Abstract:
An apparatus for use in a beverage brewing machine includes a filter pack containing an amount of grinds to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage, a single serving disposable brew basket including a body defining a brewing reservoir. The body is formed with a disposable rigid construction. The body has an opening therethrough to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir of the disposable brew basket into a beverage container. The body extends upwardly from a bottom of the brewing reservoir to an open top that is configured to receive heated water from the brewing machine. The heated water flows through the open top during a brewing operation. The brewing reservoir has a size dimensioned appropriate to make approximately only a single serving of beverage during a single brewing operation. The brewing area is sufficiently large to hold the filter pack and the heated water while brewing without a level of the heated water rising above and overflowing the open top.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/159,620, filed Sep. 12, 2006, which is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/942,766, filed Sep. 16, 2004, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/136,543, filed May 1, 2002, which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to electric coffee brewing machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel disposable brew basket for a coffee maker. 
         [0003]    For years, drip-type electric brewing machines have been used as an efficient means for making coffee. In general, these electric coffee brewing machines include a cold water reservoir, an electric resistance heating element for heating the water, and a reusable plastic brew basket for holding ground coffee in a paper coffee filter. To make coffee, cold water is poured into the water reservoir and ground coffee is placed in a coffee filter, which is in turn placed in the brew basket. The cold water is heated by the electric heating element, and the heated water then saturates the ground coffee. The brewed coffee then drips through the filter out of the brew basket, and into a receiving vessel, e.g., a coffee pot, which is positioned below the brew basket. After brewing is complete, the paper filter and used coffee grounds are taken out of the plastic brew basket and discarded. Then, the brew basket and coffee pot are cleaned for re-use. 
         [0004]    While such drip coffee makers are relatively fast and efficient, the process of cleaning the plastic brew basket and coffeepot after each use is time consuming. Moreover, if the brew basket and coffee pot are not cleaned regularly, the quality and taste of the brewed coffee is compromised. A related problem occurs when such drip coffee makers are used to brew flavored coffee. Unless the brew basket and coffee pot are cleaned thoroughly, the taste and strong scent of flavored coffee tends to linger in the brew basket and coffee pot and can be detected when these components are reused to brew coffee of a different flavor. While these concerns alone have not been significant enough to deter individuals from using drip-type electric coffee makers at home, these drawbacks are multiplied in the hotel industry, where such coffee makers are often provided by hotels for daily in-room use by their thousands of guests. The task of regularly cleaning the thousands of brew baskets and coffee pots is left to the housekeeping or other hotel staff, an expensive, time-consuming task. Thus, there is a need to simplify maintenance of drip-type electric coffee brewing machines, especially in the context of the hotel industry, where thousands of such machines are used daily by hotel guests. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for use in a beverage brewing machine. The apparatus includes a filter pack containing an amount of grinds to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage, and a single serving disposable brew basket including a body defining a brewing reservoir. The body is formed with a disposable rigid construction. The body has an opening therethrough to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir of the disposable brew basket into a beverage container. The body extends upwardly from a bottom of the brewing reservoir to an open top that is configured to receive heated water from the brewing machine. The heated water flows through the open top during a brewing operation. The brewing reservoir has a size dimensioned appropriate to make approximately only a single serving of beverage during a single brewing operation. The brewing area is sufficiently large to hold the filter pack and the heated water while brewing without a level of the heated water rising above and overflowing the open top. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a beverage brewing system is provided. The system includes a beverage brewing machine having a housing, a water reservoir, and a location to receive a brew basket. The brewing machine heats water from the water reservoir. The system also includes a plurality of filter packs. Each filter pack contains an amount of grinds sufficient to brew approximately only a single serving of beverage. The system also includes a plurality of single serving disposable brew baskets utilized with the beverage brewing machine during separate brewing operations. Each of the brew baskets is inserted into the location during an associated brewing operation. Each brew basket includes a body defining a brewing reservoir. The body is formed with a disposable rigid construction. The body has an opening therethrough to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir of the disposable brew basket into a beverage container. The body extends upwardly from a bottom of the brewing reservoir to an open top that is configured to receive heated water from the brewing machine. The heated water flows through the open top during a brewing operation. The brewing reservoir has a size dimensioned appropriate to make approximately only a single serving of beverage during a single brewing operation. The brewing area is sufficiently large to hold the filter pack and the heated water while brewing without a level of the heated water rising above and overflowing the open top. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary electric coffee brewing machine used in the practice of embodiments consistent with the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a disposable brew basket consistent with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2  with a coffee filter pack provided therein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of a nested stack of a plurality of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 8  showing the disposable brew basket and the coffee filter pack packaged together; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are perspective views similar to  FIG. 8  showing the disposable brew basket and the coffee filter pack packaged separately; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket consistent with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket consistent with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view of another alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket consistent with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket consistent with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a front elevational view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a side elevational view of the disposable brew basket of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a side elevational view of a nested stack of a plurality of the disposable brew baskets of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary electric coffee brewing machine used in the practice of embodiments consistent with the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of another alternative exemplary electric coffee brewing machine used in the practice of embodiments consistent with the present invention. 
