JP2003225164A - Coffee maker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regularly provide coffee finished according to a user's taste in a coffee maker. <P>SOLUTION: This coffee maker comprises two or more automatic extraction courses 9 consisting of natural extraction patterns, an extraction pattern determination means 11, and a selection switch 10, so that one automatic extraction course is selected by the selection switch. According to such a structure, a user can select a favorite course and obtain satisfactory coffee. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coffee maker having a plurality of extraction patterns, which enables brewing according to a user's preference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional coffee maker extracts coffee with only one extraction pattern, regardless of whether the extraction amount is small or large. Further, although it was possible to brew the extracted concentration of coffee, it was not possible to select the levels of bitterness, sourness and astringency.

With such a conventional coffee maker, when a small amount of coffee is extracted, the amount of water in the initial stage is too large to provide coffee with a deep taste and a harsh taste, and the deliciousness of beans and powder can be sufficiently extracted. In many cases, the extraction time was too long in the case of a large amount of coffee extraction, resulting in a coffee with a lot of taste.

Further, even if the coffee extraction amount is suitable for the extraction pattern of the coffee maker, since there is only one extraction pattern, the user will always have a limited extraction even if the type of beans to be purchased or the grain size of the powder is changed. Only the coffee obtained in the pattern can be drunk, and depending on the particle size of the powder, the type of beans, or the degree of roasting, the coffee may not be compatible and the result may be poor.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a coffee maker capable of always producing delicious coffee irrespective of the extraction amount and further selecting the bitterness, sourness and astringency level according to the taste of the user. The purpose is to

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of extraction processes of an extraction process according to the amount of coffee extracted and a selection process for selecting the bitterness, sourness and astringency level. , And a selection switch, by selecting the extraction course with the selection switch,
It is a configuration of a coffee maker that can select an optimum extraction pattern. Each extraction pattern is unique to the heating power of the heating means, the heating extraction time, the steaming time, the temperature, and the heat retention time.

[0007] As a result, delicious coffee can always be obtained regardless of the amount of coffee extracted, and bitterness, sourness,
You will be able to select the level of astringency.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a main body, a water container for containing water, an extraction chamber for extracting coffee, a heating means for heating the water, and time. Timing means for measuring, pouring port for pouring hot water into the extraction chamber, temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of hot water supplied to the pouring opening, and energizing the heating means according to the timing means or the temperature adjusting means. Control means for controlling, a plurality of automatic extraction courses each having a unique extraction pattern, and a selection switch for selecting one automatic extraction course from the plurality of automatic extraction courses, the control means is the selected automatic It is a coffee maker that determines the heating power of the heating means, the heating extraction time, and the steaming time according to the extraction course, and executes the extraction pattern.

Thus, if the user selects a suitable course from the selection switch according to the type of beans, the particle size of the powder, the degree of roasting, etc., the suitable heating power, heating extraction time, and steaming time are automatically set. Since the automatic extraction course which is determined and automatically controlled is executed, delicious coffee can be automatically obtained.

The invention according to claim 2 is the coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the automatic extraction course is provided with a plurality of extraction patterns adapted to the coffee extraction amount required by the user. By doing so, the heating power, the heating extraction time, and the steaming time are set uniquely so that the coffee components are extracted in a well-balanced manner in accordance with the respective extraction amounts, so that coffee with good workability can always be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the automatic extraction course, the total extraction time is kept constant and the ratio of the steaming time is
The coffee maker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bitterness level can be selected by having a plurality of extraction patterns in which the time of the heat retention process is uniquely set, whereby the user automatically extracts with a selection switch. By simply selecting the course, you will be able to decide the bitterness level of the finished coffee according to your taste and mood of the day.

The invention according to claim 4 makes it possible to select the sourness level by having a plurality of extraction patterns in which the temperature and the coffee extraction time are uniquely set in the automatic extraction course. With the coffee maker according to any one of items 1 to 3, the user can determine the sourness level of the finished coffee by simply selecting the automatic extraction course with the selection switch.

In the invention according to claim 5, the astringency level can be selected by having a plurality of extraction patterns in which the pouring amount of hot water and the total required time in one extraction are uniquely set in the automatic extraction course. The coffee maker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the user can determine the level of astringency in the finished coffee by simply selecting the automatic extraction course with the selection switch. become.

