Automated beverage preparation system and method using staged brewing

Abstract

An automated beverage preparation system and method are disclosed. The system includes a housing with a dispensing chamber, a reservoir, a pod holder configured to receive a beverage pod, a pump, a heating assembly, and a controller. The controller executes a staged brewing profile including a plurality of brew stages. Each brew stage includes a water delivery interval during which heated water is continuously delivered to the beverage pod and a dwell interval during which delivery is paused. Each brew stage is independently defined by a target heated water volume and a target dwell interval duration. The system may include a puncturing assembly, motors for actuating components, sensors for monitoring flow and temperature, and user interfaces or remote communication devices for configuring brewing parameters.

Description

Patent ApplicationofAshish Sudhir MitraforAUTOMATED BEVERAGE PREPARATION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING STAGED BREWING FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to systems for the preparation of hot beverages and, more particularly, to systems and methods for preparing coffee. More particularly still, the disclosure relates to automated systems configured to prepare a decoction suitable for South Indian filter coffee while preserving one or more taste, aroma, mouthfeel, and ritual characteristics associated with traditional slow-drip preparation.BACKGROUND

[0001] South Indian filter coffee, also referred to as kaapi, is traditionally prepared using a two-part metal filter in which hot water is introduced into an upper chamber containing ground coffee, often including chicory, and a brewed decoction is collected in a lower chamber. The decoction is then commonly combined with hot or boiled milk and, in many preparations, sugar. The resulting beverage is known for a bold yet smooth flavor profile, substantial body, and a frothy presentation obtained by pouring between serving vessels. The beverage accordingly differs in both preparation technique and sensory profile from many other coffee formats.

[0002] Other coffee systems are also widely used. Pour-over systems rely on a gravity-fed flow of hot water through a filter bed, French press systems steep coffee grounds and separate the beverage with a plunger, cold brew systems use prolonged immersion in cold water, and pod- or capsule-based machines frequently use pressurized water, puncturing structures, thermoblocks, programmable controllers, and machine-level service features. Conventional single-serve machines developed by major industry participants have introduced useful engineering features such as removable reservoirs, in-line heaters or thermoblocks, sensingand control systems, pod or capsule receptacles, cleaning cycles, and user interfaces, but such systems are generally directed to espresso-style extraction, capsule recognition, or other beverage formats rather than authentic South Indian filter-coffee decoction production.

[0003] Traditional South Indian filter coffee preparation remains labor-intensive. Water is separately heated to a desired temperature and poured into the filter assembly, after which a user waits for the decoction to slowly collect. Milk is also commonly heated or boiled in a separate vessel, often to a rolling boil, which can require supervision and can create inconvenience or safety concerns if boil-over occurs. The process is therefore timeconsuming, manually repetitive, and difficult to reproduce with consistency from brew to brew.

[0004] There is therefore a need for an improved system and method that automate the preparation of South Indian filter coffee, or at least an authentic decoction suitable for South Indian filter coffee, while preserving desired extraction characteristics associated with staged water delivery, controlled temperature, proper filtration, and repeatable brewing conditions. There is a further need for embodiments that improve convenience, cleanliness, serviceability, safety, and optional digital control without sacrificing the sensory qualities associated with traditional preparation.SUMMARY

[0005] The following summary describes certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below. The summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

[0006] In some embodiments, a beverage preparation system includes a housing including a dispensing chamber, a reservoir configured to store water, a pod holder configured to receive a beverage pod containing a beverage ingredient, a pump configured to convey water from the reservoir toward the dispensing chamber, and a heating assembly configured to heat the water prior to delivery to the dispensing chamber. The beverage preparation system further includes a plurality of fluid conduits extending from the reservoir to the pump, from the pump to the heating assembly, and from the heating assembly to the dispensing chamber. At least one controller is communicatively coupled with the pump and the heating assembly.

[0007] In some embodiments, the at least one controller is configured to control operation of the pump to deliver heated water to the beverage pod according to a staged brewing profile. The staged brewing profile includes a plurality of brew stages. Each brew stage includes a water delivery interval during which heated water is continuously delivered to the beverage pod and a dwell interval during which delivery of heated water to the beverage pod is paused. Each brew stage is independently defined by a target heated water volume to be delivered during a water delivery interval of the respective brew stage and a target duration of a dwell interval of the respective brew stage.

[0008] In some embodiments, the staged brewing profile includes between two and twelve brew stages, and in certain embodiments includes between three and five brew stages. In some embodiments, the target heated water volume is between 5 ml and 60 ml, and in certain embodiments between 10 ml and 30 ml. In some embodiments, the target duration of the dwell interval is between 30 seconds and 20 minutes, and in certain embodiments between 1 minute and 10 minutes.

[0009] In some embodiments, the dispensing chamber includes a puncturing assembly including one or more piercing members configured to pierce the beverage pod and introduce heated water into the beverage pod, and one or more fluid conduits of the plurality of fluid conduits extend from the heating assembly to the puncturing assembly. In certain embodiments, the puncturing assembly is configured to translate vertically toward the beverage pod during brewing and retract into the dispensing chamber after completion of brewing.

[0010] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes at least one motor configured to actuate one or more movable components of the beverage preparation system. The at least one motor may include a first motor configured to move the pod holder between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a second motor configured to move a puncturing assembly relative to the beverage pod. In certain embodiments, the beverage preparation system further includes a user interface configured to receive a user input to initiate movement of the pod holder between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

[0011] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes one or more sensors including at least a flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate of water delivered during at least water delivery intervals and at least a temperature sensor configured to measure watertemperature. In certain embodiments, the heating assembly is configured to heat water to a brewing temperature between 80°C and 100°C.

[0012] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system further includes a user interface configured to receive a user input to initiate the staged brewing profile. In certain embodiments, the staged brewing profile is configurable by a user through a user interface of the beverage preparation system or a software application executed on a remote communication device, the configuration including adjustment of a number of brew stages, a water volume delivered during a water delivery interval of each brew stage, and a duration of a dwell interval of each brew stage.