           [0030]    Reference characters used in these drawings correspond with reference characters used throughout the Detailed Description, which follows. These drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments consistent with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    A drip-type electric coffee brewing machine used in the practice of embodiments consistent with the present invention is represented generally in  FIG. 1  by the reference numeral  10 . In general, the machine  10  comprises an outer housing  12 , a cold water reservoir  14 , a basket-receiving recess  16 , a brew basket  18 , a receiving vessel platform  20  for supporting a coffee-receiving vessel, such as a coffee pot or coffee cup  22 , and an electric power cord  24 . The outer housing  12  may include any suitable material(s) that enables the housing  12  to function as described herein, such as, but not limited to, plastic. In some respects, the electric coffee machine  10  is similar to conventional drip-type electric coffee brewing machines. To make coffee, a lid  26  to the cold water reservoir  14  is lifted and cold water (not shown) is poured into the reservoir  14 . An appropriate amount of ground coffee (not shown) is placed in a paper coffee filter (not shown), which is in turn placed in the brew basket  18 . The cold water is heated by an electric heating element (not shown) housed in the machine  10 , and the heated water then flows into the brew basket  18  and saturates the ground coffee contained therein. Brewed coffee then drips out into the receiving vessel  22 , for example a coffee cup, which is positioned immediately below the brew basket  18 . 
         [0032]    The brew basket  18  shown in  FIG. 1  is conventional and may be made of injection molded plastic or another suitable material that is durable and corrosion resistant. The brew basket  18  shown in  FIG. 1  can be reused many times, as is well known in the art. After brewing is complete, the paper filter and used coffee grounds are taken out of the reusable brew basket  18  and discarded. Then, the brew basket  18  must be cleaned for re-use. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2 through 9  show an exemplary embodiment of a disposable brew basket  40  consistent with the present invention. The disposable brew basket  40  may be shaped and dimensioned to fit within the basket-receiving recess  16  of the electric coffee machine  10 , in lieu of the reusable brew basket  18 . Although the disposable brew basket  40  may have any suitable shape that enables it to function as described and illustrated herein, as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 9 , the disposable brew basket  40  has a body  41  that has a generally rectangular shape with a bottom wall  42 . More specifically, the disposable brew basket  40  shown in  FIGS. 2-9  has the bottom wall  42 , a front wall  44 , a rear wall  45 , a left side wall  46  and a right sidewall  48 . The front, rear, left and right side walls are arranged in a generally rectangular shape and extend generally upwardly from the bottom wall  42  to define a brewing reservoir  50  having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape for holding coffee grounds and for receiving heated water from the electric coffee brewing machine  10 . The brewing reservoir  50  may alternatively be used to hold grounds or other materials used to make other beverages, such as, but not limited to, tea and/or hot chocolate. As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  7 , the bottom wall  42  of the basket  40  may have a single, central opening  52  or “drip spout” to permit brewed coffee to flow from the brewing reservoir  50  of the disposable brew basket  40  and into the receiving vessel  22  ( FIG. 1 ). The disposable brew basket  40  includes a lip  49  extending from the front wall  44  to facilitate grasping the basket  40  for generally holding the basket  40 , as well as inserting the basket  40  within, and removing the basket  40  from, the basket-receiving recess  16 . Alternatively, the disposable brew basket  40  does not include the lip  49 . 
