Single-Serve Brewer With In-Cup Bean Grinding for Fresh Coffee
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee making appliances either require pre-ground coffee or whole beans to be ground separately, limiting the convenience of brewing fresh coffee from whole beans in a single-serving format.
Innovation Solution
A beverage appliance that includes a housing with a liquid reservoir and a receptacle for a pre-packaged, disposable filter cup containing whole coffee beans, which can be angled to contact a brew head and features a mechanism to grind the beans into a smaller size within the cup, allowing for immediate brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pre-packaged containers are used with ground coffee, then brewing convenience is improved, but coffee freshness is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-packaging whole coffee beans in disposable containers before use. This allows the coffee to be stored in whole bean form (preserving freshness) while being ready for immediate grinding and brewing when needed. The whole beans are prepared in advance and sealed to maintain freshness, then ground at the moment of brewing.
2Reliability
If whole coffee beans are ground immediately before brewing, then coffee freshness is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the grinding function and brewing function into a single integrated appliance. The grinder is combined with the brewing mechanism, allowing whole beans to be ground and brewed in one continuous process without requiring separate devices. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the benefit of immediate grinding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing the disposable container containing whole coffee beans directly into the grinder chamber of the appliance. The container is nested within the grinding mechanism, allowing the beans to be ground in situ without removal or transfer. This integrated nesting approach simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate grinding and brewing stations are used, then grinding precision is improved, but productivity is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the grinding station and brewing station into a single integrated unit. The grinder is positioned directly above or adjacent to the brewing chamber, allowing ground coffee to be transferred immediately to the brewing area. This eliminates the need for separate stations while maintaining grinding precision through the use of a dedicated grinder mechanism.
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 convenient brewing of coffee from whole beans in a single-serving format, ensuring freshness and optimal flavor by grinding just before brewing, while maintaining a compact and user-friendly appliance design.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanism for transforming the particles of the drink ingredient from the first size to a second size within the container, the second size being smaller than the first size
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir and a receptacle in the housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size. The receptacle is pivotable from a first position in which the receptacle is angled towards a front of the appliance and a second position in which the receptacle is aligned with a brew head and contacts the brew head. The beverage appliance further includes a mechanism for transforming the particles of the drink ingredient from the first size to a second size within the container, the second size being smaller than the first size.