AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TEA, COFFEE, AND OTHER EXTRACTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for tho Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TEA, COFFEE, AND OTHER EXTRACTS." A com-
munication from abroad by Jonathan Miller, of Himrod's, Yates County,
Stato of New York, United States of America.
Scaled the 7th October 1876, and dated the 16th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1876.
f
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TEA, COFFEE,
AND OTHER EXTRACTS."
This Invention relates to a new method and apparatus for preparing decoctions
or infusions of tea, coffee, and other extracts.
The first part of the Invention consists in the method of filling a tight and
unyielding chamber full of the ground coffee or tea, and then passing the hot water
through the same, whereby the expansion of the grains consequent upon the
absorption of the water produces a considerable pressure, which in the unyielding
chamber fills up the little interstices or channels between the grains, thereby pre-
venting the fine dust or pulverized portions of the coffee from being washed
through, and compelling the water to permeate the pores of the coffee grains in its
passage through, the said expansion in the filled chamber acting in the nature of a
press, so that the bulk of the coffee is held in a solid mass below the supernatant
water. The mechanical pressure serves to hold the small particles, which are
ordinarily washed through, and the liquid being made to strain through the
pores of the coffee grains comes out a perfectly clear and transparent beverage of a
rich wine color entirely free from sediment and cloudiness.
The second part of the Invention consists in the combination with a superposed
receptacle for containing the water or other liquid of a smaller subjacent receptaclo
for containing the ground coffee or other material, which said subjacent receptacle
is so constructed as to admit of the ready insertion and removal of the coffee, and
yet be when closed strong and unyielding, and capable of resisting the expansion of
the said coffee or other material for the purpose before described, the said com-
bination forming a detachable vessel resting in the urn above the liquid.
[Price Gd 1

page_text: The third part of the Invention consists in the combination with said coffee
receptacle of one or more cylinders or cubes of different sizes designed to be placed
therein for the purpose of displacing a portion of the coffee to suit the special
requirements as to the amount of coffee to be produced, and yet preserve at a given
thickness in vertical direction the amount of coffee through which the water has to
pass to be sufficiently impregnated with the essence and aroma thereof.
The fourth part of the Invention consists in a float, which is designed to rest
upon the top of the liquid coffee in the urn, and by acting as a cover upon tho
surface of the liquid prevents the rising of the steam, and keeps the coffee hot a
greater length of timo without a new application of heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th November
- 1870.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TEA, COFfee,
AND OTHER EXTRACTS" A communication from abroad by Jonathan Miller, of
Himrod's, Yates County, State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to a new method and apparatus for preparing decoctions,
infusions, or extracts of tea, coffee, bark, and such like.
The first part of the Invention consists in the method of filling a tight and
unyielding chamber full of the ground coffee or other material, and then passing
the hot or cold water or other liquid through the same, whereby the expansion of
the grains consequent upon the absorption of the liquid produces a considerable
pressure, which in the unyielding chamber fills up the little interstices or channels
between the grains, thereby preventing the fine dust or pulverized portions of the
coffee from being washed through, and compelling the water to permeate the pores
of the coffee grains in its passage through, the said expansion in the filled chamber
acting in the nature of a press, so that the bulk of the coffee is held as in a solid mass
below the supernatant water. The mechanical pressure serves to hold the small par-
ticles, which are ordinarily washed through, and the liquid being made to strain
through the pores of the coffee grains comes out a perfectly clear and transparent
beverage of a rich wine colour entirely free from sediment and cloudiness.
The second part of the Invention consists in the combination with a superposed
receptacle for containing the water or other liquid of a smaller subjacent receptacle
for containing the ground coffee or other material, which said subjacent receptaclo
is so constructed as to admit of the ready insertion and removal of the coffee, and
yet be when closed strong and yielding, and capable of resisting the expansion of
the said coffee, or other material for the purpose before described, the said com-
'bination forming a detachable vessel resting in the urn above the liquid
The third part of the Invention consists in the combination with said coffee
receptacle of one or more cylinders or cubes of different sizes designed to be
placed therein for the purpose of displacing a portion of the coffee to suit the special
requirements as to the amount of coffee to be produced, and yet preserve at a
given thickness in vertical direction the amount of coffee through which the
water has to pass to be sufficiently impregnated with the essence and aroma
thereof.
The fourth part of the Invention consists in a float, which is designed to rest
upon the top of the liquid, coffee in the urn, and by acting as a cover upon the
surface of the liquid prevents the rising of the steam, and keeps the coffee hot a
greater length of time without a new application of heat.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section.
Figure 2 is a sectional view with parts detached.
Figure 3 are details of the diculesine aulindons

