Abstract:
A multicontrolled, fresh beverage brewer ( 20 ) with a dispense manifold heater ( 104 ) for selectively instantaneously heating pre-heated hot water from a hot water tank ( 29 ) immediately before the preheated hot water is dispensed into the brew basket ( 49 ) in sensed temperature of the beverage within the brew basket the preheated water immediately prior to being added to the brew basket, a photosensor ( 106 ) for sensing a level of light conductance of the beverage for controlling at least one of a brew dispense valve ( 37 ), a bypass valve ( 38 ) and a brew basket drain hole closure ( 94 ) in response to photosensor sensing a level of light conductance level of the beverage, and brew basket pressurization system ( 50, 69, 51 ) for selectively pressurizing the brew basket ( 49 ) to selectively accelerate the flow rate of hot water though an ingredient within the brew basket. A rotary spray head drive ( 110 ) rotates a rotating spray assembly to provide an even distribution of hot water over the surface of the ingredient, and a spray distribution plate employs open channels of differing length ( 156 ) to channel the water to different desired location are open for easy cleaning and elimination of clogging from lime residue. A brew basket filter holder ( 72 ) insert for insertion into the filter holder has a cylindrical, water impervious wall to prevent side passage of the hot water through the layer of beverage ingredient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application of the present inventor, Ser. No. 60/474,088 filed May 28, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to hot beverage makers and more particularly to hot beverage brewers that brew fresh beverage by passing hot water through a beverage ingredient contained within a brew basket with a beverage drain hole. 
   2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   Beverage brewers of the type having a hot water dispense system for passing hot water through a beverage ingredient, such as ground coffee or tea, or tea leaves, or the like, while held within a paper filter which in turn is held within a brew basket are well know and will be described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 1 . While such known brewers function successfully, they sometimes fail to obtain maximum extraction and optimum flavor due to an inability to fully control brew parameters depending upon changing conditions such as room temperature, inherent percolation rates at atmospheric pressure, seepage of water out the sides of the layer of ingredient and not through the entire layer, or due to a failure to provide a uniform distribution of hot water onto the top surface of the ingredient. Accordingly, the inventor has determined that there is a need to overcome these short comings. 
   SUMMARY  
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages of know beverage brewers noted above. 
   This objective is achieved in part by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly under control of an electronic controller with a brew basket control system composed of a pressure source, means for selectively applying positive air pressure from the pressure source to the brew basket, and means for controlling the application of pressure to the brew basket by the selectively applying means to control the rate of seepage of hot water through a layer of beverage ingredient within the brew basket. 
   Preferably, the controlling means includes means for sensing pressure, and the pressure controlling means includes means responsive to the pressure sensing means for controlling the application of pressure by the selectively applying means to the brew basket. The controlling means preferably includes means for timing the brew cycle and selectively applying pressure to the brew basket assembly at preselected times during the brewing cycle to speed the rate at which the water percolates though the beverage ingredient during preselected time periods during the brew cycle in order to maximize uniform extraction and optimum flavor. Also, in the preferred embodiment the selectively applying means includes a special dispense head assembly with a manifold with an inlet and an outlet that communicates directly with an open top brew basket assembly, and a solenoid controlled pressure valve with at least one outlet in pressure communication with the brew basket assembly. The pressure source includes an electrically powered pneumatic pump, and the controlling means includes means for controlling the application of power to the pneumatic pump. The brew basket assembly has a bottom with a beverage drain hole, or opening, and in the preferred embodiment a closure gate carried by the bottom and is mounted to the bottom by mounting members for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position. 
   The objective is also obtained by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly with a beverage drain hole under control of an electronic controller with a brew basket flow rate control system having means for selectively closing the beverage drain hole to accumulate beverage within the brew basket assembly during preselected time periods of a brew cycle to reduce the rate of flow of beverage from the drain hole, and means for selectively applying positive air pressure to the brew basket assembly during preselected time periods of the brew cycle to increase the rate of beverage flow from the brew basket assembly drain hole. 
