Coffee Brewer Bloom-Water Control for Balanced Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee brewing methods often result in under- or over-extracted coffee due to inadequate control over water quantity and contact time, leading to undesirable flavor profiles.
Innovation Solution
An automatic coffee maker with a reservoir, heater, brew basket, flow meter, and controller that presoaks ground coffee with a predetermined amount of 'bloom water' before completing the brewing cycle with a remaining amount of heated water, allowing for precise control of water volume and time based on the container size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed amount of water is used for brewing, then the brewing process is simple to operate, but the extraction quality deteriorates due to inability to optimize for different container sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the water quantity delivered to the brew chamber based on the detected container size. The controller modifies the brewing parameters in real-time according to the container configuration, transitioning from a fixed water amount to a variable water amount that optimizes extraction for each specific container type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the water quantity parameter according to the container size. Different container sizes (travel mug, mug, carafe, half-carafe) correspond to different predetermined water amounts, allowing the extraction quality to be optimized for each container type while maintaining ease of operation through automated parameter adjustment.
2Productivity
If water is delivered continuously during brewing, then the brewing cycle is short, but extraction quality deteriorates due to inadequate presoaking time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by delivering a first predetermined amount of water to presoak the coffee grounds before the main brewing phase. This presoaking step prepares the coffee for optimal extraction, and the controller is configured to deliver this initial water amount and then wait for a predetermined time period before delivering the remaining water.
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing process is segmented into distinct phases: a first phase where a predetermined amount of water is delivered and held for a predetermined time period for presoaking, and a second phase where the remaining water is delivered to complete brewing. This segmentation allows optimization of extraction quality while maintaining overall brewing efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more water is used for brewing, then the coffee strength can be adjusted for different containers, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts the water quantity parameter based on container size to optimize coffee strength. The controller is configured to deliver different predetermined amounts of water corresponding to different container sizes (travel mug, mug, carafe, half-carafe), allowing versatile coffee strength adjustment while minimizing water consumption by delivering only the necessary amount for each container type.
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 method ensures a balanced extraction of coffee solubles, producing coffee with a more pleasant taste by optimizing the ratio of bloom water to brew water and total brewing time, thereby achieving a desirable solubles yield between 18% and 22%.
Implementation Method 1
heating the predetermined amount of water with the heater to form a predetermined amount of heated water
Data Source
AI summary
Shown herein are methods and systems for brewing coffee. In one example, a method of brewing coffee includes delivering a predetermined amount of water from a reservoir to a heater, heating the predetermined amount of water with the heater to form heated water, delivering the predetermined amount of the heated water from the heater to a brew basket containing ground coffee, and soaking the ground coffee with the predetermined amount of the heated water for a predetermined period of time to enable the heated water delivered to the brew basket to presoak the ground coffee contained in brew basket prior delivering a remaining amount of water from to the quantity of water to the brew basket to complete the brewing cycle.