Coffee maker and coffee brewing method based on color

A coffee maker and a method of brewing coffee are disclosed. The coffee maker includes a first roaster fitted, a second roaster fitted, and a funnel detachably attached to the first roaster providing a passage for a first amount and a second amount of coffee beans. Further, a grinder including a discharge door and a blade is detachably attached to a bottom of the funnel, a brewing container detachably attached to the bottom of the grinder. A color panel is included with a plurality of buttons, each of the plurality of the buttons corresponds to a color of a coffee desired after brewing, and a coffee-color controller configured to control the first temperature and the second temperature of the first roaster and the second roaster, respectively, based on the color of the coffee selected from the color panel.

GRANT OF NON-EXCLUSIVE RIGHT

This application was prepared with financial support from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, and in consideration therefore the present inventor(s) has granted The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a non-exclusive right to practice the present invention.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

This application relates generally to improvements to a coffee maker. More particularly the present disclosure relates to improvements relating to obtaining a coffee of desired color, flavor and/or taste.

Description of the Related Art

Coffee drinks typically possess properties such as acidity, bitterness, body, astringency, sweetness, and so forth that generally affect the taste of the coffee drink. Such properties result from different roasting levels of coffee beans. For example, a greater time spent roasting the coffee bean, the darker the coffee beans gets, resulting in a more full-bodied and flavorful the coffee drink.

Conventional home coffee makers require the coffee beans to be purchased in a ground form, which can be readily brewed to get coffee quickly. However, different consumers can have different roasting preferences, taste preference, or color preferences. For instance, consumers from different countries may have different taste, coffee color and roasting preferences. As such there remains a continuing need to provide improved coffee makers that can brew coffee at different roasting level quickly and efficiently.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a coffee maker. The coffee maker includes a first roaster fitted with a first heating element to roast coffee beans at a first temperature and a first discharge door at the bottom of the first roaster, and a second roaster fitted with a second heating element to roast coffee beans at a second temperature and a second discharge door at the bottom of the second roaster. A funnel is detachably attached to the first roaster providing a passage for a first amount and a second amount of coffee beans received from the first roaster and the second roaster, respectively. A grinder having a blade is detachably attached to a bottom of the funnel and a discharge door at a bottom of the grinder. A brewing container is detachably attached to the bottom of the grinder. The coffee maker further includes a color panel including a plurality of buttons, each of the plurality of the buttons corresponds to a color of a coffee desired after brewing, and a coffee-color controller configured to control the first temperature and the second temperature of the first roaster and the second roaster, respectively, based on the color of the coffee selected from the color panel.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for brewing coffee. The method includes receiving, using processing circuitry, a color from a color panel of a coffee maker, setting, using the processing circuitry, a first temperature for a first time to roast coffee beans in a first roaster, and setting, using the processing circuitry, a second temperature for a second time to roast coffee beans in a second roaster. Further, the method includes passing a first amount of coffee beans from the first roaster and a second amount of coffee beans from the second roaster by controlling a first discharge door and a second discharge door, using the processing circuitry, starting, using the processing circuitry, a blade of the grinder to grind the coffee beans. Further, the method includes measuring, using a measuring device, an amount of ground coffee based on a number of coffee requested, and starting, using the processing circuitry, brewing of ground coffee received from the grinder.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method for brewing coffee, as discussed above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not necessarily intended to represent the only embodiment(s). In certain instances, the description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the disclosed embodiment(s). However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment(s) may be practiced without those specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the disclosed subject matter.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Further, it is intended that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter cover modifications and variations thereof.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context expressly dictates otherwise. That is, unless expressly specified otherwise, as used herein the words “a,” “an,” “the,” and the like carry the meaning of “one or more.” Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, steps, operations, functions, and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular configuration or orientation.

Furthermore, the terms “approximately,” “proximate,” “minor,” and similar terms generally refer to ranges that include the identified value within a margin of 20%, 10% or preferably 5% in certain embodiments, and any values therebetween.

FIG. 1illustrates a coffee maker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. A coffee maker100is an assembly of several parts including a first roaster101A and a second roaster101B, a funnel111, a grinder121, a brewing container131, a base141, a water tank151, a color panel161, and a coffee-color controller40. The first roaster101A and the second roaster101B are connected to the funnel111, which directs the coffee beans from the first roaster101A and the second roaster101B to the grinder121. At a bottom side the grinder121, the brewing container131is connected. The brewing container131brews the ground coffee from the grinder121and using hot water from the water tank151. Typically, the water tank151includes an electric heater (not illustrated) to heat the water. After brewing, the coffee can be served in a coffee cup150.

