초록 ▼

Device for preparing a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer comprises a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing it to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink, an orifice for converting the coffee drink into a high speed drink jet, and a

Device for preparing a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer comprises a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing it to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink, an orifice for converting the coffee drink into a high speed drink jet, and a cyclone channel located below the orifice and adapted to interact with the jet to generate a cyclone zone therein during preparing the coffee drink. The cyclone zone stays alive by constantly drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within the cyclone zone and constantly driving the resulting emulsion out of the cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the jet. The emulsion separates into a coffee drink layer and a crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a cup.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressu

1. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle; and wherein said cyclone channel comprises at least one protrusion member on the interior surface of said cyclone channel for facilitating the formation of said cyclone zone in said cyclone channel. 2. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle, said cyclone channel comprising a reflector located a predetermined distance below said orifice and adapted to cause the formation of said cyclone zone; and two gaps formed between said reflector and said cyclone channel and on the left and right sides of said reflector for allowing the emulsion in said cyclone zone to be driven out as two streams for subsequent dispensing into two cups. 3. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle, said cyclone channel comprising a reflector located a predetermined distance below said orifice and adapted to cause the formation of said cyclone zone; and a channel located adjacent to said cyclone zone, said channel being sufficiently sloped for conducting the emulsion from the gap between said cyclone channel and said reflector to a receptacle. 4. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle, said cyclone channel comprising a reflector located a predetermined distance below said orifice and adapted to cause the formation of said cyclone zone; and a gap between said reflector and cyclone channel adapted to allow air to be drawn into and emulsion to be driven out of said cyclone zone. 5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said gap has an average gap size of approximately 0.05 to 0.4 cm.6. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said reflector comprises at least one of a convex reflection surface, a flat reflection surface and a sloped reflection surface.7. A device as claim 4 further comprising a sufficiently sloped surface adjacent to said gap for conducting the emulsion from said gap to a spout opening for dispensing into a receptacle.8. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle, and at least one satellite channel positioned along at least part of said cyclone channel for providing communication between said cyclone channel and atmosphere. 9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said satellite channel has an upper end located a predetermined distance above the bottom of said cyclone channel, a lower end in communication with atmosphere and an elongated opening between said ends of said satellite channel to provide communication between said cyclone channel and satellite channel.10. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said satellite channel comprises a hydrophobic surface for preventing coffee drink from filling said satellite channel by capillary force.11. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle; and a crema modulator to regulate crema generation, said modulator being adapted to move between a first position, in which it causes the coffee drink in said container to form the coffee drink jet and to inject into said cyclone channel via said orifice to form said cyclone zone, and a second position, in which it causes the coffee drink in said container to enter said cyclone channel in such a way that a proper cyclone zone can not be formed to generate crema for the coffee drink. 12. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink under pressure from said container into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the coffee drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the coffee drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the coffee drink jet, said emulsion separating into a coffee drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink upon being received in a receptacle; and a crema modulator to regulate crema generation, said modulator being adapted to move between a first position, in which it makes air properly available to said cyclone zone, and a second position, in which it staves said cyclone zone of air, thereby preventing said cyclone zone from being formed. 13. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink; an orifice for converting the coffee drink from said container into a coffee drink jet; a coffee drink passageway positioned below said orifice, said passageway having an upper end for receiving the coffee drink jet from said orifice, a channel comprising a crema surface located directly below said upper end and adapted to interact with the coffee drink jet from said upper end to generate crema thereon, and a sufficiently sloped bottom surface located adjacent to said crema surface and adapted to cause the coffee drink and crema generated at said crema surface to flow under gravity along said channel, and a lower end for discharging the coffee drink and crema from said sufficiently sloped bottom surface of said grand channel into a receptacle for consumption, the crema received in the receptacle tending to rise to form a visually appealing crema layer on top of the coffee drink; and means for introducing air to the space above said crema surface in said channel for the generation of said crema. 14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said means comprises an arrangement for a substantially continuous air space to be formed above the crema and coffee drink above said sufficiently sloped bottom surface of said channel.15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said container comprises a filter, a supply of flavor-containing materials above said filter and a bottom for supporting said filter and directing coffee drink from said filter to said orifice.16. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said orifice and said channel are adapted to cause crema to form on said crema surface when the pressure of the hot water delivered into said container is lower than approximately three bars.17. A device for preparation of a coffee drink having a visually appealing crema layer with pressurized hot water comprising:a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact with pressurized hot water to produce a coffee drink under pressure; an orifice for converting the coffee drink in container under pressure into a coffee drink jet at sufficiently high speed; a chamber positioned below said orifice for receiving the coffee drink jet from said orifice; and a crema modulator for controlling the amount of crema to be generated for the coffee drink, said modulator comprising a fluid control member, a handle for a user to move said fluid control member and an engagement member for said fluid control member, said fluid control member being adapted to move between a first position, in which it causes crema generation by causing at least one of the two actions of directing the coffee drink in said container to said orifice to form the coffee drink jet to inject and making air properly available to the coffee drink jet, and a second position, in which it prevents crema generation by causing at least one of the two actions of directing at least part of the coffee drink in said container to another opening and making air not available to the coffee drink jet, thereby enabling a user to select the amount of crema to be generated. 18. A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said fluid control member further comprises a plate member in which said orifice is formed, said plate member being adapted to form a seal to said container when said fluid control member is in said first position and to form said another opening when said fluid control member is in said second position.19. A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said fluid control member comprises a hollow member for enclosing the coffee drink from said orifice, said hollow member being adapted to to make air properly available to the coffee drink jet at said first position and to starve the coffee drink jet of air at said second position.20. A device for preparation of a drink having a visually appealing crema layer comprising:a chamber for receiving a drink; an orifice for converting the drink in said chamber into a drink jet; and a second chamber positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the drink jet, said emulsion separating into a drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the drink upon being received in a receptacle; and wherein said second chamber comprises at least one protrusion member on the interior surface of said second chamber below said orifice for facilitating the formation of said cyclone zone in said second chamber. 21. A device for preparation of a drink having a visually appealing crema layer comprising:a chamber for receiving a drink; an orifice for converting the drink in said chamber into a drink jet; and a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the drink jet, said emulsion separating into a drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the drink upon being received in a receptacle, wherein said second chamber comprises a reflector located a predetermined distance below said orifice and adapted to cause the formation of said cyclone zone; and a gap between said reflector and the bottom end of said cyclone channel for allowing air to be drawn into and the emulsion to be driven out of said cyclone zone. 22. A device as defined in claim 21 wherein said gap has an average size of approximately 0.05 to 0.4 cm.23. A device for preparation of a drink having a visually appealing crema layer comprising:a chamber for receiving a drink; an orifice for converting the drink in said chamber into a drink jet; and a cyclone channel positioned below said orifice and adapted to interact with the jet from said orifice to generate a cyclone zone during the process of preparing the drink, said cyclone zone drawing air in from atmosphere to emulsify with the drink within said cyclone zone and driving the resulting emulsion out of said cyclone zone as a result of the momentum of the drink jet, said emulsion separating into a drink layer and a visually appealing crema layer on top of the drink upon being received in a receptacle; and at least one satellite channel along said cyclone channel, said satellite channel having an upper end located a predetermined distance above the bottom of said cyclone channel, a lower end in communication with atmosphere and an elongated opening between said ends of said satellite channel to provide communication between said cyclone channel and satellite channel.