus the sensory profile of a beverage formed from a tablet is associated with the density of beverage ingredients present in the tablet. For example, it is believed that compression of particles of a beverage ingredient (e.g., the densification of the beverage ingredients) may plastically deform the particles and facilitate the ability of water during beverage formation to better access components internal to the beverage ingredient, e.g., compared to particles that are not plastically deformed. The plastic deformation may change the extraction efficiency and / or extraction kinetics of components within the beverage ingredient by the water. Additionally, the density of beverage ingredients in the tablet may further impact the pressure needed to flow water through the tablet, as the density of the ingredients may be related to the pore space present within the tablet. Accordingly, the density of the beverage ingredients may be associated with the time water flows over the beverage ingredients of the tablets.

[0045] Advantageously, in some embodiments, including beverage ingredients having a variety of densities (e.g., and thus density gradients between the regions of different densities and / or beverage ingredient particles of different densities) within a single tablet for forming a beverage may result in a beverage formed therefrom having a different sensory profile when compared to a tablet formed with the same beverage ingredients but having a substantially uniform density distribution. In some such embodiments, the resulting sensory profile of the beverage formed from the tablet having various densities may be favorable to a consumer of the beverage when compared to a beverage brewed from a tablet containing beverage ingredients having the substantially uniform density distribution.

[0046] While naturally occurring density gradients may be present within unprocessed beverage ingredients used to form the tablets, these density gradients are typically small. In contrast, the density gradients related to the beverage ingredients of the tablets described herein, in some embodiments, are larger than may naturally occur within an unprocessed sample of beverage ingredients. According to some embodiments, such variations in density of the beverage ingredients within a tablet may arise due to the method through which the tablet is formed. For example, if a non-uniform force is applied to the beverage ingredients to form the tablet, then the resulting tablet may have a density that varies within the tablet. For instance, a first portion of the beverage ingredients may be compressed more than a second portion of the beverage ingredients and as a result have a higher density when compared to the second portion. In some embodiments, large variations of the density of the beverage ingredients within the tablet as described herein may be associated with the shape of the tablet. For example, compressing a first portion of the tablet more than a second portion may lead to geometric variations (e.g., a protrusion and / or an indention) that correspond to density variations.

[0047] The beverage ingredients present within the beverage may have any of a variety of densities, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, when the beverage ingredient comprises ground coffee (e.g., ground coffee particles), the density of the ground coffee is greater than or equal to 0.6 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.7 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.8 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.9 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.1 g / cc, or greater than or equal to 1.2 g / cc. In some embodiments, the density of the ground coffee is less than or equal to 1.3 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.2 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.1 g / cc, less than or equal to 1 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.9 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.8 g / cc, or less than or equal to 0.7 g / cc. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0.6 g / cc and less than or equal to 1.3 g / cc). Other ranges are also possible.

[0048] Other densities of the beverage ingredients are also possible, for example, when the tablets comprise beverage ingredients other than ground coffee. In some such embodiments, the density of the beverage ingredient in the tablet is greater than or equal to 0.4 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.5 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.6 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.7 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.8 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.9 g / cc, greaterthan or equal to 1 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.1 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.2 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.3 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.4 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.5 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.6 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.7 g / cc, greater than or equal to 1.8 g / cc, or greater than or equal to 1.9 g / cc. In some embodiments, the density of the beverage ingredient in the tablet is less than or equal to 2 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.9 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.8 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.7 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.6 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.5 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.4 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.3 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.2 g / cc, less than or equal to 1.1 g / cc, less than or equal to 1 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.9 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.8 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.7 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.6 g / cc, or less than or equal to 0.5 g / cc. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0.4 g / cc and less than or equal to 2 g / cc). Other ranges are also possible.