The first roaster101A and the second roaster101B (also referred as roasters101) are provided in the uppermost part of the coffee maker100. The roasters101are containers that roast the raw coffee beans placed inside. The roasters101can be made of metal such as steel or aluminum. Inside the roaster101, at the bottom, a heater (e.g.,105A and105B) is provided for roasting, and a high-temperature catalyst filter can be provided for smoke and odor removal. In addition, a coffee bean discharge door (e.g.,107A and107B) is provided at the bottom of the roaster101, and the discharge door (e.g.,107A and107B) is solenoid operated, as such can be opened and closed by controlling a solenoid (not illustrated). Furthermore, a temperature sensor (e.g.,110A and110B) can be installed on the bottom part of the roaster101to detect the roasting temperature. The temperature sensor can transmit the temperature information to the coffee-color controller40.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first roaster101A includes a first heating element made of a first top heater103A and a first bottom heater105A. The first top heater103A can roast the coffee beans at the top while the first bottom heater105A can roast the coffee beans at the bottom of the first roaster101A causing a uniform heating effect. The first top heater103A and the first bottom heater105A can be mounted on a first shaft109A driven by a first motor (not shown). The first motor can be connected to the first shaft109A on the underside (external bottom part) of the first roaster101A via an anti-thermal-conduction joint to rotate the first shaft109A creating a stirring effect resulting in uniform heating of the coffee beans. In order to prevent any adverse effects from the radiation of heat from the first roaster101A, a radiant heat blocking plate109A can be arranged beneath the first roaster101A, thus isolating the first roaster101A from other components. The radiant heat blocking plate109A can be made from an iron plate or other heat insulating materials.

The second roaster101B can be similar in construction to the first roaster101A. Accordingly, the second roaster101B includes a second heating element made of a second top heater103B and a second bottom heater105B mounted on a second shaft109B driven by a second motor to maintain uniform heating of the coffee beans as discussed earlier. Also, a radiant heat blocking plate109B can be arranged beneath the second roaster101B.

At the bottom of the first roaster101A, a first discharge door107A is included to pass roasted coffee beans to the funnel111and a first temperature sensor110A to monitor the roasting temperature. The opening and closing of the first discharge door107A can be controlled by a solenoid that in turn is controlled by the coffee-color controller40. Similarly, at the bottom of the second roaster101B, a second discharge door107B is included to pass roasted coffee beans to the funnel111via a pipe108and a second temperature sensor110A to monitor the roasting temperature. The pipe108can be inclined at an angle to allow coffee beans to pass under gravity from the second roaster108to the funnel111when the second discharge door107B is opened. The opening and closing of the second discharge door107B can be controlled by a solenoid which in turn is controlled by the coffee-color controller40.

The funnel111is a device with a conical shaped cavity, a side hole to connect the pipe108, and a bottom hole to pass the coffee beans to the grinder121. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the funnel111can include vents or cooling elements such as water conduits to the coffee beans before passing to the grinder121.

The grinder121is detachably attached to the bottom of the funnel111for grinding the coffee beans. The grinder121can include be a mill type grinder with blades123. Also, at the underside (external bottom part) of the grinder121, outside the grinder121, a measuring device129can be attached. The discharge door127of the grinder121can be operated by a solenoid similar to the discharge doors107A and107B of the first roster101A and the second roaster101B, respectively. The discharge door127of the grinder121can be opened or closed by the coffee-color controller40.

As shown inFIG. 2, the measuring device129is a rotating block with a cup-shaped receptacle202to measure a fixed amount of ground coffee discharged through the discharge door127of the grinder121. The fixed amount of ground coffee can be measured in volume or weight that is sufficient to make one cup of coffee after brewing. The receptacle202is attached to a shaft203connected to a motor M1via a gear mechanism G1. The motor M1, controlled by the coffee-color controller40, drives the gear mechanism G1. The gear mechanism G1allows the measuring device129to occupy a first position P1or a second position P2. To occupy the second position P2from the first position P1, the gear mechanism G1causes the shaft203to rotate about a z-axis, as shown.

In the first position P1, the receptacle202is aligned with the discharge door127touching the underside of the grinder121and the receptacle202collects the ground coffee when the discharge door127of the grinder121opens. In the second position P2, the receptacle202is not in contact with the underside of the grinder121and the shaft203makes an angle greater than 90° allowing the ground coffee in the receptacle202to fall in the brewing container131.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the brewing container131can be detachably attached to the grinder121, and hold a filter for brewing coffee. The brewing container131is installed on the base141. After preparing the coffee, the brewing container131can be removed and the filter can be replaced. The brewing container131can receive hot water from the water tank151to brew the coffee. The liquid coffee is then discharged in the cup150placed on the base141.

