Heated Filter Holder Support for Consistent Coffee Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machines suffer from a decline in coffee quality due to the filter holder cooling between brewing cycles, leading to inconsistent beverage temperature and organoleptic characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a heating support element that maintains the filter holder at an optimal temperature, using components like resistances or hot water circulation, and ergonomic design for automatic and manual filling, ensuring consistent coffee quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the filter holder is kept detached from the infusion unit when not in use, then it can be easily stored and accessed, but it cools down to room temperature causing decline in coffee quality
Solution Approach 1:
The filter holder is pre-heated in a dedicated heating support element before being connected to the infusion unit. This preliminary heating action ensures the filter holder reaches optimal temperature in advance, preventing coffee quality degradation when the brewing cycle begins.
Solution Approach 2:
A heating support element acts as an intermediary between the infusion unit and the filter holder. This intermediate device maintains the filter holder at the required temperature when detached from the infusion unit, resolving the conflict between accessibility and temperature maintenance.
2Temperature
If multiple filter holders are kept attached to the infusion unit, then they remain at working temperature, but only one can be used at a time while others cool down
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filter holders can be pre-heated in the heating support element sequentially or simultaneously, so that when one is detached for use, another is already ready at optimal temperature, maintaining productivity while ensuring temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating support element serves as a staging area where multiple filter holders can be maintained at working temperature, acting as a buffer between the single infusion unit and multiple filter holders, thus enabling efficient workflow without temperature loss.
3Device complexity
If the filter holder is manually refilled and connected every time, then the machine structure remains simple, but the process time increases and consistency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter holder is pre-filled with coffee grounds and pre-heated in the heating support element before the brewing cycle begins. This preliminary preparation reduces the operational time during actual coffee making while maintaining simple manual operation, and ensures consistent starting conditions for each brew.
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 solution maintains the filter holder's optimal temperature, preserving the quality of coffee beverages regardless of usage frequency and time intervals, ensuring consistent organoleptic characteristics and efficient brewing processes.
Implementation Method 1
said added support element comprising heating means for heating said filter holder to a predetermined temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The coffee machine has at least one infusion unit and at least one filter holder that is manually connected to and disconnected from the infusion unit for preparation of coffee, and it comprises at least one added support element of the filter holder for keeping it attached to the coffee machine when the filter holder is not connected to the infusion unit, said added support element comprising heating means for heating said filter holder to a predetermined temperature. The additional support element can be implemented also as a standalone element and, therefore, not connected to the coffee machine.