NL2000736C2 - Coffee e.g. espresso, preparing apparatus, has water preparation device for preparing hot water, and coffee-making device preparing coffee by closed container for ground coffee extraction through use of hot water - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a coffee-making device (5) for preparing coffee e.g. espresso, and a water preparation device for preparing hot water. The coffee-making device prepares the coffee by an closed container for ground coffee extraction through the use of the hot water. A water production facility is equipped with a half extraction holder for supplying the hot water. A pressure pump is fitted to a water heating device e.g. boiler (3), and induces two different pressures. A removable water tank (1) is connected to a water heating device.

Description

Combined device for preparing coffee and another hot water-based beverage

The present invention relates to a device for preparing coffee and another hot water-based beverage, comprising a coffee-making device for preparing coffee and a water-making device for preparing hot water.

Such devices are known as the "Royal Twin" model series of the "Princess" 10 brand. These known devices make it possible to prepare both coffee and hot water for tea with a single device. This reduces the number of devices on a worktop such as a countertop and the number of cords. Moreover, since this device can be connected with a dual function with only a single cord, only a single wall socket is required.

15

The coffee-making device of this device is suitable for preparing filter coffee, so that the known device is suitable for preparing filter coffee and hot water, for example for preparing tea. With the emergence of other ways of preparing coffee such as making coffee with pods, pods or capsules and espresso machines suitable for domestic use, there is a need for a machine suitable for preparing a combination of other drinks.

To this end, the invention provides such an apparatus, wherein the coffee-making device is adapted to prepare coffee by urging heated water through a substantially closed extraction container for ground coffee. This makes it possible to be able to prepare hot water for tea, for example, in combination with "toad coffee", espresso or other types of coffee that are prepared using sealed extraction containers. It is noted here that portions of water are often, but not exclusively, used to prepare coffee by means of a sealed extraction container; after all, the advantages of preparing coffee in this way prove to be the best in portion-wise preparation. However, it is also possible to prepare a larger quantity of coffee, for example a jug, with such sealed extraction containers in one go, assuming a corresponding dimensioning of an extraction container and water preparation device. This is in contradiction with the preparation of filter coffee, whereby a number of cups of coffee are always prepared at the same time. Furthermore, a filter, such as that used in preparing coffee, forms an open extraction container.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the water preparation device is adapted for supplying the hot water to a second ground coffee extraction container and the combination of the water preparation device and the second extraction container forms a second coffee preparation device. This embodiment makes it possible to prepare coffee simultaneously with two coffee-making apparatus, which increases the capacity.

According to a specific embodiment, the second coffee-making device is adapted to prepare coffee in a different manner than the first coffee-making device. With the aid of these measures it is possible to prepare coffee according to two different preparation methods, for example filter coffee and "pad coffee" or filter coffee and espresso. After all, depending on the time of day, there is a need for coffee of various kinds; for example, people often drink filter coffee in the morning and espresso in the evening after dinner. Other combinations are by no means excluded.

20

In accordance with the foregoing embodiment, a more specific embodiment indeed provides the measure that the second coffee-making device is adapted to prepare filter coffee. The first coffee-making device can herein be arranged for preparing espresso, "pod coffee", "pod coffee" or capsule coffee.

Although the taste of filter coffee and coffee prepared by a substantially closed extraction container differs considerably, there are equally differences between different types of coffee prepared by a substantially closed extraction container. According to a further preferred embodiment, both coffee-making devices are adapted to lead water to a substantially closed extraction container.

Due to the success of 'pad coffee' and the resulting large availability of 'pads', a lot of demand is expected for an apparatus that is arranged for preparing 'pad coffee' or 'pod coffee' and that the mainly closed extraction container is arranged for containing a 'path' or 'pod'. 'Pads' are' cushions' of water-permeable material filled with ground coffee, which are used, inter alia, of 'Senseo'® type appliances. as well as the appropriate devices. Incidentally, the device can be arranged for both preparing "pad coffee" and "pod coffee". Combinations of one of these types of coffee and capsule coffee and espresso are also very possible.