[0049] In some embodiments, the density of the beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) varies within the tablet. In some embodiments, the density of the beverage ingredient varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.12 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.14 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.16 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.18 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.2 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.25 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.3 g / cc, or greater than or equal to 0.35 g / cc within the tablet. In some embodiments, the density of the beverage ingredient varies by less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.35 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.3 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.25 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.2 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.18 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.16 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.14 g / cc, or less than or equal to 0.12 g / cc within the tablet. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc). Other ranges are also possible.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the distance over which the density of the beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) varies within the tablet may be the entire maximum dimension of the tablet. In some embodiments, the distance over which the density of the beverage ingredients varies within the tablet may only be a portion of a maximum dimension of the tablet. The density of the beverage ingredients within the tablet may vary as described above. In some embodiments, the distance over which the density of the beverage ingredients varies is greater than or equal to 0.1 cm, greater than or equal to 0.2 cm, greater than or equalto 0.3 cm, greater than or equal to 0.4 cm, greater than or equal to 0.5 cm, greater than or equal to 0.6 cm, greater than or equal to 0.7 cm, greater than or equal to 0.8 cm, greater than or equal to 0.9 cm, greater than or equal to 1 cm, greater than or equal to 2 cm, greater than or equal to 3 cm, greater than or equal to 4 cm, greater than or equal to 5 cm, greater than or equal to 6 cm, greater than or equal to 7 cm, greater than or equal to 8 cm, or greater than or equal to 9 cm. In some embodiments, the distance over which the density of the beverage ingredients varies is less than or equal to 10 cm, less than or equal to 9 cm, less than or equal to 8 cm, less than or equal to 7 cm, less than or equal to 6 cm, less than or equal to 5 cm, less than or equal to 4 cm, less than or equal to 3 cm, less than or equal to 2 cm, less than or equal to 1 cm, less than or equal to 0.9 cm, less than or equal to 0.8 cm, less than or equal to 0.7 cm, less than or equal to 0.6 cm, less than or equal to 0.5 cm, less than or equal to 0.4 cm, less than or equal to 0.3 cm, or less than or equal to 0.2 cm. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0.1 cm and less than or equal to 10 cm, greater than or equal to 0.1 cm and less than or equal to 1 cm). Other ranges are also possible.

[0051] As a non-limiting example, the density of the beverage ingredients within a tablet may vary by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc and less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc over a distance of greater than or equal to 0.1 cm and less than or equal to 10 cm. As another nonlimiting example, in some embodiments, the tablets comprise ground coffee and a density of the ground coffee varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc within the tablet. In some such embodiments, the density may vary over a length of less than or equal to 2 cm, less than or equal to 1 cm, or less than or equal to 2 mm.

[0052] FIGS. 2A-2C are CT scans plotting the density of the beverage ingredients within the cross section of the example tablets comprising ground coffee, where the scale is shown in units of g / cc. FIGS. 2A-2C shows that the tablets have an indention, where the depth of the indention present in the tablet increases from FIG. 2A to 2B to 2C. The tablets in FIGS. 2A-2C are cylindrical tablets having a height of approximately 16 mm and a diameter of approximately 32 mm, with cylindrical indentions having depths of approximately 3.5 mm, 7 mm, and 10.5 mm for FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C, the depth of the indention corresponds to the magnitude of the density gradient present within the tablet. For example, the largest density gradient present in FIG. 2C where the indention in the tablet is deepest is larger than largest density gradient present in FIG. 2Awhere the indention in the tablet is most shallow. The results in FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate that it is possible to engineer the density gradients present within the tablets, for example, by including indentions of various depths. Analogous structure that may arise due to variations in compression (e.g., protrusions) may additionally result in such designed density gradients within the tablets.

[0053] In addition to illustrating the presence of density gradients within the tablets, FIGS. 2A-2C further show that there may be multiple density gradients present within a single plane of the tablet. For example, consider dashed lines 200 and 210 in FIG. 2C. A first density gradient and a second density gradient are present along lines 200 and 210, respectively, within the plane of the tablet imaged in the CT scan. Accordingly, tablets may be engineered to have greater than or equal to 1, greater than or equal to 2, greater than or equal to 3, greater than or equal to 4, greater than or equal to 5, greater than or equal to 6, greater than or equal to 8, greater than or equal to 10, greater than or equal to 12, greater than or equal to 14, greater than or equal to 16, or greater than or equal to 18 density gradients in a single plane of the tablet. In some embodiments, tablets may be engineered to have less than or equal to 20, less than or equal to 18, less than or equal to 16, less than or equal to 14, less than or equal to 12, less than or equal to 10, less than or equal to 8, less than or equal to 6, less than or equal to 5, less than or equal to 4, less than or equal to 3, or less than or equal to 2 density gradients in a single plane of the tablet. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 20, greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 10, greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 5, greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 2). Other ranges are also possible. Note that the foregoing references to the number of density gradients present in a single plane generally relates to the number of density gradients that have a magnitude change of greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.12 g / cc and / or less than or equal to 0.3 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc, etc., as described elsewhere herein.