[0013] In some embodiments, the at least one controller is configured to initiate a flushing operation prior to execution of the staged brewing profile. In certain embodiments, the beverage preparation system is configured to wirelessly communicate with a software application executed on a remote communication device to receive instructions and brewing parameters. In some embodiments, the beverage pod contains ground coffee configured for preparation of a South Indian filter coffee decoction.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the at least one controller controls the pump intermittently to deliver heated water in discrete additions corresponding to a water delivery interval of each brew stage. In certain embodiments, the at least one controller is configured to control delivery of heated water to the beverage pod according to a volume- dependent and time-dependent delivery profile including multiple discrete water delivery intervals during which defined volumes of heated water are delivered, separated by dwell intervals during which heated water delivery is paused for defined durations of time. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system is configured to wirelessly communicate with another beverage preparation system to receive or provide instructions or information.

[0015] In another aspect, a method of preparing a brewed beverage using an automated beverage preparation system includes receiving a beverage pod containing a beverage ingredient within a pod holder of the beverage preparation system and heating water using a heating assembly of the beverage preparation system. The method further includes executing a staged brewing profile including a plurality of brew stages, wherein each brew stage includes a water delivery interval during which heated water is continuously delivered to the beverage pod and a dwell interval during which delivery of heated water to the beverage pod is paused. Each brew stage is independently defined by a target heated water volume to be deliveredduring a water delivery interval of the respective brew stage and a target duration of a dwell interval of the respective brew stage.

[0016] In some embodiments, the staged brewing profile includes between two and twelve brew stages. In some embodiments, the target heated water volume is between 5 ml and 60 ml, and in certain embodiments between 10 ml and 30 ml. In some embodiments, the target duration of the dwell interval is between 30 seconds and 20 minutes, and in certain embodiments between 1 minute and 10 minutes.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the method further includes piercing the beverage pod using a puncturing assembly including one or more piercing members and introducing heated water into the beverage pod through the one or more piercing members via at least one fluid conduit extending from the heating assembly to the puncturing assembly. In some embodiments, the method further includes translating the puncturing assembly vertically toward the beverage pod during brewing and retracting the puncturing assembly into the dispensing chamber after completion of the brewing process.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the method further includes actuating at least one motor to move one or more movable components of the beverage preparation system. Actuating the at least one motor may include moving the pod holder between an open configuration and a closed configuration using a first motor and moving a puncturing assembly relative to the beverage pod using a second motor. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a user input through a user interface to initiate movement of the pod holder between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further includes measuring a flow rate of water delivered during at least a brewing process using a flow sensor and measuring a temperature of water using a temperature sensor. In certain embodiments, the method further includes heating the water to a brewing temperature between 90°C and 100°C prior to delivery of the water to the beverage pod. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a user input through a user interface to initiate execution of the staged brewing profile. In certain embodiments, the method further includes configuring the staged brewing profile through a user interface of the beverage preparation system or a software application executed on a remote communication device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method further includes performing a flushing operation prior to execution of the staged brewing profile. In certain embodiments, the method further includes wirelessly communicating with a software application executed on a remotecommunication device to receive instructions and brewing parameters. In some embodiments, the beverage pod contains ground coffee configured for preparation of a South Indian filter coffee decoction. In certain embodiments, the method further includes intermittently operating the pump to deliver heated water in discrete additions corresponding to a water delivery interval of each brew stage. In certain embodiments, delivery of heated water to the beverage pod is controlled according to a volume-dependent and time-dependent delivery profile including multiple discrete water delivery intervals separated by dwell intervals during which heated water delivery is paused. In some embodiments, the method further includes wirelessly communicating with another beverage preparation system to receive or provide instructions or information.

[0021] Other aspects and embodiments may include variations, combinations, or subsets of the features described above, including embodiments in which certain features are omitted, substituted, or implemented differently, while still falling within the scope of the claims..BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate an example of a beverage preparation system, according to some embodiments.

[0023] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate internal components of the beverage preparation system, according to some embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the beverage preparation system and a software application of a communication device paired with the beverage preparation system, according to some embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method of preparing a brewed beverage using the beverage preparation system, according to some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The present inventions will now be described in detail with reference to a few embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present inventions. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art,that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps and / or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. Further, it should be emphasized that several inventive techniques are described, and embodiments are not limited to systems implanting all of those techniques, as various cost and engineering trade-offs may warrant systems that only afford a subset of the benefits described herein or that will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0027] The present disclosure provides systems, control logic, methods, and related apparatuses for automating the preparation of South Indian filter coffee and other filter-based hot beverages. In certain embodiments, the disclosed system is a compact countertop appliance configured to prepare a decoction that emulates, approximates, or reproduces extraction characteristics of a traditional South Indian coffee filter while reducing manual intervention.

[0028] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes a housing, a reservoir, a pump, a heating assembly, tubing or other fluid conduits, a dispensing chamber, a pod holder, at least one controller such as a microcontroller, at least one motor, one or more sensors, and a user interface. The components may be arranged for compact packaging, heat insulation, reduced vibration transmission, manufacturability, and ease of service.

[0029] The reservoir may be removable or refillable in place and may have a nominal capacity of approximately 1000 ml, although larger or smaller capacities may be used. In some embodiments, water is introduced into the reservoir by a user manually filling the reservoir. In other embodiments, water may be supplied to the reservoir through an external fluid supply line or other automatic filling arrangement. For example, a valve-controlled supply line may deliver water to the reservoir in response to detection of a user action such as closing the pod holder or initiating a brew cycle. Accordingly, the reservoir may be configured for manual filling, automatic filling, or a combination thereof.

