Beverage Brewer Parameter Adjustment for Concentrated Iced Coffee
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage forming systems struggle to produce beverages that can be mixed with ice without dilution, resulting in a weakened taste, as they are typically designed to dispense beverages at hot or warm temperatures intended for direct consumption.
Innovation Solution
The system allows users to adjust brew parameters such as liquid volume, flow rate, and temperature in real-time to produce a concentrated beverage that can be diluted with ice to achieve the desired final volume and taste, by incorporating a control circuit that responds to user input for forming iced beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the beverage machine dispenses a hot or warm beverage at normal volume and flow rate, then the beverage is suitable for direct consumption, but the beverage becomes diluted and weak in taste when mixed with ice
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage machine dynamically adjusts brew parameters including liquid volume, flow rate, and temperature based on user selection between hot beverage mode and iced beverage mode. The control system modifies operational characteristics in real-time to optimize beverage concentration for the intended serving method.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the brewing process - reducing liquid volume and flow rate while adjusting temperature - to produce a more concentrated beverage suitable for iced preparation. These parameter modifications ensure the beverage maintains proper taste strength after dilution with ice.
2Reliability
If the beverage machine reduces liquid volume and flow rate to produce concentrated beverage for iced preparation, then the beverage maintains proper taste when mixed with ice, but the machine requires additional user input and parameter adjustment capability
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage machine's control circuit is designed to handle multiple brewing modes (hot beverage and iced beverage) through a unified system that responds to user input. The same hardware platform performs different functions by adjusting operational parameters, avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems for each beverage type.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms where user selection (iced vs. hot beverage) triggers appropriate parameter adjustments. The system monitors and responds to user input to automatically configure the brewing parameters, reducing the need for manual intervention while maintaining beverage quality.
3Productivity
If the beverage machine is designed for automated dispensing operation, then the dispensing process is efficient and consistent, but the machine cannot adapt to user preferences for iced beverages without additional controls
Solution Approach 1:
The automated dispensing system incorporates dynamic parameter adjustment capabilities that allow it to adapt between different beverage types (hot and iced) while maintaining efficient automated operation. The system transitions between modes based on user input without requiring manual reconfiguration, preserving both automation efficiency and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains automated dispensing efficiency by using pre-programmed parameter sets for different beverage types. When a user selects iced beverage mode, the system automatically adjusts volume, flow rate, and temperature parameters according to stored profiles, ensuring consistent and efficient operation across different beverage preparations.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage forming method and system arranged to allow a user to adjust a volume and flow rate of liquid provided to a brew chamber so that a dispensed beverage is suitable for mixing with ice, e.g., to form an iced coffee beverage. In some cases, a user may provide input indicating that an iced beverage should be dispensed during a beverage dispensing operation. For example, after a dispensing operation is started to dispense a beverage having a particular volume, a user can adjust the beverage volume to be smaller and suitable for mixing with ice.