[0054] In some embodiments, there may be a first population of beverage ingredient particles (e.g., ground coffee particles) having a first density and a second population of beverage ingredient particles (e.g., ground coffee particles) having a second density, where the first density and second density are different. In some embodiments, the first and seconddensities differ by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc, greater than or equal to 0.12 g / cc and / or less than or equal to 0.3 g / cc, less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc, etc., as described elsewhere herein. The first and / or second density may be similar to the foregoing ranges describing densities of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee or others).

[0055] In some embodiments, a first or second population of beverage ingredient particles may be present in a tablet in any of a variety of suitable amounts. In some embodiments, a first or second population of beverage ingredient particles may each independently be present in a tablet in an amount of greater than or equal to 5 weight percent (wt%), greater than or equal to 10 wt%, greater than or equal to 15 wt%, greater than or equal to 20 wt%, greater than or equal to 25 wt%, greater than or equal to 30 wt%, greater than or equal to 35 wt%, greater than or equal to 40 wt%, greater than or equal to 45 wt%, greater than or equal to 50 wt%, greater than or equal to 55 wt%, greater than or equal to 60 wt%, greater than or equal to 65 wt%, greater than or equal to 70 wt%, greater than or equal to 75 wt%, greater than or equal to 80 wt%, greater than or equal to 85 wt%, or greater than or equal to 90 wt% of the tablet. In some embodiments, a first or second population of beverage ingredient particles may each independently be present in a tablet in an amount of less than or equal to 95 wt%, less than or equal to 90 wt%, less than or equal to 85 wt%, less than or equal to 80 wt%, less than or equal to 75 wt%, less than or equal to 70 wt%, less than or equal to 65 wt%, less than or equal to 60 wt%, less than or equal to 55 wt%, less than or equal to 50 wt%, less than or equal to 45 wt%, less than or equal to 40 wt%, less than or equal to 30 wt%, less than or equal to 25 wt%, less than or equal to 20 wt%, less than or equal to 15 wt%, less than or equal to 10 wt% of the tablet. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 5 wt% and less than or equal to 95 wt%, greater than or equal to 25 wt% and less than or equal to 75 wt%, greater than or equal to 40 wt% and less than or equal to 60 wt%, greater than or equal to 5 wt% and less than or equal to 50 wt%, greater than or equal to 50 wt% and less than or equal to 95 wt%). Other ranges are also possible.

[0056] For example, FIGS. 2D-2K show various embodiments of tablets having at least a first population of beverage ingredients and a second population of beverage ingredients, where the first and second population of beverage ingredients have different densities. FIG. 2D shows a perspective view and FIG. 2E shows a cross-section of tablet 220,where the cross-section of the tablet is viewed along line E-E as shown in FIG. 2D. The tablet 220 includes a first population of beverage ingredient particles 222 that is concentrically encapsulated within a second population of beverage ingredient particles 224. FIGS. 2F and 2G show perspective and cross-sectional views (e.g., where the cross section is viewed along line G-G of FIG. 2F) of a similar arrangement as in FIGS. 2D-2E, but the first population of beverage ingredient particles are arranged in three separate regions 222a, 222b, and 222c that are encapsulated by the second population 224 of beverage ingredient particles. Alternative configurations of a first population of beverage ingredient particles 222 and a second population of beverage ingredient particles 224 within tablets 220 are shown in FIGS. 2H- 2K, where layers of the first population of beverage ingredient particles 222 and the second population of beverage ingredient particles 224 are stacked within the tablet 220. Note that FIGS. 2H and 21 show perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of an example embodiment of a tablet 220, where the cross-section is viewed along line I-I as shown in FIG. 2H. FIGS. 2J and 2K show perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of another example embodiment of a tablet 220, where the cross-section is viewed along line K-K as shown in FIG. 2J.