[0030] A fluid path may extend from the reservoir to an inlet of the pump, from an outlet of the pump to the heating assembly, and from the heating assembly to the dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, the fluid path extends from the reservoir to the inlet of the pump, from the outlet of the pump to the heating assembly, and from the heating assembly to a puncturing assembly of the dispensing chamber. The fluid path may be formed by one or more conduits, such as tubing, pipes, channels, or equivalent fluid-carrying structures that fluidly connect the various components of the system. In some embodiments, flexible tubing is used to carrywater between the reservoir, pump, heating assembly, and dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, more than one conduit is used to carry water between two components. For example, a plurality of conduits may carry water from the heating assembly to the dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fluid path is insulated. For example, at least the portion of the fluid path between the heating assembly and the dispensing chamber is insulated to maintain a temperature of the water. One or more valves, check valves, flow restrictors, junctions, vents, seals, or disconnect fittings may be provided along the fluid path. In some embodiments, a valve is disposed at a bottom portion of the reservoir. The valve may be configured to remain in a closed state when the reservoir is not installed on the housing and to transition to an open state when the reservoir is positioned on the housing. In certain embodiments, positioning the reservoir on the housing causes a valve actuator disposed within the housing to mechanically engage the valve, thereby opening the valve and permitting water to flow from the reservoir to the pump. In some embodiments, the heating assembly is arranged upstream of the dispensing chamber so that water is heated before reaching a beverage pod (e.g., a coffee pod). In some other embodiments, the heating assembly is integrated with or adjacent to at least part of the dispensing chamber.

[0031] Components that contact water or other beverage liquids may be formed from materials suitable for food-contact applications. Such materials may include stainless steel, aluminum, copper, food-grade polymers, silicone, fluoropolymers, elastomers, or combinations thereof. For example, conduits forming the fluid path may include silicone tubing, PTFE tubing, or other flexible or rigid conduits capable of withstanding elevated temperatures and repeated thermal cycling. Selection of such materials may improve durability, maintain beverage quality, and facilitate cleaning or maintenance operations.

[0032] The heating assembly may include an instant heating coil, an in-line heater, a thermoblock, a boiler, a partially accumulated thermal mass, or combinations thereof. In exemplary embodiments, a thermoblock or in-line heating device heats water as the water traverses an internal passage, thereby allowing controlled delivery of heated water to the dispensing chamber with reduced standby volume. The heating assembly may be associated with one or more temperature sensors, thermal cutoffs, fuses, safety switches, or printed- circuit-board-mounted control electronics. The heating assembly may be configured to raise water to a brewing temperature of approximately 90 degrees Celsius to approximately 96 degrees Celsius, or to another selected temperature profile depending on the beverage ingredient and desired extraction.

[0033] The pump may be any suitable pump, including a vibration pump, diaphragm pump, gear pump, peristaltic pump, piston pump, or other liquid-moving device. Although some single-serve coffee machines employ high-pressure extraction, certain embodiments of the present disclosure intentionally operate at a lower pressure regime selected to emulate a gravity-driven or low-pressure decoction process rather than an espresso extraction process. The controller may therefore operate the pump intermittently, at reduced duty cycle, at controlled pulse widths, or according to other profiles that produce a desired flow rate, wetting pattern, and residence time through the beverage pod. In some embodiments, the pump and associated fluid conduits may include one or more priming features configured to remove air from the pump chamber or fluid path prior to or during operation. For example, a priming vent, bleed valve, or controlled pump cycle may be used to expel air from the pump chamber or fluid conduits to facilitate reliable liquid delivery during subsequent brewing operations.

[0034] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system further includes one or more pressure regulation components configured to maintain pressure within a desired operating range. Such components may include pressure relief valves, bypass valves, flow restrictors, pressure regulators, or combinations thereof positioned along the fluid path. These components may help prevent excessive pressure buildup within the fluid path, pump, heating assembly, or dispensing chamber and may contribute to safe and consistent beverage preparation.

[0035] In some embodiments, the at least one motor is configured to actuate one or more movable components of the system. In certain embodiments, the system includes two motors. A first motor may be configured to vertically translate a puncturing assembly comprising one or more piercing members. The puncturing assembly may be configured to move downward to puncture or pierce the beverage pod and feed water into the beverage pod using the one or more piercing members when a brewing operation is initiated. In this manner, the puncturing assembly may enable the introduction of heated water into the beverage pod. The puncturing assembly may be configured to move upward after completion of the brewing operation. A second motor may be configured to translate a pod holder between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the pod holder being configured to receive the beverage pod when in the open configuration and to position the beverage pod below the dispensing chamber when in the closed configuration. The motors may be communicatively coupled with the microcontroller such that actuation of the motors is controlled as part of an automated brewing cycle.

[0036] The dispensing chamber may include any of: a pod chamber, pod holder, receptacle, support basket, lid, puncturing assembly including one or more piercing members, inlet distributors, shower screens, manifolds, dispersion plates, sealing feature, docking feature, alignment feature, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the pod holder receives a beverage pod without requiring metallic capsules or high-pressure puncture-based extraction. In other embodiments, one or more piercing members, inlet distributors, shower screens, manifolds, or dispersion plates may be used to introduce water into the beverage pod in a distributed manner. In some embodiments, the puncturing assembly is housed within the dispensing chamber when a brewing process is not occurring and extends from the dispensing chamber during a brewing process. In some embodiments, the puncturing assembly is configured to puncture or pierce the beverage pod to permit introduction of heated water into the pod during brewing. The puncturing assembly may include one or more piercing members configured to penetrate a wall of the beverage pod when the brewing cycle is initiated. In certain embodiments, the puncturing assembly is fluidly connected to the heating assembly such that heated water produced by the heating assembly is delivered through the puncturing assembly and into the beverage pod via the one or more piercing members. A plurality of conduits may carry water from the heating assembly to the dispensing chamber such that water is evenly distributed across a cross-sectional area of the dispensing chamber or a component thereof. The one or more piercing members may comprise hollow piercing members, needles, spikes, blades, or other piercing structures configured to both puncture the pod and deliver heated water into an interior of the pod. In some embodiments, a plurality of piercing members may be arranged in a pattern to distribute water across a surface area of the beverage pod to promote uniform wetting of the coffee grounds contained therein. The puncturing assembly may further include one or more sealing features configured to engage the beverage pod and reduce leakage during the brewing operation. In certain embodiments, the puncturing assembly may be movable relative to the dispensing chamber such that the one or more piercing members are translated toward the beverage pod to perform the puncturing operation and retracted into the dispensing chamber after completion of the brewing cycle using the second motor of the at least one motor.

