Automatic brewing element for a coffee machine, coffee machine and method for preparing a coffee preparation type
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee brewing groups face issues with uneven pressure distribution and suboptimal extraction due to a mismatched diameter-height ratio of the coffee cake, leading to bitter flavors and inconsistent coffee quality, especially when brewing larger amounts of coffee.
Innovation Solution
An automatic brewing unit with a tubular housing and an adjustable brewing chamber that can change its diameter and height to maintain a constant ratio, allowing for optimal extraction and flexibility in coffee preparation, using a control device to set the target diameter based on the user-set coffee amount and an adjusting device that adjusts the brewing chamber's diameter and height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the brewing chamber height is increased to accommodate larger amounts of ground coffee, then the coffee cake thickness increases, but the pressure distribution becomes uneven and extraction quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber diameter is made dynamically adjustable through an adjusting device with movable adjustment elements that can change the chamber diameter during operation. This allows the system to adapt to different coffee amounts while maintaining optimal pressure distribution and extraction conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the brewing chamber by adjusting its diameter based on the amount of ground coffee. This parameter adjustment ensures that the diameter-height ratio remains optimal for extraction, preventing uneven pressure distribution even when coffee quantity varies.
2Quantity of substance
If the brewing chamber diameter is increased to accommodate more ground coffee, then the coffee cake volume increases, but the diameter-height ratio becomes mismatched leading to bitter extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber diameter is made dynamically adjustable through an adjusting device with movable adjustment elements that can change the chamber diameter during operation. This allows the system to adapt to different coffee amounts while maintaining optimal pressure distribution and extraction conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the brewing chamber by adjusting its diameter based on the amount of ground coffee. This parameter adjustment ensures that the diameter-height ratio remains optimal for extraction, preventing uneven pressure distribution even when coffee quantity varies.
3Device complexity
If a fixed brewing chamber design is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different coffee amounts leading to inconsistent coffee quality
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber diameter is made dynamically adjustable through an adjusting device with movable adjustment elements that can change the chamber diameter during operation. This allows the system to adapt to different coffee amounts while maintaining optimal pressure distribution and extraction conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting device enables the brewing chamber to serve multiple functions by accommodating different coffee amounts and maintaining optimal extraction conditions for various coffee preparation types, making the system universally applicable.
4Quantity of substance
If the brewing chamber height is increased for larger coffee portions, then the liquid flow distance increases, but water pressure requirements increase and bitter substances are absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the brewing chamber by adjusting its diameter based on the amount of ground coffee. This parameter adjustment ensures that the diameter-height ratio remains optimal for extraction, preventing uneven pressure distribution even when coffee quantity varies.
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
Ensures consistent and authentic coffee taste across various coffee strengths and volumes, is cost-effective, and saves space, while maintaining a robust and low-maintenance design.
Implementation Method 1
The ground coffee is compressed within the brewing chamber and using a plunger and thus pressed into a coffee cake
Implementation Method 2
A desired amount of water is pressed by a pump into the brewing chamber with the coffee cake and, after flowing through the coffee cake
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an automatic brewing unit for a coffee machine for preparing a type of coffee, comprising a tubular housing in which at least a first piston is axially movable to form a brewing chamber for receiving ground coffee and brewing the coffee beverage, and an adjustment device designed to variably change the diameter of the brewing chamber. The present invention further relates to a coffee machine and a method for preparing a type of coffee.