ICED COFFEE SYSTEM

An iced coffee system hereof provides a simple and convenient system to brew iced coffee. The system includes an iced coffee brewing machine and a multipurpose tumbler. The tumbler may act not only as a drinking vessel when the coffee is ready, but it may also act as a measuring device to measure the right amount of water to be used in the brewing machine and the right amount of ice to use when consuming the iced coffee.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to brewing and dispensing coffee. More particularly, the invention relates to a comprehensive system that allows a consumer to conveniently and quickly brew strong, flavorful iced coffee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Iced coffee is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional hot coffee. Many consumers enjoy iced coffee beverages from coffee shops, while others make their own at home.

Making iced coffee at home usually consists of using a traditional hot coffee brewer to brew hot coffee, and letting the brewed coffee sit (or placing it in the refrigerator) until it is cool. Consumers may then add ice after the coffee has cooled. However, when coffee sits for too long, it oxidizes and loses much of its fresh flavor. Also, adding too much ice, or adding ice at the wrong time, can result in watered-down, bad-tasting coffee. Home brewing iced coffee using a traditional hot coffee brewer can also create too much coffee. Consumers of iced coffee may not necessarily need an entire pot of coffee to prepare the amount of iced coffee they desire.

Existing iced coffee machines designed for in-home use that are available on the market are inconvenient. The brewing process is not straightforward and may require using additional dishware to carry out the brewing process, like a spoon to scoop grounds, a pitcher to pour water into the brewer, a drinking vessel, and a scoop to scoop ice into the drinking vessel. A streamlined, straightforward brewing system is desired that makes the brewing process convenient but does not sacrifice quality or flavor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The iced coffee system hereof provides a simple and convenient system to brew iced coffee at home. The system comprises an iced coffee brewing machine, a multipurpose tumbler, and (in some embodiments) a scoop. The tumbler may act not only as a drinking vessel when the coffee is ready, but it may also act as a measuring device for 1) the right amount of water to be used in the brewing machine and 2) the right amount of ice to use without overdiluting the brewed coffee and preserving some ice for consumption.

To use the system, a user may start by scooping the correct amount of grounds into the machine's basket using the scoop. He or she may then fill the tumbler with water to its designated water line. The water should then be poured into the machine. Prior to initiating the brew process, the user may fill the tumbler with ice to its designated ice line. He or she may then place the tumbler (potentially with its lid off) such that brewed coffee will dispense directly into the tumbler once brewing starts. Once brewing has stopped, a user may add cream, milk, sugar, sweetener, or the like, and then put the lid and straw on the tumbler and begin enjoying his or her iced coffee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates an iced coffee system1that may be used to brew iced coffee. The system1hereof is scaled for brewing and dispensing a single serving of iced coffee, but in alternative embodiments could be scaled for increased brewing and dispensing, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The system1generally includes a tumbler5and a brewing machine10. The tumbler5may serve not only as a drinking vessel from which an operator may enjoy his or her coffee, it may also act as a receptacle for receiving brewed iced coffee. It also may act as a measuring device for measuring the proper amount of water that should be added to the brewing machine10as well as the amount of ice that should be added to the tumbler5prior to brewing. The tumbler5may generally include a vessel15, lid20, and straw25.

The brewing machine10(seeFIG. 2) includes an upper portion30and a lower portion35. The lower portion35preferably includes a base40which may abut a countertop or other surface when the machine10is in use. In operation, the machine10works like many coffee makers in several respects. Coffee grounds are added to a receptacle within the machine10(not illustrated but preferably accessible via a lid45at the upper portion30of the machine1). When water is added to the machine10(for example via the lower portion35when the upper portion30is removed, or in some embodiments via the lid45), and the lid45is closed, a user may begin brewing. The system1heats up the water, which is dripped over the grounds. Coffee is released at a discharge port50. In alternative embodiments, a different discharge mechanism may be present in lieu of the discharge port50. Like known coffee makers, the coffee machine10may include a power button55, a brew strength slider60(or a “drip stop”), and other known or foreseeable functions and components.

Turning toFIG. 3, a scoop65may be provided as part of the system1. The scoop65may have a scoop volume that correlates to a preferred brew strength. In some embodiments, the brewing machine10may include a receptacle in which the scoop65may be stored when not in use.

When a user wishes to brew iced coffee using the machine10, he or she may fill the tumbler5(illustrated inFIG. 4) with water to a level at or near a first measuring line70. He or she may then pour that same volume of water from the tumbler5into the machine10. The recommended volume of water within the tumbler5is represented by the first measuring line70, which may be present on the tumbler5or straw. This water is then dumped into the lower portion35of the machine10, shown inFIG. 5with the top portion30removed.

The user may then fill the tumbler to a second measuring line75with ice. The second measuring line75may be representative of a volume of ice that may be added to the tumbler5that will rapidly cools the brewed coffee, but which will not cause the suggested volume of water to overflow the tumbler5. Such rapid cooling may keep the brewed coffee from oxidizing and losing flavor. The measuring line75also may represent a volume of ice that will allow for some melting when it encounters the hot coffee, but not so much that all of the ice will melt given the recommended volume of water.

After initiating the brew process set forth above, the tumbler5(with ice) is placed adjacent the brewing machine10. When iced coffee is brewed using the brewing machine10and method described herein, the vessel15(with the lid20and25removed from the vessel15) may be placed below the discharge port50or other drip location from which brewed coffee is dispensed. Once the coffee has been dispensed into the vessel15, the lid20and the straw25may be re-coupled to the vessel15, and the iced coffee is ready for consumption.

An interior80of the lower portion35of the machine10(with the upper portion30removed) is illustrated inFIG. 5. The interior80of the machine10includes a reservoir85to which water from the tumbler5may be added. Two ledge members90,95preferably extend into the reservoir85. The ledge member90is preferably below the ledge member95(nearer the base40). The ledge member90represents the suggested volume of water, corresponding generally to the measuring line70on the tumbler5. The amount of water brews enough iced coffee (given the correct amount of ice in the tumbler5) to leave room a predetermined amount of space for cream, milk, syrups, and/or other liquid additives. However, a user may add more water up to the ledge member95, which is a maximum fill indicator, if he or she wishes to enjoy the brewed iced coffee as “black” or without liquid added after the brewing process. This volume may also be labeled on the tumbler5in some embodiments. Thus, the ledge member95represents the volume of water within the reservoir that would completely fill the tumbler85so that the coffee is “black,” leaving little to no room for other liquids after the coffee is brewed.

While the construction of the tumbler5may vary, its principal material should be one that can handle cold and warm liquids, and it should have some thermal insulation properties. The machine10may also vary in construction and material, but in any event should be capable of brewing coffee using known or reasonably foreseeable methods.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles, and scope of the present invention.

Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.