         [0034]    The bottom wall  42 , the front wall  44 , the rear wall  45 , the left side wall  46 , the right side wall  48 , and the lip  49  may be of a monolithic rigid construction. That is, the bottom wall  42 , the front wall  44 , the rear wall  45 , the left side wall  46 , the right side wall  48 , and the lip  49  may be formed as a single piece. Alternatively, the bottom wall  42 , the front wall  44 , the rear wall  45 , the left side wall  46 , the right side wall  48 , and the lip  49  may be formed from multiple pieces, such as, but not limited to, two pieces. The multiple pieces may be permanently and rigidly secured to one another. For example, the multiple pieces may be fused together, welded together, bonded together using any suitable adhesive, and/or secured to one another using another suitable method and/or means that enables the disposable brew basket  40  to function as described herein. The disposable brew basket  40  may be made from any suitable material(s) that form a rigid construction. One example of a material suitable for making the disposable brew basket  40  is vacuum formed high-impact polystyrene, which may be relatively inexpensive, may be generally easy to work with in manufacturing, and may produce a sufficiently strong product with a minimum thickness of material. However, other disposable materials having similar qualities could be used without departing from the scope of embodiments consistent with the present invention. For example, the disposable brew basket  40  may be formed, at least partially, from a metal or a composite of different metals, for example by stamping the brew basket  40  out of a sheet of metal(s) or by laminating a foil of one or more metals, referred to herein as a metallic foil, with one or more other materials, such as, but not limited to, paper and/or plastic. The disposable brew basket  40  may be stamped out of the sheet of metal(s) as a single piece. Alternatively, the walls  42 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48 , or portions thereof, may be separately stamped out one or more sheets of metal(s) and thereafter joined together to form the disposable brew basket  40 . The sheet of metal(s) may have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined rigidity to the disposable brew basket  40 . Such a selected thickness may depend upon the properties of the particular metal(s) selected. 
         [0035]    Similarly, a thickness of the material(s) laminated with the metallic foil may be selected to support the foil to provide a predetermined rigidity to the disposable brew basket  40 . The metallic foil and other material(s) may be laminated together in any suitable configuration and/or arrangement. For example, the other material(s) may form the core structure of walls  42 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48 , and the metallic foil may be laminated on an interior side of walls  42 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48  to provide the disposable brew basket  40  with a non-porous surface within the brewing reservoir  50 , whether or not the other material(s) are porous. The non-porous surface within the brewing reservoir  50  may prevent water and/or brewed coffee from flowing through walls  42 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48 , such that the water and/or brewed coffee instead flows from the brewing reservoir  50  into the receiving vessel  22  through the central opening  52 . The metallic foil may also be laminated on an exterior side of walls  42 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48  to provide structure, support, and/or non-porosity thereto. 
         [0036]    One example of a suitable metal for making the disposable brew basket  40  is aluminum, although the disposable brew basket  40  is not limited to being made therefrom. Aluminum may be selected as a material of the disposable brew basket  40  because of its cost and/or weight relative to some other metals. However, any suitable metal or combination of metals that enables the disposable brew basket  40  to function as described and illustrated herein may be used to form the disposable brew basket  40 , for example based on the properties, composition, cost, and/or convenience thereof. 
