초록 ▼

A method and system for brewing one or more hot beverages, such as gourmet coffees. The gourmet coffee is brewed, at a brewing temperature, in the liners of a brewing urn. After brewing, the coffee can be transferred to any one of three storage tanks by means of manual or solenoid valves, and, if de

A method and system for brewing one or more hot beverages, such as gourmet coffees. The gourmet coffee is brewed, at a brewing temperature, in the liners of a brewing urn. After brewing, the coffee can be transferred to any one of three storage tanks by means of manual or solenoid valves, and, if desired, a gravity-assist pump. The shelf-life of the brewed coffee is increased substantially when stored at a serving temperature which is lower than the brewing temperature. Coffee contained in feed lines leading from each of the storage tanks passes through a pressurizing line to a tap tower located to provide efficient service to the coffee-purchasing customers. Hot water from the water jacket of the brewing urn is circulated in hot water lines retained in close proximity to the feed lines between storage tanks and the tap tower, thereby keeping the coffee in the feed lines at a desirable serving temperature. A control panel connected to level sensors in each of the storage tanks provides visible and audible indications to the operator that the supply of coffee in a particular storage tank is running out, so that the operator can brew a new batch of coffee. When the empty volume in a particular storage tank is adequate to store an additional full batch of freshly brewed coffee, the operator receives a second visible indication from the control panel. The operator can control pumps and valves from the control panel and can read the temperature of the coffee in each of the storage tanks.

대표청구항 ▼

A hot beverage brewing and serving system, comprising: a brewing vessel for brewing separate batches of hot beverages at a temperature in a brewing temperature range; an insulated storage tank for storing a batch of a beverage brewed in the brewing vessel at a temperature in a storage temperature ra

A hot beverage brewing and serving system, comprising: a brewing vessel for brewing separate batches of hot beverages at a temperature in a brewing temperature range; an insulated storage tank for storing a batch of a beverage brewed in the brewing vessel at a temperature in a storage temperature range so that the beverage from the same brewing vessel may be simultaneously brewed and served, the storage temperature range being lower than the brewing temperature range; a serving tap remote from the brewing vessel and storage tank; a first feed line for carrying the beverage from the brewing vessel to the storage tank; a second feed line for carrying the beverage from the storage tank to the serving tap for dispensing the hot beverage; and means for maintaining the beverage in the second feed line at a serving temperature so that when the serving tap is operated after a period of inoperation, it serves the beverage at the serving temperature, the serving temperature being lower than the storage temperature range.