Drip Coffee Machine Tank Design for Slow Gravity Percolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines do not allow complete extraction of organoleptic properties from ground coffee due to the introduction of pressurized hot water, which accelerates the filtration process and reduces the time for water to pass through the coffee grounds.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a dispenser element that delivers hot water to a tank, where it decompresses to ambient pressure before slowly flowing through a hopper containing ground coffee, allowing for spontaneous percolation and complete extraction of coffee properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressurized hot water is delivered directly to ground coffee, then the filtration process is accelerated and water passes through coffee grounds faster, but the complete extraction of organoleptic properties is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the water delivery function into two independent parts: a pump that delivers pressurized water to a tank, and a separate gravity-fed dispensing system that releases water slowly onto coffee grounds. This segmentation allows the pressurized delivery and slow extraction to occur in different locations and at different rates, resolving the contradiction between filtration speed and extraction completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
A tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the pump and the coffee grounds. The pump delivers water to the tank under pressure, and the tank then releases water slowly by gravity to the coffee. This intermediary decouples the high-speed pressurized delivery from the slow extraction process, enabling both high productivity in water delivery and complete extraction in the brewing process.
2Reliability
If hot water is delivered at ambient pressure slowly through gravity, then complete extraction of organoleptic properties is achieved, but the filtration process time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by delivering all the required water to the tank under pressure before the brewing process begins. The pump fills the tank quickly with pressurized water, and then the slow gravity-fed dispensing to the coffee grounds begins. This preliminary pressurized delivery separates the water transport time from the extraction time, achieving complete extraction without excessive brewing time.
3Extent of automation
If a movable nozzle with pump is used to deliver pressurized water, then automation is improved, but the extraction quality deteriorates due to forced filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the automation functions: the pump and tank handling are automated for water delivery, while the actual dispensing to coffee grounds uses simple gravity flow without complex movable components. This segmentation maintains automation benefits for water management while avoiding the harmful effects of pressurized movable nozzles during the extraction phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank serves as a mediator that decouples the automated pressurized water delivery from the manual-like slow gravity dispensing. The automated pump fills the tank, and then the tank naturally dispenses water slowly to the coffee grounds, eliminating the need for automated movable nozzles during extraction while maintaining extraction quality.
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 machine ensures the slow and complete extraction of organoleptic properties from ground coffee, enhancing the flavor and quality of drip coffee by mimicking the traditional manual brewing process.
Implementation Method 1
the tank has a discharge opening, so as to release by gravity, the hot water accumulated in the tank
Implementation Method 2
release by gravity, the hot water accumulated in the tank into a hopper configured to accommodate a dose of ground coffee
Implementation Method 3
By percolation, the hot water dissolves the water-soluble substances contained in the ground coffee, transferring them into the beverage
Implementation Method 4
the hot water dissolves the water-soluble substances contained in the ground coffee
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a coffee machine (100) comprising a dispensing element (1) configured to deliver hot water; feeding members (2) in fluid communication with the dispensing element (1); a drip coffee dispensing unit (3) comprising a tank (5) arranged below the dispensing element (1) along a longitudinal direction (X-X), configured to collect the hot water coming from the dispensing element (1), and having a discharge opening (50) adapted to discharge the hot water accumulated in the tank (5) by gravity into a hopper (4) configured to accommodate a dose of ground coffee.