The base141supports the assembly of the first roaster101A, the funnel111, the grinder121and the brewing container131. The base141includes a nozzle143and a slot to place a cup150. After brewing, the coffee is delivered to the cup150through the nozzle143. The base141also includes a start button S1and the color panel161on which a plurality of buttons are disposed. Furthermore, a button to input number of cups of coffee (e.g., button B7) can be included as well. The base141can also act as a housing for the coffee-color controller40.

The color panel161includes a plurality of buttons B1-B6, each button corresponds to a color of the coffee. For example, the button B1can correspond to yellow color, the button B2can correspond to tan color, the button B3can correspond to light brown color, the button B4can correspond to brown color, the button B5can correspond to light French roast color, and the button B6can correspond to full French roast color. A user can select a button to get a desired color of the coffee. The desired color is then received by the coffee-color controller40that controls the roasting, grinding and brewing to output a coffee of desired color.

The coffee-color controller40is configured to control a first temperature and a first time of the first heating elements103A and105A installed in the first roaster101A, and the second temperature and a second time of the second heating elements103B and105B installed in the second roaster101B. The coffee-color controller40also controls the amount of coffee beans by controlling the solenoid operated first discharge door107A and the second discharge door107B. A first amount of coffee beans can be passed through the first discharge door107A into the funnel111and a second amount of coffee beans can be passed through the second discharge door107B into the funnel111leading to the grinder121. Once the coffee beans are collected in the grinder121, the coffee-color controller40can start the blades123and stop when the coffee beans are ground. Additional details of the process implemented in the coffee-controller40are discussed with respect toFIG. 3, and an exemplary hardware configuration is explained with respect toFIG. 4.

A controller (for example, controller405or a CPU400of the coffee-color controller40) or processing circuitry such as the coffee-color controller40includes a programmed processor. The processing circuitry or controller may also include devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and conventional circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions. Each of the functions of the described embodiments (with reference toFIG. 3) can be implemented by one or more processing circuits or controllers.

FIG. 3is a flow chart of an exemplary coffee brewing process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The coffee brewing process begins when the start button S1is activated and a color is selected from the color panel161of the coffee maker100.

In step S301, the coffee-color controller40receives a color selected from a color panel of the coffee maker. Each color of the coffee corresponds to a specific temperature and time for which the coffee beans should be roasted in the first roaster101A and the second roaster101B. For example, table 1 presents sample temperature, time, and amount of coffee beans used to make one cup of coffee. The amount of coffee beans can be measured in volume, or weight. For example, the amount of coffee beans can be measured in ounces or in grams. Table 1 data can be stored and retrieved from a database410of the coffee-color controller40. The amount of coffee beans can vary depending on a size, shape, or weight of a coffee bean. As such, an approximate amount of coffee beans required to make one cup of coffee can be pre-determined experimentally, where the factors varied include type or species of coffee beans (e.g., coffee beans from different regions such as Columbia, India, Mexico, Guatemala, etc., or species such as Arabic, Robusta, Liberica, etc.), size of coffee beans, shape of the coffee beans, or a combination thereof.

Based on the color selected from the color panel161, the coffee-color controller40sets or adjusts the first roaster101A at the first temperature and the first time to roast the coffee beans, in step S303. Further, in step S305, the coffee-color controller40sets or adjusts the second roaster101B at the second first temperature and the second time to roast the coffee beans. The temperature in the first roaster101A can be monitored using the first temperature sensor110A and the temperature in the second roaster101B can be monitored using the second temperature sensor110B.

The amount of time required to roast the coffee beans can be high (in several hours) and it may be advantageous to pre-roast the coffee beans. As such, the coffee-color controller40can be programmed to perform the steps S301, S303, and S305in advance, thus roasting the coffee-beans in advance and delaying the grinding and brewing. For example, the coffee-color controller40can include a pre-roast setting that roasts the coffee-beans in advance, e.g., at night before making the coffee next morning. Pre-roasting the coffee beans can save time, and make the coffee making process quicker compared to roasting the coffee beans in real-time while being able to enjoy the taste or flavor of freshly roasted coffee-beans.

In step S307, the coffee-color controller40opens the first discharge door107A and the second discharge door107B to pass the first amount of coffee beans from the first roaster101A and the second amount of coffee beans from the second roaster101B to the grinder121. The first amount of coffee beans and the second amount of coffee beans depend on the coffee-color and the number of cups of coffee requested. The ensure a first amount of coffee beans and a second amount of coffee beans are discharged, opening and closing of the first discharge door107A and the second discharge door107B should be controlled accordingly. An amount of time the first discharge door107A and the second discharge door107B should be opened can be pre-determined by experimentation based on different types of coffee beans, size and shape of the coffee beans, etc. and recording an average amount of coffee beans discharged per second. As such, the amount of coffee beans will be an average value obtained from experimentation. The amount of coffee beans discharged per second can the stored in a memory402of the coffee-color controller40. For example, an average amount of coffee beans discharge per second can be 5 grams. So, if the first amount of coffee beans required is approximately 10 grams, then the first discharge door107A of the first roaster101A should be opened for 2 seconds. Similarly, if the second amount of coffee beans required is approximately 12 grams, then the second discharge door107B of the second roaster101B should be opened for 2.4 seconds.

