Roasting and grinding system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current home roasting and grinding systems for coffee lack flexibility and precision, leading to lengthy preparation times and low-quality blends, as they do not allow for adjustable roasting and grinding parameters, and fail to produce different coffee blends on demand.
Innovation Solution
A roasting and grinding system that includes raw containers for green coffee beans, a roasting unit that adapts parameters automatically, a conservation area for storing roasted coffee, and a grinding area with adaptable parameters, along with a mixing area for custom blends, enabling on-demand production of high-quality roast and ground coffee.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If home roasters and home grinders pre-set the parameters of the roasting and grinding process, then the system is simple to operate, but the consumer cannot adjust parameters to achieve desired coffee blends
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies coffee bean types using sensors and autonomously adjusts roasting and grinding parameters without requiring consumer intervention. The control unit manages the entire parameter adjustment process based on detected coffee characteristics, eliminating the need for manual settings while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual parameter adjustment is replaced by an automated control system that uses sensors to detect coffee bean types and automatically sets appropriate roasting and grinding parameters. This substitution of manual mechanical adjustment with an automated sensing and control system resolves the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the system allows parameter adjustment for custom blends, then coffee quality can be improved, but the preparation time becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic identification and parameter selection in advance of the actual roasting and grinding process. By detecting coffee bean types and pre-setting optimal parameters before processing begins, the system eliminates time-consuming manual adjustment while maintaining high blend quality through precise automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect coffee bean types and provides feedback to the control unit, which automatically adjusts parameters based on this information. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables rapid, accurate parameter optimization without manual intervention, resolving the time-quality contradiction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If consumers manually adjust roasting and grinding parameters, then custom blends can be created, but the consumer may set incorrect parameters resulting in low quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic identification and parameter optimization without requiring consumer expertise. The control unit independently manages parameter adjustment based on sensor detection of coffee bean types, ensuring consistent high quality while maintaining blend customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual parameter adjustment by consumers is replaced with automated sensing and control systems that objectively determine optimal parameters based on detected coffee characteristics. This substitution eliminates human error while preserving customization, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and quality consistency.
4Manufacturing precision
If the system processes individual rations successively through roasting, grinding, and extracting, then each step can be optimized, but the overall preparation time becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines roasting, grinding, and extraction operations into an integrated automated process that handles multiple rations simultaneously or in rapid succession. The control unit coordinates these operations to maintain optimal processing for each step while significantly reducing overall preparation time through parallel processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation through automated transfer between processing stages without idle time between operations. By eliminating interruptions and manual intervention between roasting, grinding, and extraction steps, the system preserves process optimization while dramatically improving productivity and reducing preparation time.
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 provides high-quality, fresh coffee with precise control over roasting and grinding, allowing for different blends to be prepared automatically and efficiently, ensuring consistency and flexibility in coffee preparation.
Implementation Method 1
a roasting unit receiving green coffee beans from one or more of the raw containers at the time
Implementation Method 2
a grinding area comprising one or more grinding units one per type of coffee to be grinded
Data Source
AI summary
A roasting and grinding system (100) for preparing and delivering on demand roast and ground coffee, the system having: one or more raw containers (10, 10′, 10″, etc.) having green coffee beans of the same or of different types; a roasting unit (20) receiving green coffee beans from one or more of the raw containers (10, 10′, 10″, etc.) at the time, the roasting unit (20) adapting automatically the roasting parameters to the type of green coffee beans to roast; a conservation area (30) where the roasted coffee is stored at appropriate atmosphere until it is grinded; a grinding area (40) having one or more grinding units (41, 41′, 41″, etc.) one per type of coffee to be ground, adapting automatically the grinding parameters to the type of coffee or coffee mix to be ground. The invention further relates to a raw container (10, 10′, 10″, etc.) having green coffee beans detachably connectable to a roasting and grinding system (100), and to a method for roasting and grinding coffee blends on demand using such a system.