NL1031614C2 - Method, device and insert for making coffee with frothed milk. - Google Patents

Description

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METHOD, APPARATUS AND INSERT FOR MANUFACTURING COFFEE WITH FOAMED MILK

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing coffee with frothed milk, such as cappuccino.

It is known to produce coffee with frothed milk by first producing a coffee extract and then adding equal parts of milk and frothed milk thereto. The ideal ratio of these ingredients is therefore 1/3 coffee extract, 1/3 milk and 1/3 frothed milk.

It is also known to use a coffee pad in which a quantity of coffee milk powder is incorporated with so-called "coffee pods" coffee machines. Because such coffee makers are usually manufactured in such a way that they provide the brewed coffee with a layer of foam, coffee with frothed milk is thus obtained.

The object of the invention is to provide the method for manufacturing coffee with frothed milk, which leads to a better product. According to the invention this is achieved with the measures as characterized in claim 1. First, the milk product is added to the bottom, after which the ground roasted coffee is added. Subsequently, the heated water under pressure creates a coffee extract from the roasted coffee, which extract mixes with the milk product. When the milk product has been added in liquid form, first a portion thereof will already be pressed out of it by the pressure increase in the pressure chamber. Because the openings in the bottom act as a restriction for the flow of mixture under pressure, foam is formed by the pressure drop when passing through these passage openings. A liquid milk product such as coffee milk or cream can be selected for the milk product. The passage openings 1031614 t-2 are thereby designed such that pressureless liquid milk product does not flow significantly through the openings. Full impermeability is not necessary. Even when a few drops flow through the passage openings, the method according to the invention can still be carried out successfully.

By applying the method measure of claim 2, it is achieved that the milk product initially remains well separated from the coffee, so that first frothed milk is formed and then coffee extract is mixed with the remaining part of the milk product. A white foam layer is thus formed in the main.

A suitable embodiment is herein characterized in claim 3.

A further development of the method according to the invention is characterized in claim 4. According to the invention, the flow of mixture will forcefully spray out of the passage openings under pressure. By directing it against a transverse edge, additional foam formation is thereby achieved.

The invention also relates to and provides a device for manufacturing frothed milk, such as cappuccino, as characterized in claim 6.

Suitably the bottom of the pressure chamber of this device comprises spacer means extending from the bottom. These spacer means 25 support the amount of ground roasted coffee, which is included in a so-called "pad", for example. Under these "pads", due to the spacing means, sufficient space remains for the water flowing through the coffee, or the coffee extract, to flow unimpeded through the passage openings.

The measure of claim 8 is applied here in a favorable manner. The coffee extract can well displace the milk product t 3 from at least one reservoir or mix with it.

Another suitable embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in claim 5. The pressure relief valves are closed under normal pressure, so that they are impermeable to the milk product, even if it is thinly liquid. As soon as the water is supplied under pressure, the pressure relief valves open to allow the milk product and coffee extract to escape. The overpressure valves thereby serve as a restriction to achieve the desired extra-foam effect.

A suitable embodiment of the pressure relief valves is characterized in claim 10. As a result, at least the bottom can advantageously be produced in mass production.

According to a suitable further development, as characterized in claim 12, the device according to the invention can be formed by incorporating an insert piece which comprises the bottom with the passage openings in a device known for producing coffee.

Thus, for example, a generally known coffee-making device of the brand "Senseo" according to the invention can suitably be used for the production of coffee with frothed milk, or cappuccino. The insert with passage openings according to the present invention can be received in the holder thereof for receiving two coffee pads. By adding a milk product, such as coffee milk and placing a coffee pad on the insert, coffee with frothed milk can be produced in a simple manner.

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The invention also relates to and provides an insert for the coffee making device forms known per se of a device according to the invention, in order to subsequently be able to use the method according to the invention.

The invention is further elucidated in the following description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 shows a coffee maker known per se, which can be formed into a device according to the invention with the aid of an insert according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a coffee pod holder of the device of Figure 1, together with an insert and coffee pod.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the coffee pod holder with insert and coffee pod.

Figure 4 shows the plan view of the insert of Figures 2 and 3.

