MXPA02001623A

MXPA02001623A - Methods and systems for utilizing delayed dilution to provide customized varieties of fresh-brewed coffee on demand.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02001623A
Application number: MXPA02001623A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Roger William Gutwein
Original assignee: Procter & Gamble
Priority date: 1999-08-14
Filing date: 2000-08-14
Publication date: 2002-07-02
Also published as: JP2003506185A; AU6773700A; WO2001012040A2; CN1515215A; EP1204354A2; CN1378430A; CA2380347A1; BR0013244A; WO2001012040A3

Abstract

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide improved system for providing fresh brewed coffee on demand by a consumer, in a wide range of variety and strength. It is a further object of the present invention to provide brewing system for making relatively large quantities of fresh brewed coffee beverages, in particular variety and/or strengths as chosen by consumers just prior to consumption. Said system is easy to use, and requires only a small amount of personal attention. It is another object of the present invention to provide such brewing apparatus which is particularly useful for providing coffee according to individual consumer selection, but in large, commercial or institutional quantities. A general object of the present invention is to provide a beverage brewing apparatus which immediately provides selective dilution (based on individual consumer's selections) of a brewed beverage concentrate after the concentrate has been allowed to brew. A further general object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which a desired ratio between the amounts or flows of brewing water and dilution water may be achieved. Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage brewing apparatus which provides dilution of a brewed concentrate prior to being disposed in a common decanter. System for making and delivering a customized beverage product to a consumer having a user interface, a customization director in communication with a customization data store and the user interface, wherein the customization director includes executable instructions for determining a user's customized formulation; and a beverage delivery system in communication with the customization director, wherein the beverage delivery system includes executable instructions for delivering a customized beverage product. Method for delivering a customized beverage product to an individual including the steps of obtaining consumer preference data; determining a consumer beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer preference data; and providing the consumer a customized beverage corresponding to the customized beverage formulation. These and other objects of the present invention are set forth more clearly and fully in the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments of the present invention shown and described herein.

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING DELAYED DILUTION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED VARIETIES OF NEWLY PREPARED COFFEE ON DEMAND FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing consumers (at home or away from home) with quantities of freshly brewed coffee ready to drink. The consumer can customize a selection of coffee based on his taste preferences, and the portion of freshly brewed coffee will be provided almost immediately to the consumer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system wherein information is collected from a consumer with respect to certain preferences of quantity, taste, and concentration of the consumer. The information collected will be used to personalize a coffee beverage suitable for the individual consumer. The element to dilute the coffee extract is linked to the information system, in such a way that a coffee extract that has been prepared recently (in the past minutes and not more than 48 hours before) is diluted according to the individual consumer concentration preferences. The "delayed dilution" aspects of the present invention are used to accommodate the individual taste preferences of the consumer by using multiple varieties of roast and ground coffee types in the preparation system, and by using the extract not diluted to mix / dissolve other drink compounds or flavors to make cappuccinos, milks, etc., with a minimum dilution until the final drink. By providing an apparatus for making high volume freshly brewed coffee, and dispatching successive portions of coffee, the invention is particularly desirable in the restaurant environment (especially fast food), as well as in commercial and industrial establishments (office buildings, workplaces, hospitals, and the like, with large waiting areas). The intention is to prepare and maintain the freshly prepared coffee extracts in sufficient quantities to meet the demand, without the need to make large quantities of coffee extracts and then store them in various containers and eventually discard the old deteriorated preparation. This invention can also be used in the home environment, where it may be desirable to make different types of finished coffee products tailored to the taste preferences of various household members. Because these many variations can be made from the first initial preparations, variations can be provided immediately upon each individual selection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Much study has been done on the most satisfactory way of preparing roasted and ground coffee, and it is a fact that an excellent grade of coffee (properly cultivated and optimally roasted) can be ruined effectively for consumption by improper methods of preparation. . In general, you get a coffee drink of high quality and very satisfactory only when it has a fine aroma, delicate flavor, and full body, as well as a warm, stimulating character. It is also important that many consumers have come to appreciate the many different options available with respect to coffee products (for example, variations in concentration, type of variety, creaminess, flavors), and there is a wide variety of coffee options. However, especially in a commercial / industrial establishment (eg, restaurants, fast food industry, workplaces, hospitals), many obstacles must be overcome (eg, space, difficulty, time, and / or in-convenience). ) to deliver, especially on demand, the preferred choice of coffee to a wide range of consumers. Additionally, the majority of individual households comprise family members with different taste preferences; until now, at most, it has been troublesome and annoying to re-solve individual preferences, and in general, many different preparation cycles and many different receptacles to accommodate the mixture would be required. It would be desirable to employ a (or when a minimum number of) preparation process in a single display station, to efficiently accommodate different taste preferences in a household environment. Coffee beverages comprise an aqueous solution of water soluble (and sometimes insoluble) constituents of the roasted and ground beans of the Rubiaciae family tree. There are many varieties of this plant, but the two that have the most commercial significance are Caffea arabica and Caffea canephora (robusta). Almost universally, the extract is prepared by contacting the roasted and ground coffee with hot water at a temperature from moderately below the boiling point to moderately above the boiling point, during a pre-determined preparation time, separating the extract (including the solutes) of the insolubles, and consuming the resulting drink. The preparation methods can be categorized in general in three broad groups: (1) infusions in a single pass, where water is pumped or pumped through the roasted and ground coffee (which can partially serve as its own filter), and then it is filtered through a metal, paper or cloth screen; (2) percolation methods that recycle the extract through one or more milling volumes consecutively, either in a co-current or countercurrent flow, before the extract is siphoned off at the required concentration; and (3) batch-by-batch methods, where a fixed volume of coffee is mixed with a fixed volume of water in a preparation vessel, allowed to macerate with or without agitation, and then filtered or mechanically separated to produce the extract. Equipment for the preparation of beverages such as coffee and the like, has usually been of the "one station" type, where an empty jug is placed on a heating element under a receptacle or preparation funnel containing a measured amount of dry material to make the drink, for example roasted and ground coffee. Hot water is then passed through the material to extract the essential oils, flavor, and body that form the beverage, and then runs down through an opening in the funnel, toward the jar. If and when a second beverage carafe is needed, the first one should be brought to a separate heating element or plate. Although these prior beverage preparers function satisfactorily to make relatively small amounts of beverage, in restaurants and other commercial and institutional establishments, there is a continuing need for equipment to make large quantities of coffee, but which can instantly accommodate taste preferences of a wide variety of consumers; In addition, this equipment should be easy to use and relatively automatic so as not to require an unreasonable amount of personal attention during the preparation cycle. The needs of restaurants, institutions and other commercial establishments are of particular concern with regard to the equipment to prepare and make a cup of coffee acceptable to a consumer, given the limitations of space, labor, and time. Some currently available beverage preparation devices provide essentially instantaneous hot water for preparing beverages in a short period of time. These devices usually have a hot water tank that maintains a volume of water at a predetermined temperature. A cold water filling tube is connected inside the tank, with a closed end to, but without running into, the bottom of the hot water tank, a separate cold water tank or basin placed above the heated tank. A hot water discharge tube has an end placed in the hot water tank near an exit zone generally in the upper part of the hot water tank. Another end of the discharge tube delivers hot water transported through the tube to a substance for beverage preparation, in order to produce a prepared beverage concentrate. In order to prepare a beverage in an apparatus for the preparation of beverages as described above, cold water is poured into the basin. The cold water flows through the cold water filling tube and accumulates in the bottom of the hot water tank due to temperature variations between cold water and hot water. The hot water is displaced by the cold water and moves upwards, towards the top of the hot water tank, which is sealed by a cover, and through the hot water discharge pipe. When dispensing to a beverage preparation substance, the hot water and the beverage preparation substance create a prepared beverage concentrate. (For examples of representative hot water beverage preparation apparatus, see US Pat. Nos. 3,385,201 to Martin, US 4,920,871 to Anson, and US 5,025,714 and US 5,113,752, both to Bre er. ). Dilution of the prepared concentrate is necessary in order to prevent the prepared concentrate from being too strong, as well as to prevent an additional manual step from diluting the concentrate after it has been prepared. The dilution of the prepared concentrate is achieved by feeding additional water from the basin to either the preparation funnel and allowing it to pass through the coffee milling, or the area between the internal preparation funnel and the funnel of external preparation. It is necessary to provide equipment that requires minimal maintenance by employees. It is important to provide equipment that makes sufficient volume of preparation to meet customer demands without overproduction, but in adequate quantities that can be filled within a reasonable time with minimal attention from employees. Additionally, and preferably, the equipment must be compact. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a coffee preparation system that allows a consumer to personalize their preferred variety of coffee from a virtually endless selection of possibilities.; The system of the present invention will provide an individually customized portion of coffee delivered hot and ready to drink, upon demand by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved system for providing an individually customized freshly brewed coffee beverage on demand by a consumer, in a wide range of variety and concentration. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a preparation system for making relatively large quantities of freshly brewed coffee beverages (in particular, personalized with respect to desired variety, body, character, and / or concentration), as chosen by multiple Individual consumers just before their consumption, being the system is easy to use for the consumer or another individual (for example, staff of waiters of a restaurant) who obtains the personalized drink. In addition, maintenance of the subject equipment requires only a small amount of personal attention from the owner / operator of the equipment. A general object of the present invention is to utilize the "delayed dilution" of a concentrated extract to provide a beverage preparation system that provides a selective dilution (based on consumer selections) immediately (upon selection by the customer). individual) of a freshly brewed coffee extract after the extract has been left to be prepared and kept as an extract before dilution. It is also a general object of the present invention to use the undiluted extract to mix and dissolve other beverage compounds to make flavored coffees, cappuccinos, milks, and the like. One aspect of the present is the method for delivering an individually customized beverage product to a consumer. An example method comprises the steps of obtaining from the consumer, the data of the consumer's preferences; determine a beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer preference data; and providing the consumer with a personalized beverage product corresponding to the beverage formulation. Another aspect of the present invention is the interactive system for delivering a personalized beverage product to a customer. In one example, the system comprises a user Inter-phase; a personalization director in communication with personalization data storage, where the personalization director understands executable instructions to determine the personalized formulation of a user; and a beverage delivery system in communication with the personalization director, which comprises executable instructions to deliver a personalized beverage product. Yet another aspect is a computer-readable medium that contains instructions for controlling a beverage delivery system, in order to produce a customized beverage product. In one modality, the instructions comprise the steps of: obtaining the consumer's preferences data; determining a beverage formulation of the consumer corresponding to the consumer's preferences data; and providing the consumer with a personalized beverage corresponding to the consumer's beverage formulation. Still other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more clear to those skilled in the art, from the following detailed description, which is simply, by way of illustration, different modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As can be seen, the invention can have other different obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. According to the foregoing, the drawings and descriptions are of an illustrative and not restrictive nature. These and other objects of the present invention are stated more clearly and fully in the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings Although the specification concludes with the claims that particularly point out and claim in a distinctive manner the present invention, it is believed that it will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an interactive example system for conducting business in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for providing a customized beverage product to a customer in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary server / client network in accordance with the pre-sent invention. Figure 4 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method for providing a personalized beverage to a customer. Figure 5 depicts another embodiment of the present invention, wherein several components of the customizable beverage delivery system 100 are located and / or replicated in different physical locations. The system 100 comprises one or more customizable beverage delivery systems away from home 502, one or more customizable beverage delivery systems at home 504, and one or more 506 remote beverage programming stations. Systems away from home 502 can be located in restaurants, at work, in convenience stores or grocery stores, and the like. The remote programming stations 506 can be located in the same physical location as the home system 504, and in the system away from home 502, or in another remote physical location. System components 100 are each connected by a network 507, via network connector 509. Network connector 509 can be any network connector known in the art, including, but not limited to, token ring, Ethernet, line telephone, fiber optic, cellular, coaxial cable, universal serial bus, parallel cable, serial cable, IEEE 1394 Firewire, Bluetooth, in-infrared (IR), radiofrequency (RF), laser, and the like, or combinations of same. The network connector 509 is connected to the different components by means of a network connection device 508. The network connection device includes, but is not limited to, telephone modems, cable modems, DSL modems, peripheral ports ( for example, in series, parallel, USB, IR), and the like, and combinations thereof. Network 507 can be a one-to-one network, a client-server network, the Internet, an intranet, and the like, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, both the remote home system 502 and the home system 504 comprise a personalization director 104. a beverage delivery system 109, a visual data display device 510, an introduction device data 512, a data storage device 106, and a network connection device 508. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that both the visual data display device 510 and the data input device 512 can be the same device (as in the case of a tac-to screen), or they may be separate devices (for example, a teccia and a LCD display). It will also be appreciated that the devices for visual input and display of data (512 and 510) can be a device known or used in this field, including, but not limited to, those operated by a signal of sight, sound, magnetism, light , electrical, and the like, or combinations thereof. The personalization director 104 connects to the network and other components of the system 100 via the network connection device 508. The personalization director 104 connects to the network and other components of the system 100 via the connecting device. network 508. The personalization director 104 is also connected to the data entry device 512, the visual data display device 510, the beverage delivery system 109, and the data storage device 106. data storage device 106 may be comprised of one or more data storage devices of those commonly known and used in the art. The data storage device 106 may contain data of beverage formulations, user identification, user preferences, and the like. The remote programming station 506 is connected to the network 507 by means of a network connection device 508, which in turn connects to the personalization director 104, a visual data display device 510, a device of data input 512, and a data storage device 106. The remote programming station 506 may be a dedicated dedicated computing device, such as a workstation. Alternatively, the station 506 may be the combination of a generic computing device that executes a software program that allows the user to create a customized beverage formula, and store the information in the data storage device 106. Build appropriate programs using programming languages such as java, cgi script, html, xtml, shtml, and the like. It will be appreciated that, with respect to the system 100 as represented in Figure 5, it is within the skill of the art to design and build systems that share system resources and reduce the redundancy of the system components. In these systems, for example, network 507 could employ a single data storage device 106 that may or may not be located in physical proximity to the system component where the user is currently located. Additionally, the system 100 could employ a single data manager 104 with which all the devices on the network 507 are connected. Another embodiment of the present invention is represented by Figure 6, and is described in detail below.

