Patent ID: 6229128
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: A23F,A47J,B65D,Y10S

Abstract:
A disposable device for use in a microwave oven for making a coffee-based espresso-like beverage comprising:multiple fluid containing compartments, the compartments being formed of a material having a substantially non-deleterious reaction to microwave action;a consumable coffee beverage product including at least two components which are separated in the compartments prior to being subjected to microwave action, one component, being water, in a first compartment, and the second component being coffee granules;a divider for keeping the components separate prior to microwave action, wherein the divider is a filter, and wherein the filter has a predetermined series of apertures;wherein the effect of microwave action on the water component acts to break the divider separating the components and causes the water component to be forced through the coffee granules under pressure caused by the effect of the microwaves on the water and to extract, under pressure caused by the microwaves, essence and flavor from the coffee granules to a desired degree, and thereby provide a desired consumable espresso-like based coffee beverage in a second compartment normally empty prior to microwave action; andwherein the material forming one or more compartments shrinks or increases in size under heat caused by the microwave relative to an adjacent compartment, thereby causing a relative increase in pressure in one compartment related to that material, thereby to increase the pressure by which water is forced under microwave action through the granules into the compartment to contain the beverage alter microwave action.