   Moreover, the object of the invention is acquired by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, with a brew basket control system having means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as the beverage flows downwardly out of the drain hole and falls freely through air to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage prior to being mixed in the beverage container, said light measuring mean being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container; said brew basket being removably mounted to the brewer and the light measuring means being spaced from the brew basket and the beverage container to enable removal of the brew basket without first disconnecting the light measuring means form the brew basket, and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control a hot water brew dispense valve for changing the rate of flow of the hot water onto the ingredient in the brew basket. 
   The objective is also partly acquired by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage into a beverage container, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, with a brew basket control system, having means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the sewing container, and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control at least one of (a) a hot water brew dispense valve, (b) a bypass valve for passing hot water into the brew basket at a location spaced from the ingredient, (c) means to pressurize the brew basket to hasten draining of the beverage from the drain hole, and (d) an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank just before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket; and in which the controller is responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control a drain hole closure means or is responsive to control the means to pressurize the brew basket to change the pressure within the brew basket. 
   The objective is also obtained in part by provision in a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system with means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container, and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket, the hot water having a temperature just before being dispensed into the brew basket, and the controller being responsive to control the instantaneous hot water heater to change the temperature of the hot water just before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket. 
   Acquisition of the objective is also accomplished by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a movably mounted brew basket assembly with a brew basket for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system including a brew water dispense valve for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly and though the ingredient, the improvement being a brew basket control system having means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole and falls freely through air to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container and spaced from the brew basket and the beverage container to enable removal of the brew basket without first disconnecting the light measuring means from the brew basket, and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control at least one of (a) a bypass valve spaced from the brew water dispense valve for passing hot water into the brew basket at a location spaced from and bypassing the ingredient, (b) means to pressurize the brew basket to hasten draining of the beverage from the drain hole, (c) a drain hole closure means and (d) an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket. 
   Achievement of the objective of the invention is also acquired in part by provision of a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system having means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beagle as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control a means to pressurize the brew to hasten draining of the beverage from the drain hole. 
   The objective is also partly obtained by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system with means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole above the beverage container and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control the drain hole closure means. 
   Also, the objective is obtained in part by providing a hot beverage brewer having a source of hot water, a brew basket assembly for holding beverage ingredient and a drain hole to dispense beverage, a water dispense system for selectively passing hot water into the brew basket assembly, the improvement being a brew basket control system, with means for electronically measuring a light characteristic of the beverage as it flows downwardly out of the drain hole to detect an indication of an instantaneous level of extraction of ingredient into the beverage, said light measuring means being located adjacent the drain hole and above the beverage container; and a controller responsive to the indication of the instantaneous level of extraction to control an instantaneous electric hot water heater for heating hot water spaced from the hot water tank before the hot water is dispensed into the brew basket. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The foregoing advantageous features and advantages will be described in greater detail and further advantageous features will be made apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the several figures of the drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of the control system of the multicontrolled brewer of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration in partial functional block form of one embodiment of the multicontrolled brewer controlled by the control system of  FIG. 1  and further illustrating the novel features of the multicontrolled brewer of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view one form of the hot water dispenser head assembly and brew basket assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a an exploded side view of the hot water dispenser head assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the novel “umbrella” dispense head of the dispenser head assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4  with a splash distributor that is relatively flat for creating a relatively random distribution of splash that is capable of mounting to the bottom of the dispense housing by screw fasteners or by magnets; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the dispense head of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective bottom view of the dispense head of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the dispense head of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of an “umbrella” dispense head like that of  FIGS. 5-8  but in which the splash distributor has a domed top and frictional mounting tabs have been added to enable releasable, frictional mounting of the dispense head to the bottom of the dispense housing; 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the dispense head of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the dispense head of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective bottom view of the dispense head of  FIGS. 9-11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a bottom projection view of the dispense head of  FIGS. 9-12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic sectional side view a brew basket plastic insert shown inserted into a conventional wire basket filter holder and holding a paper brewed beverage filter containing beverage ingredient such as ground coffee for use in retrofitting a wire filter holder to restrict side flow of beverage through the sides of the filter paper by providing solid sides cylindrical sides; and 