[0037] In some embodiments, the dispensing chamber further includes one or more sealing members configured to form a fluid seal around at least a portion of the beverage pod during brewing. The sealing members may include gaskets, elastomeric rings, compressible seals, or other sealing structures positioned to engage a rim, flange, sidewall, or other portion of thebeverage pod when the pod holder is closed. Formation of the seal may reduce leakage of heated water during brewing and may assist in directing water through the beverage medium contained within the pod. In certain embodiments, closure of the pod holder causes at least a portion of the beverage pod to be compressed between opposing support surfaces, thereby stabilizing the pod and promoting consistent extraction. For example, a rim of the beverage pod may be compressed between the housing and the pod holder.

[0038] The pod holder may be movable between an open configuration for receiving and removing a beverage pod and a closed configuration for brewing. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes an automatic pod holder configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration via actuation of the second motor of the at least one motor. The automatic pod holder may be actuated between the open configuration and the closed configuration by a user input, such as a button disposed on the housing of the system. The pod holder or dispensing chamber may further include a latch, cam, lever, sliding support, hinge, locking member, interlock sensor, gasket, or cup support. In some embodiments, the pod holder is in the form of a drawer that slides open and closed between the open configuration and the closed configuration of the pod holder.

[0039] The beverage pod may include a cup-shaped body made of paper, molded fiber, polymer, biopolymer, composite, or multilayer material. A filter medium may be located at a lower portion, side portion, upper portion, or intermediate partition of the pod. The pod may contain roasted and ground coffee and may contain enough beverage ingredient for a single serving, although the dose may vary. The grounds may be lightly compressed, tamped, or leveled. The beverage pod may be disposable, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or reusable. The pod may include one or more structural reinforcements, ribs, folds, sidewall geometries, collars, rims, flanges, reinforcing rings, support webs, or filter supports configured to resist collapse or deformation during brewing. The pod may further include one or more alignment structures, machine-readable identifiers, colors, optical codes, barcodes, RFID or NFC elements, magnetic markers, keyed features, or size differentiation structures so that a machine can identify, verify, or adapt a brew profile to the inserted pod.

[0040] As used herein, the terms beverage pod or pod, cartridge, capsule, sachet, insert, or other ingredient container may refer to any suitable structure configured to contain a beverage medium for preparation of a beverage in the beverage preparation system. Such a container may include opposed layers of filter paper encapsulating a beverage medium, a rigid or semirigid capsule, a sachet, or other arrangement. The container may be substantially impermeableto air and / or liquid prior to use, or may allow water or air to pass into the container during brewing. The beverage medium may include ground coffee, tea leaves, powdered beverage mixes, milk powders, concentrates, flavoring agents, nutraceutical materials, or other ingredients suitable for forming a beverage when contacted with water or another precursor liquid.

[0041] As used herein, the term “brewing” includes infusion, steeping, dissolving, mixing, extraction, or otherwise forming a drinkable beverage by contacting a beverage medium with a liquid. The liquid may include water or another beverage precursor such as filtered water, deionized water, softened water, flavored water, milk, or other suitable liquids. Accordingly, reference herein to “water” should be understood to include any suitable liquid used for beverage preparation unless the context requires otherwise.

[0042] The at least one controller may include any of a microcontroller, processor, control board, memory, communications circuitry, a power conversion module, and switching components such as one or more relays, transistors, solid-state relays, triacs, or driver circuits. The at least one controller may be communicatively coupled with the heating assembly, the pump, the one or more sensors, and the user interface. The at least one controller may execute one or more stored brew profiles, maintenance profiles, calibration routines, diagnostic routines, and connectivity routines. In some embodiments, the controller includes Bluetooth capability. In some embodiments, the at least one controller additionally or alternatively includes Wi-Fi capability, local networking capability, or compatibility with a mobile application. In some embodiments, the at least one controller includes two controllers, a first controller communicatively coupled with the heating assembly, the pump, the one or more sensors, and the user interface, and a second controller configured to convert AC to DC via the power conversion module.

[0043] The one or more sensors may include any of: a temperature sensor for measuring water temperature, a flow-rate sensor for measuring a flow rate of water, a pressure sensor for measuring pressure, a water-level sensor for detecting a volume or presence of water in the reservoir, a position sensor for detecting whether the pod holder is closed, a pod-presence sensor, a leak sensor, a conductivity sensor, a current sensor, or combinations thereof. Sensor data may be used by the at least one controller for closed-loop control of the heating assembly and pump, for safety shutdown, for maintenance warnings, and for completion detection. In some embodiments, the one or more sensors further include a container presence sensor configured to detect whether a cup, mug, tumbler, or other receptacle is positioned beneath anoutlet of the dispensing chamber. The controller may be configured to permit or initiate a brewing operation only when a receptacle is detected in a suitable position, thereby reducing the likelihood of unintended dispensing or spillage. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system may automatically initiate or prepare to initiate a brewing process upon detection of insertion of a beverage pod into the pod holder or detection of the pod holder in a closed configuration. A sensor configured to detect insertion or presence of the pod may trigger the controller to prepare the system for brewing, such as by initiating heating of water, performing system checks, or beginning a brewing operation according to stored default parameters.

[0044] In some embodiments, the user interface includes one or more physical buttons, one or more dials, one or more indicators such as lights, a buzzer or speaker, and / or a digital display or touchscreen. User-selectable parameters may include brew initiation, brew strength, brew duration, brew volume, flush duration, flush initiation, cleaning cycle initiation, descaling cycle initiation, pump calibration, wireless pairing, saving settings, restoring default settings, or scheduling one or more future brews. A visual, audible, or haptic brew-completion notification may be generated by the system and / or by a remote communication device (e.g., mobile phone).