[0014]

Embodiments of the coffee maker of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a main body of a coffee maker, 2 is a water container provided in the main body 1, 3 is a water container for containing water, and 3 is water heated from a water container 2. Heating means such as an electric heater for supplying hot water, 4 is a time measuring means for measuring the time after the heating means 3 starts heating, 5 is a control means for controlling energization to the heating means 3, and 6 is coffee extraction The extraction chamber for performing the operation, 7 is a pouring port for pouring the hot water heated by the heating means 3 into the extraction chamber 6, 8 is temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the hot water supplied to the pouring port 7, and 9 is, for example, FIGS. A plurality of automatic extraction courses 10 each having a unique process extraction pattern as shown in FIG. 10 are selection switches for selecting one of a plurality of automatic extraction courses 9.

Reference numeral 11 determines the heating power of the heating means 3 and the heating extraction time and steaming time according to one automatic extraction course selected from the plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 by the selection switch 10, and the determined extraction pattern. Is output to the control means 5. The control means 5 controls the heating means 3 by taking in the information of the time measuring means 4 or the information of the temperature adjusting means 8 and the determination of the extraction pattern determining means 11. The control unit 5, the automatic extraction course 9, the extraction pattern determination unit 11, etc. are mainly composed of a microcomputer, and a plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 each having a unique extraction pattern are stored in the storage unit.

Next, the contents of the automatic extraction course 9 will be described. For example, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 according to the particle size of coffee powder
In the case of having multiple extraction courses shown in, the particle size of the powder is used as a parameter to quantify (: finest to: coarsest), and from the graph by particle size (~), heating power, heating extraction time, steaming A combination of time and total required time is determined. In the figure, 12 is a container for receiving the extracted coffee.

In the above embodiment, water is put in the water container 2 of the main body 1 and coffee powder is put in the brewing chamber 6. And, for example, even when the grinder of the shop that newly purchased the powder grinds the coffee powder to a finer grain than the grain size of the powder normally used, one of the plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 is selected by the selection switch 10. If the extraction pattern (fine) shown in FIG. 2 which is an automatic extraction course is selected, the control means 5 controls the heating means 3 in the process of the unique extraction pattern suitable for the particle size of the powder determined by the extraction pattern determination means 11. Control. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same quality result as that of coffee that is usually drunk. This is because steaming time and total time required are shortened in order to prevent excessive extraction of more components than usual due to fine powder.

Further, when the grain size of the coffee powder becomes considerably coarse by using a hand grinding mill, the selection switch 10 is used to select one of the extraction patterns shown in FIG. If (coarse) is selected, the control means 5 controls the heating means 3 in the same manner as the process of the unique extraction pattern suitable for the grain size of the coarse powder. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same quality result as that of coffee that is usually drunk. This is because the steaming step is divided into two and extracted carefully as shown in FIG. 3 in order to sufficiently extract the components from the coarse powder. The selection factor of the automatic extraction course is not limited to the particle size of the powder, and it is possible to include other factors such as the degree of roasting.

As described above, since the coffee maker of this embodiment has a plurality of automatic extraction courses, the user can select the most suitable course from those courses, which is suitable for the grain size of the coffee powder and the degree of roasting. It is possible to always get good coffee.

(Embodiment 2) In the embodiment 2 of the present invention, the extraction pattern determining means 11 including the automatic extraction course 9 in the invention of the embodiment 1 is configured so that the extraction amount of coffee can be selected. 1 is different from the invention of FIG.
The different parts will be mainly explained by using. The plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 store, as one automatic extraction course, a process of a unique extraction pattern adapted to the required extraction amount shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, water is put in the water container 2 of the main body 1 and coffee powder is put in the brewing chamber 6, respectively.
The control means 5 controls the heating means 3 in the process of the unique extraction pattern determined by the extraction pattern determination means 11 based on one automatic extraction course to extract coffee.

In particular, in the present embodiment, for example, when the user brews coffee for one person, the selection switch 10 is used to switch the state of FIG.
If an extraction course having the extraction pattern shown in (1) is selected, control is performed accordingly, and as a result, it is possible to obtain coffee extracted in the optimum pattern for extraction of one person (about 150 cc). Similarly, when brewing coffee for three people, if the user selects the extraction course shown in FIG. 5 with the selection switch, the coffee extracted in the optimum pattern for extraction of three people (about 450 cc) Can be obtained.