         [0037]    Another example of materials that may be used to make the disposable brew basket  40  with a rigid construction includes paper that is at least partially impregnated and/or coated with one or more materials that facilitate providing the disposable brew basket  40  with a non-porous surface within the brewing reservoir  50  and/or other portions of walls  42 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48 . The paper may be any suitable type of paper that enables the disposable brew basket  40  to function as described and illustrated herein. The type of paper and its thickness may each be selected to provide a predetermined rigidity to the disposable brew basket  40 . The material(s) impregnated within, and/or coating, the paper may be any suitable material(s) that enables the disposable brew basket to function as described and illustrated herein, and that facilitates providing non-porosity to all or a portion of the disposable brew basket  40 , such as, but not limited to, plastic and/or wax. The material impregnated within, and/or coating, the paper may also provide structure and/or support to the paper to facilitate providing the disposable brew basket  40  with the predetermined rigidity. 
         [0038]    Another example of materials that may be used to make the disposable brew basket  40  includes one or more plastics and/or other polymers. For example, the disposable brew basket  40  may be formed from one or more thermoplastics, such as, but not limited to, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, celluloid, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVAL), fluoroplastics, ionomers, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyacetal (POM), polyacrylates, polyamide (PA), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyketone (PK), polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide (PI), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polysulfone (PSU), and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Another example of plastics and/or other polymers that may be used to make the disposable brew basket  40  includes one or more expanded and/or extruded polymers. For example, one or more expanded plastics, sometimes referred to as foamed plastics, may be used to make the disposable brew basket  40 , such as, but not limited to, expanded polystyrene. Extruded plastics, such as, but not limited to, extruded polystyrene, are other examples of polymers that may be used to make the disposable brew basket  40 . Still other examples of plastics or other polymers that may be used to make the disposable brew basket  40  include thermosets, such as, but not limited to, phenol formaldehyde resin, duroplast, polyester resin, and/or epoxy resin. 
         [0039]    The formed plastic(s) and/or other polymer(s) may have a thickness selected to provide a predetermined rigidity to the disposable brew basket  40 . Such a selected thickness may depend upon the properties of the particular plastic(s) and/or polymer(s) selected. Any suitable plastic(s), polymer(s), thermoplastic(s), thermoset(s), extruded polymer(s), and/or expanded polymer(s) that enables the disposable brew basket  40  to function as described and illustrated herein may be used to form the disposable brew basket  40 , for example based on the properties, composition, cost, and/or convenience thereof. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the disposable brew basket  40  may also include an integral coffee filter pack  60  comprising a liquid permeable pouch  62  (e.g., a paper filter pouch) containing an amount of ground coffee appropriate for brewing a single serving of brewed coffee. The coffee filter pack  60  is not unlike a tea bag, as it contains an amount of ground coffee that is appropriate for brewing a single serving of the beverage, and is designed to be used once and then discarded. Alternatively, a coffee filter pack containing enough ground coffee to brew more than a single serving in a single brewing operation could be used without departing from the scope of embodiments consistent with the present invention. Moreover, the disposable brew basket  40  may alternatively include an integral filter pack (not shown) containing an amount of grounds or other materials used to make other beverages, such as, but not limited to tea and/or hot chocolate. 
         [0041]    One coffee filter pack  60  and one disposable brew basket  40  may be packaged together in a package  70  as shown in  FIG. 10  for use. The coffee filter pack  60  may or may not be adhered or otherwise connected to the basket  40 , such as, but not limited to, the basket bottom wall  42 . The disposable brew baskets  40  and the coffee filter packs  60  may also be packaged and sold separately from one another in packages  80  and  90 , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b , respectively, without departing from the scope of embodiments consistent with the present invention. 
