Coffee Dispenser Sensory Control for Customized Beverage Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coffee dispensers using soluble coffee products limit consumer choice to pre-defined beverage types and fail to accommodate varying taste preferences across different regions and operator preferences, lacking flexibility in creating customized coffee sensory profiles including strength, crema quality, aroma, and taste.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispenser with a user interface that allows consumers to select from a list of sensory parameters such as crema quality, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel, and control unit that adjusts ingredient dosage, water delay, and whipping time to customize coffee beverages using multiple sources of soluble coffee products, enabling the creation of personalized coffee drinks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pre-defined beverage types are used in the dispenser, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the adaptability to different consumer taste preferences is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser enables dynamic customization of beverage recipes by allowing consumers to adjust multiple sensory parameters (strength, temperature, volume, sugar intensity) in real-time, transforming a static pre-defined system into a dynamic adaptive system that responds to individual consumer preferences
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and sensory parameters of the beverage (strength, temperature, volume, sugar intensity) to create customized experiences, allowing the same base beverage to be adapted to different taste preferences through parameter modification rather than requiring multiple different beverage types
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple soluble coffee products with different origins and characteristics are used, then the adaptability and consumer choice are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of controlling sensory parameters increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives consumer inputs regarding desired sensory parameters and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters and ingredient dosing accordingly, creating a feedback loop that translates consumer preferences into precise manufacturing parameters without requiring consumer expertise in coffee preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the consumer's taste preferences and the complex brewing process, translating subjective sensory desires into objective dosing instructions for multiple coffee products, thereby shielding the consumer from the complexity of blending and parameter control
3Ease of operation
If the dispenser is set for a specific regional taste preference, then the ease of operation is improved and consistency is maintained, but the adaptability to different world regions and operator preferences is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is designed with universal adaptability to serve multiple world regions and operator preferences by providing a standardized platform for customization that can accommodate diverse taste preferences without requiring region-specific hardware or complex reconfiguration, enabling one device to perform multiple cultural functions
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
Enables consumers to create customized coffee beverages tailored to their taste preferences, accommodating regional differences and operator requirements, by allowing selection from various coffee origins, roasting levels, and blends, resulting in a wider range of coffee options and increased consumer satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a beverage from a concentrated soluble coffee product
Implementation Method 2
the mixture of the coffee product and the diluent can be whipped to create foam at the top of the beverage
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a beverage dispenser comprising : - means for preparing a beverage from at least a concentrated food ingredient, - a user interface (6) operable to interact with a consumer for presenting to the consumer at least one of a list of selectable sensory parameters (P1, P2, P3, P4) and for receiving at least one input (61) from the consumer regarding at least one of said parameters, - a control unit (7) controlling the means for preparing a beverage and dispensing a beverage based at least in part on the at least one input of the consumer regarding at least one of the selectable sensory parameters.