[0045] In some embodiments, the controller may store historical brewing parameters and determine default brewing settings based on previously selected user preferences. For example, the controller may record a plurality of previously used staged brewing profiles, number of brew stages, water delivery interval volume of brew stages, dwell interval duration of brew stages, or other brewing parameters and compute a default value based on a most frequently selected value or another statistical measure derived from stored usage data. Such data may be stored in non-volatile memory so that user preferences remain available even when the machine is powered off.

[0046] In certain embodiments, a remote software application executable on a communication device such as a smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or other computing device is wirelessly communicatively connected with the beverage preparation system. The software application may receive user inputs representing an instruction to any of: brew, turn the system on, turn the system off, open the pod holder, close the pod holder, calibrate the pump, connect with a mobile device, implement one or more settings, implement a brew profile, save settings, initiate flushing, initiate cleaning, initiate descaling, or establish a brew schedule. Thesoftware application may also display any of: system status, brew settings, a brew profile, maintenance reminders, water status, pod status, and historical usage data.

[0047] In some embodiments, one or more brewing profiles, including staged brewing profiles, may be stored locally within memory of the beverage preparation system or received from an external computing device. For example, brewing profiles may be transmitted to the beverage preparation system through a wired or wireless communication interface from a remote communication device or remote server. Such brewing profiles may include updated brewing parameters, newly defined beverage programs, firmware updates, or customized brewing settings. In certain embodiments, the beverage preparation system may store multiple brewing profiles and selectively execute one of the brewing profiles based on user selection, beverage pod identification, or instructions received from a software application executed on a remote communication device.

[0048] The staged brewing profile may be selected to approximate traditional decoction formation. In some embodiments, the stage brewing profile includes a plurality of brew stages, each brew stage include a water delivery interval during which heated water is continuously delivered to the beverage pod and a dwell interval during which delivery of heated water to the beverage pod is paused. Each brew stage may be independently defined by a target heated water volume to be delivered during the respective brew stage and a target dwell interval duration of the respective brew stage In some embodiments, the staged brewing profile includes between two to twelve brew stages. In one exemplary implementation, the staged brewing profile includes four brew stages, wherein a first water delivery of a first quantity is delivered substantially immediately after brew initiation, after which a first dwell interval of a first duration is executed, a second water delivery of a second quantity is delivered after the first dwell interval, after which a second dwell interval of a second duration is executed, a third water delivery of a third quantity is delivered after the second dwell interval, after which a third dwell interval of a third duration is executed, and a fourth water delivery of a fourth quantity is delivered after the third dwell interval, after which a fourth dwell interval of a fourth duration is executed, upon which the coffee is ready for consumption. Different water quantities (e.g., 5-60 ml), water temperatures (e.g., 90-100 degrees Celsius), dwell interval durations (e.g., 30 seconds-20 minutes), and number of brew stages (e.g., 2-12 brew stages) may be used in other embodiments. As used herein, a “water delivery interval” refers to a period of controlled water delivery to a beverage ingredient during execution of a brewing profile. A water delivery interval may include continuous delivery of water, pulsed deliveryof water, or delivery of water according to any other controlled flow pattern over a period of time. Accordingly, a water delivery interval should be understood to encompass delivery of water through operation of a pump, gravity-assisted flow, or any combination thereof. Likewise, a “dwell interval” refers to a period during which delivery of water to the beverage ingredient is reduced or paused to permit infusion, extraction, or settling prior to initiation of a subsequent brew stage. A ‘brewing process’ or ‘brewing’ may be understood to occur between the start of a first brewing stage (i.e., the start of a water delivery interval of the first brewing stage) and an end of the last brewing stage (i.e., the end of a dwell interval of the last brewing stage).

[0049] In certain embodiments, the staged brewing profile described herein is selected to emulate extraction behavior associated with traditional slow-drip coffee filtration while maintaining repeatability in an automated system. The combination of independently controlled water delivery interval volumes, dwell interval durations, and number of brew stages may influence wetting, extraction kinetics, and flow resistance within the beverage medium. For example, introducing water in discrete stages separated by dwell intervals may allow the beverage ingredient to hydrate, expand, and release soluble compounds in a manner that differs from continuous-flow extraction. Accordingly, the staged brewing profile may produce beverage characteristics that are not achievable through simple continuous pumping or single-stage infusion processes.

[0050] The controller may implement a pre-brew flushing routine to clear residual water from tubing, the pump, and / or the heating assembly. In certain embodiments, a flushing operation (e.g., of approximately 3 seconds) is performed to remove water remaining in the fluid path at a lower temperature (e.g., below about 90 degrees Celsius) and replace such water with water at or above a desired brewing temperature. Such flushing may help ensure that an initial quantity of water supplied to the beverage pod is already within a desired extraction temperature range.

[0051] The controller may further implement a calibration routine for the pump. During calibration, sensor data from a flow-rate sensor and optionally other sensors may be used to determine an actual delivered flow rate, volume per unit time, and / or pump efficiency. The controller may then adjust timing, duty cycle, pulse count, or other actuation parameters to bring actual delivered volume into closer correspondence with target values. Calibration values may be stored in memory and reused in subsequent brew cycles.

[0052] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system further includes a collection area for receiving brewed decoction, such as a cup platform, cup stand, removable drip tray, drop collector, or vessel support configured to position a cup, tumbler, dabarah, carafe, or other receptacle beneath an outlet from the dispensing chamber. The cup support may be fixed, sliding, removable, vertically adjustable, or foldable. The beverage preparation system may further include splash management features, anti-drip structures, and drainage paths that route residual liquid to a drip tray or collection reservoir.

[0053] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system includes a used-pod receptacle or ejection path. After brewing, the pod may be manually removed or automatically displaced into a collector. The collector may be removable for cleaning and disposal of used pods. Where reusable pods are employed, the machine may facilitate easy access for cleaning and refilling. Serviceability features may include modular subassemblies, removable panels, accessible fluid connections, replaceable heaters, removable reservoirs, user-replaceable filters, guided service units, and machine diagnostics. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system may be constructed from a plurality of modular subassemblies configured to facilitate manufacturing, assembly, servicing, and replacement of components. For example, the pump, heating assembly, controller assembly, dispensing chamber assembly, reservoir assembly, and fluid conduit assemblies may each be provided as separate modules that are installed within the housing during manufacture. Such modules may be connected using mechanical fasteners, snap-fit structures, brackets, or other coupling features and may include electrical connectors or fluid connectors configured for rapid assembly or replacement. Modular construction may permit simplified manufacturing processes, improved reliability, and easier servicing or upgrading of the beverage preparation system.