       FIG. 15  is a plan view of the brew basket plastic insert assembly of  FIG. 14  showing the bottom grid of the insert and the grid supports of the wire basket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the multicontrolled brewer  20  of the present invention includes a multicontrolled brewer control system  22  and other structural elements, or mechanical or electromechanical, elements  24 . Some of the elements of the structural elements  24  are shown in and are described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   Some of the elements of the control system  22  are known and, in keeping with the invention, some of the elements are novel. The known elements of the control system  22  include a controller  26  which includes a microcomputer (not shown) with all needed memory to store operating software and sensor data and programmable parameters, etc. (not shown) and all interface circuitry (not shown) needed to interface with the other control elements described below. The computer interfaces with conventional elements, but it novel to the extent that it has been programmed to interface with and sometimes control the novel elements of the control system  22  described below and the novel elements of the brewing system described below with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
   The other known elements of the control system include a solenoid controlled cold water inlet valve  28  for controlling the addition of cold water to the hot water tank  29 ,  FIG. 2 , from a source of public water delivered through a hose  31 , or the like. The hot water tank  30  has a high level sensor  30  and a low level sensor  32 , and the controller responds to these sensors to maintain the level of the water in the hot water tank  30  at a relatively even level between the high level sensor  30  and the low level sensor  32  by selectively closing the valve when the high level is reached and opening the cold water inlet valve when the low level is sensed. 
   Similarly, the hot water tank  30  has an electrical heating element, or tank heater,  36  that is controlled by the controller  26  in accordance with readings of a hot water tank temperature sensor  34 . The temperature is maintained at a level between a preselected maximum and minimum temperature by applying electrical power to the tank heater  36  when the minimum temperature is sensed and withdrawing electrical power when the maximum temperature is reached. 
   The control system also includes a solenoid controlled brew valve  37  and a by solenoid controlled bypass valve  38  and manual input switches, or manual inputs  40 . The manual inputs  40  include a start brew switch that when actuated starts a brew cycle during which the brew valve is selectively opened to pass hot water to a dispense head for delivery of hot water to the top surface of a layer of beverage ingredient, such as ground coffee, contained within a paper or other filter that is supported in a wire mesh filter holder within a brew basket, or brew basket housing, that has a beverage outlet at its bottom to pass freshly brewed beverage to a beverage container such as an insulated beverage dispenser. The bypass valve is located to pass hot water into the brew basket at a location laterally spaced from the filter holding the ingredient but within the brew basket to dilute the beverage with hot water added directly into the beverage container together with the freshly brewed beverage exiting through the filter paper. In conventional brewers the brew basket assembly and dispense head assembly re also conventional. In accordance with the present invention and as described below with respect to  FIGS. 2-15 , a special dispense head assembly and a special brew basket assembly are provided to improve the brewer performance with respect to uniform saturation and optimum flavor extraction. 
   The control system also contains an alphanumeric display to enable computer-generated communication with an operator and status indicator lights  42  all contained within a brewer housing  44 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the present invention, uniform extractions and optimum flavor extraction depends upon a variety of factors or parameters that must be closely controlled by a variety of different approaches. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, in order selectively increase the rate at which hot water that has been added to the top of the beverage ingredient layer being supported within the filter and the filter holder of the brew basket migrates, seeps and otherwise passes through the layer of beverage ingredient is controlled by means including a brew basket pressurization system. The pressurization system functions to selectively increase the air pressure in the gap  45  between the top  43  of the beverage layer  41  and the top  47  of the brew basket assembly  49 . The brew basket pressurization system includes a pressure source  46 , such as provided by an electrically powered, motorized air pump, or pressure pump motor  51  pressurizing a pressure tank. The high-pressure outlet of the  48  is connected to a solenoid controlled pressure valve  50 . The pressure valve  50  has at least one or the other of outlets  52  and  54  or both of outlets  52  and  54 . Pressure outlet  52  is connected to a manifold  56 . The manifold  56  has an outlet  58  in pressure communication with an inlet opening  60  at the top housing  62  of a special dispense head assembly  64 . The outlet  54  communicates directly with the open top  47  of the brew basket assembly  49 . When the solenoid controlled pressure valve is open, the relatively higher pressure within the pressure source  46  is imparted to the headspace  45 . One or more pressure sensors  69 ,  FIG. 1 , sense the pressure within one or both of the outlets as fed back to the outlets from the headspace  45 , directly within the headspace  45  and within the pressure tank of the pressure source  46 . The pressure sensors are monitored by the controller  26  to control the pressure pump motor  51  and thus the pressure in the headspace  45 . Because of pressure leakage between the pressure source  50  and the headspace the pressure in the pressure source will generally be higher than the pressure within the space. 
