KR102411728B1 - Cold brew capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cold brew capsule for uniformly and rapidly extracting coffee by raising water from the bottom to the top in a plurality of columns filled with ground coffee.
As the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention is filled with ground coffee and has a plurality of columns dividing the capsule into a plurality (the cross-section of the column is 4 to 20 times smaller than the entire cross-section of the capsule) As the coffee in the column can be uniformly invaded, it is possible to ensure uniformity of concentration and taste.
In addition, the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention has a contact area with coffee powder due to the ascending force (increasing pressure) of the water flowing in from the lower part in the process of water moving from the lower part of the column to the upper part (at a very slow speed), and the falling force by gravity , can increase the invasion time.
In addition, in the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention, the use of an inlet pipe or filter located outside the capsule is excluded by locating the water supply pipe that directly supplies the water flowing in from the outside to the water storage space at the bottom of the capsule in the center of the capsule. can
As such, the present invention can provide coffee capsules in which cold brew is extracted in a short time with room temperature or cold water.

Description

Cold brew capsule

The present invention relates to a cold brew capsule, and more particularly, to a cold brew capsule that extracts coffee uniformly and quickly by raising water from the bottom to the top in a plurality of columns filled with ground coffee.

Cold brew (or Dutch coffee) is coffee extracted from coffee powder by dropping water uniformly, and is also called water drip coffee. Coffee that has been brewed over a long period of time.

Since this cold brew is extracted using water at room temperature, it has a relatively low caffeine content compared to drip coffee, which is extracted in large amounts at a high temperature of 65° C. or higher, but has a deep and soft taste.

In addition, the coffee is aged over time and has a more unique taste and aroma. In particular, consumer demand for aged Dutch coffee is increasing in summer.

However, the existing cold brew method has disadvantages in that water is absorbed into the coffee grains through a natural fall method and then released and extracted, so the size of the device increases as well as taking too much time. For this reason, there was a problem in that it was difficult to sufficiently supply Dutch coffee despite the increase in demand for Dutch coffee.

Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2019-0082522 discloses a cold brew coffee extraction apparatus using water pomace tea. In the above-mentioned publication, water is supplied to the lower part of the extraction unit by a water head difference so that coffee particles can be poured into water in the process of flowing out to the upper part. It is disclosed that coffee can be extracted.

However, the disclosed patent still has limitations in that coffee extraction takes more than 1 hour, and a supply tank of a considerable volume, an extraction container or extraction cap, a pipe, and the like must be provided. In addition, the above publication uses a gravity retrograde method in which water moves from the lower part to the upper part by a head difference, but the flow of water rising between the coffees from the lower part to the upper part is spread over the entire extraction container (10 cm inner diameter, 7 cm height). It does not rise uniformly (because the rate of rise in the lower filter state, coffee filling state, and the center of the container is faster than that of the surrounding area, and the side part is relatively slow, because the rise speed of water or the wetness of the coffee is not uniform throughout the container) , it is difficult to ensure uniformity of concentration or taste.

In addition, in the above patent, since the water inlet pipe is located at the lower part of the extraction container, a lower filter for preventing backflow of coffee is absolutely necessary, and a pressure loss corresponding to that located at the lower part occurs.

In addition, the disclosed patent is provided with an extraction cap and an extraction column on the upper portion of the extraction container, and the extraction time is delayed because the elevated coffee extract is discharged after passing through the extraction cap.

On the other hand, capsule coffee refers to an espresso extracted by putting ground coffee contained in a dedicated capsule for one cup of coffee into a dedicated espresso machine for the corresponding capsule coffee. This coffee capsule is pressurized inside to about 2 to 12 bar with an espresso machine (water above 70° C.), and coffee is extracted within a few minutes.

Korean Patent No. 10-1400596, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2018-0108596, etc. disclose coffee capsules in which coffee is extracted by pressurization and hot water. However, there was no capsule coffee that extracts cold brew in a short time with room temperature or cold water.

The present invention is to provide a cold brew capsule coffee in which cold brew is extracted in a short time with room temperature or cold water.

The present invention is to provide a cold brew capsule coffee capable of uniformly infiltrating the entire capsule filled with coffee.

The present invention is to provide a cold brew capsule coffee that can ensure uniformity of concentration or taste.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cold brew coffee capsule having a significantly reduced volume and a simplified structure.