[0057] Moreover, it is further possible that a first population of beverage ingredients and a second population of beverage ingredient particles are mixed to form a substantially homogeneous mixture, whereafter a tablet is formed that includes both the first and second particle populations. In some embodiments, as described elsewhere herein, while the first and second particle populations form a substantially homogeneous tablet, the particle populations may remain discrete within the tablet and can be observed, e.g., by performing a CT scan of the tablet and / or by breaking the tablet down and separating the particles on the basis of density.

[0058] While the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2D-2K and some of the embodiments described herein are detailed in view of a first a second population of beverage ingredients, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that further populations of beverage ingredient particles are also possible. For example, a third population of particles having a third density different from the first and second densities may be formed in discrete regions and / or layers as shown in FIGS. 2D-2K and / or may be substantially homogenously dispersed with the first and / or second populations within a tablet. A fourth population having a fourthdensity, a fifth population having a fifth density, and so forth, are also possible, in some embodiments.

[0059] Some aspects of the present disclosure are generally related to methods of making the tablets described herein. For example, in some embodiments, the methods of making a tablet for preparing a beverage are described.

[0060] The method may comprise receiving beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, the beverage ingredients may be originally unprocessed, and as a result, the beverage ingredients may be processed before forming the tablet using the beverage ingredients. For example, in some embodiments where the beverage ingredient is coffee, processing the coffee may comprise grinding, roasting, and / or decaff einating the coffee before using the coffee to form a tablet.

[0061] In some embodiments, the method may comprise mixing multiple beverage ingredients, e.g., to make a substantially homogeneous mixture of the multiple beverage ingredients. For instance, when the beverage ingredients comprise loose-leaf tea, multiple ingredients may be mixed to form a desired mixture of loose-leaf tea components for forming (e.g., steeping) the tea. In some embodiments, a binder may be added when mixing the beverage ingredients. In some embodiments, a first population of beverage ingredient particles having a first density may be mixed with a second population of beverage ingredient particles having a second density. In some such embodiments, the first density and second density are different, as described elsewhere herein. Mixing the first and second populations of particles, in some embodiments, may result in a substantially homogeneous mixture of the first and second populations of particles. In some embodiments, the first and second populations of beverage ingredient particles comprise ground coffee particles.

[0062] In accordance with some embodiments, when a first and second population of particles are mixed, the first and / or second population of particles may be preprocessed before being mixed. Preprocessing may include compressing the beverage ingredient particles, which may be desirable to obtain beverage ingredient particles having different densities (e.g., due to the consolidation of the beverage ingredient during compression). In some embodiments, preprocessing the beverage ingredients may include compressing the beverage ingredients via roller compaction, briquetting, and / or extrusion. Other compression methods are also possible. After such preprocessing compression methods, the compressedbeverage ingredients may be milled, granulated, comminuted, or otherwise broken up to obtain particles of the beverage ingredients, e.g., having a density different from before the preprocessing compression step. In some embodiments, when the beverage ingredient particles are ground coffee particles, a portion of the ground coffee particles may be compressed at a first compressive stress to form a first population of particles having a first density. Another portion of the ground coffee particles may be compressed at a second compressive stress, different from the first compressive stress, to form the second population of particles having a second density. Of course, in some embodiments, a portion of the ground coffee may not be preprocessed, which may result in a second population of particles having a second density different from the first density.

[0063] The method may further include filling a die or mold with the beverage ingredients. For instance, the particles of the beverage ingredient may then be supplied to a die or mold before being compressed to form a tablet. In some embodiments, the method comprises filling a die or mold with a first population of the beverage ingredient particles and a second population of the beverage ingredient particles. When the beverage in gradient is coffee, in accordance with some embodiments, the method may include filling a die or mold with a first population of ground coffee particles having a first average density and a second population of ground coffee particles having a second average density, the first and second average densities being different by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc. In some embodiments, the method includes filling a die or mold with a mixture comprises a first population of beverage ingredient particles having a first average density and a second population of beverage ingredient particles having a second density. In some embodiments, the first and / or second population of beverage ingredient particles may be preprocessed as described above to obtain the first and / or second population having the first or second density, respectively.

