Rotating Brewing Material Holder for Rapid Cold-Brew Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold-brew brewing systems are time-consuming, complex, and prone to bacterial contamination, with large footprints and difficulty in cleaning, while lacking flexibility for both hot and cold brewing and efficient fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A compact beverage brewer with a rotating brewing material holder, driven by an electric motor and reduction gears, that can be used for both hot and cold brewing, featuring a mesh element for fluid flow and easy cleaning, with a container serving as both brewing and serving vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional gravity feed percolator systems are used to speed cold brewing, then brewing time is reduced, but device footprint and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber and serving container are merged into a single integrated unit. The container serves dual purposes as both the brewing vessel and the serving pitcher, eliminating the need for separate brewing and serving containers. This integration reduces device complexity and footprint while maintaining the ability to speed up cold brewing through agitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The container collar serves multiple functions: it supports the brewing material holder, provides mounting for the drive assembly, and acts as part of the brewing structure. The drive assembly not only agitates the brewing material but also integrates with the container collar structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall system.
2Productivity
If gravity feed percolator systems are used to increase fluid flow through brewing material, then brewing speed improves, but cleaning difficulty and bacterial contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing system is divided into separable components: the brewing material holder can be removed from the container, and the drive assembly can be detached from the container collar. This segmentation allows each component to be cleaned independently and thoroughly, reducing bacterial contamination risks while maintaining brewing speed through the agitation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing material holder is designed to rotate and agitate dynamically during brewing, creating fluid flow that speeds up extraction. The mesh element allows liquid to pass through while the rotation creates turbulence. After brewing, the system transitions to a static state for easy cleaning, with all components that contact brewing material being removable and accessible.
3Productivity
If separate water storage container is added to provide brewing liquid, then fluid flow through brewing material increases, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container serves multiple functions: it stores the brewing liquid, acts as the brewing chamber, and serves as the final serving pitcher. By eliminating the need for a separate water storage container, the device footprint is minimized while still providing sufficient liquid volume for effective brewing through the agitation mechanism.
4Device complexity
If brewing material holder is stationary during cold brewing, then device simplicity is maintained, but brewing time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing material holder transitions from a static design to a dynamic rotating design. The drive assembly mechanically rotates the holder, creating agitation that significantly accelerates the cold brewing process. The mesh element allows liquid to pass through while the rotation creates continuous fluid movement and contact with brewing material, reducing brewing time from hours to minutes while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
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 reduces cold-brewing time, enhances fluid flow, and simplifies cleaning and usage, providing a flexible and efficient brewing experience with reduced complexity and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a reliable, rapid cold-brewing system that uses a moving brewing material holder to increase the fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
The mesh element covers the opening in the sidewall of the brewing material holder
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage brewer includes a container, a container collar, a brewing material holder, a mesh element, and a drive assembly. The container has an open top, a closed sidewall, and a closed bottom. The container collar is configured to cover a rim of the open top. The brewing material holder is configured to hold brewing material and to be suspended from the container collar and into an interior of the container. The brewing material holder includes a sidewall having an opening, an open top, and a bottom. The mesh element covers the opening in the sidewall of the brewing material holder. The drive assembly is positionable on the container collar and is configured to be mechanically coupled to and rotate the brewing material holder.