In one aspect the invention provides

A cold brew capsule 100 sealed after a small amount of ground coffee is filled, wherein the capsule 100 is

a housing 10 forming a bottom surface 11 and a side wall of the capsule, and a cover 20 covering the upper portion of the housing;

a water storage space 30 formed including the bottom surface 11 and a water storage layer 31 spaced apart from the bottom surface by a predetermined height;

a water supply pipe 40 extending from the top of the cover to the water storage layer and located in the center of the housing;

a plurality of columns (50) located inside the housing and above the water storage layer (31) and partitioning the capsules into a plurality, the upper portion being opened and the ground coffee being filled therein;

and a discharge part 60 communicating with one side of the upper part of the column and discharging the extracted coffee to the outside of the capsule,

The central portion of the water storage layer 31 in contact with the water supply pipe 40 is an opening 311,

A plurality of holes or slits 312 penetrating the water storage layer are formed in the water storage layer 31 forming the bottom of the column 50,

Water is supplied to the water storage space 30 through the water supply pipe 40, and the water is injected into a plurality of columns through the holes or slits 31 of the water storage layer, and then the coffee liquid is removed from the coffee powder as it rises. Extracted and the extracted coffee liquid relates to a cold brew capsule flowing out through the discharge unit.

As the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention is filled with ground coffee and has a plurality of columns dividing the capsule into a plurality (the cross-section of the column is 4 to 20 times smaller than the entire cross-section of the capsule) Since coffee in the column can be uniformly invaded, uniformity of concentration and taste can be secured.

In addition, the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention has a contact area with coffee powder due to the ascending force (increasing pressure) of the water flowing in from the lower part in the process of moving water from the lower part of the column to the upper part (at a very slow speed) and the falling force by gravity. , can increase the invasion time.

In addition, in the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention, the use of an inlet pipe or filter located outside the capsule is excluded by locating the water supply pipe that directly supplies the water flowing in from the outside to the water storage space at the bottom of the capsule in the center of the capsule. can

In addition, since the cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention has a structure in which coffee is independently extracted for each column, the coffee extraction rate can be controlled by adjusting the size or height of the column, and the flow rate (water pressure) of supplied water. For example, the disposable cold brew coffee capsule of the present invention having an inner diameter of 3.5 cm, a height of 4.5 cm, and 6 columns can extract cold brew in about 7 to 15 minutes.

As such, the present invention can provide coffee capsules in which cold brew is extracted in a short time with room temperature or cold water.

1 is a perspective view of a cold brew coffee capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view and a perspective view with the cover removed in Figure 1;
3 to 6 are cross-sectional views taken in various directions of FIG. 1 .
7 shows an example of a coffee capsule coupled to a coffee appliance (water supply).

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the description or drawings of the following embodiments. That is, the terms used herein are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, terms such as "comprises" or "have" described in this specification are intended to designate that the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification exist, but one or the It should be understood that the above does not preclude the possibility of the existence or addition of other features or numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

1 is a perspective view of a cold brew coffee capsule that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a perspective view with the cover removed in FIG. 1 , and FIGS. 3 to 6 are cross-sectional views taken in various directions in FIG.

1 to 6 , the cold brew capsule of the present invention includes a housing 10 , a cover 20 , a water storage space 30 , a water supply pipe 40 , a column 50 and a discharge part 60 . include

The cold brew capsule of the present invention has a diameter of 2 to 10 cm, 2 to 7 cm, 2 to 5 cm, and a height of 3 to 20 cm, 3 to 15 cm, and 3 to 10 cm, and 5 to 100 g of ground coffee; It can hold 5~75g, 5~50g, 5~30g, 5~20g.

The cold brew capsule of the present invention has a volume of 10 to 1500 ml, 10 to 1000 ml, 10 to 750 ml, 10 to 500 ml, 10 to 385 ml, 20 to 200 ml, 30 to 150 ml, 30 to 100 ml, 30 to 75 ml. can

The cold brew capsule of the present invention may be disposable, but is not limited thereto.

The cold brew capsule of the present invention is sealed and distributed after coffee is filled.

The cold brew capsule of the present invention is closed by covering the water supply pipe communicating with the outside air, the hole 21 formed in the cover, and the discharge hole on the bottom surface with a sticker, a thin film, etc., and may be used by removing these when extracting coffee.

The cold brew capsule of the present invention is not a method of extracting by pressurizing about 2 to 12 bar with an espresso machine, but a non-pressurizing method of extracting by injecting cold water or room temperature water inside. The non-pressurized method refers to a method in which external pressure such as a pump or a compressor is not applied to the inside of the cold brew capsule.

The cold brew capsule of the present invention is a non-pressurized method in which water is supplied to the water storage space with a head pressure or a low flow rate metering pump.