[0064] The die or mold may be filled via any suitable technique. In some embodiments, the die or mold may be filled by layering, e.g. with a first population in one layer and a second population in a second layer. This may be used to form layered tablets, such as the examples shown in FIGS. 2H-2K. In some embodiments, the die or mold may be concentrically filled. In some embodiments, the die or mold may be filled using inserts to create localized regions of one or more populations of ground particles, where the inserts may be initially placed and then removed during the filling process.

[0065] Thus, for example, in some embodiments, a first population of particles having a first density is formed via a first preprocessing compression method (e.g. roller compaction, or any other suitable method), and then breaking the compacted sheet up into particles. This first population of particles have a first density that may be dictated by the degree of compaction used in the first preprocessing compression method. A second population of particles having a second density is formed via a second preprocessing compression method (e.g. roller compaction, or any other suitable method), and then breaking the compacted sheet up into particles. This second population of particles have a second density that may be dictated by the degree of compaction used in the second preprocessing compression method, where the second density is different than the first density. Next, each of the two populations of particles may be introduced into a die or mold, and compressed to form a tablet. The resulting tablet may have first and second populations of particles with different densities. Depending on how the die or mold is filled, the resulting tablet may have a homogenous mixture of the first and second populations, or the first and second populations may be located in discrete regions, as discussed above.

[0066] In some embodiments, the method comprises compressing particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee). In some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients may be compressed only a single time. In some embodiments, the method comprises compressing ground coffee only a single time. In some embodiments, the method may comprise compressing the particles of beverage ingredients at least twice, at least 3 times, at least 4 times, no more than 5 times, more than 6 times, or no more than 7 times. According to some embodiments, it may be advantageous to compress to particles of ground coffee only a single time. In some embodiments, compressing the beverage ingredients may densify the beverage ingredients such that the beverage ingredients may have a density as described elsewhere herein.

[0067] In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to have multiple compression steps. For instance, in some embodiments, a first portion of the beverage ingredients may be compressed to form a first population of beverage ingredient particles having a first average density and / or a second portion of the beverage ingredients may be compressed to form a second population of beverage ingredient particles having a second average density, where the first and second average densities are different (e.g., a preprocessing step, as describedabove). The first and second populations of beverage ingredients may then be mixed and / or used to fill a die or mold, whereafter the particles may be compressed to form a tablet. In some embodiments, if the compression step to form the first and / or second population of particles used a higher compressive stress than the compression step when forming the tablet, then the first and second particles may remain as discrete populations of particles within the tablet, e.g., following compression within the die or mold.

[0068] In some embodiments, particles of beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) of the tablets are compressed using relatively large pressures. In some embodiments, particles of beverage ingredients are compressed such that the beverage ingredients in the resulting tablets comprise a density gradient, as described above. In some embodiments, compressing the particles of beverage ingredients may plastically deform the particles and / or lead to adhesion between the particles (e.g., by van der Waals forces and / or frictional interlocking), which may lead to strong tablets that may survive transport along the supply chain.

[0069] In some embodiments, compressing the beverage ingredients (e.g., ground coffee) comprises using a relatively high compressive stress to compress the beverage ingredients and form the tablet. In some embodiments, the compressive stress used to compress the beverage ingredients to form the tablet is greater than or equal to 35 MPa, greater than or equal to 40 MPa, greater than or equal to 45 MPa, greater than or equal to 50 MPa, greater than or equal to 55 MPa, greater than or equal to 60 MPa, greater than or equal to 65 MPa, greater than or equal to 70 MPa, greater than or equal to 75 MPa, or greater than or equal to 80 MPa. In some embodiments, the compressive stress used to compress the beverage ingredients to form the tablet is less than or equal to 85 MPa, less than or equal to 80 MPa, less than or equal to 75 MPa, less than or equal to 70 MPa, less than or equal to 65 MPa, less than or equal to 60 MPa, less than or equal to 55 MPa, less than or equal to 50 MPa, less than or equal to 45 MPa, or less than or equal to 40 MPa. Combinations of the foregoing ranges are possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa, greater than or equal to 45 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa, greater than or equal to 50 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa, greater than or equal to 50 MPa and less than or equal to 60 MPa, greater than or equal to 55 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa, greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 85 MPa, greater than or equal to 65 MPa and less than or equal to 85 MPa, greater than or equal to 70 MPa and less than or equalto 85 MPa, greater than or equal to 75 MPa and less than or equal to 85 MPa). Other ranges are possible. The compression force used to form the tablet and / or for preprocessing of the beverage ingredients may be independently selected from the foregoing ranges. Additionally, in some embodiments wherein a preprocessing step occurs, the compressive stress using during the preprocessing step may be higher than the compressive stress used when forming the tablet.

