Coffee machine and method for operating a coffee machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines struggle to reproducibly adjust coffee strength, often resulting in uneven wetting of ground coffee and increased bitterness due to complex liquid distribution systems and limited control over water flow.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a controllable selector switch and outlet device featuring a central outlet opening and multiple outer outlet openings, allowing for adjustable water flow to ensure uniform wetting and reduced bitterness across various brew strengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex liquid distribution system with multiple outlet openings is used to adjust coffee strength, then coffee strength can be adjusted, but the structure becomes complex and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid distribution system is segmented into a central outlet opening and multiple outer outlet openings arranged in a circular pattern. This segmentation allows selective activation of different outlet groups to achieve various coffee strengths while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is easier to manufacture and maintain compared to complex multi-position actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet device with multiple outlet openings serves multiple functions: it can distribute water to different regions of the coffee bed (central vs. outer areas) to control extraction and coffee strength, while also ensuring uniform wetting distribution. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If only the central outlet opening is supplied with liquid for strong coffee, then coffee strength increases, but the outer region is poorly wetted and bitterness increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the coffee bed receive different water distribution patterns. The central outlet opening provides concentrated water flow for strong extraction in the center, while the outer outlet openings provide water distribution to the peripheral regions. This local quality differentiation ensures that both central and outer coffee regions are properly wetted, preventing bitterness while maintaining the desired coffee strength.
3Area of stationary object
If outlet openings are arranged on peripheral lines to match filter vessel contour, then water distribution coverage improves, but intermediate position setting becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet openings are arranged asymmetrically with one central outlet opening and multiple outer outlet openings in a circular pattern, rather than symmetrically distributing outlets along the entire peripheral contour. This asymmetric arrangement provides adequate water distribution coverage while creating distinct, easily identifiable switching positions that simplify user operation and reproduction of settings.
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
The solution allows for reproducible adjustment of coffee strength, achieving optimal extraction rates between 18% and 22%, while reducing bitterness and simplifying maintenance by ensuring consistent wetting of ground coffee across different brew settings.
Implementation Method 1
the outlet device has a central outlet opening over a middle region of the filter-paper insert when filled with ground coffee and a plurality of outer outlet openings arranged above a middle region of the side walls of the filled filter-paper insert
Data Source
AI summary
A coffee machine includes a device for supplying hot water to an outlet device. The outlet device is adapted for being arranged above a filter vessel into which a filter paper insert with ground coffee is insertable and for receiving the hot water from the hot water supply. The outlet device has a central outlet opening over a middle region of the filter-paper insert when filled with ground coffee and a plurality of outer outlet openings arranged above a middle region of the side walls of the filled filter-paper insert. A controllable selector switch controls a rate of hot water through individual outlet openings of the outlet device. The controllable selector switch has at least three switching positions for adjusting coffee strength. In all switching positions of the controllable selector switch the hot water is at least partially supplied via the outer outlet openings over the filled filter-paper insert.