The customizable beverage system 100 is contained within the housing 608. A visual display of the touch screen 602 located within the housing 608 serves as both the input device for collecting user data from the system, and the output device for displaying the information related to the user's drink selection. The touch screen 602 exhibits a series of Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) 603, which serve to facilitate the collection and display of information between the user and the personalized beverage system 100. The information can also be collected electronically through the system 100 through the use of a 604 card reader, which reads the information stored on the 607 identification card. For system users who are visually impaired, or simply to further facilitate the exchange of information, the microphone 606 for introducing verbal commands to system 100, and speaker 609 can be used to communicate choices and other information to the user. The verbal commands via the microphone 606 would be translated using speech recognition software, in instructions that can be interpreted by the personalization director 104 (not shown). With reference to the modality currently described, the user would approach System 100, and would be presented with a standard Welcome GUI 603. The information displayed in the standard Welcome GUI could be static, dynamic, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the standard Welcome GUI 603 exhibits current news, weather and sports information, in addition to information describing the types of customizable beverage systems 100 that it can provide. System usage instructions can also be displayed in the standard Welcome GUI 603. Then the user activates System 100 either by touching the 602 touch screen displaying the standard 603 GUI, inserting the 607 user identification card. in the card reader 604, or in an alternative manner, by vocalizing a session start command that is picked up by the microphone 606. Immediately after the activation of the system, the system 100 alters the visual display on the touch screen 602 from the Standard Welcome GUI 603 up to the beverage selection GUI 700. Figure 7 shows the beverage selection GUI 700. The beverage selection GUI 700 contains a custom greeting area 702, which displays information regarding the current user. This information could include the name of the user, the account information, such as the remaining balance, suggestions for selection of beverage based on previous consumption patterns and / or predicted beverage choice wishes, and the like. The beverage selection GUI 700 also contains the additional data display area 704, which may display a variety of information that may or may not be associated with the current user. For example, the additional data display area 704 could display an update of the user's financial portfolio, email account information (i.e., new message status, message sender, matter, or in an alternative manner). , all the message), weather updates, news headlines, sports scores, and the like. The content of the exact information displayed can be selected by the user, through system 100, based on previous and / or current experience with the user (eg, demographic criteria, beverage selection, and the like), or a combination of both. The visual display area of additional data 704 may also display advertisements and other promotional information. The beverage selection GUI 700 also contains predetermined beverage selection icons and labels 706 corresponding to standard beverage formulations. These standard beverage formulations can be displayed for each user, regardless of the time of activation, or they may be alternated by the system 100 depending on the time of day, season, weather, and the like. Alternatively, the predetermined beverage selection icons and the labels 706 may correspond to beverage formulations saved by the current user, for example, the choice of the current user's favorite evening beverage. The saved beverage formulation can be located at, and accessed from, the user's identification card, can be stored on a local data storage device, or can be located on a remote data storage device that is accessed by the system 100. The beverage selection GUI 700 also displays a customization option icon and tag 708 which, when selected by the user, will initiate the activation and visual display of the customization GUI 800. Figure 8 details a personalized 800 drinks GUI, which displays the information corresponding to the design of a personalized drink. The beverage personalization GUI 800 may optionally contain the personalized greeting area 702 and / or the visual display area of additional data 704. Mainly, the beverage personalization GUI 800 exhibits one or more characteristic customizable drink indicators 802 that correspond to a given beverage characteristic that the system 100 can adjust in accordance with the indicated preference of the system user. Personalized beverage feature indicators 802 comprise a customizable beverage characteristic scale 804 that conveys the degree of total variability possible with the given customizable beverage characteristic (ie, color of toast, concentration of beverage, temperature of the beverage, additional flavors, and the like), and the customizable beverage characteristic placeholder 805, which corresponds to the current level of the customizable beverage characteristic in the customizable beverage features scale 804. In the case of a touch screen, the user of the system would touch the portion of the scale of customizable beverage characteristics 804 which represents the desired level of customizable drink characteristic given. The beverage personalization GUI 800 would then be updated, such that the customizable beverage feature indicator 802 reflects the user's preference by displaying the customizable beverage characteristic placeholder. 805 on the appropriate portion of the custom beverage features scale 804. When the user has finished making a personalized beverage, the user can save the customized beverage formulation by selecting the save 806 icon, or the user can make the system 100 dispenses the beverage by selecting the dispatch icon 808. By selecting the save icon 806, the system 100 can transfer the programmed beverage formulation to any device capable of storing the personalized beverage information. Optionally, the user can return to a previous GUI through the selection of the return icon 810, which will cause the system to display a previous GUI, such as the beverage selection GUI 700. Figure 9 details another embodiment of the GUI. the present invention, and the corresponding description immediately. System 100 is capable of dispensing both personalized beverages and beverages with pre-determined, non-customizable formulations. The variety of beverage is indicated by the beverage variety indicator icon 902, which displays the information pertaining to a given beverage choice. If a given beverage variety indicator icon 902 corresponds to a drink choice that is customizable, then one or more customizable beverage feature indicators 802 will be located in close proximity, so that the user can personalize the beverage . In one embodiment of the present invention, the customizable beverage feature indicator 802 comprises two or more separate customizable beverage feature indicators 908 that correspond to a customizable beverage characteristic (i.e., toasting color, beverage concentration, temperature of the drink, additional flavors, and the like). The system 100 also allows the user to select a non-customizable beverage. Once the user has selected the desired beverage, and has customized the beverage if the choice of the desired beverage corresponds to a customizable beverage, the beverage can be dispensed by pressing the dispatch button 906.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to different embodiments of the invention, different examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate corresponding elements throughout all the views. The present invention relates to a system for individual customization of ready-to-drink coffee products for multiple consumers, as well as to the provision of personalized ready-to-drink coffee on demand, after introduction by the consumer. The method of the present invention comprises three basic steps: collecting the information of a consumer with respect to the wishes of the consumer in relation to the variety of coffee desired at that point of consumption; a system that links the consumer's choice of the coffee product with a containment area containing a quantity of freshly prepared concentrate, and an area where the coffee dilution is presented in a proportion of the water to the fresh coffee extract which is consistent with the choice by the consumer regarding the concentration and variety of the preparation.

