Sealed Coffee Bean Dosing Package for Fresh-Grind Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee makers suffer from flavor and aroma loss due to prolonged exposure of coffee beans to air, and residual grounds from previous grinding runs can affect the taste of new coffee beans, leading to inefficient and inconvenient coffee bean usage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a coffee bean package with airtight or vacuum sealing and an integrated dosing mechanism that supplies a predetermined dose of coffee beans directly to a grinder, preventing exposure to air and mixing with residual grounds, allowing for easy switching between coffee bean types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If coffee beans are stored in a holder for a long time before grinding, then convenient coffee preparation is achieved, but flavor and aroma are lost due to prolonged exposure to air
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary grinding of coffee beans directly in the holder before brewing, eliminating the need for separate storage and manual transfer. The grinder is integrated into the holder structure, allowing beans to be ground immediately before use, thus preserving flavor and aroma while maintaining convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the coffee bean holder and grinder into a single integrated unit. The holder contains both the storage chamber for coffee beans and the grinding mechanism, merging previously separate functions (storage and grinding) into one device, thereby eliminating transfer steps and preserving aromatic compounds.
2Productivity
If a large amount of coffee beans is placed in the holder, then fewer refilling operations are needed, but residual grounds from previous runs mix with new beans, affecting taste
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into separate compartments: a storage chamber for fresh coffee beans and a grinding chamber for active processing. This segmentation prevents residual grounds from mixing with new beans, as each compartment serves a specific function. The design allows continuous operation without cross-contamination between different batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding mechanism is extracted as a separate functional unit within the holder, with its own dedicated chamber. Residual grounds are contained in the grinding chamber and can be easily removed or discarded, preventing them from contaminating the fresh beans in the storage chamber. This extraction allows independent management of each functional zone.
3Loss of time
If coffee beans are ground in advance and stored, then time-saving is achieved, but the total surface area of ground coffee increases exposure to air, accelerating flavor loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs grinding periodically at the moment of brewing rather than continuously in advance. The grinder operates only when coffee is being prepared, grinding beans immediately before they contact water. This periodic action eliminates prolonged exposure of ground coffee to air, preserving volatile aromatic compounds while maintaining preparation speed.
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 preserves the flavor and aroma of coffee beans by minimizing exposure to air and eliminating residual grounds, enabling efficient and convenient preparation of freshly ground coffee with desired taste profiles.
Implementation Method 1
The package is provided with a bottom, sidewalls and a top wall which enclose an inner space which is filled with coffee beans
Implementation Method 2
A system comprising a coffee bean package with airtight or vacuum sealing
Data Source
AI summary
A system for dosing coffee beans, comprising a coffee bean package provided with walls enclosing an inner space for coffee beans, a coffee bean outlet for delivering coffee beans, and a coupling part for coupling and uncoupling the coffee bean package with an apparatus that is provided with a coffee bean grinder, and an at least partly movably arranged coffee bean receiving device for supplying coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, which coffee bean receiving device is provided with a dosing space for being capable of containing a predetermined dose of coffee beans, wherein the coffee bean package prior to use in itself is closed off such that exposure of the coffee beans to ambient air is prevented, and the coffee bean receiving device is arranged to be guided through the coffee bean outlet into the inner space of the coffee bean package for letting coffee beans from the coffee bean package into the dosing space, and to guide the dosing space through the coffee bean outlet out of the inner space of the coffee bean package for supplying the dose of coffee beans from the dosing space to the grinder.