Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/231,021, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/231,035, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/230,980, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/230,954, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, all of which claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/413,744, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, all of the foregoing U.S. Patent Applications and Provisional Patent Applications being herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to brewed beverage appliances and, more particularly, to a brewed beverage appliance adapted to brew coffee from a pre-packaged, disposable container and filter combination. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various known coffee making appliances involve adding of coffee beans in one of various forms (i.e., ground or unground) to a container that is part of a machine in which heated water is delivered to the container and passes therethrough. The container typically includes a filtering mechanism so that heated water exiting the container is in the form of brewed coffee. Certain appliances require pre-ground coffee beans to be added in the form of “grounds.” Other appliances are designed to accept whole coffee beans into a hopper or opening and include mechanisms that grind the beans into a ground form and then complete the brewing process at a separate station. It is sometimes preferred to keep whole beans on hand for making coffee so that the coffee may be ground immediately prior to brewing, as this is believed to produce the freshest tasting coffee beverage. Yet other appliances require use of pods or pre-packaged coffee grounds in a serving-sized filter container to be inserted into the appliance. In such instances, the pre-packaged pods or containers are limited to being filled with ground coffee. Certain pre-packaged containers require placement into a separate filter mechanism in the appliance, while others have built-in filtering mechanisms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage making appliance and related method that include the benefits of brewing coffee from whole beans that are ground immediately before brewing and that are contained in a convenient, disposable, single-serving package. 
         [0005]    These and other objects are achieved by the present invention. 
         [0006]    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 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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective bottom view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1  illustrating a water flow path through the cup during a brewing mode. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective right side view of a brewed beverage appliance according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective left side view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a left side elevational view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a right side elevational view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a rear elevational view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  illustrating a ready mode thereof. 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  illustrating the loading of the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  illustrating the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup of  FIG. 1  in a loading tray. 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  illustrating the filter cup being moved to a grinding and brewing position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  in a brew-ready state. 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  in a brewing mode. 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  subsequent to brewing a beverage. 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  illustrating the removal of a spent pre-packaged filter cup subsequent to brewing. 
           [0031]      FIG. 25A  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  in a cleaning mode. 
           [0032]      FIG. 25B  is a perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  in a cleaning mode and illustrates the removal of a drip tray. 
           [0033]      FIG. 26  is rear, left-side perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the internal components thereof. 
           [0034]      FIG. 27  is a front, left-side perspective view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the internal components thereof. 
           [0035]      FIG. 28  is an enlarged perspective view of a container loading block of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the container loading block, shown in phantom, and illustrating the internal components thereof. 
           [0037]      FIG. 30  is a front elevational view of the brewed beverage appliance. 
           [0038]      FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view of the brewed beverage appliance, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 30 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 32  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating the loading of a filter cup into a container holder of the container loading block. 
           [0040]      FIG. 33  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating a piercing mechanism of the container loading block. 
           [0041]      FIGS. 34-36  are cross-sectional, schematic views of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9  illustrating the loading and positioning of a filter cup. 
           [0042]      FIG. 37  is a perspective view of a container unloading mechanism of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 38  is another perspective view of the container unloading mechanism. 
           [0044]      FIG. 39  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the brewed beverage appliance, illustrating operation of the container unloading mechanism. 
           [0045]      FIG. 40  is another enlarged, cross-sectional view of the brewed beverage appliance, illustrating operation of the container unloading mechanism. 
           [0046]      FIG. 41  is a perspective view of a grinding blade assembly for use with the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 42  is a top plan view of the grinding blade assembly of  FIG. 41   
           [0048]      FIG. 43  is a front elevational view of the grinding blade assembly of  FIG. 41 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 44  is a bottom plan view of the grinding blade assembly of  FIG. 41 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 45  is a left side elevational view of the grinding blade assembly of  FIG. 41 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 46  is a cross-sectional view of grinding blade assembly of  FIG. 41 , taken along line A-A of  FIG. 43 . 