[0070] For example, in some embodiments, the method may comprise compressing ground coffee only a single time using a compressive stress of greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa to form the tablet. In some embodiments, at least a portion of beverage ingredients may be compressed using a first compressive stress, e.g., greater than or equal to 65 MPa and less than or equal to 85 MPa, to form a first population of beverage ingredient particles having a first average density (e.g., a preprocessing step). In some such embodiments, the first population of beverage ingredient particles may be mixed with a second population of beverage ingredient particles as described above, wherein the mixture may then be compressed to form a tablet, e.g., using a second compressive stress lower than the first compressive stress. In some embodiments, the second compressive stress used to form the tablet is greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa.

[0071] According to some embodiments, compressing the particles of beverage ingredients comprises compressing the particles uniformly. In some embodiments, compressing the particles of beverage ingredients comprises compressing the particles non- uniformly, for example, anisotropically. In some embodiments, the particles of beverage ingredients may be placed within a die or mold that is complementary to a desired shape of the tablet, whereafter the particles of beverage ingredients are compressed by applying a force in a singular direction to the beverage ingredients within the die or mold. In some embodiments, the die or mold may be shaped to form a tablet having indentions and / or protrusions. In some such cases, the beverage ingredients within the die or mold that are located near to the indentions and / or protrusions of the die or mold may be compressed more or less when forming the tablet, e.g., relative to beverage ingredients in other portions of the die or mold. Accordingly, the beverage ingredients within the die or mold that are located near to the indentions and / or protrusions of the die or mold may be associated with density gradients within tablets formed within the die or mold.

[0072] In some embodiments, the method of preparing a tablet for preparing a beverage comprises coating the tablet. Coating the tablet, in accordance with some embodiments, results in a tablet comprising compressed beverage ingredients (e.g., after compressing particles of the beverage ingredients) with a coating surrounding the beverage ingredients. The coating that surrounds the beverage ingredients, in some embodiments, may comprise materials as described elsewhere herein. The coating may be included to maintain the integrity of the tablet during the supply chain. Additionally, in some embodiments, the coating may maintain the integrity of the tablet during brewing, e.g., when the tablet may be broken or pierced as described elsewhere herein, and thus the coating may prevent the comminution of the tablet during brewing.

[0073] Coating the tablet may proceed by any of a variety of methods, in accordance with some embodiments. Coating the tablet, in some embodiments, may comprise dip coating the tablet of beverage ingredients within a material of and / or a precursor of the coating, spraying the precursor of and / or the material of the coating onto the tablet of beverage ingredients, and / or brushing the material of and / or the precursor of the coating onto the tablet of the beverage ingredients. Other methods of coating the material of the coating on to the beverage ingredients (e.g., to form a coating) are also possible, as this disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, where a precursor of the coating is applied to the compressed beverage ingredients, the precursor may be further processed to form the material of the coating. For example, in some embodiments, the precursor may be a monomer, oligomer, and / or prepolymer to a polymer that is the coating material. In some such embodiments, the monomer, oligomer, and / or prepolymer that is the precursor may be polymerized by heating, photopolymerization, and / or introducing a polymerization initiator (e.g., by further applying the initiator to the tablet) to form the polymerized coating.

[0074] Some aspects are related to methods of using the tablets described herein. For example, in some embodiments, the method comprises brewing a beverage using the tablets comprising beverage ingredients. As described above and compared to conventional tablets, using the beverage tablets described herein to brew a beverage may reduce waste (e.g., non- biodegradable waste from packaging) from single serve tablets.

