Coffee Grinder and Extraction System with RFID-Based Adaptive Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automatic coffee machines compromise on preparation quality and convenience by using a single grind size for all beverages and not adjusting to different coffee beans, lacking flexibility and requiring specific skills.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses main-devices communicating via accessory-devices to adjust parameters based on previous phase outputs, employing AI to replace Barista knowledge, allowing for different accessory-devices and multipack usage without single serve packaging, and incorporating RFID tags for coffee bean identification to adapt grind size and quantity for specific beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a single grind size is used for all beverages in fully automatic machines, then the operation is simplified and automation is improved, but the preparation quality deteriorates because different beverages require different grind sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The grinder is made dynamically adjustable through an electric motor-driven adjustment mechanism that can change grind size based on beverage type and coffee bean characteristics, transitioning from a static single-grind-size system to a dynamic multi-adjustable system
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the grinding parameter (grind size) based on detected coffee bean characteristics and beverage requirements, using sensors to detect bean properties and automatically adjusting the grinder settings to optimize extraction for each specific combination
2Device complexity
If the grinder adjustment is fixed for all beverages, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different coffee beans and beverages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of grind size by automatically detecting coffee bean characteristics through sensors and autonomously modifying grinder settings without requiring manual intervention or pre-programmed settings for different bean types
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical adjustment of the grinder is replaced with an automated electric motor-driven adjustment system controlled by a microprocessor that responds to sensor inputs about coffee bean properties
3Ease of operation
If fully automatic machines group all functions in a single machine, then convenience is improved and ease of operation is enhanced, but the preparation quality deteriorates due to inability to manually tamping and grinding
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect coffee bean characteristics and provide feedback to the control system, which then automatically adjusts grinding and extraction parameters to maintain high preparation quality while keeping the operation simple for the user
Solution Approach 2:
The machine performs self-adjustment of critical parameters such as grind size and extraction pressure based on detected coffee properties, eliminating the need for manual tamping and grinding skills while maintaining barista-level quality
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a grinding and extraction apparatus for roasted coffee beans comprising a grinding device (60) and an associated extraction device (70); the grinding device (60) comprising one or more housings for receiving one or more beans containers (10, 20) with roasted coffee beans of the same or different types; the grinding device (60) comprising a reader (62) to obtain the information of the product parameters of the roasted coffee beans of the one or more beans containers (10, 20); the grinding device (60) further comprising a control unit configured to adapt the grinding size and the quantity of roasted coffee beans for obtaining a certain coffee blend from each beans container to be grinded according to these product parameters and/or according to a recipes database (64) comprising the beverage information associated to the beverage to be prepared; the grinding device (60) further comprising an encoder (62) to encode the beverage information on programmable identification means (65) on a product holder (61) in the grinding device (60), to where the grinded coffee is sent; the extraction device (70) being configured for receiving the product holder (61) and comprising reading means (72) to identify the beverage information in the said product holder identification means (65), the extraction device (70) further comprising a control unit to extract the beverage according to the beverage information retrieved and/or from the beverage information retrieved from a beverage database in this control unit. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for grinding roasted coffee beans and preparing a beverage from them using a grinding and extraction apparatus as the one described, and also refers to the use of a grinding and extraction apparatus as the one described for delivering a certain beverage from roasted coffee beans.