           [0052]      FIG. 47  is a schematic view of a blade assembly and the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup, illustrating insertion of the blade assembly into the cup. 
           [0053]      FIG. 48  is another schematic view of a blade assembly and the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup, illustrating the insertion of the blade assembly into the cup. 
           [0054]      FIG. 49  is a schematic view of a blade assembly and the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup, illustrating retraction of the cup from the blade assembly. 
           [0055]      FIG. 50  is another schematic view of a blade assembly and the whole coffee bean pre-packaged filter cup, illustrating the retraction of the cup from the blade assembly. 
           [0056]      FIG. 51  is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 1  in a grinding mode. 
           [0057]      FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 1  in a grinding mode, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 52 . 
           [0058]      FIG. 53  is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 1  subsequent to grinding coffee beans. 
           [0059]      FIG. 54  is an enlarged schematic view of the grinding blade of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 1  illustrating the grinding a coffee bean. 
           [0060]      FIG. 55  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a brewing mechanism of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0061]      FIG. 56  is a schematic drawing of an auto-rinse mechanism of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the blade assembly before rinsing. 
           [0062]      FIG. 57  is a schematic drawing of the auto-rinse mechanism of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the rinsing process. 
           [0063]      FIG. 58  is a schematic drawing of the auto-rinse mechanism of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the blade assembly after rinsing. 
           [0064]      FIG. 59  is a schematic view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , in a grinding mode. 
           [0065]      FIG. 60  is a schematic view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , in a brewing mode. 
           [0066]      FIG. 61  is a schematic view of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 , in a rinsing mode. 
           [0067]      FIG. 62  is a plan view of a control panel of the brewed beverage appliance of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , a filter cup  10  for use with a brewed beverage appliance according to the present invention includes a cup body  12 , a resilient filter  14  and a cover  16 . The cup body may be formed from plastic or other material known in the art, and is capable of being pierced by a piercing mechanism of a brewed beverage appliance. The filter  14  prevents coffee grounds and other sediment from exiting the cup body  12  during brewing but permits passage of liquid therethrough. Importantly, the filter  14  is resilient such that it is not damaged or destroyed during grinding, as discussed in detail hereinafter. The cover  16  may be formed from aluminum or other material known in the art, and is preferably heat-sealed or otherwise affixed to the top rim of the cup body  12 . A plurality of whole coffee beans  18  are enclosed in the space between the cover  16  and the filter  14 . While  FIG. 1  shows coffee beans  18  housed in the filter cup  10 , other types of food and substances, such as tea and the like, may be used in similar fashion to that described herein, without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0069]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the cup body  12  has an opening  20  at the top thereof, a circumferential sidewall  22  and a floor  24 . As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the floor  24  has an annular groove  26  for the channeling of a brewed beverage to an exit aperture of the cup (created by a piercing mechanism of a brewed beverage appliance). Importantly, the annular groove  26  is the lowest portion of the cup  10  such that brewed coffee collects in the groove  26  and exits the cup through the exit aperture, as discussed hereinafter. 
         [0070]      FIG. 7  illustrates the cup  10  in a sealed state and containing a plurality of whole coffee beans  18 . As shown therein, the resilient filter  14  is positioned at the bottom of the cup  10 , just above the annular groove  26 . The filter  14  is circular and sized to be closely received by the circumferential sidewall  22  of the cup body at the bottom thereof. As best shown in  FIG. 7 , the filter  14  provides a flat surface in the cup body  12  on top of which coffee bean  18  may rest. Importantly, the resilient filter  14  prevents the coffee beans  18  from falling into the annular groove  26  (which is out of reach of a grinding blade) to facilitate optimal grinding by the grinding blade, as discussed in detail hereinafter. As discussed above, the foil cover  16  seals the filter  14  and whole coffee beans  18  inside the cup body  12 , keeping the coffee beans  18  fresh until use. 