   There is at least a partial seal between the pressure source and the headspace  45 . The brew basket assembly  49  may have a generally box-like shape and is slideably, releasable mounted to mating support members  66  attached to the underside of the housing  44  by means of a outwardly, laterally extending peripheral collar  68 . Preferably, a special filter holder assembly  70 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or a special filter holder insert assembly  72  inserted within a conventional wire basket filter holder  74 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , which has solid, smooth, cylindrical sides made of a suitable plastic or stainless steel. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the solid cylindrical side  76  of the filter holder assembly  70  has a mounting collar  78  that is supported on support members  80  that extend inwardly from the inside surface of the brew basket assembly  49 . Preferably, both the tops of both the mounting collars are pressed against an overlying ceiling member  82  of the housing  44  to provide an at least partially sealed relationship with the bottom of the dispense assembly  64  and the outlet  52  and with the outlet  54  at an outlet port  86  extending through the ceiling member  82 . 
   In accordance with the present invention, at times during the brewing cycle it may be necessary to speed the rate at which the water percolates thought the coffee grounds or the like in order to maximize uniform extraction and optimum flavor. For instance, it may be desired to speed the flow during the later part of dispense period of the brew cycle after more than half of the hot water has passed the brew valve  37  or during the drip period of the brew cycle after all of the water has passed the brew valve  37 . 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, brew basket assembly has a bottom with the beverage outlet opening  88  and a brew basket outlet opening closure gate  90  that is carried by the bottom  92  and mounted to the bottom by mounting members  94  for sliding movement between a closed position and an open position. A spring also carried at the bottom  92  resiliently biases the closure gate  90  a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . A solenoid controlled brew basket valve controller  96  releasable engages the closure gate  90  to move the gate to the open position or allows the gate to remain closed. The purpose of the brew basket closure gate  90  is to enable the operator to allow beverage within the brew basket to selectively accumulate, such as near the end of the dispense cycle. Then after the desired amount or time of accumulation has been achieved the closure gate is again moved to the open position. Opening and closing of the closure gate  90  may be intermittent and the intermittency times of closure may be coordinated with intermittent delivery of hot water to the brew basket assembly. A brew basket level sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor,  98  may be used by the controller to control the timing of opening and closing of the brew valve  37 , the brew bypass valve  38  and the brew basket closure gate  90  either in concert with preprogrammed timed brewing cycles or independently. The pressure system may be used to accelerate discharge of beverage from the brew basket after a period of accumulation either only once at the end or periodically or otherwise intermittently. 
   Achieving another level of control over temperature or the dispense hot water as well as the temperature of the beverage within the brew basket is achieved respectively with a dispense manifold temperature sensor  100  and a beverage temperature sensor  102 . The dispense manifold temperature may be attached directly to the outlet of the manifold  56 ,  FIG. 1 , while the brew basket temperature sensor  102  may be a remote infrared temperature sensor. A dispense manifold heater  104  is provided and controlled in accordance with the temperatures sensed by one, the other or both of the temperature sensors  100  and  102 . If the temperature as indicated by either of the temperature sensors is less than a reselected minimum temperature, then the controller may energize the heater to provide an instantaneous increase of temperature immediately before the hot water is dispensed into the dispense head in order to maximize uniform abstraction and optimum flavor extraction. 
