Compostable Coffee Package for Machine-Free Hot-Water Steeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-serve coffee systems require machines, generate environmental waste, and have short shelf life, lacking freshness and personalization options.
Innovation Solution
A compostable and biodegradable coffee package with a filter bag and outer envelope, allowing steeping in hot water without machinery, using renewable materials and inert gas preservation to maintain freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If machines are used to push water through capsules, then coffee can be brewed, but device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the coffee grounds from the brewing system by providing pre-packaged coffee in a filter bag. The user only needs to add water to the package, eliminating the need for machines to push water through capsules while maintaining the brewing function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-compostable packaging is used, then packaging durability is improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters of the packaging by using compostable and biodegradable materials for both the outer envelope and filter bag. This allows the packaging to maintain sufficient durability for storage and transport while ultimately degrading harmlessly in the environment, resolving the contradiction between durability and environmental harm.
3Reliability
If packaging without inert gas is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but coffee freshness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies inert gas (such as nitrogen) to displace oxygen within the packaging envelope, creating an inert atmosphere that prevents oxidation and maintains coffee freshness. This is achieved through a simple process of injecting gas into the sealed package, maintaining reliability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
4Ease of operation
If single-serve packages are used, then convenience is improved, but environmental waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material composition parameters of the single-serve package by using 100% compostable and biodegradable materials for both the outer envelope and filter bag. This allows the convenient single-serve format to maintain its ease of operation while eliminating environmental waste issues, as the entire package can be composted after use.
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
Provides fresh coffee without machinery, reduces environmental impact, and allows for personalization through customizable ingredients and packaging.
Implementation Method 1
an atmosphere of gas within the outer envelope, enveloping the filter bag and the coffee grains, the gas inert relative to materials exposed within the outer envelope
Implementation Method 2
the filter material exhibiting a plurality of openings through the material, enabling water to pass through, the openings having no dimension exceeding a minimum dimension, a volume of grains of ground coffee within the filter bag, dimensions of the grains precluding coffee grains passing through the openings
Data Source
AI summary
A single-serve coffee package has an outer envelope having one folded edge and three heat-sealed edges, comprising 95% by weight materials that are compostable and demonstrate bio-degradability, a filter bag fully within the outer envelope, having one folded edge and sealed edges, forming a closed envelope having opposite sides, each side comprising one layer of filter material, fully compostable and biodegradable, the filter material exhibiting a plurality of openings through the material, enabling water to pass through, the openings having no dimension exceeding a minimum dimension, a volume of grains of ground coffee within the filter bag, dimensions of the grains precluding coffee grains passing through the openings through the filter material, and an atmosphere of gas within the outer envelope, enveloping the filter bag and the coffee grains, the gas inert relative to materials exposed within the outer envelope.