Since the extraction course in FIG. 4 has a small extraction amount, the heating power is not reduced and the process is performed without excessively overheating and spoiling the taste. Also, FIG.
In the extraction course, since the extraction amount is large, the heating power is raised to 700 W and the steaming step is also increased compared to the extraction course, so that the coffee component can be sufficiently extracted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing a plurality of extraction patterns adapted to the required extraction amount, coffee with good quality is always produced. Therefore, even when a small amount of coffee is extracted with a large device, there is no failure to make coffee that does not produce enough coffee ingredients and coffee that does not have a deep taste due to too much water in the initial stage. Even in the case of a large amount of extraction, the extraction time is too long and the coffee does not become turbid with a lot of miscellaneous taste.

(Example 3) In Example 3 of the present invention, extraction pattern determining means 11 including the automatic extraction course 9 in the invention of Example 1 is configured so that the sourness level of coffee can be selected by the user's preference. Since this is the only difference from the invention of the first embodiment, the different parts will be mainly described with reference to FIG. The plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 store the processes of the extraction pattern having the table shown in the following (Table 1) as one automatic extraction course.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, water is put in the water container 2 of the main body 1 and coffee powder is put in the brewing chamber 6, respectively.
The control means 5 controls the heating means 3 in the process of the unique extraction pattern determined by the extraction pattern determination means 11 based on one automatic extraction course to extract coffee.

Generally, the sourness of coffee is greatly affected by the concentration and polyphenols (particularly chlorogenic acid). When the beans are constant, the higher the concentration and the higher the degree of oxidation, the stronger the acidity. Therefore, in this example, as one of the automatic extraction courses 9, as shown in (Table 1), the total extraction time was kept constant so that the concentration increased as the sourness level increased, and the proportion of the brewing time was increased to further increase the level. The time of the last heat-retaining step also has a unique extraction pattern process which is similarly extended.

[0029]

[Table 1] In this way, by providing the extraction pattern in which the sourness level is divided into 5 stages, the user can select the sourness level as he or she likes depending on the mood of the day and can always drink satisfying coffee. Like

For example, even if the user happens to want to drink coffee that is not sour today, if the selection switch 10 sets the sourness level to a level lower than the level normally selected, the extraction pattern The heating power and the heating extraction time, the ratio of the steaming time and the heat retention time are determined according to the automatic extraction course of the level determined by the determination means 11, and the determined extraction pattern is always output to the control means 5. You can get the desired coffee with less acidity.

Similarly, if it is desired to taste a coffee having a stronger acidity, the sourness level may be increased. Further, in the case of coffee beans having a naturally high sourness such as mocha, it is possible to obtain a coffee having a desired sourness by finely adjusting the sourness level to a level slightly lower than that normally consumed. it can.

(Embodiment 4) In Embodiment 4 of the present invention, extraction pattern determining means 11 including the automatic extraction course 9 in the invention of Embodiment 1 is configured so that the bitterness level of coffee can be selected by the user's preference. Since this is the only difference from the invention of the first embodiment, the different parts will be mainly described with reference to FIG. The plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 store the processes of the extraction pattern having the table shown in the following (Table 2) as one automatic extraction course.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, water is put in the water container 2 of the main body 1 and coffee powder is put in the brewing chamber 6, respectively.
The control means 5 controls the heating means 3 in the process of the unique extraction pattern determined by the extraction pattern determination means 11 based on one automatic extraction course to extract coffee.

Since coffee is generally an alkaloid beverage based on bitterness, the degree of extraction of bitterness components greatly affects the taste. Especially, the influence of the amount of catechin, which is the main bitterness component, is large. Similar to tea, the amount of catechin extracted greatly changes depending on the temperature, and the higher the temperature, the more the amount extracted.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as one of the automatic extraction courses 9, as shown in (Table 2), the peculiar extraction pattern in which the bitterness level is divided into five stages by temperature and extraction time based on the extraction pattern level Equipped with the process of. The user only needs to select a desired bitterness level from the selection switch 10 to obtain coffee having a bitterness suitable for optimum extraction.

[0036]

[Table 2] As described above, in this embodiment, by providing the extraction course of the extraction pattern in which the bitterness level is divided into five stages, the user can freely select the bitterness level having the highest contribution to the taste of coffee. Being able to do this will make it possible for a wide range of people, from those who dislike coffee to those who like it.

For example, a user who prefers a coffee having a strong bitterness selects an extraction pattern in which the steaming time and the total extraction time are set to be longer than the pattern having the average balanced taste extracted by a normal coffee maker. Just by selecting with the switch 10, you can drink the desired coffee with a bitter taste than usual.

