CN1750980A - Cartridges for preparing infused beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

A capsule (1) for preparing an infused beverage, in particular espresso coffee or cappuccino, comprising: a first container (6), the first container (6) being made of a relatively flexible material and containing a powdered infusion substance (MI), i.e. coffee; and a second container (2), which second container (2) is attached to the first container (6), is made of a relatively rigid material and contains a powdered soluble substance (MS), i.e. milk.

Description

Cartridges for preparing infused beverages

technical field

The present invention relates to a capsule that can be used for preparing infused beverages.

In particular, the present invention relates to a single-dose coffee cartridge for use in an espresso coffee machine in which a stream is forced through a The hot water flow or boiling water flow of the box will form a hot milk or coffee drink, such as drip espresso coffee or cappuccino espresso (macchiato espresso coffee or cappuccino), espresso coffee or cappuccino Espresso coffee is specifically cited in this description, but does not limit the scope of the present invention.

Background technique

Today, a very popular way of preparing espresso, especially at home, is with single-dose "coffee pods", which are extremely convenient to use and readily available in the market. In this regard, generally speaking, a pod is a single-serve coffee or other brewed product enclosed in a sealed filter paper container or pouch, wherein the filter paper container or pouch is substantially cylindrical in shape, intended to be placed in a form into the appropriate holders for the components in the espresso machine.

European patent EP 776166 B1 describes a method for making a filter paper bag or pod, in which the infusion substance, that is to say coffee, is mixed with a soluble additive substance, such as powdered milk, creamer or similar, and compressed on a filter paper bags or pods and are enclosed between two layers of filter paper. The pods thus obtained can be used in an espresso machine to make hot coffee and milk beverages, especially cappuccino espresso.

The use of pods made of filter paper as described in the aforementioned patents has considerable disadvantages.

The hot water flowing through the filter pod will dissolve any soluble additives present in the mixture, ie powdered milk, but the brewing substance, ie coffee, tends to remain in a compressed state. Ultimately, beverages made with this type of pod often contain an inappropriate ratio of milk and coffee. In other words, beverages made using the aforementioned pods made entirely of filter paper contained too much milk, making them less palatable.

Another disadvantage of these pods made entirely of filter paper is that the portion of the mixture that consists of soluble additives dissolves completely, thereby partially emptying the pods, causing the pods to become soft and floppy, and when it is necessary to remove an unused When the pod is placed in the machine to make another cup of coffee, it is difficult to remove it from the holder inside the machine.

The present invention aims to provide a cartridge for the preparation of brewed coffee and milk beverages which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

Contents of the invention

The present invention thus provides a cartridge which can be used to prepare an infused beverage and is characterized in that it comprises a first container made of a relatively flexible material and containing a powdered infusion substance; and a second container made of a relatively rigid material and containing a powdered soluble substance.

Description of drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of a cartridge for preparing an infused beverage, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front section according to the preferred embodiment of the box of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a part of the box shown in Figure 1 in cross-section;

Figure 3 is another front section of the box shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a frontal section of the cartridge shown in Figure 4 during the brewing process; and

FIG. 6 shows a part of the cartridge shown in FIG. 5 in section.

Detailed ways

With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a single-dose cartridge for use in an espresso machine for preparing a hot coffee and milk drink, in particular capacino espresso.

The espresso machine, not shown since it is a very well known machine, mainly comprises a device for creating a stream of hot or boiling water once the pod 1 has been placed in the espresso machine The water flow will be forced through the cartridge 1 in a receptacle in which the hot beverage is formed.

The box 1 comprises a closed container or cartridge 2, preferably in the shape of a frusto-cone made of food-safe plastic.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the bottom surface 3 of the cartridge 2 has a central hole 4, preferably circular, covered by a seal 5 made of a suitable material designed to to be able to be opened or pierced by a hollow prong A forming part of said coffee machine. In an alternative embodiment, the seal 5 forms an integral part of the bottom surface 3 of the cartridge 2 , that is to say it constitutes an easily piercable part of the surface 3 .

The cartridge 2 contains a predetermined amount of powdered soluble substance MS, including powdered milk, creamer or similar. The material MS may also comprise a predetermined amount of powdered sugar.

As shown in Figure 1 and from Figures 3 to 5, the cartridge 1 also includes a container or pod 6 made of filter paper or similar filter material, containing a piece of brewing substance MI, that is to say a piece of ground coffee, And at the top 7 of the cartridge 2 .