         [0071]    As will be readily appreciated, the prepackaged filter cup  10  is completely sealed on all sides thereof so as to ensure freshness of the coffee beans  18  or other beverage ingredients within the cup  10 . In an embodiment, the cup  10  may be vacuum-sealed to further ensure freshness of the beverage ingredients. In another embodiment, he cup  10  may be stored and transported in a separate sealed package or wrapper for additional freshness and protection. In the preferred embodiment, the filter cup  10  is a pre-packaged, single-use, disposable component. Thus, it is sealed by the cover  16  in an air-tight manner to preserve freshness and flavor and to protect the coffee beans  18  from moisture and contamination. 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , and as discussed in detail hereinafter, the floor of the annular groove  26  may be pierced by a needle of a brewed beverage appliance. A blade of the beverage appliance pierces the cover  16  such that water may enter the cup body  12 . The water is then passed through the cup  10  to create brewed coffee, which exist the cup through the aperture created by the needle. 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-25B , a brewed beverage appliance  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The appliance  100  is intended to be used in combination with the prepackaged filter cup  10 , disclosed above, in order to brew coffee or other beverage. As shown therein, the appliance  100  is generally rectangular in shape and includes a base  102  and a drip tray  104  removably received by the base  102 . The drip tray  104  has a slotted or grated top surface  106  that is adapted to support a container, such as a coffee cup. As will be readily appreciated, the grated surface  106  permits liquid that may be spilled from the cup  108  during operation to pass through the surface  106  and collect in the drip tray  104 , for easy cleanup. 
         [0074]    A housing  110  is located above and is supported by the base  102 . In an embodiment, the housing  110  may be integrally formed with the base  102 . The housing includes a sliding access door  112  that allows access to a filter cup container holder or loading tray  124  for securing and positioning a prepackaged filter cup  10 . A locking handle  114  is pivotally mounted to the housing  110  for operation, as described below. As further shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a water reservoir  116  is attached to, supported by, and otherwise forms a part of the housing  110 . In an embodiment, the water reservoir  116  may be removably or permanently affixed to the housing  110 . The housing  110  also includes a control panel  118  for controlling operation of the appliance  100 , as discussed hereinafter. As best shown in  FIG. 10 , the base  102  also includes a drain tray  120  slidably received therein for receiving water from a cleaning operation of the appliance  100 . 
         [0075]    With further reference to  FIGS. 9-25B , the appliance  100  includes a brew spout  122  from which a brewed beverage is dispensed. In an embodiment, the brew spout  122  is adjustable in height, as discussed hereinafter. 
         [0076]    Operation of the appliance  100  will now be described with specific reference to  FIGS. 17-25B . First, the water reservoir  116  is filled with water. A user then selects the desired coffee/beverage settings from the control panel  118 . Settings may include selectable options such as coffee strength and serving size, timer setting, automatic brew, etc. The handle  114  is then moved upwardly in the direction of arrow A, as shown in  FIG. 17 , which causes the sliding access door  112  to move downward in the direction of arrow B to expose the loading tray  124 . When the handle  114  is in the “up” position and the sliding access door  112  is retracted, the loading tray  124  is pivoted and angled toward the front of the appliance  100  so as to allow a user to easily insert a prepackaged filter cup  10 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . A user may then place a coffee cup  108  on the drip tray  104 , directly beneath the brew spout  122 . 
         [0077]    Once a prepackaged filter cup  10  is positioned in the loading tray  124 , as shown in  FIG. 19 , the locking handle  114  is then moved downward in the direction of arrow C, as shown in  FIG. 20 . As shown therein, this causes sliding access door  112  to move upwards in the direction of arrow D, to block access to the interior components of the appliance  100 , and also moves the filter cup  10  into a grind and brew position, as discussed hereinafter. 
         [0078]    A user then selects the desired brew settings using the buttons  126  on the LCD control panel  118 , and presses a “BREW” button to initiate the grinding and brewing processes. During the grinding process, the coffee beans  20  in the filter cup  10  are ground by a grinding blade assembly  128  that is received within the cup  10  so that the beans  20  are transformed into coffee grounds  130 . After the whole coffee beans  18  within the cup  10  are transformed into coffee grounds  130 , the brewing process will automatically commence. During the brewing process, heated water is delivered into the cup  10  from a brew or shower head  132 . The heated water passes through the coffee grounds  130 , exits through the bottom of the filter cup  10  (see  FIG. 8 ), and is emitted from the brew spout  122  into the coffee mug  108  positioned on the tray  104 . The coffee mug  108  may then be removed from the tray  104  and is ready to enjoy. 