A. Definition As used herein, the terms "ready-to-serve beverage" and "ready-to-drink beverage" are used interchangeably to refer to beverage products that are in a ready-to-use consumable form. They are made from extracts of freshly brewed coffee, and may also include dry mixes, powders, liquids, extracts, concentrates, and emulsions, in a wide variety of formulations. The term "freshly prepared", as used herein, refers to beverage extracts that have been extracted and maintained during a "containment time" for at least about 5 minutes, desirably at least about 15 minutes, and more preferably at least about 30 minutes, and no more than about 48 hours, preferably no more than about 24 hours, more preferably no more than about 12 hours and most preferably no more than about 6 hours . The term "containment time" means the period of time that begins with the establishment of the pre- paration of the extract, and ends when the dilution begins. For multiple preparations in a containment tank, the "containment time" would be the weighted average of the extracts still in the tank. The temperature of the preparation when exiting the extractor is greater than 37.7 ° C, preferably greater than 48.8 ° C, more preferably greater than 65.5 ° C, and most preferably greater than approximately 76.6 ° C, and the solids of the preparation they are less than about 10 percent, preferably less than about 5 percent, more preferably less than about 4 percent, and most preferably less than about 3.5 percent. The term "classifications" as used herein, means the characteristics or attributes of certain types of beverages, and include temperature, concentration, body (full or light), toast (color or degree), acidity, sweetness, bitterness , and / or sensation in the mouth. The term "variety" means the country of origin (crop) and / or the specific crop region (eg, variety), including harvesting and post-harvest techniques, within a given species or a species within a genus. The coffee beans useful in the present invention may be any of a single grain type or degree, or may be formed of mixtures of different types or grades of grain, and may be non-decaffeinated or decaffeinated. These high-crop type grains are usually referred to as high-grade coffees. The appropriate high grade coffee that has a high acidity includes Arabica and Colombiana, characterized by having "excellent body", "acid", "fragrant", "aromatic", and occasionally "chocolatoso". Examples of typical high-quality coffees are the "Ligeros" frequently referred to as high-grade Arabicas, and include, among others, Colombians, Mexicans, and other Light-washed, such as the strictly hard grain Costa Rica, Kenyas A, and B, and the strictly hard grain Guatemalans. As used herein, the term "comprising" means that different coffees, other ingredients, or steps, may be used together in the practice of the present invention. In accordance with the above, the term "comprising" encompasses the most restricted terms "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of".

B. Making the Coffee Drink Extract Almost universally, the extract is prepared by contacting the roasted and ground coffee with hot water at a temperature from moderately below the boiling point to moderately above the boiling point, for a time. of previously determined preparation, separating the extract (including the solutes) from the insoluble ones, and consuming the resulting beverage. Any extractate / concentrate that is generally available can be used in the practice of the system of this invention. In one embodiment, roasted and ground coffee is contained in receptacles or bags that are inserted into the preparation chamber. An example of this type of receptacle is the "K-Cup", manufactured by Keurig, Inc. and disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,325,765 and 5,840,189, incorporated herein by reference. The preparation methods can be categorized in general into three broad groups: (1) infusions in a single pass, where the water is pumped or pumped through the roasted and ground coffee (which can partially serve as its own filter), and then filtered through a metal, paper, or cloth screen; (2) percolation methods that recycle the extract through one or more milling volumes consecutively, either in a co-current or countercurrent flow, before the extract is siphoned off at the required concentration; and (3) batch pulping methods, where a fixed volume of coffee is mixed with a fixed volume of water in a preparation vessel, allowed to macerate with or without agitation, and then filtered or separated mechanically to produce the extract. Systems that provide freshly brewed coffee are usually of the "single station" type, where an empty jug is placed over a heating element under a receptacle or preparation funnel containing a measured amount of dry material to make the beverage For example, ground coffee, then hot water is passed through the material to extract the essential oils, the saucer, and the body that form the beverage, and then drains down through an opening in the funnel towards If and when a second beverage carafe is needed, the first should be moved to a separate heating element or plate, although these prior beverage preparers work satisfactorily to make relatively small amounts of beverage, in restaurants and other commercial and institutional establishments, there is a continuing need for equipment to make large quantities of beverages, which are easy to use and relatively automatic, so as not to require an unreasonable amount of personal attention during the preparation cycle. In the practice of the present invention, the weight ratio of the water extraction portion to the dry, roasted and ground coffee, is from about 5: 1 to about 24: 1.; preferably from about 8: 1 to about 13: 1. When this amount of water is used for extraction (dripping), a relatively strong extract of filtered coffee is emitted (which means that it is concentrated but not bitter). Typically, this extract will have a content of soluble solids by weight greater than about 1.2 percent, preferably 1.5 percent. The relatively strong filtered coffee extract is then diluted with a sufficient amount of dilution water, up to a preferred beverage concentration. Although several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the present invention in this way. Rather, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that different changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to cover in the appended claims, all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of this invention.

C. Delayed Dilution The system of the present invention offers the customization of freshly brewed coffee, based on consumer preferences, by utilizing the delayed dilution of freshly brewed coffee extract. As used herein, the term "delayed dilution" refers to the aspect of containing the freshly brewed coffee extract for a minimum period of about 5 minutes, preferably about 15 minutes, more preferably about 30 minutes; "delayed dilution" also refers to the aspect of containing the extract for a maximum period of time of about 48 hours, preferably about 24 hours more preferably about 12 hours, and most preferably about 6 hours. The freshly prepared extract produced by the process of the present invention has a solids content of the preparation of less than about 10 percent, preferably less than about 5 percent, more preferably less than about 4 percent, and a much preferable way less than about 3.5 percent. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, the extract has a minimum solids content of the preparation greater than about 1.2 percent, preferably greater than about 1.5 percent, more preferably greater than about 2 percent . It is important to recognize that a key aspect of the present invention allows the personalization of the preferred coffee just before its dispatch; there is no prior determination of the characters or concentration, as seen with many automated systems. The "delayed dilution" aspect allows multiple portions of individually made coffee to be prepared from a minimum number of brewing cycles, preferably one. Additionally, these individually tailored portions are shipped on demand.