   Still one more level of control is obtained over the coffee brewing process by providing photosensor  106  to measure the light transmittance of the beverage as it falls past an infrared light source  108 . If desired, the infrared photo sensor may also be used to sense temperature when the light source  108  is turned off. An increase in the amount of light transmittance is an indication of the instantaneous level of extraction that can be used to control the other control elements such as the brew valve  38 , the bypass valve  38 , the brew basket pressure valve  69  or the brew basket outlet valve controller  96 . 
   Another element that is controlled in accordance with the invention is a rotary dispense head drive  110 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the dispense water from the manifold outlet  58  is passed into a rotary distribution element. This distribution element may be one or more radial, semi-cylindrical dispense elongate distribution arms  112  with open sides that are upwardly facing. Because the arms are split, tubes instead of closed tubes, they are easy to clean, but closed tubes could also be used. If the dispense distribution arm or arms  112  are in fluid communication with a central dispense receiving hub at which the hot water is received and then distributed at least partly radially outwardly along the length of the arm  112 , the jet force of the dispense water being discharged out of the ends or out of radially directed intermediate outlet ports located along the length of the arms  112  can be used to provide the necessary jet stream force to rotate the arms. The relative disadvantage is that the due to liming the ports may become clogged and cleaning of tubular structures relatively difficult compared to cleaning open structures in which all surfaces are readily accessible for cleaning. In the case of either tubes or open cylindrical arms, they may be provided with outlet ports along their length. Preferably, the rotation is controlled by a servo or other motor  114  of the rotary spray head drive  110  that is linked to a drive wheel  116  connected to the outside surface of the hub of the assembly of arm or arms  112 . In the case of multiple arms, if there are outlet ports they are staggered such that the discharge from each of the arms falls on the surface  102  of the layer of beverage  41  at different radial distances from the center. In the case of multiple open cylindrical arms without intermediate ports, the dispense water is discharged from the ends of the arms and the arms are preferably of different lengths to provide for distribution on the beverage surface  43  from each arm in circular patterns of different radius to obtain a uniform distribution over the surface  43 . 
   Alternatively, an umbrella-like, distribution plate  118  is employed for rotary distribution of the dispense water along channels running radially outwardly from the central hub and having different lengths that terminate in outlet ports of different radial distances from the central hub. Such “umbrella” distribution plates may be of the type shown in  FIGS. 3-8  or as shown in  FIGS. 9-13 , but adapted for rotation. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3-8 , in accordance with one feature of the invention a non-rotary dispense head is shown that is preferably used with the other novel elements of the invention but which may be used independently to improve uniform distributions and optimum flavor extraction by uniform distribution of dispense water across the entire surface  43  of the layer of beverage  41 . Referring first to  FIG. 3 , this embodiment of the dispense head assembly  120  has a stationary distribution “umbrella” plate  122  and an upper housing  124  with the manifold  56  fixedly attached to the top of the upper housing  124 . The manifold  56  has a boss that has a side inlet  126  that connects to the hot water tank  29  through the brew valve  37  and preferably, when the pressure source is used, another inlet  128  connecting the inlet to the pressure source  46 . An upwardly facing opening  129  in communication with the inlet pipes  126  and  128  interconnects with the solenoid controlled brew valve  37 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the brew valve has an arm  130  having a distal end with a blocking member  132  that enters the upwardly facing opening  129  to block closed the inlet opening  134  within the interior surface of the boss  56  to block the entry of brew water into the boss  56  when the solenoid controlled brew valve is not energized. When not blocked, the hot water enters the interior of the manifold at which may also be received relatively pressurized air from inlet  128  when the pressure valve  50  is opened. The boss  56  is mounted to the top surface  136  of the upper housing  138  and communicates with the open bottom  140  through an axial central passageway  140  within which is also received the valve blocking member  132 . 