         [0079]    To remove a used filter cup  10 , the locking handle  114  is once again moved into the “up” position, as represented by arrow E in  FIG. 23 , which causes the loading tray  124  to retract from the grind/brew position and rotate outwardly towards a user, and also causes the access door  112  to open. A user then manually removes the spend filter cup  10  and disposes of the same. 
         [0080]    With reference to  FIGS. 25A and 25B , once the filter cup  10  is discarded, a user can again move the locking handle  114  to its downward position to close the access door  114 . Importantly, the appliance  100  contains control circuitry, which will automatically initiate a cleaning process when the handle is moved to the downward position subsequent to brewing. During the cleaning process, water is dispensed from the brew/shower head  132  to rinse remaining coffee grounds from the grinding blade assembly  128  and the internal brewing area. This water is then collected in the drain tray  120  which can be emptied, as necessary, by sliding it out from the base  102  in the direction of arrow F, as shown in  FIG. 25B . In an embodiment, the blade assembly  128  may rotate during application of water to facilitate cleaning. At this point, the appliance  100  is in a standby mode and is ready to brew another beverage. 
         [0081]    In yet another embodiment, a cleaning operation may include running a brewing cycle without actually inserting a filter cup  10 . In this embodiment, the handle  114  may be moved downward to begin the cycle such that heated water is passed over the blade assembly  128  to clean the same. Alternatively, a button on the control panel  118  may be depressed to initiate the cleaning cycle. 
         [0082]      FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate certain internal components of the appliance  100 . With reference to  FIG. 26 , the appliance  100  includes a grinder motor  134  having a rotating output shaft that drives the grinding blade assembly  128 . The appliance  100  also includes a heater  136  of the type known in the art that functions to heat water from the water reservoir  116  for use in the brewing process, a pump  138  that draws water from the reservoir  116  via the heater  136  and pumps the water to the shower head  132  for infusion into the filter cup  10 , and a flow meter  140  which measures the flow of water from the tank  116 . The flow meter  140  may be of the type known in the art and is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board  196  of the control panel  118 . In this manner, signals representing the flow rate of water from the tank  116  are relayed to the control panel  118  so that the correct amount of brewed coffee is dispensed from the spout  122  into a user&#39;s coffee mug  108 . 
         [0083]    As further shown in  FIG. 26 , a water inlet  142  connects to the water tank  116  and provides a passage from the tank  116  to a water conduit  144 . A safety valve  146  is provided which functions to release internal pressure when it reaches a predetermined point. A pressure release valve  148  is also provided. As shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27 , the appliance  100  also includes a three-way valve  151  and solenoid  152 . The three-way valve  151  is triggered by the solenoid  152  to control the flow path from the coffee outlet at the loading tray  124  to either the spout  122  or the drain tray  120 .  FIG. 26  also shows a container loading block  154  which houses the loading tray  124 , as discussed hereinafter. 
