Coffee Bed Extraction Control for Single-Cup Strength Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Single-cup brewing devices lack the ability to control the strength of brewed coffee, as they typically use prepackaged pods with predetermined amounts of coffee and fixed water volumes, limiting consumers' options for mild or strong beverages.

Innovation Solution

A pseudo packed bed of extractable beverage material is created, allowing for controlled liquid extraction streams to contact the material at varying depths and coverage areas, establishing zones of minimum and maximum extraction to adjust the beverage strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If prepackaged pods with predetermined coffee amounts are used, then brewing convenience is improved, but beverage strength control capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrewing convenienceVSAvoidbeverage strength control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid distribution system creates zones of different extraction intensity within the coffee bed. By controlling which portions of the coffee receive liquid contact and at what intensity, the system enables strength variation while maintaining the convenience of prepackaged pods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static, fixed-strength brewing to dynamic, adjustable-strength brewing. The liquid distribution system can be adjusted during brewing to vary the coverage area and depth, allowing consumers to control beverage strength while using convenient prepackaged pods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If fixed water volume is used for brewing, then brewing simplicity is improved, but beverage strength customization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrewing simplicityVSAvoidbeverage strength customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows adjustment of brewing parameters (liquid volume, distribution depth, coverage area) without complicating the overall brewing process. Consumers can select strength preferences that automatically adjust these parameters, maintaining simplicity while enabling customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables consumers to customize the strength of their coffee by altering the depth and coverage area of the liquid extraction stream, resulting in fully extracted, balanced beverages that meet individual taste preferences without compromising convenience.

Implementation Method 1

contacting at least one liquid extraction stream with the pseudo packed bed of extractable beverage material to obtain at least one zone of minimum extraction and at least one zone of maximum extraction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtraction: Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Data Source

PatentUS7815955B2Processes for controlling the strength of an extractable beverage

Publication Date: 2010.10.19 FOLGER COFFEE CO

AI summary

Processes for controlling strength of an extracted beverage including providing a pseudo packed bed of an extractable beverage material and contacting at least one liquid extraction stream with the pseudo packed bed of beverage material at a selected depth to obtain at least one zone of minimum extraction and at least one zone of maximum extraction. As the depth at which the liquid extraction stream is introduced into the pseudo packed bed increases, the zone of minimum extraction increases and the zone of maximum extraction decreases.