More specifically, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, the annular outer edge 8 of the pod 6 rests on and is secured to an annular mating raised portion 9 of the cartridge 2, the raised portion 9 Extends around the outer edge of the barrel 2 at the top 7 .

Preferably, the edge 8 of the pod 6 is secured to the annular ridge 9 of the cartridge 2 by gluing, heat sealing or similar process.

In a more preferred solution, the fixation is achieved using known ultrasonic sealing techniques.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the box 1 is preferably covered and sealed by a sheet 10 of covering material such as aluminum foil or the like, such as by gluing, heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing. Attached to the end of the raised portion 9 of the cartridge 2 in such a way as to cover the top 11 of the pod 6, thereby retaining the aroma of the coffee it contains.

The lid 10 is designed to be removed only before the user places the cartridge 1 in a suitable receptacle in the coffee machine. The user can then start preparing a cappuccino by pressing the coffee machine start button which causes a relative movement between the tip A and the cartridge 1 such that the arrow A pierces the seal 5 and penetrates the Through the hole on box 1.

The hot stream of water produced by the coffee machine first passes through the pod 6, forming a stream of brewed coffee MI which falls onto and wets the soluble creamer MS inside the cartridge 2, and from there Flows through the hollow interior of tip A to form cappuccino that is poured into an underlying glass vessel or cup (not shown).

This way, a delicious cappuccino with an optimal ratio of milk and coffee can be prepared every time.

Especially due to the hermetically sealed rigid structure of the cartridge 2, the cartridge 1 can be removed from the coffee machine very easily once it has been used. Also, when the cartridge 1 leaves the prong A, the seal 5 tends to close the aperture 4 again, preventing residual water or beverage from dripping and soiling the user or the area around the coffee machine.

Furthermore, it must be emphasized that due to the rigid structure of the cartridge 2 and the cap 10 being affixed to the top of the cartridge 2 and just above the top surface of the pod 6, it is possible to safely store the pod 6 without any external packaging. The disclosed box 1 is carried and sold. This means that less packaging material is required, which in turn means not only significant savings in production and distribution costs, but also less damage to the environment.

It will be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to the cartridge as described herein without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, all the details of the invention may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims (13)

1. a box (1) that is used to prepare beverage brewed is characterized in that, comprising: first container (6), and this first container (6) is made by a kind of quite flexible material and splendid attire a kind of powdery infusion material (MI); With second container (2), this second container (2) is attached on first container (6), and is made and splendid attire a kind of powdery solable matter (MS) by a kind of material of suitable rigidity.

2. according to the box described in the claim 1, it is characterized in that flexible first container (6) is attached on second container (2) of rigidity by heat-sealing.

3. according to the box described in the claim 1, it is characterized in that flexible first container (6) is by on gluing second container (2) that is attached to rigidity.

4. according to the box described in the claim 1, it is characterized in that flexible first container (6) is attached on second container (2) of rigidity by ultrasonic sealing.

5. according to the described box of arbitrary claim in the claim 1 to 4, it is characterized in that the top of this box is covered by a protective material sheet (10) at least.

6. according to the described box of arbitrary claim in the claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that flexible first container (6) comprises a pod (6) of being made by filter paper or other similar filter material.

7. according to the described box of arbitrary claim in the claim 1 to 6, it is characterized in that second container (2) of rigidity comprises a tube (2) of being made by the aliment security level plastics.

8. according to the box described in the claim 7, it is characterized in that the basal surface (3) of tube (2) has a hole (4), this hole (4) are covered by a sealing member of being made by suitable material (5), and described sealing member (5) is designed to be pierced or remove.

9. according to the box described in the claim 8, it is characterized in that sealing member (5) has constituted the part of the basal surface (3) of tube (2).

10. according to the box described in claim 6 and 7 or 8 or 9, it is characterized in that, the pod (6) of being made by filter paper has an outer annular edge (8), and this outer annular edge (8) is located to be fixed on the circular coupling protrusion (9) of tube (2) at the top (7) of plastic barrel (2) itself.

11. the box according to described in claim 5 and 10 is characterized in that, protective cladded material thin slice (10) is removably placed on the top of filter paper pod (6); Thin slice (10) is fixed on the edge of outer protrusion (9) of tube (2).

12., it is characterized in that infusion material (MI) comprises ground coffee according to the described box of arbitrary claim in the claim 1 to 11.

13., it is characterized in that solable matter (MS) comprises powdered milk and/or creamer and similar solable matter according to the described box of arbitrary claim in the claim 1 to 12.

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