Figures 5 and 6 show embodiments of the insert.

Figure 7 shows a section according to -VII- in Figure 6.

In the following, the method, device and the insert according to the inventions are described with reference to a coffee maker known per se, wherein the insert according to the invention is used. It is noted that the invention is not limited to such an application. The invention can also be embodied in specifically manufactured devices.

The coffee maker 1 is of a widely used type that is sold under the "Senseo" brand. It comprises a pressure chamber 2, which has a loading opening at the top, which can be closed with a lid 6. In the holder 2 a so-called "pad holder", i.e. a holder for "coffee pads" or coffee bags, can be received . Shown is a pod holder 3 intended for receiving two coffee pads and making two cups of coffee simultaneously.

Normally, the coffee holder 3 with the coffee pads is placed in the pressure chamber 2, and closed with lid 6. By operating a push button, a pump and heating element is subsequently activated, which ensures that hot water is supplied under pressure above the coffee pods into the coffee room 2 from openings 7 in the lid. This hot water is pressed through the coffee pods and flows via an outflow opening 3 to the spout 5, under which coffee cups can be placed.

Figure 2 shows the pad holder in more detail. A device according to the invention is obtained by placing the insert 10 therein. The insert 10 is used with the pad holder for double pads, wherein the insert substantially occupies the space intended for one pad in the holder 3. This is clearly shown in Figure 3. The insert 10 is provided with sealing means 14, with which the insert 10 seals the pressure chamber relative to the outflow opening 8 of the holder 3. The sealing means 14 ensure that the water supplied under pressure 25 is forced to flow via the passage openings 11 into the bottom of the insert 10.

The sealing means 14, as shown in Figure 3, can be formed by an "O-ring". In a preferred embodiment, the sealing means 30 can be formed by a circumferential, single or double lip, which is formed during injection molding of the insert 10 by co-injection of a relatively flexible plastic.

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As Figure 3 shows, the coffee pad 9 rests on the ridges 18 of the insert, which thus form spacers. Between the bottom and the spacer means, reservoirs 19 are determined (see Figure 2), which in this case can receive coffee milk 12. Instead of coffee milk, another milk product, such as milk powder, concentrated milk, cream or the like, can also be included.

As soon as hot water under pressure is supplied into the holder 2 above the coffee pod 9, this will penetrate the coffee pod 9 and thereby pick up components from the ground, roasted coffee contained in the coffee pod 9, in order to form a coffee extract. This coffee extract finally flows into the chambers or reservoirs 19. Before, due to the pressure increase in the pressure chamber 2, a portion of the coffee milk 12 has already been pressed through the passage openings 11.

These passage openings 11 are dimensioned or have such a small cross-section that the coffee milk 12 does not flow through it or not easily when no additional pressure is applied.

The material of the insert is preferably chosen such that the diameter of the passage openings 11 is adapted to it so that, due to capillary action, no or only little coffee milk flows through these openings if the extra pressure is not imposed by the water under pressure.

Thus, as soon as the pressure in the pressure chamber increases, coffee milk 12 will be pressed through the passage openings 11. Because these openings 11 act as a restriction for this flow, a pressure drop occurs which contributes to foaming of the milk flowing out. A second foaming occurs because the hard jet from the passage openings 11 hits the container bottom 13. The liquid thus foamed to some extent further flows through the apparatus 1 to the outflow spout 5 in the usual manner, wherein additionally the usual foaming occurs. A considerable foam layer is thus obtained on the brewed coffee.

Initially, this foam layer is white because only the coffee layer 12 is still pressed through the outlet openings 11, but after some time mixing of the coffee extract with residual milk 12 occurs and a mixture of milk and coffee through the 10 passage openings.

If milk powder is used instead of coffee milk, the milk powder will first dissolve in the coffee extract and be pressed in this form through the passage openings 11 with the corresponding foaming.

It is noted that the total cross-section of the passage openings 11 will not be substantially larger than that of the outlet opening 8, in order to achieve the effect of the pressure drop and the strong flow through these openings 11.