The dilution ratios will be from about zero (no dilution) to about 1:15 coffee / water, and can be easily varied using the methods currently available, upon receiving the introduction of the consumer selection with respect to the concentration. The temperature of the dilution water can also be varied to accommodate the preferences of the individual consumer around the temperature of consumption; there are several ways in which this could easily be done, but one preferred way would be to have two lines of dilution; one for hot water (76.6 ° C-93, 3 ° C), and one for cold water (4.4 ° C-26.6 ° C), and coordinate its speed and flow to deliver the coffee to each individual consumer at their preferred temperature. In the practice of the present invention, the proportion by weight of the water extraction portion to the dry, roasted and ground coffee, is from about 5: 1 to about 24: 1; preferably from about 8: 1 to about 13: 1. When this amount of water is used for extraction (dripping), a relatively strong filtered coffee extract is emitted (which means that it is concentrated but not bitter). Normally, this extract will have a solids content soluble in weight of more than about 1.2 percent, preferably 1.5 percent. The relatively strong filtered coffee extract is then diluted with a sufficient amount of dilution water to a preferred beverage concentration. Clearly, this aspect of the system of the present invention imparts many benefits to freshly prepared extract, which result in a better final coffee beverage for the consumer. For example, delayed dilution of extracted coffee removes the need to contain coffee in a "ready for consumption" state, ie, "ready to drink" (eg, diluted and at the preferred temperature). In the undiluted state, coffee has less water and degrades at a slower speed. Additionally, the need to heat or cool during containment is minimized. In addition, the undiluted extract needs less space and can be maintained more easily in a given physical geometry. An additional benefit of the smaller space is that the equipment (the station) can be sealed more economically against contact with oxygen. Due to the concentration of the extract, the extract also has less dissolved oxygen per dissolved coffee solids, which will slow the oxidation reactions (less volume of aqueous solution per coffee solids). The use of the "delayed dilution" aspect of the present invention results in many benefits of the finished coffee cup; this finally results in less "too old" or "stale" coffee being served. The reaction rates that occur during containment are minimized by delayed dilution. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the prepared extract can be cooled or cooled to less than 76.6 ° C, preferably to less than 71 ° C, more preferably to less than 60 ° C, and most preferably to less than 1.6 ° C and 10 ° C, to further reduce the changes that occur during the containment of the extract; it will require much less energy and space to run this system, because it is easier to heat and maintain hot water than to keep the hot coffee prepared ready to be shipped. It will be recognized by the experts in this field that the cooling or cooling of the extract will further increase the maximum containment times which can still maintain desirable flavor attributes.

D. System Interface Due to the potential purchase cost, investment in staff time, and fear of a negative experience, consumers may find that the "trial and error" experimentation associated with the discovery of their type of beverage product Most desired, it is unacceptable and unpleasant. Many consumers do not understand how different options available with respect to beverage products correspond to their own individualized taste preferences. Further complicating this situation is that, at a given location, literally dozens of options could be available regarding beverage products for consumption. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method that allows a consumer to identify one or more beverage products that that consumer has a statistically greater opportunity to accept and enjoy from the taste preference point of view, than other beverage products. available. Ideally, this system should be simple to learn and use. The method of the present invention comprises three basic steps: to collect from a consumer the information with respect to the wishes of the consumer in relation to the variety of beverage desired at that point of consumption; a process that links the choice by the consumer of the beverage product, with a containment area containing a quantity of freshly prepared extract; and an area where the dilution of the beverage is presented in a proportion of the water to the extract of freshly prepared beverage that is consistent with the consumer's choice with respect to concentration and variety of the preparation.

Definitions; The term "variety-creating systems / devices", as used herein, refers to devices and processes that can transform one or more input materials into multiple beverage varieties. These systems and devices include elements / systems of delayed dilution; Delayed filtration elements / systems; and / or elements / filtration systems delay mixing. The term "personalization interface", as used herein, refers to the non-human vehicle that transmits the information (eg, consumer information, personalization information, and personalization recommendation) between the consumer and the consumer. the beverage delivery system. This interface can be incorporated in many ways, and the consumer can access the customization interface from a remote location. The term "beverage delivery system" as used herein, refers to the station, apparatus, device, equipment, or series thereof, which are linked to the personalization interface, and optionally, are equipped with " systems / devices that create variety ", including elements / delayed dilution system. The term "personalized selection identification", as used herein, refers to the process in which, and the element by which, the personalization interface or the beverage delivery system recognizes the consumer and can deliver ( in the case of the beverage delivery system) or direct the delivery of (in the case of the personalization interface) the personalized drink to the consumer. Appropriate ways to identify the consumer include, but are not limited to, a personal identification number (PIN), whether communicated to the system through a touch screen, touch screen, matrix card, retinal scanner, fingerprint reader, or labels. of radio frequency identification (RFID). The term "consumer identification", as used herein, refers to the process in which, and the element by which, the personalization director or the ID device recognizes the consumer's applicable preferences, and may develop and determine the appropriate personalized drink in accordance with the same. Appropriate ways to identify the consumer's applicable preferences include, but are not limited to, personal identification number (PIN), user name, pass code, and the like, which can be communicated to the system by means of a device or introduction process, such as a keyboard, touch screen , matrix card, retinal scanner, fingerprint reader, magnetic card readers, bar codes, or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and the like. The term "consumer", as used herein, refers to any user of the system who interacts with the personalization director for the purpose of introducing a beverage option, personalization information, personalization recommendation, or receiving a drink product. This individual can be a chef, employee, client, "wait staff", servers, etc., and simi-lares. The consumer can access the user interface from a remote location, for example by telephone, Internet, wireless connection, or the like. The term "beverage formulation", as used herein, is the information determined by the personalization director that provides a personalized selection corresponding to the selected products, options, features, or beverage products, which have been processed by the consumer. director of personalization as relevant to the individual consumer or consumer preferences (ie, in the case of orders of large volumes for multiple drinkers). The term "personalization information", as used herein, is the information delivered by the personalization interface or the drink delivery system, which provides an individualized selection of personalized information regarding products, options, features, or beverage products that have been processed by the personalization interface as relevant to the individual consumer. The term "personalization recommendation", as used herein, is the information determined by the personalization director to provide an individualized personalized recommendation regarding products, options, features, or beverage products that have been processed by the director. of personalization as relevant to the individual consumer or consumer preferences. In one modality, personalization recommendations will be based on past interactions. In another modality, personalization recommendations may include promotional and / or seasonal selections. The system of the present invention can also allow individual customers to communicate with the system, in such a way that the beverage delivery system can accommodate their personal personalized selections. There are many ways in which individual systems can be developed to achieve this aspect of the present invention; the examples described herein are representative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Appropriate ways to communicate with the consumer include, but are not limited to, voice, keyboard, Internet, touch screen, and conventional elements such as selectors, sliders, buttons, and switches. By understanding what individual customers want, whether for certain key issues, sampling, or direct questions about taste, the system can deliver consumers the preferred savors and needs. The wishes of an individual can also be dynamic and changing over time, and / or by event or experience, for example the time of day, the day of the week, the day of the month, the season, the occasion, the medium environment, work / pleasure, humor, physical, mental, and so on. Your wishes can also evolve based on experimentation, experience, education, knowledge, changes in lifestyle, and age. The personalization interface can include this type of personal or historical information as it processes consumer information, as well as incorporate trends and demographics and common experiences as consumer information is processed. In another modality, the customization recommendation may include promotional and / or seasonal selections. For example, with respect to the age of the individual, they may choose to add supplements to their personalized drinks (for example, post-menopausal women may want to add calcium). Beverage delivery systems in particular cases may offer special additives (for example, health food stores or health clubs may want to add new product lines such as vitamins or minerals in powders) as samples to increase retail sales, and Health clubs may wish to offer rehydration support after exercise.