10

Many coffee drinkers appreciate capsule coffee. Capsules are used, among other things, under the name "Nespresso "®. A metal capsule is filled with ground coffee. The use of a metal capsule reduces the certainly previously frequent sealing problems due to the high pressures of espresso machines.

15 This system is ideal for preparing coffee with espresso strength. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the coffee-making devices is adapted to prepare capsule coffee and the substantially closed extraction container is adapted to hold a capsule. The device can be arranged for also preparing espresso.

20

In order to also be able to serve the drinkers of espresso coffee prepared in the traditional manner, yet another preferred embodiment provides the measure that at least one of the coffee-making devices is arranged for preparing espresso and that the device is arranged for supplying water under pressure to the container .

25

The preparation of coffee and other hot water-based beverages generally requires water with different temperatures. In view of the better solubility, a higher water temperature is generally required for tea, soup and hot chocolate drink than for the preparation of coffee. After all, a high water temperature in the preparation of coffee leads to the - undesired - dissolving of bitter substances from the ground coffee beans. A preferred embodiment tailored to this purpose provides the measure that the device is adapted to prepare hot water with at least a first temperature and a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

4

In order to keep the cost price of the device as low as possible, it is sufficient to use a single water heating device that is adapted to heat water to the first temperature. To provide water with the second, higher temperature, use is then made of an auxiliary heating device for heating the water from the water heating device from the first temperature to the second temperature.

For supplying water with an optimum temperature for preparing coffee and hot water-based drinks such as tea, a particularly preferred embodiment provides the measure that the device is adapted to heat water with the first temperature between 92 ° C and 94 ° C and that the device is adapted to heat water with a second temperature between 94 ° C and 98 ° C. Use can here be made of separate water heating devices, but also of the combination of a water heating device and an auxiliary water heating device explained above.

A classic filter coffee machine is arranged for preparing a number of cups of coffee at the same time. In general, devices that use a substantially sealed extraction container are arranged for cup-by-cup, or portion-wise, preparation of coffee. According to a preferred embodiment, the device is therefore adapted to deliver hot water both in portions and in larger quantities.

The device preferably comprises at least a first and a second removable water reservoir. This prevents the repeated filling of the water reservoir, which is perceived as annoying by many users, while moreover avoiding a single large, filled, heavy and difficult to handle container. Hereby it is possible to connect the first coffee-making device to the first water reservoir and to connect the second coffee-making device to the second water reservoir, but it is preferable if the device is adapted to use the remaining reservoir after emptying one of the reservoirs , in particular in that the device is arranged for initially emptying the first reservoir and for subsequently emptying the second reservoir. The possibility is of course not excluded that the water reservoirs are mutually connected so that the water is taken from both reservoirs. The reservoirs can each be placed on one side of the device, in particular when the device has a rectangular configuration, but it is equally possible that one or both of the reservoirs are placed at the front of the device. In particular when the reservoir has a cylindrical configuration, it can fit well into the appearance of the entire device. The use of more than two, such as three, four or more water reservoirs, is also possible.

Depending on the positioning of the reservoirs, in particular on the level of the reservoirs relative to that of the boilers, it may be necessary to use one or two feed pumps for pumping the water from the reservoir to the boiler . However, it is also possible to make use of a boiler which is adapted to heat water under pressure. In that case the pump will be placed upstream of the boiler. This pump can then also function as a delivery pump. With the tea water boiler this is possible but not necessary. Therefore, when a separate boiler for tea water is used, it does not have to be equipped for heating water under pressure, which reduces the production costs.

