11 patents in this list

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Today's coffee drinkers seek a brew that matches their unique preferences, from strength to flavor nuances. Traditional coffee pods offer convenience but often sacrifice customization, leaving aficionados yearning for more control over their daily cup. The quest for a personalized coffee experience drives the need for customizable brewing solutions that cater to individual tastes and preferences.

Achieving the perfect cup involves overcoming challenges like adjusting brewing pressure, blending ingredients, and recognizing diverse coffee profiles. These obstacles require systems that can adapt to varying demands without complicating the brewing process. The goal is to offer flexibility while maintaining the simplicity that single-serve systems are known for.

This webpage explores a range of solutions designed to address these challenges, including systems that allow for adjustable brewing parameters and intelligent capsule recognition. By integrating these technologies, coffee enthusiasts can enjoy a beverage tailored precisely to their liking, enhancing both satisfaction and convenience.

1. Brewing System with Adjustable Brewing Parameters and Pods Featuring Extendable Filter Section

Sung Oh, 2023

A brewing system that personalizes the taste of single-serve pod beverages by adjusting the brewing parameters like pressure, temperature, and time. The pod has a filter with holes and an extendable section. The brewing chamber detaches the section to create a gap for beverage flow. The brewer injects water into the pod which extracts the beverage and exits through the holes and gap. Varying hole size and grind adjusts pressure. Changing temperature and time reduces bitterness.

2. Smart Coffee Machine with Automatic Brew Pressure Adjustment Based on Detected Coffee Pack Type

LAVAZZA PROFESSIONAL NORTH AMERICA, LLC, 2022

Customizing beverages made by smart coffee machines using user devices like smartphones. The machine detects the type of coffee pack inserted and adjusts brewing pressure if necessary to match the pack's optimal brew pressure. If the pack's pressure is different from the machine's default brew pressure, the machine brews at the pack's pressure to make a modified beverage. This allows users to bring their preferred coffee packs from other sources and still get properly brewed coffee in the machine. The machine can also suggest additional beverages based on packs that become available.

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3. Networked Coffee Blending and Brewing System with Dynamic Bean Grinding and Flavor Profiling

Gerald S. Fain, 2022

Networked on-demand coffee blending and brewing system that allows customers/users to create customized coffee blends for a variety of coffee drinkers. The system includes a coffee maker (e.g., a coffee grinder) that dynamically grinds and blends any combination of available beans based on “flavor profiling” to create a user's desired cup of coffee. The system includes a hopper (e.g., grounds) container, a transport system, a brew chamber, and a sealed storage container.

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4. Capsule Coffee Machine with Image-Based Identification Code Decoding for Automatic Water Volume and Temperature Adjustment

Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., LTD., 2022

Recognition and automatic extraction method for a capsule coffee machine that automatically sets the water outputting volume and the water temperature by capturing and decoding the identification code of the coffee capsule. The method includes receiving an image of an identification code of a coffee capsule, the coffee capsule being positioned in a receiving groove of the capsule coffee machine, the camera being arranged to a portion of the capsule machine and positioned to corresponding to the receiving groove; and decoding the identification code of the coffee capsule in the image; and setting a target of a water outputting volume and a target of a water temperature according to the decoded identification code of the coffee capsule.

5. Beverage Container with Dual-Sided Optical Codes for Automated Dispenser Recognition

LAVAZZA PROFESSIONAL UK LIMITED, 2021

Beverage container design for dispensers that allows automated identification and customization of beverage preparation parameters without user input. The container has optical codes on both sides that store container information including an identifier. The dispenser has an optical scanner that reads the code when inserting the container in either orientation. This provides automated container recognition for tailored beverage preparation based on the container type. The dispenser can display customizable options for the container and select one if the user chooses.

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6. Coffee Container with Adjustable Ring-Shaped Central Chamber for Variable Coffee Capacity

SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A., 2020

Coffee container for extraction in beverage preparation machines that provides optimal coffee extraction for short and long cups without needing complex machine adaptations. The coffee container has a fixed outer shape but an adjustable inner space. The container is like a donut with a ring-shaped central chamber. The size of the central chamber can be adjusted to hold more or less coffee depending on the desired cup size. This allows extracting the right amount of coffee for short or long cups from a single container shape.

7. Device for Custom Beverage Mixture Creation with Software-Controlled Ingredient Dispensing Based on User Profiles

ILLYCAFFE' SPA CON UNICO SOCIO, 2020

Personalized beverage selector device and method to create customized mixtures of ingredients like coffee, tea, milk, etc. that optimize taste, aroma, and function for individual preferences. A device with containers of different substances is controlled by software based on user profiles. It measures out specific amounts of the selected substances to make personalized doses or quantities of the mixture. This allows users to define and produce optimized mixtures that meet their specific sensory and functional requirements. The software guides users through questions to analyze their preferences and needs. The device then creates customized doses of the mixture using the measured ingredients.

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8. Automated In-Store Coffee Pod Customization and Packaging Machine

Darryl Ingvard Jensen, Edward Francis Burress, Kurt Allen Jenkins, 2019

A machine for creating customized coffee pods at the point of sale. The machine grinds, fills, seals, and packages fresh coffee into K-cup style coffee pods right in the store. This allows customers to have personalized coffee blends or single-origin beans in pod format without the need for large-scale commercial packaging. The machine automates the process of grinding, filling and sealing coffee into pods to provide customized coffee pod options at the point of sale.

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9. Brewing Pod with User-Fillable Filter and Piercable Lid and Base

Jerry Paige, 2018

A brewing pod that allows users to select their own brewing contents for hot beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The pod has a cup with a filter inside to hold user selected contents like coffee grounds, tea leaves, or chocolate. A complementary lid seals the cup. The lid has an insert that can be pierced by a brewing machine nozzle. The cup bottom can also be pierced by a discharge nozzle. This allows hot water to be sprayed into the cup to brew the contents and then dispensed as a hot drink.

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10. Beverage Preparation Device with Multi-Chamber Ingredient Storage and Taste Customization Sensors

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V., 2013

Beverage preparation device that allows customizing the taste of drinks based on user preferences. The device has multiple storage chambers for different ingredients with distinct taste properties. Users can select preferred taste levels for sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and thickness. The device divides raw materials into the chambers based on taste sensors. This allows mixing and blending the ingredients in optimal ratios to match the desired taste profile.

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11. Coffee Machine with User-Specific Programmable Ingredient Dispensing and Integrated Sensor Monitoring

Nelson Antonio Rodriguez, 2012

A customizable coffee machine that allows multiple users to have their own specific cup of coffee with their preferred ingredients and brew settings without any user preparation. The machine has a compartment for storing multiple ingredients like coffee, sugar, creamer, etc. Each user can program their brew time and the specific amounts of each ingredient they want in their cup. The machine dispenses the exact measured ingredients into the user's container at the scheduled time. It uses sensors to monitor ingredient levels, container presence, and filter removal.

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Customizable coffee pods offer a world of possibilities for coffee enthusiasts. With various designs and technologies available, you can personalize your brew to suit your taste preferences. From adjustable brewing systems to smart coffee machines, the options are endless. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or just starting your coffee journey, customizable coffee pods are sure to elevate your coffee experience.