         [0084]    Turning now to  FIGS. 28 and 29 , detail views of the container loading block  154  are shown. The container loading block  154  includes the container loading tray  124  defining a generally cylindrical recess adapted to received a prepackaged filter cup  10 . A pin or needle (not shown in  FIGS. 28 and 29 ) is provided adjacent the bottom of the cylindrical recess to pierce the bottom of a filter cup  10 . A seal ring  156  is configured adjacent the top rim of the cylindrical recess which provides an air-tight and water-tight seal between the loading tray  124  and brew/shower head  132  during brewing, as discussed hereinafter. As best shown in  FIG. 29 , the container loading block  154  further includes a supporting hinge set  158  which allows for vertical and rotational movement of the loading tray  124 , allows the loading tray  124  to be moved into registration with the brew head, and which engages the sliding access door  112  to provide movement thereof upon movement of the handle  114  between its up and down positions. A handle shaft  160  extends outwards from a lower portion of the hinge set  158  and is adapted to receive a complimentary mating portion of the handle  114  in fixed relation. As will be readily appreciated, rotation of the locking handle  114 , and thus handle shaft  160 , controls movement (upwards, downwards and pivoting movement) of the loading tray  124 . A coffee outlet  162  is also provided on the container loading block  154 . The coffee outlet  162  is in fluid communication with the pin that pierces the filter cup  10  and directs brewed coffee/water to the three-way valve  151 , and ultimately to either the drain tray  120  (during a cleaning/rinsing mode) or to the spout  122  for dispensing (during a brewing mode). 
         [0085]    Turning now to  FIGS. 32 and 33 , the piercing mechanism for piercing a hole in the bottom of the filter cup  10  is shown. As best shown in  FIG. 32 , the piercing mechanism is in the form of a hollow pin  164  or needle built in at the bottom of the loading tray  24 . The bottom of the loading tray  124  includes an annular recess  166  dimensioned to receive the annular groove  26  of a filter cup. The hollow interior of the pin  164  is in fluid communication with the coffee outlet  162  so a to provide a flow path from the interior of the filter cup  10  to the spout  122 , as discussed hereinafter. As shown in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , when a filter cup  10  is inserted into the loading tray  124 , the pin  164  pierces the floor  24  of the filter cup  10  and enters the annular groove  26 . Importantly, the filter cup design, including the annular groove, the loading tray design, including the annular recess  166 , and pin length are such that the pin  164  will not pierce the filter cup  10  very deeply in order to avoid piercing the resilient filter  14 . During brewing, however, the internal pressure within the filter cup  10  will build up and cause the annular groove  26  of the filter cup to expand downward, causing the pin  164  to reach an optimum piercing depth within the filter cup  10 , whereby an aperture in the needle is exposed to the interior of the filter cup  10  so that brewed coffee may flow from the filter cup  10 , through the pin  164  and to the coffee outlet  162 . As discussed above, the coffee outlet  162  is in fluid communication with the three-way valve  151  so that coffee/liquid can be selectively directed to either the coffee spout  122  (in a brewing mode) or the drain tray  120  (in a cleaning/rinsing mode). 
         [0086]      FIGS. 34-36  illustrate a container loading mechanism  168  which is housed within the container loading block  154 . The container loading mechanism  168  is comprised of the loading tray  124  and hinge set  158 , handle shaft  160  and handle  114 . When the locking handle  114  is rotated downwardly, the loading tray  124  rotates inward in the direction of arrow G, as shown in  FIG. 34 , until the top of the loading tray  124  is in line with the brew/shower head  132 , as shown in  FIG. 34 . Upon further downward rotation of the locking handle  114 , the loading tray  124  translates upward, in the direction of arrow H, towards the brew/shower head  132  and the blade assembly  128  until the blade assembly  128  pierces the cover  16  of the filter cup  10 . As the handle  114  is moved to its fully downward position, the seal ring  156  is pressed against the underside of the brew/shower head  132 , thereby creating an air and liquid tight seal. Brewing may then be commenced. 
         [0087]      FIGS. 37 and 38  illustrate a container unloading mechanism  170 . As shown therein, the mechanism  170  includes a plurality of push rods  172  that extend through the brew/shower head  132  and are positioned so as to contact the rim of the filter cup  10  (or the seal ring  156  when no filter cup  10  is present) when the loading tray  124  is in the brew position. Each of the push rods  172  is fitted with a coil spring  174 , or the like, and a rod seal ring  176 . In the preferred embodiment there are three push rods, although less than or more than three may be utilized without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0088]    When the loading tray  124  and filter cup  10  are pushed up against the shower head  132  during loading, the filter cup  10  causes the spring biased push rods  172  to retract. In this position, the push rods  172  exert a downward force on the filter cup  10  due to the bias of the coil springs  174 .  FIG. 39  shows the position of the push rods  172  in the loaded/brew position (before the filter cup  10  is unloaded). Subsequent to brewing, when the handle  114  is moved downward, the loading tray  124  retracts from the shower head  132  and the bias of the push rods  172  pushes against the rim of the used filter cup  10  to ensure that the filter cup  10  retracts from the shower head  132  with the loading tray  124  (without the bias force of the push rods  172 , it is possible that the filter cup  10  may stick to the shower head  132 ).  FIG. 40  illustrates the position of the push rods  172  during unloading of the filter cup  10 . 
         [0089]    In an embodiment, one of the push rods  172  may be configured with a sensor  178  electrically coupled to the PCB  196  of the control panel  118 . The sensor  178  is configured to detect whether or not a filter cup  10  is present and to relay feedback signals to the control panel  118  regarding the same. In particular, the sensor  178  is configured to detect a distance of movement of one of the push rods  172  when the loading tray  124  is moved into the brew position. Depending on the distance of movement, the sensor  178  can detect whether or not a filter cup  10  is present. This is then relayed to the PCB  196 . 
         [0090]    Various views of the grinding blade  128  for grinding the whole coffee beans are shown in  FIGS. 41-46 . As shown therein, the blade  128  has a V-shaped configuration. Importantly, the blade  128  has insert cutting edges  180  so that the cover  16  of a filter cup  10  can be pierced when the cup  10  is raised into registration with the shower head  132  upon downwards movement of the handle  114 . The top of the blade also includes upward facing extract cutting edges  182  for cutting through the cover  16  when the filter cup  10  is lowered away from the blade  128  subsequent to brewing, upon upwards movement of the handle  114 . Each leg of the “V” is also formed with an opposed recess  184  and raised ridge  186  to facilitate grinding of the coffee beans  18 , as described hereinafter. The blade  128  also includes a flat neck  188  for connection to the output shaft of the grinding motor  134 . In such an embodiment, the blade  128  may be removable for replacement and more thorough cleaning. In an alternative embodiment, the blade  128  is integrally formed or otherwise fixedly secured to the output shaft of the motor  134 . As will be readily appreciated, the slim profile of the blade  128  puts cuts a slot a minimal width in the cover  16  to prevent coffee grounds  130  from being thrown out of the cup  10  during grinding. 
         [0091]      FIG. 47  is an enlarged, detail view illustrating a filter cup  10  being raised toward the blade  128  and  FIG. 48  illustrates the blade  128 , by way of the insert cutting edges  180 , piercing the cover  16  of the cup  10 . In both  FIGS. 47 and 48  the coffee beans  18  in the cup  10  are not yet ground. After grinding, the beans  18  have been transformed into ground coffee  130 . Brewing occurs, as described above, and the cup  10  is then lowered as shown in  FIGS. 49 and 50  such that the extract cutting edges  182  of the blade  128  again pierce the cover  16 , if necessary, to facilitate removal of the cup  10  from the blade  128 . 
         [0092]    Referring now to  FIGS. 51-53 , the actual grinding process is illustrated. Upon actuation of the grinding motor  134 , the grinding blade  128  rotates at a frequency sufficient to grind the whole coffee beans  18  in the filter cup  10  to transform the coffee beans  18  from whole beans, as shown in  FIG. 51 , into grinds  130 , as shown in  FIG. 53 . In particular, the blade  128  is rotated in a direction (see  FIG. 52 ) that causes the ridge  186  on the blade  166  to strike/impact the coffee beans  18 , as shown in  FIG. 54 , to cause them to split. Over time, numerous impacts from the blade itself, and most importantly, by the ridges  186 , as shown in  FIG. 54 , gradually reduce the size of the coffee beans to fine grounds sufficient for brewing. 