20

The device preferably comprises at least one pressure pump and at least one of the pressure pumps is adapted to urge water from one of the water heating devices to a coffee reservoir and the pressure pump is adapted to generate at least two different pressures. Reference is hereby made in particular, but not exclusively, to the embodiments in which one of the coffee-making devices is arranged for processing water under pressure and the other coffee or water-making device is arranged for pressureless processing of heated water.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device is provided with a removable rod foamer. This bar frother is used for frothing the milk on a cup of cappuccino. The construction of this rod foamer can largely correspond to that of rod mixers known per se. Instead of a rotatable blade or blade, the rod foamer is provided on its axis with a kind of whisk or other processing device that is adapted for whipping milk by introducing air into the milk so that foam is created. This mechanism works optimally when the processing member is located at the interface between milk and air. It is easy to place the bar frother with its lower edge on the cup. Then the user can no longer see whether the processing member is at the right level, on the interface between air and milk. It is therefore attractive to be able to adjust the height of this processing member by providing a lever on the outside of the housing of the rod foamer with which the height of the processing member can be adjusted and changed. With this, when the bar foamer is placed on the head, the height of the processing member can be chosen at the most effective level so that a nice foam layer is easily created. The processing member can also be constructed in such a way that it can be moved up and down in height.

For supplying the releasable rod foamer, use can be made of a cord, such as with a rod mixer according to the prior art, but it is also possible to use batteries, which are preferably charged when the rod foamer is per se position on the device according to the invention. An attractive embodiment makes use of rechargeable batteries which are included in the bar foamer and which are rechargeable by means of an induction-based transfer element for electrical energy, such as is used with electric toothbrushes.

Next, the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A: a block diagram of the most important components of a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig 1B: a block diagram of the most important components of a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 1C: a block diagram of the most important components of a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig 1D: a block diagram of the most important components of a fourth embodiment of the invention; 7

Fig. IE: a block diagram of the most important components of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

Fig 2: a schematic perspective view of first specific embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3: a schematic perspective view of a second specific embodiment of the invention.

As already stated in the preamble, the present invention relates to a device for preparing coffee and in particular a device for preparing coffee in a first way and a second way different from this first way.

The invention also comprises here a device for preparing coffee and another hot water-based beverage, wherein a filter is excluded here as a method of preparing coffee because this is already a prior art.

The block diagram shown in Figure 1A comprises a preferably removable water reservoir 1 which is connected by means of a lifting pump 2 to a boiler 3, which functions as a water heating device. The feed pump 2 serves only for supplying the water from the water reservoir 1 to the boiler 3. When the water reservoir 1 is placed in a high position, the boost pump 2 can be omitted. A pump 4 is connected to the boiler 3 for supplying hot water under pressure via a first valve 7 to a first coffee-making device 5 and via a second valve 8 to a second coffee-making device 6. Each of the coffee-making devices 5, 6 is connected to a spout 9 and 10. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the device according to the invention also comprises a control member and operating members not shown in the drawings for controlling the various functions of the coffee maker. parts explained above. The functionality will be clear to a person skilled in the art. This configuration is suitable for espresso and pad coffee, for example, brewing methods where a relatively high pressure is required.

30

The embodiment shown in Figure 1B differs due to the presence of two water reservoirs 21, 22 instead of a single water reservoir 1 and which are each connected to the delivery pump 23 and furthermore to the fact that the boiler 24 is connected to a first pump 25, which is connected to a first coffee-making device 26 and 8 and a second pump 27, which is connected to a second coffee-making device 28. Both coffee-making devices 26, 28 are connected to a spout 29 and 30. This configuration is suitable for preparing coffee requires high pressure, such as espresso, and on the other hand for low pressure coffee, such as filter coffee. The latter is of course also suitable for preparing hot water for tea, chocolate or soup.

The configuration shown in Figure 1C differs from the configuration shown in Figure 1B by the other water heating device. This comprises a boiler 33, which is suitable for preparing water with a relatively low temperature, such as is required for brewing toad coffee. This boiler 33 is therefore directly connected via a pump 34 to a relevant coffee-making device 35 which is connected to spout 36. The boiler 33 is also connected via an auxiliary water heating device 37 and a pump 38 to the coffee-making device 39, which is connected to a spout 40 .

The auxiliary water heating device 37 hereby raises the temperature of the water to a suitable temperature for brewing espresso or tea.

The configuration shown in figure 1D comprises two water reservoirs which are arranged for initially emptying the first water reservoir and subsequently emptying the second water reservoir. Incidentally, this embodiment corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure IA.