[0075] In some embodiments, the tablets are configured to be pierced. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a method comprises piercing the tablet. Needles may be used to piecethe tablet, according to some embodiments, whereafter the needle may inject water into the pierced tablet such that the water percolates through the tablet. An example of piercing a tablet is shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. In FIG. 3A, needles 310 are arranged near and oriented towards tablet 320. The needles are then moved towards the tablet until, as shown in FIG. 3B, the tablet 320 is pierced by the needles. While three needles piercing the tablet are shown in FIG. 3, it should be understood that any of a number of needles may be used to pierce the tablet. For example, in some embodiments, at least 1 needle, at least 2 needles, at least 3 needles, 4 needles, at least 5 needles, no more than 6 needles, no more than 7 needles, no more than 8 needles, no more than 9 needles, or no more than 10 needles may be used to pierce the tablet. In some embodiments, the number of needles used may depend on the shape and / or size of the tablet, as the needles may be arranged to uniformly inject water into the tablet to percolate through the tablet and form the beverage. In such a manner, the number and arrangement of needles, in some embodiments, may impact the utilization of the beverage ingredients present in the tablet as the needles and arrangement may dictate how the water is injected into and may then percolate through the tablet.

[0076] As described above, according to some embodiments, the shape of the tablet may comprise indentations. In some embodiments, the indentations may be associated with density gradients, which may, in some embodiments, change a composition of a beverage brewed from the tablet comprising the indentations compared to a tablet having no indentions. In some embodiments, the indentations of the tablet may be configured to be pierced. For example, FIGS. 4A-4B show a similar embodiment as to that shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, but as shown in FIG. 4A, indentations 330 are present on tablet 320. The indentations 330 shown in FIG. 4A are configured to be pierced. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the indentations 330 may be pierced by needles 310. Inserting the needles into the indentions of the tablet, according to some embodiments, may allow the water that is injected through the needles to percolate over the beverage ingredients where density gradients of the ingredients are present.

[0077] According to some embodiments, the tablets are configured to be broken during beverage formation, for example, by a force applied by a beverage machine. In some such embodiments, the method may comprise breaking the tablets. In some embodiments,breaking the tablet may comprise application of a compressive force to the tablet, e.g. by a beverage machine.

[0078] For example, FIGS. 5A-5B show a schematic diagram of a tablet being broken by a beverage machine via a compressive force applied by a beverage machine. In this instance, tablet 320 is configured to be broken. Force F is applied in the direction of the arrow by surface 340 of a beverage machine to break tablet 320, as shown in FIGS. 5A-5B. Surface 340 used to break the tablet may comprise any of a variety of materials. For example, the surface may comprise a metal, a polymer, and / or a ceramic. The material of the surface, in some embodiments, is hard such that it may apply a force that is sufficient to break the tablet without the surface substantially deforming.

[0079] As described elsewhere herein, some tablets comprise a coating surrounding some or all of the beverage ingredients of the tablet. In some embodiments, the tablet comprising the coating may be configured to be pierced and / or broken, as described above. In some such embodiments, the coating may aid the tablet to maintain a shape and / or entity, rather than degrading, disintegrating, or otherwise being comminuted into smaller components during and / or after being pierced or broken. Accordingly, the coating in some embodiments may minimize and / or prevent the contamination of a brew chamber or other container in which the tablet is pierced and / or broken, and thus facilitate cleanup of the tablet after piercing and / or brewing of the tablet.

[0080] In some embodiments, following piercing the tablet and / or breaking the tablet, the method may comprise percolating water over at least a portion of the tablet to form a beverage. In some embodiments, water may be percolated through the tablet after the tablet has been pierced by one or more needles. In some embodiments, water may be percolated through the tablet after the tablet has been broken. By percolating the water through the tablet after the tablet has been pierced or broken, more surface area of the beverage ingredients may be readily available to the water, which may facilitate extraction of components from the beverage ingredients into the water. Percolating the water over at least a portion of the tablet, in some embodiments, forms the beverage.

[0081] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and / or structures for performing the functions and / or obtaining the results and / or oneor more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and / or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is / are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A beverage tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage, the beverage tablet comprising: a body comprising ground coffee, wherein a density of the ground coffee varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc within the tablet.

2. The tablet of claim 1, wherein the density of the ground coffee varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc over a length of less than or equal to 2 cm in the tablet.