   The upper housing  138  has a distribution plate mounting collar  142  that either carries a plurality of fastener openings  144  that align with mating fastener openings  146  of a mounting collar  147  of the distribution plate  148  of the distribution plate  150  for receipt of threaded fasteners for attachment of the distribution plate.  150 . Alternatively, one of the collar  144  and the collar  147  is formed of, or carries, a permanent magnetic material and the other is formed of ferromagnetic material for attachment by magnetic force. The distribution plate  148  has a flat-topped central splash core  152  with a flat top  153 . When the dispense water impinges the flat-topped splash core, the water is splashed and randomly distributed across the conical face  154  of the distribution plate  148  and is received within a plurality of radially extending distribution channels, or upwardly facing, radially extending, elongate grooves,  156  formed in the upper surface of the conical face  154 . At selected different radial distances from the central core of each of the radial distribution channels is a discharge opening  160 . All of the discharge openings  160  have a radially, distal end  162  that is adjacent the opening for passing hot water to the beverage ingredient. However, the inner ends  164  of each of the openings  160 . Thus, some of the hot water that is passed through the discharge openings and impinges on the surface  43  lands on the surface  43  at different locations spaced from the center. Additional views of the distribution plate are shown in  FIGS. 5-8 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9-13 , another distribution plate  164  is shown in which instead of use of magnetic or screw fasteners, frictional engagement of resilient tabs  166  are used to resiliently press against an inner surface of the wall  166  of the dispenser housing  136 ,  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In addition, instead of the flat top  153 , the central splash core has a semi-spherical, or otherwise curved or domed surface, for a less random distributions of dispense water across the upwardly facing surfaces of the distribution plate  164 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a cylindrical plastic insert  72  is shown with a mesh bottom  166  for retrofit applications in which only a wire basket filter holder is provide. While a permanent filter holder as described above may be made of stainless steel, the insert may be made of plastic and be disposable. The insert, in all other structural ways may be similar to the permanent cylindrical, opened, meshed bottomed filter holder described above with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   While the brew valve is shown as being on the hot water side of the system, it may also be place on the cold-water side with a siphon system that pushes hot water out of the hot water tank when fresh cold water is inserted. In such a system, the amount of water inserted may be passed through a meter that measures directly the amount of water that is added, and thus, discharged from the hot water tank. 
   Other changes and variations will appear to those skilled in the art to which the subject invention pertains. Reference should be made to the following patents or patent applications for details of known features or details of features that may be used in combination with the novel features of the present invention, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   Reference should be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,148,717 and 6,571,685 for details of intermittent brewing in which the brew valve is repetitively controlled to open and close during the dispense period of a brew cycle or in which accumulation of beverage in the brew basket is controlled. 
   Reference should be made to allowed application Ser. No. 10/030,021, filed Dec. 26, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,085, of the present inventor for “Food Ingredient Grinder, Removable Ingredient Hopper and Method” for details of the closure gate of  FIG. 2  and its different possible forms and modes of operation. 
   Reference should be made to pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/078,600 filed Feb. 19, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,704, of the present inventor and Michael W. Lassota for “Beverage Making System for details of a system for cold water brew valve operation and flow meter measurement control of delivery of dispense water to the beverage ingredient. 
   All of these referenced patents are incorporated by reference and all may be used in combination with the novel elements and features of the present invention that will be apparent to those of skill in the art of coffee brewing equipment and systems. To the extent that the details of the parameters that are needed for uniform abstraction and optimum flavor are not disclosed, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides multiple means for enabling maximum uniform extraction an optimum flavor. It should first be appreciated that while maximum uniform extraction may be obtained and thus, from an economical point of view, the most beverage, such as coffee with the best average strength is obtained, the question of optimum flavor may be a subjective evaluation. Accordingly, the specific parameters of operation of the various novel modes of control of the brewing process must be determined by experiment, empirical testing and other relatively subtle and hard to define factors. The purpose of the present invention is to provide the ultimately complete control of the brewing process to enable a brewer to be sufficiently flexible in the brewing process.