Patent ID: 9149150
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: A23F,A47J,B65D

Abstract:
1. A method of brewing a beverage with a brewer having an inlet needle, a first outlet needle that pierces at a first fixed piercing location within the brewer, and a second outlet needle located in spaced relation to the first outlet needle that pierces at a second fixed piercing location within the brewer that is vertically offset from the first fixed piercing location, the method comprising the steps of: when a first beverage cartridge having beverage grind therein and a first height is located within the brewer, piercing the first beverage cartridge with the inlet needle and with the first outlet needle at the first fixed piercing location but not with the second outlet needle to create an outlet piercing in the first beverage cartridge; when a second beverage cartridge having beverage grind therein and a second height that is greater than the first height is located within the brewer, piercing the second beverage cartridge with the inlet needle and with the second outlet needle at the second fixed piercing location that is vertically offset from the first fixed piercing location but not with the first outlet needle to create an outlet piercing in the second beverage cartridge that is vertically offset from the outlet piercing in the first beverage cartridge; determining, with the brewer, whether or not the pierced beverage cartridge includes authentication indicia; preventing brewing in response to a determination, by the brewer, that the pierced beverage cartridge does not include the authentication indicia; permitting brewing in response to a determination, by the brewer, that the pierced beverage cartridge does include the authentication indicia; and subsequent to the permitting step, brewing a beverage from the beverage grind in the pierced beverage cartridge.