         [0093]    In an embodiment, the blade  128  may continue to rotate at a predetermined frequency during the brewing process, i.e., during the time during which hot water is passed through the cup  10 . The frequency of rotation during brewing may be the same as, or different from, the frequency utilized to grind the coffee beans  18 . In other embodiments, the blade  128  may be utilized to stir drink ingredients during brewing, such as to facilitate dissolution of drink ingredients into the water passing through the cup  10  (e.g., when utilizing iced tea drink ingredients in place of whole coffee beans). As will be readily appreciated, stirring the drink ingredients/coffee beans within the cup  10  while brewing may produce a better tasting beverage. In particular, stirring during brewing may improve the contact between the coffee grounds  130  and the hot water, which may improve coffee quality and/or concentration. 
         [0094]    Turning now to  FIG. 55 , operation of the brewing mechanism is illustrated. As shown therein, water from the water tank  116  is heated by the heater  136  and pumped by the pump  138  to the shower/brew head  132 . The brew head  132  includes a plurality of small apertures  190  through which the heated water passes before entering the filter cup  10  through the hole created by the grinding blade  128 . Notably, the numerous apertures  190  deliver water evenly to the top of the filter cup  10 , which helps to minimize the amount of coffee grounds  130  at the brew head and keeps the cover  16  clean after the brewing process. The heated water fills up the filter cup  10 . When the filter cup  10  is full with heated water, pressure is built up within the container (as a the filter  14  limits flow). As a result, pressurized brewing occurs within the filter cup  10 . In an embodiment, as discussed above, the blade  128  may rotate during brewing to facilitate contact between the heated water and the coffee grounds  130 , thereby improving coffee qualify. The brewed coffee then passes through the filter  14  into the annular groove  26  of the cup  10 , and through the hollow needle  164  to the coffee outlet  162 . From the coffee outlet  162 , the brewed coffee passes through the three-way valve  151  and to the coffee spout  122  for dispensing into a coffee cup  108 . 
         [0095]    In an embodiment, near the end of the brewing cycle, the pump  138  will stop first so that the heater  136  further heats up the water to produce stem. This steam travels through the system to push the remaining coffee out of the filter cup  10 . As will be readily appreciated, this stem burst removes excess water from the coffee grounds  130  within the filter cup  10 , thereby ensuring an easy and mess-free disposal and cleanup. 
         [0096]      FIGS. 56-58  illustrate an auto-rinsing mechanism which is automatically initiated once brewing is completed. Once a filter cup  10  is removed by the user after the brewing process, coffee grounds  130  may remain on the grinding blade  128  or the brew head  132 , as shown in  FIG. 56 . When a user pulls down on the locking handle  114  after removing the spent filter cup  10 , the sliding door  112  is closed, blocking access to the brew head  132  and loading tray  124 . The control circuitry of the control panel  118  will then initiate the rinsing process. During rinsing, water will be pumped from the reservoir  116  by the pump  138  and heated by the heater  136 . The hot water will then exit through the shower/brew head  132  to rinse/cleanse the brew head  132  and blade assembly  128  of remaining coffee grounds  130 . In an embodiment, the blade  128  will rotate during rinsing to facilitate the removal of coffee grounds  130  from the blade, as shown in  FIG. 57 . Steam will then be generated in the manner described above and delivered to the loading tray  124  to flush the remaining rinsing water from the loading tray  124  and to the coffee outlet  162 . During, or immediately prior to the rinsing process, the solenoid  152  controls the three-way valve  151  so that the rinsing water and coffee grounds  130  carried therein are directed to the drain tray  120  instead of the spout  122 . At this point, the loading tray  124 , blade  128  and brew head  132  are free from coffee grounds  130  and the appliance is ready for another brewing cycle, as shown in  FIG. 58 . A notification on the control panel  118  may remind a user to empty the drain tray  120  after a pre-determined number of brewing cycles. 