[0054] The beverage preparation system may further include maintenance and hygiene features. For example, the controller may run a cleaning cycle in which water and optionally a cleaning composition are circulated through at least part of the fluid path while preventing dispensing during an unsafe state. A descaling cycle may be provided to address mineral buildup. One or more maintenance reminders may be generated based on cycle count, sensed flow restriction, temperature deviation, elapsed time, or user selection.

[0055] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system further includes a milkprocessing subsystem configured to heat milk, boil milk, froth milk, or otherwise prepare milk for combination with the brewed coffee decoction. The milk-processing subsystem may include a dedicated vessel, a removable milk container, an induction heater, a resistive heater,a steam generator, an air injection assembly, an impeller, a whisk, a nozzle, a venturi device, or combinations thereof. In certain implementations, the controller coordinates operation of the decoction-preparation subsystem and the milk-processing subsystem so that a user can obtain a substantially ready-to-consume South Indian filter coffee beverage with reduced manual handling.

[0056] In some embodiments, the beverage preparation system is configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more external electronic devices, including but not limited to another beverage preparation system, a dedicated appliance, or a general-purpose computing device. Such communication may be facilitated through any suitable wired or wireless communication protocol, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other short-range or long-range communication technologies. In certain embodiments, the beverage preparation system may transmit or receive control signals, status information, or operational instructions to coordinate operation with the one or more external electronic devices. For example, the beverage preparation system may be configured to transmit a signal to a separate appliance configured to heat or boil milk, such that the separate appliance initiates a milk heating process during execution of a staged brewing profile. In this manner, preparation of a brewed beverage and a complementary beverage component may be synchronized so that both are completed at approximately the same time. In some embodiments, such coordination may be based on predefined timing relationships, user-defined preferences, or dynamically determined parameters associated with the brewing process.

[0057] In some embodiments, one or more safety features are provided. By way of example only, the controller may prevent brewing when the pod holder is open, when no pod is detected, when the reservoir water level is below a threshold, when a thermal fault is detected, when an overpressure condition is detected, or when a cleaning cycle is active. The beverage preparation system may also include child-lock functionality, timeout functionality, dry-run prevention, overflow prevention, electrical isolation, grounding, thermal insulation, and vibration-damping structures for the pump and / or reservoir.

[0058] The beverage preparation system may be configured to prepare South Indian filter coffee specifically, but the disclosed concepts may also be used with other filter-based beverages, including chicory-containing beverages, coffee blends of varying roast levels, tea, herbal infusions, or other beverage ingredients. Likewise, while a pod-based embodiment is advantageous for convenience and dosing repeatability, the pod holder may alternatively receive loose grounds in a reusable basket, cartridge, or insert.

[0059] Embodiments described herein may combine features associated with traditional gravity brewing and features associated with modern automated beverage machines. For example, the system may use an in-line heater, sensors, digital control, scheduling, cleaning cycles, pod detection, drip management, or serviceability features, while still executing a staged, dwell-based, relatively low-pressure or gravity-based extraction profile designed to emulate traditional South Indian filter-coffee decoction production rather than espresso extraction.

[0060] FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate an example of a beverage preparation system including: a housing 100 including a dispensing chamber 101; a pod holder 102 configured to receive a pod 103 and transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration; a detachable reservoir 104; a first button 105; a second button 106; and a drip tray 107 with a coffee mug 108 positioned on top. FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate the pod holder 102 in the closed configuration and the reservoir 104 attached to the housing 100. FIG. ID illustrates the pod holder 102 in the open configuration and the reservoir 104 detached from the housing 100. Pressing the first button 105 initiates a brew process. Pressing the second button 106 causes the pod holder 102 to transition from the closed configuration to the open configuration or vice versa depending on a current position of the pod holder 102. FIGS. 1E-1H illustrate the beverage preparation system without the pod 103.

[0061] FIGS . 2A-2D further illustrate internal components of the beverage preparation system including: a pump 109; a heating assembly 110; a flow meter 111; a power inlet 112; a first controller 113 connected to the power inlet 112 for converting AC to DC; a first motor 114 for transitioning the pod holder 102 from the closed configuration to the open configuration or vice versa depending on a current position of the pod holder 102; a puncturing assembly 115 including a plurality of piercing members 116; a second motor 117 configured to translate the puncturing assembly 115 vertically downwards upon initiation of a brew process, the plurality of piercing members 116 piercing the beverage pod 103, and vertically upwards after completing the brewing process; and a second controller 118 communicatively connected with the first button 105, the second button 106, the pump 109, the heating assembly 110, the flow meter 11 , the first motor 114, and the second motor 117. The reservoir 104 includes a valve 119 disposed at a bottom portion of the reservoir 104. The valve may be configured to remain in a closed state when the reservoir 104 is not installed on the housing 100 and to transition to an open state when the reservoir 104 is positioned on the housing 100. Tubing or other fluidconduits are not shown so as to not obstruct other components of the beverage preparation system.

[0062] To operate the beverage preparation system illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1H and 2A-2D, the second button 106 is pressed, triggering the second controller 118 to actuate the first motor 114 such that the pod holder 102 transitions from the closed configuration to the open configuration. A beverage pod, such as the pod 103, is positioned within the pod holder 102. The second button 106 is pressed again, triggering the second controller 118 to actuate the first motor 114 such that the pod holder 102 transitions from the open configuration to the closed configuration. With the pod 103 loaded, the first button 105 is pressed, initiating the brewing process. Upon initiating the brewing process, the second controller 118 actuates the second motor 117 such that the puncturing assembly 115 translates vertically downward and the plurality of piercing members 116 pierce through the pod 103.