Finally, figure IE shows a configuration of two separate devices which are incorporated together in a single device, whereby the advantages of the present invention with regard to the combination of the devices are obtained, while both devices can nevertheless be optimized for the relevant coffee-making process. . The first device comprises a water reservoir 51, a delivery pump 52, a boiler 53, a pressure generating pump 54, a coffee-making device 55 and a spout 56. The second device comprises a water reservoir 57, a pump 58, which is adapted for generating the pressure required for the brewing process, a boiler 59, a controllable valve 60, a coffee-making device 61 and a spout 62.

9

It will be clear that the measures from the various embodiments can be combined with one another.

Figure 2 shows a combined coffee maker 5, indicated in its entirety by 70, which is provided with a device for brewing espresso and brewing filter coffee. The device furthermore comprises a first water reservoir 71 and a second water reservoir 72. For making espresso, an extraction container 73 is provided which can be attached in a manner known per se by means of a bayonet closure at the bottom of a relevant part 74 of the device. To this end, the removable holder 73 is provided with a handle 75. A space 76 is formed under the extraction holder 73 for placing a coffee cup. Also arranged in a filter holder 77 with a place 78 below for placing a coffee pot or coffee cup.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a combined coffee-making device 80, which is also provided with two water reservoirs 81, 82 arranged in a different way. A first coffee-making device 83 for making capsule coffee is placed at the front. This device comprises an automatic drawer 84 in which the capsule can be placed and a space 85 for a coffee cup arranged below. In addition, a second coffee-making device 86 is provided for preparing pad coffee. To this end, a holder 87 is provided for the pad with a subsequent adjoining, tiltable lid 88, which can be operated with a handle 88. A space for placing a coffee cup is provided below the holder 87.

25

It will be clear that this shows only an arbitrary embodiment and that countless other possibilities are present both for the combination of types of coffee or other hot water-based drinks that can be prepared with such an apparatus, for the technical implementation thereof, and for the 30 arrangement of the components and the appearance of such a device.

Claims (18)

An apparatus for preparing coffee and another hot water-based beverage, comprising: 5. a coffee-making apparatus for preparing coffee; and - a water preparation device for preparing hot water, characterized in that the coffee preparation device is adapted to prepare coffee by forcing heated water through a substantially closed ground coffee extraction container. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the water preparation device is adapted for supplying the hot water to a second extraction container for ground coffee and that the combination of the water preparation device and the second extraction container forms a second coffee preparation device. 3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the second coffee-making device is arranged for preparing coffee in a different manner than the first coffee-making device. 20 Device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second coffee-making device is adapted to prepare filter coffee. 5. Device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that both coffee-making devices are adapted to guide water to a substantially closed extraction container. 6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the coffee-making devices is adapted to prepare pad coffee or pod coffee and that the substantially closed extraction container is adapted to contain a pad or pod. 7. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the coffee preparation devices is adapted to prepare capsule coffee and that the substantially closed extraction container is adapted to contain a capsule. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the coffee-making devices is adapted for preparing espresso and that the device is adapted for supplying water to the container under pressure. 9. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device is adapted to prepare hot water with at least a first temperature and a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. 10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the device comprises a water heating device for preparing water with a first temperature and an auxiliary heating device for heating the water from the first temperature to the second temperature. 11. Device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the device is adapted to heat water with the first temperature between 92 ° C and 94 ° C and that the device is adapted to heat water with a second temperature between 94 ° C and 98 ° C. 12. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device is adapted to deliver hot water both in portions and in larger quantities. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device comprises at least two removable water reservoirs. 30 Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the device comprises two heating devices and that each of the heating devices is adapted to remove water from both reservoirs. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the device is arranged for initially emptying a first reservoir and subsequently emptying a second reservoir. Device as claimed in any of the claims 13-15, characterized in that the device comprises a lifting pump for feeding the water from a reservoir to the heating device. 17. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device comprises at least one pressure pump and that the at least one of the pressure pumps is adapted for urging water from one of the water heating devices to a coffee reservoir and that the pressure pump is adapted to generate at least two different pressures. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device is provided with a removable rod foamer.