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An apparatus and method for brewing coffee or a similar brewed beverage allows a consumer to select a desired strength, and then, a serving of the brewed beverage is promptly brewed and dispensed in response to that selection. Regardless of the selected strength, a constant volume of beverage result

An apparatus and method for brewing coffee or a similar brewed beverage allows a consumer to select a desired strength, and then, a serving of the brewed beverage is promptly brewed and dispensed in response to that selection. Regardless of the selected strength, a constant volume of beverage results; in other words, the strength of the brewed beverage is not altered by merely adding or subtracting water.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for preparing and dispensing a brewed beverage, comprising: a plumbing system for delivering water to a brew head; a receptacle for receiving and positioning a quantity of a beverage component below the brew head; and a selector switch and associated contro

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for preparing and dispensing a brewed beverage, comprising: a plumbing system for delivering water to a brew head; a receptacle for receiving and positioning a quantity of a beverage component below the brew head; and a selector switch and associated control logic for controlling operation of said plumbing system, wherein the selector switch allows for the selection of one of the following discrete options--a first option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a first predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the brew head without significant interruption and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a first desired strength, which is then dispensed into a container positioned below said receptacle, or a second option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a second predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the beverage component, then terminates water flow for a first predetermined time period, and then resumes and continues to deliver water without significant interruption until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a second desired strength that is greater than the first desired strength, which is then dispensed into the container positioned below said receptacle. 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the selector switch allows for the selection of a third option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a third predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the beverage component and then terminates water flow for a second predetermined time period, with such a pulsing cycle of water delivery followed by a timed delay continuing until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a third desired strength that is greater than the second desired strength, which is then dispensed into the container positioned below said receptacle. 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the plumbing system includes a flow meter to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that water flow can be controlled according to the selected option. 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the plumbing system includes a pump for drawing water from a reservoir and directing water into and through a hot water tank to the brew head. 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, in which the plumbing system further includes a flow meter that is interposed between the pump and said hot water tank to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that the pump can be selectively deactivated to control water flow according to the selected option. 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, and further comprising a solenoid valve that is interposed between the hot water tank and the brew head, said solenoid valve being in communication with the control logic such that the solenoid valve can also be closed simultaneously with the de-activation of the pump to control water flow according to the selected option. 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which the plumbing system includes a flow meter to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that water flow can be controlled according to the selected option. 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which the plumbing system includes a pump for drawing water from a reservoir and directing water into and through a hot water tank to the brew head. 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, in which the plumbing system further includes a flow meter that is interposed between the pump and said hot water tank to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that the pump can be selectively deactivated to control water flow according to the selected option. 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, and further comprising a solenoid valve that is interposed between the hot water tank and the brew head, said solenoid valve being in communication with the control logic such that the solenoid valve can also be closed simultaneously with the de-activation of the pump to control water flow according to the selected option. 11. An apparatus for preparing and dispensing a brewed beverage, comprising: a plumbing system for delivering water to a brew head; a receptacle for receiving and positioning a quantity of a beverage component below the brew head; and a selector switch and associated control logic for controlling operation of said plumbing system, wherein the selector switch allows for the selection of one of the following discrete options--a first option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a first predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the brew head without significant interruption and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a first desired strength, which is then dispensed into a container positioned below said receptacle, or a second option in which the plumbing system causes a second predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the beverage component and then terminates water flow for a first predetermined time period, with such a pulsing cycle of water delivery followed by a timed delay continuing until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a second desired strength that is greater than the first desired strength, which is then dispensed into the container positioned below said receptacle. 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said selector switch allows for the selection of a third option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a third predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the beverage component, then terminates water flow for a second predetermined time period, and then resumes and continues to deliver water without significant interruption until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a third desired strength that is greater than the first desired strength but less than the second desired strength, which is then dispensed into the container positioned below said receptacle. 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which the plumbing system includes a flow meter to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that water flow can be controlled according to the selected option. 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which the plumbing system includes a pump for drawing water from a reservoir and directing water into and through a hot water tank to the brew head. 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, in which the plumbing system further includes a flow meter that is interposed between the pump and said hot water tank to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that the pump can be selectively deactivated to control water flow according to the selected option. 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, and further comprising a solenoid valve that is interposed between the hot water tank and the brew head, said solenoid valve being in communication with the control logic such that the solenoid valve can also be closed simultaneously with the de-activation of the pump to control water flow according to the selected option. 17. An apparatus for preparing a brewed beverage, comprising: a receptacle for receiving and positioning a quantity of a beverage component; a plumbing system for delivering water to the beverage component; and a selector switch and associated control logic for controlling operation of said plumbing system, wherein the selector switch allows for the selection of at least two of the three following discrete options--a first option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a first predetermined volume of water to be delivered to and distributed over the beverage component without significant interruption, creating the brewed beverage with a first desired strength, a second option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a second predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the beverage component, then terminates water flow for a first predetermined time period, and then resumes and continues to deliver water without significant interruption until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a second desired strength that is greater than the first desired strength, or a third option in which the plumbing system and control logic causes a third predetermined volume of water to be delivered to the beverage component and then terminates water flow for a second predetermined time period, with such a pulsing cycle of water delivery followed by a timed delay continuing until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to and distributed over the beverage component, creating the brewed beverage with a third desired strength that is greater than the second desired strength. 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, and further comprising a brew head for distributing the water over the beverage component. 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, in which said plumbing system includes a flow meter to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that water flow can be controlled according to the selected option. 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, in which said plumbing system includes a pump for drawing water from a reservoir and directing water into and through a hot water tank to the brew head. 21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, in which said plumbing system further includes a flow meter that is interposed between the pump and said hot water tank to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that the pump can be selectively deactivated to control water flow according to the selected option. 22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, and further comprising solenoid valve that is interposed between the hot water tank and the brew head, said solenoid valve being in communication with the control logic such that the solenoid valve can also be closed simultaneously with the de-activation of the pump to control water flow according to the selected option. 23. An apparatus for brewing coffee, comprising: a plumbing system, including a pump and a hot water tank, for heating water and delivering hot water to a brew head; a receptacle for receiving and positioning a quantity of coffee grounds below said brew head; and a selector switch and associated control circuit for controlling operation of the pump, wherein the selector switch allows for the discrete selection of at least two of the following discrete options--a first option in which the pump is activated and continues to pump water without significant interruption until a first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the coffee grounds, with the brewed coffee having a first desired strength being dispensed into a container positioned below said receptacle, a second option in which the pump is activated until a second predetermined volume of water is delivered to the coffee grounds, then de-activated for a first predetermined time period, and then re-activated and continues to pump water without significant interruption until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the coffee grounds, with the brewed coffee having a second desired strength that is greater than the first desired strength being dispensed into the container positioned below said receptacle, or a third option in which the pump is activated until a third predetermined volume of water is delivered to the coffee grounds and then de-activated for a second predetermined time period, with such a pulsing cycle of water delivery followed by a timed delay continuing until the first predetermined volume of water has been delivered to the brew head and distributed over the coffee grounds, with the brewed coffee having a third desired strength that is greater than the second desired strength being dispensed into the container positioned below said receptacle. 24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, in which the plumbing system further includes a flow meter that is interposed between the pump and said hot water tank to measure volumetric water flow, said flow meter being in communication with the control logic so that the pump can be selectively deactivated to control water flow according to the selected option. 25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, and further comprising a solenoid valve that is interposed between the hot water tank and the brew head, said solenoid valve being in communication with the control logic such that the solenoid valve can also be closed simultaneously with the de-activation of the pump to control water flow according to the selected option.