Additionally, the personalization interface can be continuously assimilating the available data to increase personalization capacity and continuous recommendations. In a particularly pre-ferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, this type of information and introductions are continuously monitored, updated, and refined, according to the changes and predicted options tailored to the individual consumers; this aspect of information processing is the Global Assimilator Customization System. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system uses the information about the preferences of consumer tastes, to suggest particular retail drinks that the consumer could try. In a version of this aspect, a consumer could use the beverage system to sample different brands at retail. Conversely, different retail brands could refer to, or otherwise associate with, certain flavors or gelatins in the beverage supply system. The system of the present invention must be equipped with a sufficient and adequate memory function, in such a way that both the consumer and the menu items can be accommodated. This includes use and incidence of the product, and selection and response of the consumer. There are many ways in which individual systems can be developed to accommodate this aspect of the present invention; the examples described herein are representative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Suitable embodiments of the memory functions of the system of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, central databases, system databases, portable databases. The system of the present invention may have an element so that the personalization interface identifies, that is, recognizes, individual consumers. This allows individual consumers to go / return to the physical locations of the system (either the personalization interface or the beverage delivery system), and transmit their desired beverage selection to the system without repeating the step-by-step sequence of programming of the lesson. These individual preferences may also include adjustments based on time and place, which are determined by past usage histories of the system. There are many ways in which individual systems can be developed to accommodate this aspect of the present invention; the examples described herein are representative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Appropriate ways to identify the consumer include, but are not limited to, a personal identification number (PIN), whether communicated to the system through a keyboard, touch screen, matrix card, retinal scanner, fingerprint reader, or identification tags of radio frequency (RFID). In addition, the system can be preprogrammed, periodically scheduled, and / or networked, to allow the identification of individual consumers and associated pre-attributions to be universally recognized by all these systems. An aspect of the present invention, schematically illustrated in Figure 1, can be understood from the system 100 for delivering a customized beverage product to a consumer, which comprises: a user interface 102; a personalization direct 104 in communication with the user interface 102; a data storage 106 in communication with the personalization director 104; and a beverage delivery system 109 in communication with the personalization manager 104. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system further comprises an identification device 108 in communication with the personalization director 104, and a consumer identifier. 110. The director of personalization 104 could understand a set of executable instructions, such as in the form of software, routines, programs, algorithms, codes, logic, and the like, which, among other things, would facilitate the determination of personalized beverage formulations. In one embodiment of the present invention, the personalization manager 104 is provided with communication, such as through a token ring, Ethernet, telephone modem connection, radio or microwave connection, parallel cables, serial cables, telephone lines, universal serial bus "USB", Firewire, Bluetooth, fiber optic, infrared "IR", radio frequency "RF", and the like, or combinations thereof, with the data storage 106 and the inter-phase of the user 102. Customization directing 104 can be integrated into a beverage dispensing device, or in an alternative mode, it could be housed in a remote device. Remote devices can include other consumer devices, a personal computer, or an external server located somewhere on the Internet. In another embodiment of the present invention, the user interface 102 could comprise a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a kiosk, a device with wireless application protocol (WAP) programs, such as cell phone, auto computer or PDA, interactive TV, or an Internet device, or similar. The user interface 102 allows the user to interact with the interactive system 100, and as will be understood, it can take any of a virtually unlimited number of alternative forms of audio, visual, and / or other communication forms. In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface 104 may comprise a computer system comprising a central processing unit, memo, a visual display device, and an input element. Preferred input elements comprise a keyboard or mouse, or other input element, such as an input microphone with speech recognition input devices, touch screen input devices, and / or visual input using a camera Of video. In the illustrated embodiment, the user interface 104 could comprise a computer connected to the Internet through a communication link 120, and run a web browser, such as Internet Explorer from Microsoft Corp., or Netscape Navigator from Netscape Communications Corp. An example of the introduction of the consumer to be provided by the consumer could comprise the desired temperature of the prepared beverage, for example hot, warm, or cold, or in an alternative mode, the introduction may request the introduction of a exact temperature. Additional areas of introduction may further include the concentration of the beverage (i.e., varying the level of blackness), the size of the beverage (i.e., container size), additives such as cream, sugar, milk, artificial sweeteners, flavors, and the like. The beverage delivery system 109 of this example may be a conventional beverage delivery system known to a person skilled in the art. Examples include single-pass infusion systems, percolating systems, and batch pulping systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, the interactive system 100 is integrated into the beverage delivery system 109. In another embodiment, the interactive system 100 is separated from the beverage delivery system 109. In yet another embodiment of the present invention. invention, consumers who desire a personalized beverage, are provided with an identifier 110, such as an identification card, password, a number comprising any available identification device or protocol known to an expert in the field. This identification may comprise any combination of bar codes, radio frequency identification tags, data, chips, smart cards, and the like. Those skilled in the art know different combinations of identification / identification devices, and can be employed by the different embodiments of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the identification device 108 comprises a bar code scanner. A person skilled in the art knows different bar code scanners, and includes: 1) pen-type readers and laser scanners, 2) CCD readers, and 3) camera-based readers. Pen readers include a light source and a photodiode, which are placed one next to the other on the tip of a pen or wand. To read a bar code, the user passes the tip of the pen through the bars, and the photodiode measures the intensity of the light reflected back from the light source, and generates a waveform that is used to measure the width of the bars and spaces in the bar code. The dark bars of the bar code absorb the light, and the white spaces reflect the light, in such a way that the voltage waveform generated by the photodiode is an exact duplicate of the bar and space pattern of the bar code. This waveform is decoded by the scanner. Laser scanners work in the same way as pen type readers, except that they use a laser beam as the light source, and usually use a reciprocating mirror, or a rotating prism, to scan the laser beam backward and forward through the barcode. As with the pen-type reader, a photodiode is used to measure the intensity of light reflected back from the bar code. In both pen type readers and laser scanners, the light emitted by the reader is tuned to a specific frequency, and the photodiode is designed to detect only light at this same frequency. Pen type readers and laser scanners can be purchased with different resolutions to make it possible to read barcodes of different sizes. The resolution of the scanner is measured by the size of the point of light emitted by the reader. The CCD (charge coupled device) readers use an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors aligned in a row at the reader's head. Each sensor can be thought of as a single photodiode that measures the intensity of the light immediately in front of it. Each individual light sensor in the CCD reader is extremely small, and because there are hundreds of sensors aligned in a row, a voltage pattern identical to the code pattern of a bar is generated in the reader, measuring the voltages in sequence. Tajes through each sensor of the row. The important difference between a CCD reader and a pen or laser scanner is that the CCD reader is measuring the ambient light emitted from the bar code, while the pen or laser scanners are measuring the reflected light of a frequency. specific origin that originates from the scanner itself. The most_new type of barcode reader currently available is that of camera-based readers, which use a small video camera to capture an image of a bar code. Then the reader uses sophisticated digital image processing techniques to decode the barcode. Video cameras use the same CCD technology as in a CCD bar code reader, except that, instead of having a single row of sensors, a video camera has hundreds of rows of sensors configured in a two-dimensional array, such way they can generate an image. In another embodiment of the present invention, the identification device 108 comprises a radiofrequency scanning device. Radiofrequency Identification (RF ID) uses radio frequency communication to automatically identify, track, and handle objects, people, or animals. A magnetically coupled, passive and low frequency radio frequency identification system is made of two parts: a reader and a label. Signs usually adhere to objects or animals that require a unique identification number. The tags include an electronic circuit (transponder), and a tuned antenna-capacitor circuit. The labels are small transmitters and sophisticated radio receivers. They are energized by the radiofrequency field generated by the reader. When energized, the tag will continuously transmit its data, dampening the input RF energy field. The radio frequency identification reader has three main functions: energize, demodulate, and decode. The reader, using a tuned antenna-capacitor circuit, emits a low frequency radio wave field. This is used to energize the signs. The information sent by the label must be demodulated. The encoded information is decoded by the microcontroller on board the reader. This information can then be used by a control processor. Both in the reader and in the label, the antenna can be configured and dimensioned in different ways. Due to the small size of the sign, it can be formed to fit almost any situation. Because there is no contact or vision required, the radio frequency identification system allows great freedom of movement and placement of the sign, and the reader becomes less than a critical issue. In one embodiment of the present invention, an administrative user can access the personalization director 104 and the data storage 106, through the use of an administrative interface 130, to use, analyze, or otherwise apply the data of the user. personalization and feedback data of the consumers, to develop or improve the company's products, and to develop or improve the components of the beverage preparation system. This perspective obtained from the consumer, can also provide very beneficial information for research, development, marketing, and improvement of future products and systems. It can also be contemplated that a company could make its results and analysis of interactive data storage available to other entities. This could involve allowing these entities to access this data through the Internet, through printed reports, through inter-active computer software, periodic data subscription services, or the like. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the system may further comprise a retail interface 180. The retail interface may be adapted to communicate purchase data and consumer data to and from the personalization director 104. For example, a consumer can make a purchase of a beverage in a box, but the beverage system may not be directly accessible from the box. The retail interface 180 can send the data to the personalization director 104, which will then prepare the beverage after interaction with the buyer. In another embodiment, the retail interface 180 communicates with the personalization manager 104 to ensure that the consumer is authorized to receive the beverage product. For example, a consumer can buy the beverage at a remote location, and then enter a special access code at the user interface, which then delivers the beverage to the consumer. There may be a number of ways to determine the relevant custom preparation formulations of the beverage delivery system. In one mode, the consumer is asked to enter the consumer preference data through the user interface. These data can then be stored for later retrieval during subsequent visits to the beverage delivery system. As an example, consumer preference data entered through the user interface or retrieved from data storage, could be collated against one or more decision trees. A decision tree usually comprises a set of responses / features / categories against which consumer preference data can be compared. For example, a decision tree could comprise every combination of possible consumer preference data. Then the preference data is compared against the decision tree for a coupling branch, and the coupling branch provides additional instructions that will be executed as a result of the match. These decision trees would preferably comprise potential combinations of consumer preference data that have been designed with the intended application of the system in mind, so that appropriate optimized operating conditions can be established that pertain to the personalized beverage to be delivered . Preferably, the decision trees are converted to mathematical algorithms, which then process the comparisons or "decisions" of the decision tree electronically, to quickly assert the optimized beverage formulation appropriate for the beverage delivery system. In order to update the optimization process to allow modification or "coupling", as appropriate, one embodiment of the present invention comprises the decision trees or algorithms of the personalization director 104, which are updated by a network neu. -ral 111. In the example of personalized beverage delivery, the neural network 111 would evaluate the different applicable consumer preferences and the feedback data retrieved from the data storage, to determine if changes to the mathematical or written algorithms are needed of dialogues to facilitate or optimize the decision-making process in the determination of personalized beverage formulations. For example, a neural network can continually update its decision-making algorithm, by incorporating user input, such as feedback, into the decision making process similar to artificial intelligence or "intelligent" logic. According to Haykin, S. (1994), Neural Networks: A Comprehensive Foundation, N.Y. : Macmillan, page 2, a neural network is a massively distributed parallel processor that has a natural propensity to store knowledge of experience and make it available for use. It resembles the brain in two aspects: 1) knowledge is acquired by the network through a learning process; and 2) interneuron connection forces known as synaptic weights are used to store the knowledge. The neural network analyzes the data storage 106 to view trends, feedback data, consumer preference data, and other additional data, in order to develop and refine the algorithms for decision making. In one embodiment, a neural network would automatically make the changes to the decision trees or algorithms of the personalization director 104, based on the growth in consumer preference and consumer feedback data. A description of a suitable neural network can be found in U.S. Patent Application Pending Issue No. 60 / 149,857, filed August 19, 1999 in the name of Robert P. Piotrowski et al, which is incorporated into the present as a reference. Another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Figure 2, includes the method for providing a personalized beverage product to a customer. The method comprises the steps of obtaining the consumer preference data corresponding to a consumer (step 200); terminating a consumer beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer preference data (step 204); and providing the consumer with a personalized beverage corresponding to the consumer's beverage formulation (step 206). The system of the present invention can also allow individual customers to communicate with the beverage delivery system, so that their personalized selections can be accommodated by the beverage delivery system. There are many ways in which individual systems can be developed to achieve this aspect of the present invention; the examples described herein are 'representative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Appropriate ways to communicate with the consumer include, but are not limited to, voice, keyboard, Internet, touch screen, and conventional elements such as selectors, sliders, buttons, and switches. By understanding what individual consumers want, whether through certain key questions, sampling, or direct taste questions, the system can deliver to consumers their preferred tastes and needs. The wishes of a consumer can also be dynamic and changing over time and / or by event or experience, for example the time of day, the day of the week, the day of the month, the season, the occasion, the environment , work / pleasure, humor, physical, mental, and so on. Your desires can also evolve based on experimentation, experience, education, moods, health conditions, knowledge, changes in lifestyle, and age. The personalization interface can include this type of personal or historical information as it processes consumer information, as well as incorporate trends and demographic traits, and common experiences, when processing consumer information. Additionally, the personalization interface can be continuously assimilating the available data to increase personalization capacity and continuous recommendations. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention, this type of information and introductions are continuously monitored, updated, and refined, according to the predicted changes and options made to the measure of the individual consumers; This aspect of information processing can be carried out by means of a neural network or other technologies known to an expert in this field. Figure 3 schematically illustrates a sample client / server network 300, which could be employed to implement an embodiment of the present invention. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, a client / server network is just one type of network, and a variety of other configurations, such as one-to-one connections, are also considered networks. In a client / server network, a plurality of nodes are interconnected, in such a way that the different nodes send and / or receive information to / from each other. As shown herein, a server node 302 interconnects with a plurality of client nodes 314 using a connection 316, such as token ring, Ether-net, telephone modem connection, radio or microwave connection, parallel cables, cables serial, telephone lines, universal serial bus, "USB", Firewire, Bluetooth, fiber optic, infrared "IR", radio frequency "RF", or other wireless communications, and the like, or combinations thereof. A computer readable medium, shown herein as a CD ROM (318), contains information readable by a computer, such as programs, data, logic, files, and so on. As will be readily appreciated, the computer-readable medium can take a variety of forms, including magnetic storage (such as hard disk drives, floppy disks, etc.), optical storage (such as laser discs, compact discs, DVDs, etc.). , electronic storage (such as a random access memory "RAM", a read-only memory, "ROM", a programmable read-only memory "PROM", etc.), and the like. One embodiment of the present invention comprises the method for providing a personalized beverage product to a consumer. An example embodiment is illustrated in the flow chart of Figure 4. In this example, the consumer has previously registered with the beverage system, and a radio frequency identification key label has been issued to use the system. The consumer passes the radio frequency identification key label through the area of the system identification device (step 400). The identification device activates the radio frequency identification tag, and receives the client identifier stored in the tag (step 402). This client identifier is then passed to the personalization director (step 404), which in turn searches for the storage of data to find the consumer data corresponding to the consumer identifier (step 406). The consumer data is retrieved, and the personalization director analyzes the data (step 408), and then presents the consumer with one or more customization options (step 410). In one mode, the personalization director could also ask the consumer to enter feedback data for the last interaction and delivery of drink with the system. In another modality, the personalization director can present one or more selections of promotional and / or seasonal options to the consumer. Personalization options include, but are not limited to, concentration, flavor, type of grain (coffee), temperature, and finishing options (cream, milk, etc.). The direct personalization can also display express formulations that make it possible for the consumer to select the express formulation, and all other decisions are automatically taken by the system. In one modality, the consumer can create manually and save personalization options such as express formulations to save time and reduce formulation errors for deliveries of future beverages. Once the consumer has entered their personalization options (step 412), the personalization director will analyze the options (step 414), and send the corresponding commands to the beverage delivery system (step 416). In addition, the personalization director of preference stores the personalization options selected in the data storage in a register corresponding to the consumer's identifier. In a modality, the personalization director, during a subsequent interaction, will ask the consumer to enter the feedback data corresponding to the previous beverage formulation. For example, the personalization director could ask the consumer to enter a 1 to 10 evaluation of the personalized beverage product during the last visit. In another modality, the consumer could select to speak with a customer service representative, and the personalization direct will establish a connection that puts the consumer in communication with the customer service person. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the personalization director will display the prior beverage purchases associated with the consumer's identification, and will ask the consumer to enter the feedback data or fill out a questionnaire regarding purchases. of previous drinks. The consumer can receive a prize (ie, a coupon, discount, etc.) by filling in the feedback data. In another embodiment of the present invention, the consumer may have access to the user interface to pre-select their beverage preferences in advance from a remote location. For example, the system may comprise numerous personalization formulation options by which the desired formulations could be customized in advance of the actual purchase to save time. In an example mode, a web site could be hosted in a network, such as a wide area network, a local area network, or the Internet, and the like, to which the consumer can access through some device of communications. The web browser makes contact with a web server, and requests the data information, in the form of a uniform resource locator (URL). This data information comprises the user interface of the interactive system of the present invention. Normally, the URLs are typed into the search engine to access the web pages, and the URLs are embedded within the pages themselves to provide the hypertext links with other pages. A hypertext link allows the user to click on the link and be redirected to the corresponding website, to the URL address of the hypertext link. There are many search engines to access the World Wide Web, such as Netscape Navigator from Netscape Communications Corp., and Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer. In a similar way, there are numerous web servers to provide content to the World Wide Web, such as Apache Group Apache, Microsoft Corp Internet Information Server, Lotus Domino Go Webserver from IBM, Netscape Enterprise Server from Netscape Communications Corp, and Oracle Web Application Server from Oracle Corp. These search engines and web servers can be used to allow access to the present invention from virtually any device accessible via the web. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured to communicate with a remote data store. This capability allows the personalization director to identify individual customers who have not previously interacted with the system in the present location, and retrieve the centrally stored profile of the consumer. This allows individual consumers to go to different physical locations of the system, and transmit their desired beverage selection to the system without repeating the step-by-step sequence of selection programming. These individual preferences can also include adjustments based on time and place, which are determined by histories of past system use. There are many ways in which individual systems can be developed to accommodate this aspect of the present invention; the examples described herein are representative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Appropriate ways to identify the consumer include, but are not limited to, a personal identification number (PIN), whether communicated to the system through a keyboard, touch screen, matrix card, retinal scanner, fingerprint reader, or identification tags of radio frequency (RFID). In addition, the system can be pre-programmed, periodically scheduled, and / or networked to allow the identification and associated preferences of individual consumers to be universally recognized by all these systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, an administrative user can access the personalization director 104 and the data storage 106, by utilizing an administrative interface 130 to utilize, analyze, or otherwise apply the personalization data. and consumer feedback data, in order to develop or improve the company's products, and to develop or improve the components of the beverage preparation system. This perspective gained from the consumer can also provide very beneficial information for research, development, marketing, and improvement of future products and systems. It can also be seen that a company could put its interactive data storage results and data analysis at the disposal of other entities. This could involve allowing these entities to access this data through the Internet, through printed reports, through interactive computer software, periodic data subscription services, or the like. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the system may further comprise a retail interface 180. The retail interface may be adapted to communicate purchase data and consumer data to and from the personalization director 104. For example, A consumer can make a purchase of a drink in a box, but the beverage system may not be directly accessible from the box. The retail interface 180 may send the data to the personalization director 104, which will then prepare the beverage over the interaction by the buyer. In another embodiment, the retail interface 180 communicates with the personalization director 104 to ensure that the consumer is authorized to receive the beverage product. For example, a consumer can buy the beverage from a remote location, and then enter a special access code at the user interface, which then delivers the beverage to the consumer.