The housing 10 forms a bottom surface 11 and a side wall of the capsule. The capsule including the housing may be made of a thermoplastic material or a biodegradable plastic. For example, thermoplastic materials that can be used include polypropylene (PP), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), poly-ethylene terephthalate (PET), etc., and biodegradable plastics can be potato or corn starch-based plastics. have.

The housing 10 may have a cylindrical shape or a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may have a square prism, a hexagonal prism, an octagonal prism, a cup shape, and the like.

The cover 20 may cover the housing to prevent the coffee powder filled therein from leaking to the outside.

The cover 20 may further include a hole 21 that is perforated up and down. The holes 21 may be formed to be positioned one at an upper portion of each column 50 . The hole 21 can discharge the air remaining between the coffees to the outside of the capsule along with the rise of water, and offset the pressure generated inside the column when the coffee is discharged to the discharge unit 60, so it is generated in each column The pressure can be kept the same.

For example, if the pressure generated inside the column is irregular when the coffee extract produced by elevating the column is discharged through the communication hole 62 of the discharging unit 60 at the top, the flow of water to the column with low pressure is reduced. It becomes so fast that water cannot flow evenly through each column.

In addition, the hole 21 is formed to be smaller than the size of coffee powder.

The water storage space 30 is formed of a bottom surface 11 of the housing, a water storage layer 31 spaced apart from the bottom surface by a predetermined height, and a side wall of the housing.

The water storage layer 31 may be formed in a plate shape inside the housing.

The water storage layer 31 may be located on the upper portion of the housing bottom surface 11, spaced apart by a predetermined height, for example, 5 mm to 2 cm.

The central portion of the water storage layer 31 is opened 311 to communicate with the lower end of the water supply pipe 40 .

The water storage layer 31 has a plurality of holes or slits 312 penetrating the water storage layer.

The diameter of the hole or the width of the slit 312 may be formed smaller than the size (diameter) of the coffee powder filled in the capsule. For example, the diameter of the hole or the width of the slit 312 may be 0.01 mm to 5 mm.

When water is supplied to the water storage space 30 through the water supply pipe 40 , the water rises to the upper column through the hole or slit 312 of the water storage layer 31 .

The water supply pipe 40 supplies water to the water storage space 30 . The water supply pipe 40 extends from the top of the cover to the water storage layer and is located in the center of the housing.

An upper end of the water supply pipe may be connected to an external water supply pipe, a water supply tank, or a coffee appliance.

7 shows an example in which the coffee appliance (or the supply water tank 200) is coupled to the upper part of the water supply pipe 40, and the shape or structure of the water supply pipe, the water supply part, and the cold brew extraction mechanism is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the supply water tank 200 may include a storage unit 210 , a connection unit 220 , and a pressure control hole 230 . The protrusion of the water supply pipe is inserted and coupled to the inside of the connection part, and the speed (flow rate) of water falling through the pressure control hole 230 can be adjusted.

2 to 6 , the upper end of the water supply pipe 40 penetrates the central hole of the cover 20 and is exposed upward, but is not limited thereto. For example, the upper end of the water supply pipe 40 may be in the same position as the central hole of the cover. In this case, the lower outer surface of the connection part 220 may be inserted and fastened to the inner side of the upper part of the water supply pipe. have.

The water supply pipe 40 is located inside the capsule, and the lower end of the water supply pipe is coupled to the opening 311 of the water storage layer 31 .

The column 50 divides the inside of the capsule into a plurality.

The column (50) is opened at the top can be filled with ground coffee therein.

The column (column) 50 may be formed in two or more, preferably 3 to 20.

The column is an empty column having a predetermined height. There is no particular limitation on the cross-sectional shape of the column. For example, the cross-section of the column may have a sectoral shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 . In addition, the cross section of the column may have a polygonal shape such as a circle, a quadrangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, or an octagon.

The plurality of columns may have the same volume.

The column is formed to include a partition wall 51 extending from an outer surface of the water supply pipe to an inner wall of the housing. 1 to 6 , the column may include two partition walls and an inner wall of a housing.

When water is continuously (or intermittently) injected into the bottom of the column (such as when water is dripped or pumped to the top of the water supply), the water can rise from the bottom of the column to the top.