[0063] When the pump 109 is actuated by the second controller 118, the pump 109 causes water to flow from the reservoir 104 to an inlet of the pump 109, from an outlet of the pump 109 to the heating assembly 110, from the heating assembly 110 to the puncturing assembly 115, and from the puncturing assembly 115 to the pod 103 via the plurality of piercing member 116. The heating assembly 110 is configured to receive water from the pump 109 and raise the temperature of the water to a target brewing temperature prior to delivery of the heated water to the puncturing assembly 115.

[0064] During the brewing process, the second controller 118 actuates the pump 109 according to a brewing profile. For example, the pump 109 may be actuated such that a first water addition of a first quantity is delivered to the pod 103 substantially immediately after brew initiation, a second water addition of a second quantity is delivered to the pod 103 after a first dwell interval, a third water addition of a third quantity is delivered to the pod 103 after a second dwell interval, and so on. Different water quantities, dwell interval durations, and number of water additions and dwell intervals may be used in various embodiments.

[0065] Upon completion of the brewing process, the second controller 118 actuates the second motor 117 such that the puncturing assembly 115 and the plurality of piercing members 116 translate vertically upwards until fully retracted within the dispensing chamber 101. The second button 106 may be pressed, triggering the second controller 118 to actuate the first motor 114 such that the pod holder 102 transitions from the closed configuration to the open configuration. The pod 103 may be removed from the pod holder 102. The second button 106is pressed again, triggering the second controller 118 to actuate the first motor 114 such that the pod holder 102 transitions from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates the beverage preparation system illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1H and 2A- 2D and a software application 300 of a communication device 301 wirelessly paired with the beverage preparation system. The software application may. be configured to receive user input designating instructions and settings as described herein and may display information as described herein. In this particular example, the software application 300 displays a status 302 of the system and modifiable brew settings 303 (number of brew stages, a duration of a dwell interval of each brew stage, a quantity of water to dispense during a water delivery interval of each brew stage). The software application 300 is configured to receive user input to initiate a brew process 304, pump calibration 305, flushing 306.

[0067] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method of preparing a brewed beverage using the beverage preparation system described herein, including: (400) receiving the beverage pod within the pod holder of the beverage preparation system; (401) heating water using the heating assembly of the beverage preparation system; and (402) executing a staged brewing profile including: delivering a defined volume of heated water to the beverage pod during a water delivery interval of each brew stage of a plurality of brew stages; and pausing water delivery for a defined duration during a dwell interval of each brew stage of the plurality of brew stages, the volume of heated water and dwell interval during of each brew stage being independently defined.

[0068] Although various embodiments have been described primarily in connection with a beverage preparation system, it should be understood that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may also be embodied in the form of methods, processes, control logic, and instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. For example, the controller described herein may execute program instructions stored in memory that cause one or more processors to control operation of components of the beverage preparation system, including but not limited to the pump, heating assembly, motors, sensors, and user interface, in order to implement the staged brewing profiles and other operations described herein. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented as a beverage preparation system configured to execute such instructions, as a method of operating a beverage preparation system, or as a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the beverage preparation system to perform one or more of the operations described herein. In certain embodiments, such instructions may beexecuted locally by the beverage preparation system, transmitted from a remote computing device, or updated via firmware or software updates communicated through a wired or wireless network. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include any suitable storage medium such as flash memory, EEPROM, ROM, RAM, magnetic storage, optical storage, or other machine-readable storage media.

[0069] It will be understood that dimensions, temperatures, times, masses, materials, and other numerical values set forth herein are exemplary and may be varied. Where ranges are recited, endpoints are included unless expressly stated otherwise. The terms ‘about’, ‘approximately’ and ‘substantially’ account for practical tolerances, manufacturing variation, and measurement variation consistent with the relevant context.

[0070] As used herein, relational terms such as upper, lower, upstream, downstream, vertical, horizontal, inward, and outward are used for convenience of description with reference to example orientations and are not intended to require a particular orientation unless expressly stated. Likewise, the terms pod, capsule, cartridge, insert, receptacle, and holder may overlap in certain contexts and should be interpreted in view of the surrounding disclosure.

[0071] It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein are presented by way of example, and that numerous variations, modifications, or combinations of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In some instances, certain features of one embodiment may be used in combination with features of another embodiment, or multiple embodiments may be integrated together to achieve a desired result. Additionally, certain elements or steps of the described embodiments may be omitted, substituted, or altered depending on the specific implementation or application.

[0072] In various embodiments, certain components, methods, or functionalities described herein may be modified or adapted to fit specific use cases or design constraints. These modifications may be made in view of particular user requirements, environmental conditions, or regulatory considerations.

[0073] Alternative configurations of the embodiments described herein are also possible. In some cases, a particular feature described with reference to one embodiment may be utilized in other embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned. Similarly, the order of steps in a process / method or the arrangement of components in a system or apparatus may be altered, provided that the underlying principles of the invention are maintained.

[0074] While particular embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that alternative embodiments may be employed in place of the specifically described forms. Insome cases, specific components may be replaced with functionally equivalent alternatives, and in others, operational steps may be rearranged or omitted, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A beverage preparation system, comprising:a housing comprising a dispensing chamber;a reservoir configured to store water;a pod holder configured to receive a beverage pod containing a beverage ingredient;a pump configured to convey water from the reservoir toward the dispensing chamber;a heating assembly configured to heat the water prior to delivery to the dispensing chamber;a plurality of fluid conduits extending from the reservoir to the pump, from the pump to the heating assembly, and from the heating assembly to a dispensing chamber ; andat least one controller communicatively coupled with the pump and the heating assembly;wherein:the at least one controller is configured to control operation of the pump to deliver heated water to the beverage pod according to a staged brewing profile;the staged brewing profile comprises a plurality of brew stages; each brew stage comprises a water delivery interval during which heated water is continuously delivered to the beverage pod and a dwell interval during which delivery of heated water to the beverage pod is paused; and each brew stage is independently defined by a target heated water volume to be delivered during a water delivery interval of the respective brew stage and a target duration of a dwell interval of the respective brew stage.

2. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the staged brewing profile comprises between two and twelve brew stages.

3. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the staged brewing profile comprises between three and five brew stages.

4. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the target heated water volume is between 5 ml to 60 ml.

5. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the target heated water volume is between 10 ml and 30 ml.

6. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the target duration of the dwell interval is between 30 seconds to 20 minutes.

7. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the target duration of the dwell interval is between 1 minute and 10 minutes.

8. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein:the dispensing chamber comprises a puncturing assembly comprising one or more piercing members configured to pierce the beverage pod and introduce heated water into the beverage pod; andone or more fluid conduits of the plurality of fluid conduits extends from the heating assembly to the puncturing assembly.

9. The beverage preparation system of claim 8, wherein the puncturing assembly is configured to translate vertically toward the beverage pod during brewing and retract into the dispensing chamber after completion of the brewing.

10. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, further comprising at least one motor configured to actuate one or more movable components of the beverage preparation system.

11. The beverage preparation system of claim 10, wherein the at least one motor comprises:a first motor configured to move the pod holder between an open configuration and a closed configuration; anda second motor configured to move a puncturing assembly relative to the beverage pod.

12. The beverage preparation system of claim 11, wherein the beverage preparation system further comprises a user interface configured to receive a user input to initiate movement of the pod holder between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

13. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors comprising at least a flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate of water delivered during at least water delivery intervals.

14. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors comprising at least a temperature sensor configured to measure water temperature.

15. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the heating assembly is configured to heat water to a brewing temperature between 80°C and 100°C.

16. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the beverage preparation system further comprises a user interface configured to receive a user input to initiate the staged brewing profile.

17. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the staged brewing profile is configurable by a user through a user interface of the beverage preparation system or a software application executed on a remote communication device, the configuration comprising an adjustment of: a number of brew stages; a water volume delivered during a water delivery interval of each brew stage; and a duration of a dwell interval of each brew stage.

18. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to initiate a flushing operation prior to execution of the staged brewing profile.

19. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the beverage preparation system is configured to wirelessly communicate with a software application executed on a remote communication device to receive instructions and brewing parameters.

20. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the beverage pod contains ground coffee configured for preparation of a South Indian filter coffee decoction.

21. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller controls the pump intermittently to deliver heated water in discrete additions corresponding to a water delivery interval of each brew stage of the plurality of brew stages.

22. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control delivery of heated water to the beverage pod according to a volume-dependent and time-dependent delivery profile comprising multiple discrete water delivery intervals during which defined volumes of heated water are delivered separated by dwell intervals during which heated water delivery is paused for defined durations of time.

23. The beverage preparation system of claim 1, wherein the beverage preparation system is configured to wirelessly communicate with another beverage preparation system to receive or provide instructions or information.

24. A method of preparing a brewed beverage using an automated beverage preparation system, comprising:receiving a beverage pod containing a beverage ingredient within a pod holder of the beverage preparation system;heating water using a heating assembly of the beverage preparation system; executing a staged brewing profile comprising a plurality of brew stages, wherein:each brew stage comprises a water delivery interval during which heated water is continuously delivered to the beverage pod and a dwell interval during which delivery of heated water to the beverage pod is paused; and each brew stage is independently defined by a target heated water volume to be delivered during a water delivery interval of the respective brew stage and a target duration of a dwell interval of the respective brew stage.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the staged brewing profile comprises between two and twelve brew stages.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the target heated water volume is between 5 ml to 60 ml.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the target heated water volume is between 10 ml and 30 ml.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the target duration of the dwell interval is between 30 seconds and 20 minutes.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the target duration of the dwell interval is between 1 minute and 10 minutes.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:piercing the beverage pod using a puncturing assembly comprising one or more piercing members; andintroducing heated water into the beverage pod through the one or more piercing members via at least one fluid conduit extending from the heating assembly to the puncturing assembly.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising translating the puncturing assembly vertically toward the beverage pod during brewing and retracting the puncturing assembly into the dispensing chamber after completion of the brewing process.

32. The method of claim 24, further comprising actuating at least one motor to move one or more movable components of the beverage preparation system.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein actuating the at least one motor comprises: moving the pod holder between an open configuration and a closed configuration using a first motor; andmoving a puncturing assembly relative to the beverage pod using a second motor.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving a user input through a user interface to initiate movement of the pod holder between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

35. The method of claim 24, further comprising measuring a flow rate of water delivered during at least a brewing process using a flow sensor.

36. The method of claim 24, further comprising measuring a temperature of water using a temperature sensor.

37. The method of claim 24, further comprising heating the water to a brewing temperature between 90°C and 100°C prior to delivery of the water to the beverage pod.

38. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving a user input through a user interface to initiate execution of the staged brewing profile.

39. The method of claim 24, further comprising configuring the staged brewing profile through a user interface of the beverage preparation system or a software application executed on a remote communication device, the configuration including adjustment of:a number of brew stages;a water volume delivered during a water delivery interval of each brew stage; and a duration of a dwell interval of each brew stage.

40. The method of claim 24, further comprising performing a flushing operation prior to execution of the staged brewing profile.

41. The method of claim 24, further comprising wirelessly communicating with a software application executed on a remote communication device to receive instructions and brewing parameters.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein the beverage pod contains ground coffee configured for preparation of a South Indian filter coffee decoction.

43. The method of claim 24, further comprising intermittently operating the pump to deliver heated water in discrete additions corresponding to a water delivery interval of each brew stage of the plurality of brew stages.

44. The method of claim 24, further comprising controlling delivery of water to the beverage pod according to a volume-dependents and a time-dependent delivery profile comprising multiple discrete water delivery intervals during which defined volumes of heated water are delivered separated by dwell intervals during which heated water delivery is paused for defined durations of time .

45. The method of claim 24, further comprising wirelessly communicating with another beverage preparation system to receive or provide instructions or information.

Images