EXAMPLES Although the particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1 A consumer establishes a personal profile on the Internet, or in the system, and answers a few simple questions about their beverage preferences and related preferences. These questions help to deliver the product with the correct profile, and can allow the system to make suggestions and / or modifications of formulation appropriate for the user during the present or a future transaction. The profile is maintained in a central database accessed by the system through wireless communication devices, local area network (LAN), or telephony, wherever the consumer is. The consumer is recognized by means of a personal identification number (PIN) stored in a RFID radio frequency identification tag, main cards, or his credit card. The consumer can get their own drink designed, or choose from a variety of drinks that are close to their prescribed drink in personal acceptance. The consumer is allowed to choose from the flavor profile of different attributes in the creation of their own cup. This is done with sliders and selectors or a multidimensional space that represents the world of beverage flavors, including concentration, sweetness, creaminess, and flavor. The user selects at different times the character of the coffee he prefers by means of a consumer interface window. The consumer establishes a personal profile on the Internet or in the system that may involve and answering a few questions about their beverage preferences. The answers to these questions are analyzed by the personalization director to formulate and deliver the product with the correct profile. The consumer is presented with the opportunity to personalize their own beverage or choose from a variety of pre-configured beverages that approximate the consumer's personal profile.

Example 2 A.) The coffee is prepared by placing 410 grams of whole roasted and ground arabica coffee in a standard preparation basket of a 5.2 liter satellite preparer. 4,500 milliliters of water are supplied to the preparation basket at atmospheric pressure. The water is supplied at 93.3 ° C and at 10 milliliters per second. The filtered preparation is filtered with conventional paper coffee filters, and the resulting preparation has 2.8 percent preparation solids. The exit temperature of the extract was 79.4 ° C. B.) The coffee extract is maintained for up to 48 hours on a Bunn Softheat ™ satellite system at 82.2 ° C. C.) The products are selected based on images and words that surround the concentration characteristics. A pressure button or tap delivers the coffee of different characteristics. The consumer samples the variety of the product until he finds the one that is most attractive to him. D. ) The products are delivered to the consumer by means of a system that combines the extract maintained with water at 76.6 ° C for hot drinks. The proportion of the water to the extract controls the concentration resulting from the preparation.

Example 3 A.) Coffee is prepared by placing 205 grams of roasted and ground decaffeinated coffee in an automatic pasta maker equipped with a wire mesh filter. While the output of the preparation basket is closed, initial 200 milliliters of water at 95 ° C is supplied to the closed system, and they are allowed to macerate for 200 seconds. The preparation basket is allowed to open, and the extract is allowed to drain. Then an additional 900 milliliters of water at 95 ° C is supplied to the coffee at 5 milliliters / second under constant pressure. The final coffee extract has 7.7 percent preparation solids. B.) The coffee extract is kept in a closed tank heated to 71 ° C. C.) The consumer establishes a personal profile on the Internet or in the system, and answer a few simple questions about your preferences. These questions help to deliver the product with the correct profile. The profile is maintained in a central database accessed by the system through wireless communication devices, local area network (LAN), or telephony, wherever the consumer is. The consumer is recognized by means of a personal identification number (PIN) stored in radio frequency RFID identification slips, main cards, or his credit card. The consumer can get their own drink designed or choose from a variety of drinks that are close to their prescribed drink in personal acceptance. D.) The extract is diluted with water to produce a variety of concentrations from 0.1 percent preparation solids to 7.7 percent preparation solids.

Example 4 A.) The coffee is prepared by placing 76.5 grams of roasted and ground coffee in a standard preparation basket of a 1.9-liter canister. 1,860 milliliters of water are supplied to the preparation basket at 93.3 ° C, and 12 milliliters per second, and to ambient pressure. The preparation is filtered with conventional paper coffee filters, and the resulting preparation has 1.4 percent preparation solids. The exit temperature of the extract was 77.7 ° C. B). The coffee extract is maintained for up to 48 hours under almost adiabatic conditions in a sealed glass thermos flask maintained at 71 ° C. C). The consumer is allowed to choose from the flavor profile of different attributes in the creation of their own cup. This is done with sliders and selectors or a multidimensional space that represents the world of beverage flavors, including concentration, sweetness, creaminess, and flavor. D.) The extract is diluted with hot water in any proportion from all extract to all water. The extract was diluted to a complete concentration (0: 1), medium concentration (1: 1, 0.7 percent preparation solids), third part concentration (2: 1, 0.47 percent preparation solids), and fourth part of concentration (3: 1, 0.35 percent preparation solids). The resulting extract was also mixed with 20 percent cappuccino powder in similar concentrations. The resulting products are from very sweet creamy cappuccinos to cappuccinos with a high coffee flavor. The cappuccinos were then mixed with a 50 percent solution of crushed ice to create ice-cold cappuccinos.

Example 5 A.) The extract of Example 1 and extract of Example 2 were loaded into a system. B.) The user selects, at different times, the character of the coffee he prefers, by means of a consumer interface window. C.) Use History Table. The coffee extracts were mixed together, as mentioned below, and then diluted in the designated proportions.

Example 6 A.) The coffee is prepared by placing 205 grams of roasted and ground decaffeinated coffee in an automatic pasta maker equipped with a wire mesh filter. While the output of the preparation basket is closed, initial 200 milliliters of water at 95 ° C is supplied to the closed system, and maceration is allowed for 200 seconds. The preparation basket is allowed to open and the extract is allowed to drain. Then, an additional 900 milliliters of water is supplied at 95 ° C to coffee at 5 milliliters / second under constant pressure. The final coffee extract has 7.7 percent preparation solids. B.) The coffee extract is kept in a closed tank heated to 71 ° C. C.) The consumer establishes a personal profile on the Internet or in the system, and answers a few simple questions about their preferences. These questions help to deliver the product with the correct profile. The consumer can obtain their own prescribed beverage or choose from a variety of drinks that approximate the prescribed drink in their personal acceptance profile. D.) The extract is diluted with water to produce a variety of concentrations from 0.1 percent preparation solids to 7.7 percent preparation solids. A dilute extract with 2.0 percent preparation solids was beaten in a high shear mixer to produce a cream. This mixture was then dosed with a 0.05 percent vanilla flavor and 5 percent sugar.

Steps A-D of each of the foregoing Examples can be substituted for one another, for example A.) of Example 1 by A.) of Example 4.

Example 7 In this Example, an example interaction with the personalization director will be described. The consumer, Frank, approaches the user interface, and swipes his beverage card through the card reader that is part of the user interface. Frank had previously filled out an application for the beverage card, and subsequently he had sent his own beverage card. Frank's beverage card contains a unique identification number that is used by the personalization director to retrieve Frank's profile. In this example, Frank had previously chosen a password / pass number to protect the unauthorized use of this beverage card. When sweeping your card through the card reader, the personalization director, through the user interface, asks Frank to enter his password. Frank enters his password through the visual display of the touch screen of the user interface. The personalization director transmits the identification number and password to the data storage to determine if they match an existing record. When finding a match, the personalization direct retrieves Frank's personalization profile, and analyzes the profile to determine the beverage options to display to Frank. The personalization director exhibits numerous personalization options to Frank, such as coffee bean type, temperature, concentration, finishing options, as well as a few express options, such as his last coffee purchase, special store pickup , and drink of the month. Then Frank introduces the selection of the special of the month. The personalization director receives the selection from Frank and determines the corresponding commands to send to the beverage delivery system. The beverage delivery system receives the commands and delivers the selected beverage to Frank. The personalization director records the purchase of Frank's drink in the data storage.