The amount of water supplied can be adjusted according to the capsule size. For example, the amount of water supplied may be 0.05 ml/s to 0.5 ml/s, 0.1 to 0.5 ml/s, or 0.15 to 0.4 ml/s.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7 , when the supply tank 200 is located on the capsule 100, it can rise from the bottom of the column to the top by the difference in water pressure (the difference in water head between the supply tank and the rising water in the column). . That is, since the supply water tank 200 is located at the top of the capsule 100 of the present invention, a water pressure difference according to the height (the difference in height between the water surface of the supply tank and the capsule discharge parts 60 , 62) occurs and water rises in the column can be

In particular, as shown in FIG. 7 , when the pressure control hole 230 is formed in the supply water tank 200 , it may rise from the bottom of the column to the top by the height difference between the pressure control hole 230 and the discharge units 60 and 62 . can In this case, it is possible to extract coffee at a uniform speed by preventing a decrease in the water supply flow rate due to a decrease in the water level in the supply tank (that is, a decrease in the water head).

The column has a cross section that is 2 to 20 times (preferably 4 to 20 times) smaller than the entire cross section of the capsule, and blocks water from moving to the side through the column barrier, so that the rate of rise of water according to the position in the column or Coffee infiltration rate can be maintained uniformly.

Since the coffee capsule of the present invention has a structure in which coffee is extracted independently for each column, the higher the column height and the wider the column cross-section, the stronger the coffee can be extracted (however, if the cross-section is too wide, the increase rate of water or coffee invasion It is possible to control the extraction rate or concentration by adjusting the speed of the water supply), the flow rate of the supplied water (relative to the time), the water head difference, or the water supply rate.

In addition, even when there is no water head difference in the column (for example, when only about 1/2 of the water supply pipe is filled with water, the height of water is not higher than the top of the capsule, so water does not rise to the top of the capsule as a water head difference), may rise to the top of the column by capillary action.

That is, the column has a structure capable of increasing the capillary force that rises by permeating water between the filled coffee powders. For example, the present invention fills only about 1/2 of the water supply pipe with water (hereinafter, 1/2 water level) and maintains 1/2 water level, and capillary force even when water is dropped above 1/2 water level. As a result, water permeates into the coffee and rises to the top to extract coffee.

The discharge unit 60 communicates with the upper side of the column to discharge the extracted coffee to the outside of the capsule. The discharge part 60 may be formed in the capsule in various ways.

1 to 6 , the discharge unit may be formed on the inner wall side of the housing, or the discharge unit may be formed on the water supply pipe side.

When the discharge part is formed on the side of the water supply pipe, the discharge part may be formed to include another partition wall between the outer surface of the water supply pipe and the column partition wall.

1 to 6 , when the discharge unit is formed on the inner wall of the housing, the discharge unit 60 includes the inner wall of the housing, a partition wall extending to the housing, and a second partition wall 61 branching from the partition wall and extending to the housing. ), and an upper portion of the partition wall or the second partition wall may include a hole 62 communicating with one side of the upper part of the column.

In the above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail as an example, but these descriptions merely describe and disclose exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (4)

A cold brew capsule 100 sealed after a small amount of ground coffee is filled, wherein the capsule 100 is
a housing 10 forming a bottom surface 11 and a side wall of the capsule, a cover 20 covering the upper portion of the housing;
a water storage space 30 formed including the bottom surface 11 and the water storage layer 31 spaced apart from the bottom surface by a predetermined height;
a water supply pipe 40 extending from the cover to the water storage layer and located in the center of the housing;
a plurality of columns (50) positioned inside the housing and above the water storage layer (31) and partitioning the capsules into a plurality, the upper portion being opened and the ground coffee being filled therein;
and a discharge part 60 communicating with one side of the column upper part and discharging the extracted coffee to the outside of the capsule,
The central portion of the water storage layer 31 in contact with the water supply pipe 40 is an opening 311,
A plurality of holes or slits 312 penetrating the water storage layer are formed in the water storage layer 31 forming the bottom of the column 50,
Water is supplied to the water storage space 30 through the water supply pipe 40, and the water is injected into a plurality of columns through a hole or slit 31 of the water storage layer, and then the coffee liquid is removed from the coffee powder as it rises. Disposable cold brew capsules, characterized in that extracted and extracted coffee liquid flows out through the discharge unit. The disposable cold brew capsule according to claim 1, wherein the column (50) includes a partition wall (51) extending from an outer surface of the water supply pipe to an inner wall of the housing. According to claim 1, wherein the discharge unit (60)
It is a flow path pipe formed including the inner wall of the housing, a partition wall 51 extending to the housing, and a second partition wall 61 branching from the partition wall 51 and extending to the housing, and the upper part of the partition wall or the second partition wall is the column Disposable cold brew capsules, characterized in that the hole 62 communicating with the upper side is formed. The single-use cold brew capsule according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of columns have the same volume.

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