         [0042]    The disposable brew baskets  40  and the coffee filter packs  60  may be packaged, whether together or separately, using any suitable packaging material(s), such as, but not limited to, paper and/or plastic. The paper, plastic, and/or other material(s) may be laminated and/or coated with any suitable material(s), such as, but not limited to, a metallic foil and/or a wax. The packaging material used to package the disposable brew baskets  40  and/or the coffee filter packs  60  may be sealed, for example, to facilitate preventing damage to, contamination of, and/or degradation of the disposable brew baskets  40  and/or the coffee filter packs  60  during storage and/or shipping. The packaging material may be sealed using any suitable structure and/or means, such as, but not limited to, heat, adhesive, compression, and/or other fastening mechanisms, such as, but not limited to, clips, string, wires, and/or fastening mechanisms that include a deformable wire (e.g., a bread tie). The packaging material may be hermetically sealed, for example, to facilitate preventing damage to, contamination of, and/or degradation of the disposable brew baskets  40  and/or the coffee filter packs  60  during storage and/or shipping. Moreover, in addition to the hermetic seal, the disposable brew baskets  40  and/or the coffee filter packs  60  may also be vacuum packaged. 
         [0043]    Thus, in use, the disposable brew basket  40  is inserted into the basket-receiving recess  16  of the electric coffee brewing machine  10 , in lieu of the reusable brew basket  18 . The coffee filter pack  60  may be placed into the brewing reservoir  50  of the disposable brew basket  40 , in lieu of a conventional paper filter and loose coffee grinds. In accordance with embodiments consistent with the present invention, both the disposable brew basket  40  and the coffee filter pack  60  are then discarded after use, e.g., after one brewing operation. 
         [0044]    More specifically, a method of brewing a single serving of coffee comprises the steps of: providing an electric coffee brewing machine such as machine  10 ; providing a single-use, disposable brew basket  40  having a brewing reservoir  50  for receiving heated water from the electric coffee brewing machine  10 ; providing a coffee filter pack  60  comprising a liquid permeable pouch  62  containing ground coffee; placing the coffee filter pack  60  within the brewing reservoir  50  of the disposable brew basket  40 ; inserting the disposable brew basket  40  into the basket receiving recess  16  of the electric coffee brewing machine  10 ; brewing a single serving of coffee with the electric coffee brewing machine  10 ; and discarding the disposable brew basket  40  and coffee filter pack  60  after the single serving of coffee has been brewed. 
         [0045]    A related method of embodiments consistent with the present invention comprises the steps of providing an electric coffee brewing machine  10  including a reusable brew basket  18  with a brewing reservoir; providing a disposable brew basket  40  of substantially the same dimensions as the reusable brew basket  18  of the electric coffee brewing machine  10 ; providing a coffee filter pack  60  comprising a liquid permeable pouch  62  containing ground coffee; placing the coffee filter pack  60  within the brewing reservoir  50  of the disposable brew basket  40 ; removing the reusable brew basket  18  from the electric coffee brewing machine  10  and replacing it with the disposable brew basket  40 ; brewing coffee with the electric coffee brewing machine  10 ; and discarding the disposable brew basket  40  and coffee filter pack  60  after the coffee has been brewed. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 9 , the front wall  44 , rear wall  45 , left side wall  46  and right side wall  48  of the disposable brew basket  40  may be tapered outwardly, i.e., they may extend generally upwardly and outwardly from the perimeter of the bottom wall  42 , to facilitate nesting of the disposable brew basket  40  with adjacent, aligned baskets of like configuration (see  FIG. 9 ). This permits multiple nested disposable brew baskets  40  to be packaged (e.g., as described above with respect to individual brew baskets  40 ), stored and/or shipped (see  FIG. 21 ) together at minimal cost. Alternatively, one or more walls  44 ,  45 ,  46 , and/or  48  are not tapered. 
         [0047]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the disposable brew basket  40  may also include at least one integral spacer  66  for limiting the extent of nesting of adjacent, aligned baskets  40 . The integral spacers  66  may be located on the left and/or right side walls  46  and  48  of the disposable brew basket  40 , though spacers could be used on the front and/or rear walls  44  and  45  of the basket  40  without departing from the scope of embodiments consistent with the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the spacer may be located on an inner surface of its associated wall of the disposable brew basket  40  and may include a projection that extends generally inwardly from its associated side wall. The projection is adapted to contact and abut against a lower surface of the bottom wall  42  of an adjacent, nesting basket  40  in a manner to space the nested baskets  40  from one another. Thus, the spacers  66  permit a plurality of the disposable brew baskets  40  to be “controllably nested” (see  FIG. 9 ) by preventing overly tight nesting and thereby facilitating separation prior to repackaging or use. 