Example 8 In this example, another example interaction with the personalization director will be described. A typical consumer, Alice approaches the user interface to personalize a beverage purchase. Alice has never used the personalization system before, and has not previously registered her preferences. The user interface asks Alice to enter her user identification number, or to select "new" if the consumer is new. Alice selects "new" on the touch screen of the user interface. The personalization director receives the "new" selection, and determines which selection options to present to Alice. The personalization director presents different personalization options to Alice through the user's Inferíase. Some of the options include express re-commendations, formulation options, and a registration option. The registration option contains different areas of introduction for the consumer to enter their preferences data. Then the director of personalization creates a new record for the consumer in the storage of data, and associates the record with a new user identification (number, password, and the like). The nine identification is then displayed to the user, and preferably sent to the user through an additional means. In this example, Alice chooses the formulation options, and is asked to select the type of grain. Alice selects her desired grain type, and then the personalization director asks her to enter the desired temperature range of the beverage. Then Alice selects some finishing options, such as the addition of cream and sugar formulation. Then the director of personalization determines the corresponding commands so that the system of delivery of drinks produces the personalized drink. The personalization director sends the commands to the beverage delivery system, and records the customized formulation to the data storage. The beverage delivery system receives the commands and produces the personalized drink for Alice.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for making a custom coffee beverage product, by delaying the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of about 5 minutes after the establishment of the extract preparation. 2. A system in accordance with claim 1, to make a custom coffee beverage product, by delaying the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 15 minutes after the establishment of the preparation of the extract . 3. A system according to claim 2, to make a custom coffee beverage product, by delaying the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 30 minutes after the establishment of the preparation of the extract . 4. A system for making a customized coffee beverage product, by delaying the dilution of the coffee extract for a maximum period of approximately 48 hours after the establishment of the extract preparation. 5. A system according to claim 4, to make a custom coffee beverage product, by delaying the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 24 hours after the establishment of the preparation of the extract . 6. A system according to claim 5, to make a custom coffee beverage product, by delaying the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 12 hours after the establishment of the preparation of the extract . The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the preparation / water dilution ratios are from 0 to about 1:15. 8. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the preparation / water dilution ratios are from 0 to approximately 1:15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the prepared beverage is a coffee beverage, and the coffee extract has a preparation solids content of less than about 10 percent. 10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the coffee extract has a preparation solids content of less than about 5 percent. ll. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the coffee extract has a preparation solids content of less than about 4 percent. 12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that the coffee extract has a preparation solids content of less than about 3.5 percent. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the prepared beverage is a coffee beverage, and the coffee extract has a minimum preparation solids content of greater than about 1.2 percent. 14. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that the ca-fé extract has a minimum preparation solids content of greater than about 1.5 percent. 15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the coffee extract has a minimum preparation solids content greater than about 2.0 percent. 16. A method for delivering an individually customized coffee beverage product to an individual consumer, this method comprising the steps of: a) a personalization interface (consumer interface) that obtains information regarding the preferences of this consumer; b) the personalization interface processes that information; c) the personalization interface communicates with a beverage delivery system; d) the beverage delivery system delivers an individually customized beverage, based on the information processed by the personalization interface, where the beverage delivery system delays the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 5 minutes after the establishment of extract preparation. 17. A method for delivering an individually customized coffee beverage product to a single consumer, this method comprising the steps of: a) a personalization interface (consumer interface) that obtains information with respect to the preferences of this consumer; b) the personalization interface processes that information; c) the personalization interface communicates with the consumer to provide an individually customized recommendation, to be used by the consumer in the selection of an appropriate beverage option, from the beverage delivery system; wherein the beverage delivery system delays the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of about 5 minutes after the establishment of the extract preparation. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the consumer introduces the recommendation to the beverage delivery system. 1 . The method according to claim 17, characterized in that a personalized coffee beverage is delivered through the beverage delivery system. 20. A method for delivering an individually customized coffee beverage product to an individual consumer, this method comprising the steps of: a) a personalization interface (consumer interface) that obtains information regarding the preferences of this consumer; b) the personalization interface processes that information; c) the personalization interface communicates with the consumer to provide an individually customized selection identification, to be used by the consumer in the selection of an appropriate beverage option from the beverage delivery system; wherein the beverage delivery system delays the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of about 5 minutes after the establishment of the extract preparation. 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized by the consumer introduces the aforementioned identification to the beverage delivery system. 22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a personalized drink is delivered through the beverage delivery system. 23. A method for delivering individually customized information related to coffee beverage product options to an individual consumer, this method comprising the steps of: a) a personalization interface - (consumer interface) that obtains information with respect to the preferences of this consumer; b) the personalization interface processes that information; c) the personalization interface provides the personalization information to the individual consumer; wherein the beverage delivery system delays the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 5 minutes after the establishment of the extract preparation. 2 . A method for delivering an individually customized recommendation for coffee beverage product options to an individual consumer, this method comprising the steps of: a) a personalization interface (consumer interface) that obtains information with respect to the preferences of this consumer; b) the personalization interface processes that information; c) the personalization interface delivers the individually customized recommendation to the consumer, to be used by the consumer in the selection of an appropriate beverage option, based on the beverage delivery system; wherein the beverage delivery system delays the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of about 5 minutes after the establishment of the extract preparation. 25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the consumer introduces the recommendation mentioned in the beverage supply system. 26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that a personalized coffee beverage is delivered through the beverage supply system. 27. A method for delivering an individually customized selection identification with respect to beverage product options to an individual consumer, this method comprising the steps of: a) a personalization interface (consumer interface) that obtains information regarding to consumer preferences; b) the personalization interface processes that information; and wherein the personalization interface communicates with the consumer to provide an individually customized selection identification to be used by the consumer in the selection of an appropriate beverage option from the beverage delivery system, wherein the delivery system of beverages delays the dilution of the coffee extract for a minimum period of approximately 5 minutes after the establishment of the extract preparation. 28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the consumer enters the identification mentioned in the beverage delivery system. 29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that a personalized drink is delivered through the beverage delivery system. 30. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the consumer is given an identification mechanism for future use with a beverage delivery system. 31. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the personalization interface uses a Global Assimilation Customization System. 32. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the personalization interface uses a Global Assimilation Customization System. 33. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the personalization interface uses a Global Assimilation Customization System. 34. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the personalization interface uses a Global Assimilation Customization System. 35. A method for providing a personalized coffee beverage product to a consumer, which comprises the steps of: a) obtaining the consumer's preference data; b) determining a consumer beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer preference data; and c) providing the consumer with a personalized beverage corresponding to the personalized beverage formulation, wherein the personalization originates from an extract of prepared concentrate. 36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that the step of obtaining the preferences data comprises: a) collecting a user identification from the consumer; b) retrieve the consumer preferences data from a data storage corresponding to the identification of the user. 37. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that the step of determining a consumer beverage formulation comprises the implementation of a mathematical algorithm. 38. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises the steps of: a) obtaining the consumer feedback data from the consumer on the personal drink; and b) incorporate the consumer feedback data into the mathematical algorithm. 39. An interactive system for delivering a customized coffee beverage product to a consumer, which comprises: a) a user interface; b) a director of personalization in communication with a storage of personalization data and the inferfase of the user, wherein the director of personalization comprises executable instructions to determine the personalized formulation of a user; and c) a beverage delivery system in communication with the personalization director, which includes executable instructions for delivery; and d) a personalized beverage product. 40. The system according to claim 39, characterized in that the personalization director comprises executable instructions for scrubbing a personalized beverage product that originates from a prepared concentrate extract. 41. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a beverage delivery system, in order to produce a personalized beverage product, which comprises the steps of: a) obtaining consumer preference data; b) determine the consumer's beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer's preferences data; and c) providing the consumer with a personalized beverage corresponding to the consumer's beverage formulation. 42. A program product comprising a signaling means incorporating a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus for performing the steps of claim 41. 43. A method for providing a recommendation to a consumer for a retail beverage product, which includes the steps of: a) obtaining the consumer's preferences data; b) determine one or more retail consumer beverage products corresponding to consumer preference data; and c) providing the consumer with a recommendation of one or more retail beverage products corresponding to one or more retail consumer beverage products suitable for this consumer, based on that consumer's preferences. Four . The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the step of obtaining the consumer preference data comprises: a) collecting the user identification from the consumer; b) retrieve the consumer preferences data from a data storage corresponding to the identification of the user. 45. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the step of obtaining the consumer preference data comprises allowing the consumer to try one or more consumer products sold in the retail environment. 46. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the step of determining a consumer's beverage product comprises the implementation of a mathematical algorithm. 47. An interactive system for making recommendations to a consumer in a retail environment regarding a customized beverage product, which comprises: a) a user interface; b) a personalization director in communication with personalization data storage and the user interface, where the personalization director understands executable instructions to determine the personalized formulation of a user. 48. An interactive system according to claim 47, characterized in that it additionally comprises a beverage delivery system in co-munication with the personalization director, which comprises executable instructions for delivering a personalized beverage product. 49. A method for providing a personalized beverage product to a consumer, which comprises the steps of: a) obtaining consumer preference data; b) determining a consumer beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer's preferences data; and c) providing the consumer with a personalized beverage corresponding to the personalized beverage formulation, wherein the personalization originates from a prepared extract. 50. The method according to claim 49, characterized in that, after the personalized drink is provided to the consumer, recommendations of other products suitable for this consumer are provided to the consumer, based on the preference data of the consumer. consumer. 51. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the preferences data of this consumer are combined with the seasonal or promotional offers that are introduced in the recommendations to the consumer. 52. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the recommendations to the consumer include information about one or more retail products. 53. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the consumer preference data includes the data generated from samples of products sold in the retail environment. 54. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the consumer preference data include data generated from previously delivered personalized beverages, or samples thereof. SUMMARY In accordance with the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved system for providing fresh coffee on demand by a consumer, in a wide range of variety and concentration. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a preparation system for making relatively large quantities of freshly brewed coffee beverages, in particular the varieties and / or concentrations selected by consumers just before consumption. This system is easy to use, and requires only a small amount of personal attention. It is another object of the present invention to provide this preparation apparatus that is particularly useful for providing coffee according to the selection of the individual consumer, but in large quantities, commercial or institutional. A general object of the present invention is to provide a beverage preparation apparatus that immediately provides the selective dilution (based on individual consumer selections) of a beverage concentrate prepared after the concentrate has been allowed to prepare. A further general object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the type described above, with which the desired ratio between the amounts or flows of preparation water and dilution water can be achieved. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the preparation of beverages that provides the dilution of a concentrate prepared before being placed in a common decanter. A system for making and delivering a personalized beverage product to a customer that has a user interface, a personalization director in communication with a personalization data storage and with the user interface, where the personalization director includes executable instructions to determine the custom formulation of a user; and a beverage delivery system in communication with the personalization director, wherein the beverage delivery system includes executable instructions for delivering a customized beverage product. A method for delivering a personalized beverage product to an individual, which includes the steps of obtaining the consumer preference data; determining a beverage formulation of the consumer corresponding to the consumer's preference data; and providing the consumer with a personalized beverage corresponding to the personalized beverage formulation. These and other objects of the present invention are stated more clearly and fully in the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments of the present invention shown and described herein.