Cold brew coffee brewing system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cold brew coffee brewing systems are labor-intensive, space-consuming, and inefficient for commercial use, particularly in retail settings, as they require long lead times and multiple units to produce large quantities, and often result in equipment overload and product waste due to residual coffee grounds.
Innovation Solution
A cold brew coffee brewing system featuring a flow-through extraction vessel with a tower unit and water dispensing system that allows for single-pass, non-immersion extraction with a pre-infusion operation, enabling efficient preparation of large batches with reduced equipment footprint and easy cleaning, using separate water dispensers for pre-infusion and brew water to optimize coffee extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cold-steep immersion brewing systems are used, then ease of operation and cleaning is improved, but coffee grounds waste increases due to residual cold-brew coffee remaining with used coffee grounds
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the brewing process into two distinct stages: pre-infusion (immersion) and extraction (flow-through). The pre-infusion stage wets and prepares the coffee grounds, while the extraction stage flows water through the grounds to collect the brewed coffee. This segmentation allows for more complete extraction and reduced waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-infusion operation is performed before the main extraction process. During pre-infusion, water is added to the coffee grounds to wet them and initiate extraction, preparing the grounds for the subsequent flow-through extraction. This preliminary action improves overall extraction efficiency and reduces residual waste.
2Productivity
If multiple cold brew coffee brewing systems are operated to produce large quantities, then productivity increases, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple functions into a single device: it performs both pre-infusion (immersion brewing) and extraction (flow-through brewing) operations, and can prepare multiple different cold brew coffee products sequentially. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate brewing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be reconfigurable and adaptable for preparing different cold brew coffee products by changing parameters such as coffee grounds type, water temperature, flow rate, and brewing time. This dynamic flexibility allows a single system to replace multiple dedicated systems.
3Productivity
If cold brew coffee brewing systems are designed for large batch production, then productivity increases, but ease of operation deteriorates due to labor-intensive preparation and cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the extraction process where water flows through the coffee grounds and the brewed coffee is collected without manual intervention. The system self-regulates flow rates and timing, reducing the need for manual labor during operation and cleaning.
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 system enables efficient, high-quality cold brew coffee production with reduced labor and space requirements, minimizing coffee grounds waste and enhancing operational efficiency by allowing for flexible batch preparation and product customization.
Implementation Method 1
extraction of coffee grounds with brew water... pre-infusion operation to pre-infuse the coffee grounds with pre-infusion water
Implementation Method 2
extract flavors from coffee grounds... water either at ambient room temperature or water that has been chilled
Data Source
AI summary
A cold brew coffee brewing system to prepare cold brew coffee by extraction of coffee grounds with brew water in a single-past, non-immersion extraction operation uses a tower unit with first and second receiving locations to receive a pre-infusion container for preparation of a pre-infusion mixture of coffee grounds during a pre-infusion operation and to receive an extraction vessel containing the transferred pre-infusion mixture for extraction processing to prepare cold brew coffee product, which is collected in a collection container received in the second receiving location of the tower unit. A brew control system controls operation of the water dispensing system during a cold brewing process cycle, and including a controller unit having stored therein multiple profiles for different cold-brew coffee product that may be prepared at the direction of the controller unit. A network may include multiple such cold brew coffee brewing systems connected with a central server.