3. The tablet of any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the density of the ground coffee varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc over a length of less than or equal to 1 cm in the tablet.

4. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the density of the ground coffee varies by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc over a length of less than or equal to 2 mm in the tablet.

5. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an average density of the ground coffee in the tablet is greater than or equal to 0.4 g / cc and less than or equal to 1.3 g / cc.

6. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an average density of the ground coffee in the tablet is greater than or equal to 0.6 g / cc and less than or equal to 1.2 g / cc.

7. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tablet further comprises a coating surrounding the ground coffee.

8. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the average maximum size of the particles of ground coffee is less than or equal to 1000 microns.

9. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a shape of the tablet includes one or more protrusions.

10. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a shape of the tablet includes one or more indentions.

11. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tablet comprises a first population of coffee particles having a first average density and a second population of coffee particles having a second average density and wherein an average density of the first and second populations differ by at least 0.1 g / cc.

12. The tablet of claim 11, wherein the first and second populations of coffee particles are each present in an amount of greater than or equal to 5 wt% of the tablet weight.

13. The tablet of any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the first and second populations of coffee particles are each present in an amount of less than or equal to 95 wt% of the tablet weight.

14. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tablet is configured to be pierced.

15. The tablet of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tablet is configured to be broken.

16. A beverage tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage, the beverage tablet comprising: a body comprising ground coffee comprising particles having an average maximum dimension of greater than or equal to 600 microns; anda coating surrounding the ground coffee, wherein less than or equal to 0.1 g of a material of the coating dissolves in 1000 g of water at 95 degrees C.

17. The tablet of claim 16, wherein the tablet is configured to be pierced.

18. The tablet of any one of claims 16 or 17, wherein the tablet is configured to be broken.

19. The tablet of any one of claims 16-18, wherein the coating does not disintegrate when contacted with water.

20. The tablet of any one of claims 16-19, wherein a pore size of the coating is smaller than the average maximum dimension of the ground coffee.

21. The tablet of any one of claims 16-20, wherein the average maximum dimension of the ground coffee is less than or equal to 1000 microns.

22. The tablet of any one of claims 16-21, wherein a pore size of the coating is smaller than the average minimum dimension of the ground coffee.

23. A method of preparing a tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage, the method comprising: compressing ground coffee only a single time into a body using a compressive stress of greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa to form the tablet.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the compressive stress is greater than or equal to 40 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the compressive stress is greater than or equal to 50 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa.

26. The method of any one of claims 23-25, further comprising coating the tablet.

27. The method of any one of claims 23-26, further comprising brewing a beverage using the tablet.

28. The method of any one of claims 23-27, wherein the body comprises a cylinder.

29. The method of any one of claims 23-28, wherein the body comprises an elliptical prism.

30. A method of preparing a tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage, the method comprising: filling a die or mold with a first population of ground coffee particles having a first average density and a second population of ground coffee particles having a second average density, the first and second average densities being different by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc; and compressing the ground coffee within the die or mold to form a tablet.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first and second average densities differ by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc.

32. The method of claim 30 or 31, wherein the first and second average densities differ by less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc.

33. The method of any one of claims 30-32, wherein compressing the ground coffee comprises using a compressive stress of greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa.

34. The method of any one of claims 30-33, further comprising mixing the first and second populations of particles.

35. A method of preparing a tablet for use with a beverage machine to form a beverage, the method comprising: forming a first population of ground coffee particles having a first average density using a first compressive stress; mixing the first population of ground coffee particles with a second population of ground coffee particles having a second average density to form a mixture of ground coffee, wherein the first average density is different than the second average density; and compressing the mixture of ground coffee using a second compressive stress to form a tablet, the second compressive stress being less than the first compressive stress.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second average densities differ by greater than or equal to 0.1 g / cc.

37. The method of claim 35 or 36, wherein the first and second average densities differ by less than or equal to 0.4 g / cc.

38. The method of any one of claims 35-37, wherein the first compressive stress is greater than or equal to 70 MPa and less than or equal to 85 MPa.

39. The method of any one of claims 35-38, wherein the second compressive stress is greater than or equal to 35 MPa and less than or equal to 65 MPa.

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