GB2215189A

GB2215189A - Beverage brewing using microwave heating

Info

Publication number: GB2215189A
Application number: GB8804945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Holt
Original assignee: Mars GB Ltd
Current assignee: Mars GB Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-02
Filing date: 1988-03-02
Publication date: 1989-09-20
Also published as: GB8804945D0

Abstract

An apparatus for enabling beverages such as fresh coffee or tea to be produced using microwave radiation and disposable generally planar sealed sachets such as described in UK Specification No. 2121762. The apparatus consists of a sealable reservoir 16 for water having a tube 46 communicating with a water injector 44 leading into the sachet 36. The apparatus is designed to rest on a cup 8. In a microwave oven the water boils and, under pressure, passed through the sachet to provide a beverage in the cup below. <IMAGE>

Description

BEVERAGE BREWING This invention relates to an apparatus for enabling beverages such as fresh coffee or tea to be produced using microwave radiation. It is particularly concerned with an apparatus for producing individual portion beverages in a domestic microwave oven.

In our UK Specification No. 2121762 we have described a technique for producing beverages from disposable, generally planar, sealed sachets. In use, hot water is injected into the sachets and a beverage such as coffee or tea is released after filtration from the coffee grounds or tea leaves - which are retained in the sachet. This technique is now in commercial production and marketed under the Trade Mark "Dimension 3".

We have now devised an apparatus which enables such sachets to be employed domestically in a microwave oven so as to produce a hot beverage in not much more than the time taken for the water to boil in such an oven.

According to the invention we provide an apparatus for production of a beverage and suitable for resting on a container such as a cup or beaker to receive the beverage, comprising a sealable reservoir for liquid, means for supporting a generally planar beverage sachet, and means communicating between the sealable reservoir and the sachet to enable hot liquid to be transferred under pressure from the reservoir to the sachet.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an apparatus according to the invention in vertical cross-section with a sachet shown schematically in place and the apparatus resting on a cup to receive a beverage.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus 2 comprises a generally-cylindrical plastics body 4 (the cylinder being disposed vertically and thus shown in section) having a shoulder 6 to enable it to rest on a cup 8 shown in phantom. A vertically disposed partition wall 10, together with top and bottom walls 12, 14, creates within the body 4 a reservoir 16 for water 18. A removable cap 20 in sealing engagement with top wall 12 is provided to enable the reservoir to be filled with water. A pressure-release safety valve 22 is provided on cap 20.

A door 24 constitutes the remainder of body 4 and extends from one vertical edge of partition wall 10, along which it is supported by hinges 26. Means for maintaining the door shut against reservoir 16, thus creating a space 28, are not shown. A cover 30 for space 28 is mounted on a hinge 32 at the junction of top wall 12 and partition wall 10.

Extending from partition wall 10 into space 28 is a sachet support member 34. The latter is designed to support a sachet 36 such as described in our Specification 2121762 at its top flange 38 which is provided/g sealed sachet nozzle 40. Depending downwardly from cover 30 is a water injector 42 having a bore 44 which, via an elbow on injector 42, communicates with a tube 46 leading into the reservoir 16 and terminating near the base thereof. The tube 46 adjacent the injector 42 is flexible to accomodate the hinge movement of cover 30.

The apparatus operates as follows. The user opens door 24 and places a sachet 36 on sachet support member 34. The current commercial sachets employed by us have self-opening base seams under pressure. The door is closed and cover 30 lowered, causing injector 42 to pierce the seal on nozzle 40 and locate therein. The reservoir is filled with water, and the apparatus placed on top of a cup in a microwave oven. The latter is actuated at an appropriate power and time to cause the water to boil. As pressure builds up, liquid is displaced into the sachet through tube 46. The sachet base seam ruptures and hot water runs through the sachet, mixing with the ingredients and depositing as a beverage in the cup. The process continues until the water level drops below the lower end of tube 46 in reservoir 16. The apparatus and cup of beverage are removed from the microwave oven and the spent sachet disposed of.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for production of a beverage and suitable for resting on a container such as a cup to receive the beverage, comprising a sealable reservoir for liquid, means for supporting a generally planar beverage sachet, and means communicating between the sealable reservoir and the sachet to enable hot liquid to be transferred under pressure from the reservoir to the sachet.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said communicating means comprises a tube extending from within the reservoir to a water injector for the sachet.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said water injector is mounted on a hinged cover.

4. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for supporting a sachet comprises a sachet support member extending from a side wall of the sealable reservoir.

5. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein, in use, said sachet is surrounded by a hinged door extending from said reservoir.

6. An apparatus for production of a beverage substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.