         [0048]    In a stack of controllably nested, disposable brew baskets  40 , the location of the spacers  66  may alternate so that the location of the spacers  66  of adjacent baskets in the stack differ from one another to prevent overly tight nesting of the baskets  40  and of the spacers  66  themselves. Each disposable brew basket  40  may include only one spacer  66 . However, multiple spacers, in the same or alternating locations, could be used without departing from the scope of embodiments consistent with the present invention. The spacers  66  may be formed as a monolithic construction, as a single piece, with the remainder of the disposable brew basket body  41 . Alternatively, the spacers  66  may be separately formed and thereafter permanently and rigidly secured to the brew basket body  41 , for example, as described above with respect to the other portions of the disposable brew basket  40 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 12 through 14  show an alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket  140  consistent with the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 12 through 14 , a body  141  of the brew basket  140  has a generally frustroconical shape. More specifically, the disposable brew basket  140  has a bottom wall  142 , and a side wall  144  that has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The side wall  144  extends generally upwardly from the bottom wall  142  to define a brewing reservoir  150 , which has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The side wall  144  is tapered outwardly, i.e., extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the perimeter of the bottom wall  142 , such that the brew basket body  141  has the generally frustroconical shape. Alternatively, the side wall  144  is not tapered. The disposable brew basket  140  includes a lip  149  extending from the side wall  144 . Alternatively, the disposable brew basket  140  does not include the lip  149 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 15  shows another alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket  240  consistent with the present invention. A body  241  of the brew basket  240  has a generally cylindrical shape. More specifically, the disposable brew basket  240  has a bottom wall  242 , and a side wall  244  that has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The side wall  244  extends generally upwardly from the bottom wall  242  to define a brewing reservoir  250 , which has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The disposable brew basket  240  may include a lip (not shown) in alternative embodiments. 
         [0051]      FIG. 16  shows another alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket  340  consistent with the present invention. A body  341  of the disposable brew basket  340  includes a bottom wall  342 , and a side wall  344  having a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape. Although the side wall  344  may have any arcuate cross-sectional shape that is non-circular, the side wall  344  shown in  FIG. 16  has a generally oval-shaped cross section. The side wall  344  extends generally upwardly from the bottom wall  342  to define a brewing reservoir  350 , which has a generally oval cross-sectional shape. The side wall  344  is tapered outwardly, i.e., extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the perimeter of the bottom wall  342 . Alternatively, the side wall  344  is not tapered. The disposable brew basket  340  includes a lip  349  extending from the side wall  344 . Alternatively, the disposable brew basket  340  does not include the lip  349 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 17 through 21  show another alternative embodiment of a disposable brew basket  440  consistent with the present invention. More specifically, a body  441  of the disposable brew basket  440  has a tapered side wall  444  that has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The body  441  does not include a bottom wall, but rather the side wall  444  extends generally upwardly from a central opening  452  or “drip spout”. As such, the body  441  has a generally conical shape. Alternatively, the side wall  444  may have any other non-circular arcuate cross-sectional shape that resembles a conical shape. The side wall  444  defines a brewing reservoir  450 , which has a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The disposable brew basket  440  includes a lip  449  extending from the side wall  444 . Alternatively, the disposable brew basket  440  does not include the lip  449 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , a plurality of the disposable brew baskets  440  may be nested together and packaged in a package  480  such that a plurality of the disposable brew baskets  440  can be stored and/or shipped together. 
         [0053]    Although the disposable brew basket embodiments are described and illustrated above with respect to the coffee brewing machine  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , the disposable brew basket embodiments described and illustrated herein may be used with any suitable coffee maker, such as, but not limited to, those described and illustrated below. 