On the other hand, for a user who is not good at bitterness but wants to drink coffee, the amount of hot water extracted into the extraction chamber 6 at the beginning of extraction of the extraction pattern is large, and the total extraction time is generally set to be short. It is possible to provide easy-to-drink coffee with little bitterness by having the selected extraction pattern selected.

(Embodiment 5) In Embodiment 5 of the present invention, extraction pattern determining means 11 including the automatic extraction course 9 in the invention of Embodiment 1 is provided so that the astringency level of coffee can be selected by the user's preference. The configuration is different from that of the invention of the first embodiment, and therefore the different portions will be mainly described with reference to FIG. The plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 store the processes of the extraction pattern having the table shown in the following (Table 3) as one automatic extraction course.

[0040]

[Table 3] In the above embodiment, water and coffee powder are put in the water container 2 of the main body 1 into the extraction chamber 6 respectively, and the extraction pattern determining means 11 is based on one automatic extraction course selected from the plurality of automatic extraction courses 9 by the selection switch 10. The control means 5 controls the heating means 3 in the process of the peculiar brewing pattern determined by the above, and brews coffee.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 6, it is said that an astringent taste of coffee can be obtained if the extraction efficiency is 60 to 65%. Therefore, in the present invention, when an intermediate level is selected from the extraction patterns in which the astringency level is divided into 5 levels, it is set to fall within the range. Therefore, if you want to brew coffee that has a stronger astringency than usual, select the level and a pattern that enhances the degree of extraction of astringency, and if you want to brew coffee that has a weaker taste than usual, select the level and extract the astringency. It suffices to select an extraction pattern that reduces the frequency. Note that the astringency tends to be more pronounced as it is extracted in small amounts over time, so the five-step extraction pattern is based on the extraction pattern as shown in (Table 3), and the hot water pouring amount and total amount in one extraction are shown in Table 3. Set the time required.

As described above, in this embodiment, the astringency level desired by the user is selected from the selection switch by providing the extraction course having the extraction pattern in which the astringency level is divided into five stages as one of the automatic extraction courses. By selecting, you can obtain the astringent coffee suitable for the optimum extraction.

Note that the concrete numerical values in the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention are merely examples, and the numerical values are not limited to these numerical values and can be appropriately changed if necessary.

[0044]

As described above, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 5, a plurality of automatic extraction courses each having a unique extraction pattern and one automatic extraction course from the plurality of automatic extraction courses are provided. By providing the selection switch for selection, the user can select a favorite extraction pattern with the selection switch and automatically extract delicious coffee according to his preference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a coffee maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a process diagram showing an example of an automatic extraction course of a coffee maker according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a process diagram showing an example of an automatic extraction course of a coffee maker according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a process diagram showing an example of an automatic extraction course of a coffee maker according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a process diagram showing an example of an automatic extraction course in a coffee maker according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a correlation graph showing the relationship between the extraction efficiency of general coffee components and the extraction degree of astringency.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body 2 water containers 3 heating means 4 Timekeeping means 5 Control means 6 extraction room 7 pouring spout 8 Temperature control means 9 Automatic extraction course 10 Selection switch 11 Extraction pattern determining means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Keiko Sakagami             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazumi Kanazawa             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4B004 AA12 BA16 BA32 BA34 CA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A body, a water container for containing water, an extraction chamber for extracting coffee, a heating means for heating the water, a time measuring means for measuring time, and pouring hot water into the extraction chamber. A spout, a temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the hot water supplied to the pouring port, a control unit that controls the energization of the heating unit according to the time counting unit or the temperature control unit, and a plurality of each having a unique extraction pattern. Automatic extraction course, and a selection switch for selecting one automatic extraction course from the plurality of automatic extraction courses, the control means, heating power of the heating means, heating extraction according to the selected automatic extraction course A coffee maker, which determines a time and a steaming time, and executes the extraction pattern. 2. The coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the coffee extraction amount is selectable, and the automatic extraction course has a plurality of extraction patterns according to the extraction amount. 3. The coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the bitterness level of the coffee is selectable, and the automatic extraction course is provided with a plurality of extraction patterns according to the bitterness level. 4. The sourness level of coffee is selectable, and the automatic extraction course is provided with a plurality of extraction patterns according to the sourness level, according to any one of claims 1 to 3. coffee maker. 5. The coffee astringency level can be selected, and the automatic extraction course is provided with a plurality of extraction patterns according to the astringency level, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Coffee maker.