page_text: A represents the urn, which constitutes the bottom part of the device, and has
its upper edge flanged at a, so as to fit accurately with the projecting ledge b of the.
upper detachablo portion; B is the superposed receptacle for the water, which is
made of a given capacity, so as to be an absolute measure of the volume of water'
required; C is the subjacent receptacle, which is attached to B, and is separated
therefrom only by a perforated diaphragm of metal D. Said chamber C is relatively
proportioned to suit the water chamber, and is formed by the shell portion E, over
which fits a cup F, which latter is of the same length as the shell, and is rigidly
secured thereto by means of the bayonet slots c in the cup and the studs & upon the.
upper portion of the shell. The bottom portion of the cup is made of a perforated
picco of metal, so that the coffee chamber opens into the water chamber through
the perforations above, and into the urn through the perforations below. Now
whenever tho chamber C is filled full of coffee, and water is poured into B, the
expansion of the coffee by the water prevents the rapid filtration of the water
therethrough, and the chamber B may be practically filled full before any has had
time to escape, so that the capacity of the chamber being known the proper amount
of water is determined.
Now the coffee chamber being constructed of strong metal, and its fastening
being rigid, the receptacle cannot yield or accommodate itself to the expansion of
the coffee, and availing myself of this principle I secure an important result, which
is as follows:-The water permenting the pores of the coffee causes it to expand..
The receptacle being unyielding, and its capacity limited, the expansion produces a.
great pressure, which causes the interstices between the coffee grains to fill up, and..
the water instead of filtering or percolating between the grains is compelled to.
permeate the pores of the same, and thus pass through the coffee fully impregnated
with the essences and aroina of the saine, and drops into the urn in the nature of a
limpid liquid of a clear wine color, producing coffee of the very finest flavor and
quality entirely free from sediment and muddiness.
In the ordinary devices for making coffee the ground grains are put loosely in a
chamber, and the hot water poured thereon.. This method allows the water to pass
through the loose grains rapidly without obtaining the strength and flavor of the
coffee, except an excessive and wasteful quantity be used. The water, moreover, in
passing through the coffee carries mechanically through the interstices between the
grains all of the pulverized portions, which produces a muddy liquid filled with
sediment in spite of the fineness of the strainer.
In the present devices the rigidly closed chamber being filled full of coffee ns
soon as it is saturated with the water it expands with great force, and in so doing
shuts up the little interstices or channels between the grains, thereby preventing
the dust of the coffee from trickling through, and compelling the liquid to permeate
the pores of the grains, and pass out perfectly clear. The mechanical pressure
produced by the said expansion is such that the coffee is held together in a mass,
so that the strainers do not become clogged or stopped up. By means of these
devices also the operation is conducted almost the same as in vacuo, inasmuch as the
coffee chamber is sealed at the top by the supernatant water. The special advantago
arising out of this is that the steam and volatile flavour of the coffee cannot rise,
and condensing upon the upper part of the vessel fall back again, which appears in
some way to destroy the natural flavor of the coffee. As to the best disposal of the
bulk of coffee in the holder it will be found that for a pound of coffee it ought
properly to be in bulk of about five inches diameter and four inches thick, for
smaller quantities the relativo proportions remaining the same.
In placing the coffee in the holder caro must be taken not to pack or shake down
the same, as in that event the expansion would be so great as to burst the
holder.
It will be remembered that the coffee holder must be filled full, in order to
operate upon the above-described principle; and in order to withstand the pressure
incident to the expansion the strength of the coffee holder must be relatively

page_text: increased in proportion to the increased bulk of coffee when larger sized devices aro
employed.
The method thus described for producing coffee is substantially the same when
producing other extracts of bark, &c., to which the Invention is intended to bo
applied.
To adapt the chamber C to the different quantities of coffee to be made, and yet
preserve a constant depth of coffee in the same through which depth the water
must pass to produce the proper degree of strength, I employ displacing cylinders
or cubes G of different sizes, which may be made either solid or hollow, and of
suitable material for the purpose. Theso cylinders I introduce into the central
portion of the coffee chamber, and thereby displace a portion of the coffee,
different sizes being employed, according to the quantity of coffee required.
H is the float, which is designed to be used inside the urn, and floating upon the
top of the coffee acts as an automatically adjustable cover to the liquid, which
prevents the uprising of the vapors, and the rapid cooling of the coffee.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The herein-described method of making coffee, tea, and other extracts from
the ground or loose material by filling a tight and unyielding chamber full of tho
said material, and then passing the water or other liquid through the same, whereby
the expansion of the grains is utilized to close the interstices between the same,
and compel the water to pass through the pores, the pressure also preventing the
grains from rising up in the water chamber, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with a superposed water receptacle of a subjacent receptacle
for the coffee grains, having a constant and unyielding capacity with upper and
lower strainer and rigid fastenings, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3rd. The combination with the receptacle for ground coffee or other material
of one or more displacing cylinders or cubes G, as and for the purpose described.
4th. The combination with a vessel A for containing hot coffee or other liquid
of an automotically adjustable floating cover, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.