         [0054]      FIG. 22  is an alternative embodiment of an exemplary drip-type electric coffee brewing machine  1000  which may be used in the practice of embodiments consistent with the present invention. In general, the electric coffee brewing machine  1000  comprises an outer housing  1200 , a cold water reservoir (not shown), a basket-receiving recess  1600 , a receiving vessel platform  2000  for supporting a coffee-receiving vessel (not shown), and an electric power cord  2400 . The outer housing  1200  may include any suitable material(s) that enables the housing  1200  to function as described herein, such as, but not limited to, plastic. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the disposable brew basket  40  shown in  FIG. 2  is received within the basket-receiving recess  1600 . However, any of the disposable brew basket embodiments shown and/or described herein may be used with the brewing machine  1000 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 23  is an alternative embodiment of an exemplary drip-type electric coffee brewing machine  3000  which may be used in the practice of embodiments consistent the present invention. In general, the electric coffee brewing machine  3000  comprises an outer housing  3200 , a cold water reservoir (not shown), an internal cavity  3600  within the housing  3200 , a receiving vessel platform  4000  for supporting a coffee-receiving vessel  5000 , and an electric power cord  4400 . The outer housing  3200  may include any suitable material(s) that enables the housing  3200  to function as described herein, such as, but not limited to, plastic. The brewing machine  3000  is a “top load” machine where water and ground coffee are loaded into the internal cavity  3600  of the housing  3200  through an open top  5200  of the housing  3200 . A hinged or removable lid  5400  is provided to provide access to the internal cavity  3600  through the open top  5200 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , the disposable brew basket  40  shown in  FIG. 2  is received within the internal cavity  3600 . However, any of the disposable brew basket embodiments shown herein may be used with the machine  3000 . 
         [0056]    It should be understood that, although at least one of the novel methods described above includes the steps of providing a reusable brew basket  18  and then removing it and replacing it with the disposable brew basket  40 , there are reasons why it may be preferable to practice embodiments consistent with the present invention without these steps (i.e., without providing a reusable brew basket  18  at all), especially in the context of the hotel industry where such coffee makers are provided by hotels for daily in-room use by thousands of hotel guests. Again, the process of cleaning a reusable plastic brew basket and glass coffee pot after each use is time consuming, and failure to do so properly can not only compromise the quality and taste of the brewed coffee, but also violate health regulations. This is especially so when the coffee makers are used to brew flavored coffee, which have tastes and scents that tend to linger in the permanent brew basket and coffee pot. These are among the reasons why a disposable brew basket designed to brew directly into a coffee cup may be used in embodiments consistent with the present invention. However, in the context of the hotel industry, there are additional reasons why disposable brew baskets are preferred. For example, if the drip coffee maker  10  is provided without a permanent “reusable” brew basket  18  (either because the coffee maker is manufactured and sold without one or because the hotel management removes it before placing the coffee maker in the room), then hotel guests and staff are less likely to steal the coffee maker, which is virtually useless without a brew basket. In addition to theft deterrence, providing a “single serving” coffee maker  10  (designed to brew directly into a coffee cup as shown in  FIG. 1 ) without a reusable brew basket  18  and without a glass coffee pot eliminates risk of injury associated with handling these components. Also, because the “single serving” coffee maker  10  may be designed to brew directly into a coffee cup, there is no need for a heating plate, which further reduces the risk of injury. 
         [0057]    Various embodiments of a disposable brew basket are described and illustrated herein. The disposable brew basket is not limited to the particular shapes of the illustrated and described embodiments, but rather may have any suitable shape(s) that enables the disposable brew basket to function as described herein. Moreover, the disposable brew basket is not limited to the particular locations of the illustrated and described embodiments at which the disposable brew basket is loaded into a brewing machine (which include, for example, loading through the front or top of a brew machine), but rather may loaded into the brewing machine at any suitable location thereof. 
         [0058]    In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the several objects of embodiments consistent with the present invention are achieved and attained. The embodiments disclosed herein were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of embodiments consistent with the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of embodiments consistent with the present invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breath and scope of the embodiments consistent with the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended thereto and their equivalents. 
         [0059]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.