French Press Impeller and Froth Spoon for Crema Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current French press coffee makers cannot agitate coffee grounds to create froth or crema and lack a froth spoon to remove it without pouring additional coffee, requiring external heating or expensive espresso machines.
Innovation Solution
A coffee making apparatus with a froth spoon and at least one impeller that agitates coffee grounds to create froth, allowing the froth to be removed separately from the liquid using a rotating plunger shaft with helical features, enabling the creation of concentrated espresso with froth without an expensive machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a standard French press design is used, then the device is simple and inexpensive, but it cannot agitate coffee grounds to create froth or crema
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the froth creation function with the existing French press plunger mechanism by adding impellers to the plunger. This merging allows the single device to perform both traditional filtering and froth generation without requiring separate equipment, thus maintaining simplicity while adding versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rotating impellers on the plunger shaft that spin during the plunging motion. This dynamic element transforms the static flat-bottomed plunger into an active agitation device that creates froth and crema, enabling the simple French press to achieve espresso-like foam characteristics.
2Quantity of substance
If froth is created in the coffee pot, then additional froth is available, but there is no way to remove the froth without pouring additional coffee into an already filled cup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated froth spoon that can be inserted into the coffee pot and used to extract froth from the surface. This separate tool allows users to remove created froth without pouring additional coffee, directly addressing the removal difficulty while preserving the quantity of froth generated.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an expensive espresso machine is used, then concentrated espresso with crema can be made, but the machine is bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive, simple components like plastic or metal impellers attached to the plunger shaft instead of expensive espresso machine mechanisms. These simple parts can be easily replaced or cleaned, providing espresso-like froth capability at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional espresso machines.
4Quantity of substance
If external heating is used to create additional froth, then more froth can be made, but an additional amount of coffee outside the coffee pot is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coffee preparation process into distinct functions: the plunger with impellers creates froth within the existing coffee volume, and the separate froth spoon extracts the generated froth. This segmentation allows froth creation without requiring additional coffee outside the pot, as the impellers agitate and aerate the coffee already present.
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 the creation and separate removal of froth from coffee, preserving the crema and improving the coffee-making process by avoiding excessive pressure and temperature issues that damage flavor, using a standard French press design.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing at least one impeller to agitate the grinds creating froth or crema
Implementation Method 2
the hole in the lid, or the plunger shaft, may have a helical feature that mates with a corresponding feature on the shaft or the lid, respectively. These mating features enable the plunger shaft to rotate when it is moved up and down with respect to the carafe.
Data Source
AI summary
Enables a coffee making apparatus with a froth spoon and at least one impeller configured to enable users to make a cup of coffee, agitate the coffee grounds with the at least one impeller, for example before or after as the plunger is pushed to the bottom of the carafe. Embodiments thus enable a user to make additional froth, pour out the coffee into a cup, and after the cup is filled to the desired level, spoon out froth over the coffee with the froth spoon without pouring excess coffee into the cup.