In step S309, the coffee-color controller starts the grinder121to grind the coffee beans. After grinding the coffee beans, the measuring device129is activated to deliver the ground coffee to the brewing container131. Operation of the measuring device129was discussed earlier in the present disclosure with respect toFIG. 2. Accordingly, to prepare one cup of coffee, the ground coffee will be discharged in the receptacle202(in the first position P1) by opening the discharge door127of the grinder121and allowing the ground coffee to be collected in the receptacle202. The amount of time for which the discharge door127is opened can be determined experimentally and an average time required to fill the receptacle202can be established. The amount of time to keep the discharge door127open can be stored in the memory402of the coffee-color controller40.

From the first position P1, the receptacle202is moved to the second position P2to drop the ground coffee in the brewing cup131. Such measuring activity can be repeated several times depending on the number of cups of coffee requested. For example, for four cups of coffee, the measuring device129will be operated four times.

In step S311, the brewing process is started by passing hot water from the water tank151. The amount of water passed to the brewing container131depends on the number of cups of coffee requested. The amount of water passed can be controlled by controlling a valve (not shown) installed in a pipe connecting the water tank151and the brewing container131, as shown inFIG. 1. In one embodiment, other existing methods of controlling the amount of water for preparing coffee can be implemented. Details of the water tank151and controlling the amount of water are well known and omitted for brevity.

FIG. 4is a detailed block diagram illustrating an exemplary coffee-color controller40according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. InFIG. 1, the coffee-color controller40includes a CPU400which can be configured to receive inputs from buttons B1-B7and perform the processes described in the present disclosure with respect toFIG. 3. For example, the CPU400can be programmed to control the temperature of the first roaster101A and the second roaster101B, open and close the first discharge door107A and the second discharge door107B, start and stop the grinder121, open and close the discharge door127of the grinder, operate the measuring device129, and activate the brewing process. The process data and instructions may be stored in the memory402.

The coffee-color controller40, inFIG. 4, also includes a network controller406for interfacing with a network420. Such network based interfacing can be useful to send commands from an external device such as a user device500that is configured to communicate with the coffee maker100. Thus, a user can send command to start the roasting of coffee beans, to start the brewing process, and to request the number of cups of coffee remotely. For example, the user can send signal to the coffee maker100(located in a kitchen) to start roasting or grinding the coffee beans from a bedroom as soon as the user wakes up and before starts getting ready for work.

As can be appreciated, the network420can be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network such as an LAN or WAN network, or any combination thereof and can also include PSTN or ISDN sub-networks. The network420can also be wired, such as an Ethernet network, or can be wireless such as a cellular network including EDGE, 3G and 4G wireless cellular systems. The wireless network can also be WiFi, BLUETOOTH, or any other wireless form of communication that is known.

An I/O interface412interfaces with buttons414, which is an exemplary representation of different buttons including S1, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, and B7. The functionality of the buttons414can also be implemented on a touch screen416. Further, the coffee-color controller40is connected to the roasters101, the grinder121, and the measuring device129. Optionally, the coffee-color controller40can be connected to a user device500such as a smartphone, laptop, touchpad, etc. via the I/O interface412or through the network420. The user device500can send queries that are handled by a query application manager450including extracting data from the memory402via the storage controller424, or trigger execution of processes discussed inFIG. 3.

The controller405can be used to implement optimization algorithms and may include one or more CPUs, and may control each element in the coffee maker100to perform functions related to communication control, audio signal processing, control for the audio signal processing, still and moving image processing and control, and other kinds of signal processing. The controller405may perform these functions by executing instructions stored in a memory402, for example, the processes illustrated inFIG. 3.

The storage controller424connects the memory402with communication bus426, which may be an ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, or similar device, for interconnecting all of the components of the coffee-color controller40. A description of the general features and functionality of the storage controller424, network controller406, and the I/O interface412is omitted herein for brevity as these features are known.

In the above description, any processes, descriptions or blocks in flowcharts should be understood as representing modules, segments or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present advancements in which functions can be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosures. Indeed, the novel methods, apparatuses and systems described herein can be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods, apparatuses and systems described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosures. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosures. For example, this technology may be structured for cloud computing whereby a single function is shared and processed in collaboration among a plurality of apparatuses via a network.