         [0097]    With reference to  FIG. 59 , the grinding stage of the appliance  100  is illustrated in block form. As shown therein, and as discussed above, during the grinding stage the grinder motor  134  will rotate at a high enough frequency to grind the whole coffee beans  18  within the filter cup  10 . At the same time, the heater will pre-heat the water from the reservoir  116 . As shown in  FIG. 59 , the heater may include a sensor  194  that controls the heater  136  so that a suitable temperature (or temperature range) for brewing is obtained. The heater sensor  194  is electrically coupled to the PCB  196  of the control panel  118  such that the PCB  196  may control the temperature of the heater  136  through the heater sensor  194 . 
         [0098]    With reference to  FIG. 60 , the brewing stage of the appliance is illustrated in block form. As shown therein, and as discussed above, the solenoid controls (or is deactivated) the three-way valve  151  such that the flow path is to the coffee spout  122 . A small amount of water is heated by the heater  136  and pumped into the filter cup  10  to pre-wet the coffee grounds  130 . Normal brewing is then commenced wherein water is continuously pumped through the heater  136  and into the filter cup  10 . Importantly, the water temperature is regulated throughout the brewing process for optimum brewing and taste. In connection with this, a water temperature sensor  198  detects a temperature of the water exiting the heater  136  and relays this temperature to the PCB  196  of the control panel  118 . The heater power and pump rate may then be adjusted to keep the water temperature within the optimal range. The flow meter  140  also keeps track of the flow rate and relays this information to the PCB  196 . Towards the end of the brewing process, the pump  138  will stop first to let the heater  136  further heat the water to produce steam, as discussed above. This steam then travels through the system to push the remaining coffee out of the filter cup  10 . After all coffee exits the filter cup  10 , the pressure release valve  148  is opened (in response to a signal from the PCB  196  of the control panel  118 ) to release the pressure inside the filter cup  10 . Residual steam or water will then be delivered to the drain tray  120 . In the event that the brewing channel is blocked during the brewing process, the safety valve  146  is configured to release pressure to the drain tray  120 . 
         [0099]    Finally, with reference to  FIG. 61 , the brewing stage of the appliance  100  is illustrated in block form. As shown therein, and as discussed above, after a user removed the used filer cup  10  and pulls down the locking handle  114 , the loading tray  124  is moved into registration with the shower head  132 . The PCB  196  checks if the filter cup  10  is removed or is still present (through the push rods  172  and sensor  178 ). If no filter cup  10  is detected, the rinsing process is automatically initiated. In particular, the solenoid  152  controls the three-way valve  151  so that the flow path is to the drain tray  120 . A small amount of hot water is pumped into the loading tray  124  and the grinding blade  128  is rotated by the grinder motor  134  to remove any remaining coffee grounds  130 . Towards the end of the rinsing process, the pump  138  will stop first to let the heater  136  further heat the water to produce steam, as discussed above. This steam then travels through the system to flush all the rinsing water and coffee grounds  130  from the filter cup  10  to the drain tray  120 . 
         [0100]    Turning now to  FIG. 62 , a detail view of the control panel  118  is shown. As shown therein, the control panel  118  includes a LCD display  200 , a “MENU” button  202  that allows for function selection and switching between functions by a user, up/down arrows  204 ,  206  for adjusting each function, and a “BREW” button  208  which initiates the grinding and brewing process. In the preferred embodiment, the control panel  118  further includes a “RINSE” button  210  for manually initiating the rinsing process (in alternative to the automatic rinsing described above) and a “HOT WATER” button  212  for dispensing hot water only. In the preferred embodiment, major menu functions include grind on/off, auto rinse on/off, auto on settings, auto off settings, default brew size selection and a clock. Each of these functions may be displayed on the LCD display  200 . 
         [0101]    While the preferred embodiment contemplates the grinding and brewing of coffee from whole coffee beans, the present invention is not intended to be limited in this regard. In particular, it is contemplated that the present invention apparatus and method are not limited to cups containing whole bean coffee, per se, and the invention may be used with cups containing ground coffee, partially ground coffee, tea leaves, ground tea, or drink mix ingredients. In addition, the appliance according to the embodiments of the present invention can make/brew beverages from any ingredients contained within the filter cup, and is not limited to brewing coffee from whole coffee beans. 
         [0102]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.