Although the insert 10 has a favorable embodiment 20 for the bottom of the pressure chamber according to the device, it is certainly not limited thereto. The use of coffee pads is also not essential, as noted. It is, however, favorable that a porous wall, for example in the form of a filter paper, is included between the milk product and the ground, roasted coffee. However, this can be a separate filter paper on which the ground, roasted coffee is laid.

The bottom of the pressure chamber of the device according to the invention can take many suitable other forms. For example, Figure 5 shows a bottom, in this case also suitable for a coffee machine according to Figure 1, which has a smaller number of spacer means in the form of the ridges 21 and a larger number of openings 22. The number of k 8 passage openings can be adjusted to the conditions, such as the amount and pressure of the water supplied, the type of milk product used and the like.

The insert 25 of Figure 6 has spacers 5 in the form of upright pins 26. These extend approximately the same height as the ridges 18 and 21 of the inserts 10 and 20.

The passage openings 27 are designed differently. These include pressure relief valves, which are normally closed, but are pressed open the moment water is supplied under pressure into the pressure container.

As Figure 7 shows, these pressure relief valves are formed by elements of flexible plastic, which are provided with a cut-through 28. Under pressureless conditions, the walls of the intersection 28 abut each other and a barrier is thus formed. As soon as sufficient pressure prevails on one side of the pressure relief valve 26, the plastic is deformed such that a passage through the cut-off 28 occurs.

These pressure relief valves 27 can suitably be formed by co-injection of the relatively flexible plastic during injection molding of the insert 25.

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Claims (14)

A method for manufacturing coffee with frothed milk, such as cappuccino, comprising: 5. providing a pressure chamber with a bottom provided with a number of passage openings on a underside; - receiving a quantity of milk product in the pressure chamber above the bottom, wherein the milk product is a liquid milk product, such as coffee milk or cream; 10. receiving a quantity of ground roasted coffee in the pressure chamber above the milk product; - supplying heated water under pressure on the side opposite the bottom to the pressure chamber; and - discharging a mixture of coffee extract and milk product on the other side of the passage openings, wherein a material for the bottom and the cross-section of the passage openings in the bottom are chosen such that they are substantially impermeable to pressureless milk product and act as a restriction for the flow of mixture under pressure. 20 A method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of ground roasted coffee is separated from the milk product by a porous wall. The method of claim 2, wherein the amount of ground roasted coffee is included in a bag of filter material. 4. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the flow of mixture is directed under pressure from the passage openings against a transverse wall. 1031614 m 5. Device for producing coffee with frothed milk, such as cappuccino, comprising: - a pressure chamber provided with a closable loading opening with a bottom provided with a number of passage openings; 5. means for receiving a quantity of milk product in the pressure chamber above the bottom, the milk product being a liquid milk product, such as coffee milk or cream; - means for receiving a quantity of ground roasted coffee above the milk product; and 10. means for supplying heated water under pressure to the pressure chamber above the coffee, wherein a material of the bottom and the cross-section of the passage openings in the bottom are chosen such that they are substantially impermeable to pressureless milk product and as a restriction for the flow mixture works under pressure. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a transverse wall is arranged under the passage openings. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bottom carries spacer means extending up to a distance from the bottom. 8. Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a number of reservoirs for receiving milk product are determined above the bottom and between the spacing means. Device as claimed in any of the claims 5-8, wherein the passage openings comprise pressure relief valves. 30 Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressure relief valves are formed by intersected elements of a flexible plastic. V Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bottom is made of a plastic by injection molding and the elements of more flexible plastic are formed by co-injection in the bottom. 5 12. Device as claimed in any of the claims 5-11, comprising a device for manufacturing coffee, with a pressure chamber provided with a closable loading opening, a holder for a quantity of ground roasted coffee that can be accommodated in the pressure chamber, means for attaching to the pressure chamber feeding heated pressurized water above the coffee and an outflow opening for coffee extract, the bottom being comprised of an insert which can be received in the holder above the outflow opening and which is provided on its periphery with sealing means cooperating with a circumferential wall of the holder . 13. Insert for forming a device according to claim 12 with a coffee-making device. 14. An insert according to claim 13, which is injection-molded from a plastic and wherein the sealing means are made of a more flexible plastic by co-injection. 1031614