Cold Brew Beverage Brewing Systems
Patent No. US11659952 (titled "Cold Brew Beverage Brewing Systems") was filed by Ad-N-Art Inc on Mar 18, 2019.
What is this patent about?
’952 is related to the field of beverage brewing, specifically to devices and methods for producing cold brew coffee. Traditional hot brewing methods can result in a bitter, acidic taste due to the extraction of undesirable oils and acids at high temperatures. Cold brewing offers a smoother, less acidic alternative, but existing cold brew systems can be complex, difficult to clean, or not specifically designed for coffee.
The underlying idea behind ’952 is to provide a simple, easily invertible apparatus for cold brewing coffee that facilitates both the brewing and dispensing processes. The key inventive insight is the use of an hourglass-shaped design with a brew chamber, an extract chamber, and a connecting piece, combined with a filter system that allows for efficient infusion and separation of the coffee extract from the grounds.
The claims of ’952 focus on a cold brew coffee apparatus comprising a brew chamber, an extract chamber, a centerpiece connector, and a filter. The apparatus has an hourglass shape when assembled. The filter, which provides a water-permeable barrier, is positioned within the brew chamber, dividing the filter's interior volume (containing the coffee grounds) from the rest of the brew chamber's interior volume. Claim 10 specifies that the filter has a filter opening that is wider than the filter enclosed end, and that the filter opening is associatable with the brew chamber enclosed end. Claim 16 further specifies that the filter opening is associatable with the brew chamber enclosed end.
In practice, the user places coffee grounds in the filter within the brew chamber, adds cold water, and seals the system. After an extended brewing period (typically 12-24 hours), the apparatus is inverted, allowing the coffee extract to filter into the extract chamber. The hourglass shape facilitates this inversion and ensures complete drainage. The filter prevents coffee grounds from entering the extract chamber, resulting in a clean, concentrated cold brew.
The design differentiates itself from prior art by providing a fully enclosed, easily invertible system specifically tailored for cold brew coffee. Unlike some existing methods that require complex circulation or are designed for other substances like tea, ’952 offers a simple, self-contained solution. The detachable components and various filter options (direct-grind, handled-pod, tabbed-pod) also enhance ease of use and cleaning, addressing common drawbacks of earlier cold brew devices. The optional timer and the screen filter in the centerpiece connector further improve the user experience.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when ’952 was filed, coffee brewing was typically implemented using drip methods with heated water. At a time when systems commonly relied on thermal extraction, hardware or software constraints made precise temperature control and extended cold-water infusion non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art did not disclose or render obvious the claimed subject matter, particularly after the amendment filed on December 7, 2022.
Claims
This patent contains 19 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 10, and 16. The independent claims generally focus on a cold brew coffee apparatus comprising a brew chamber, extract chamber, centerpiece connector, and filter, arranged in an hourglass shape. The dependent claims generally add further details and limitations to the filter and other components of the cold brew coffee apparatus.
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Date
Description
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US11659952
- Application Number
- US16357215
- Filing Date
- Mar 18, 2019
- Status
- Expired
- Expiry Date
- Mar 10, 2027
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents