WO2020113315A1

WO2020113315A1 - Microwave coffee maker

Info

Publication number: WO2020113315A1
Application number: PCT/CA2019/051705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary Swartz
Original assignee: Gary Swartz
Priority date: 2018-12-05
Filing date: 2019-11-28
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: CA3026541A1; CA3026541C

Abstract

A coffee maker to make coffee in a microwave oven has a plastic vessel having a bottom with a hole into which is inserted a downward facing umbrella valve; expression vent holes covered by the valve; a side wall; a plastic lid; and a plastic mesh filter basket with a flange on its bottom exterior, inserted into the vessel to create a shallow cavity above the valve and below the basket, and a larger cavity above the basket for ground coffee and water. The coffee maker sits on a mug. When the water boils, steam opens the valve and hot coffee is expressed through the holes. If the valve fails, an upper umbrella valve relieves the pressure. The upper umbrella valve has a handle to open it manually, to equalize the pressure in order to remove the lid.

Description

MICROWAVE COFFEE MAKER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is directed to a novel coffee maker that is essentially a pressure vessel with an umbrella valve in the bottom that releases an infusion of coffee under the steam pressure of water just boiled in a microwave oven, more particularly a microwaveable coffee maker.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Easily-made, single-portion, freshly brewed coffee is very popular. Typical devices use disposable pods which have a negative environmental impact (metal). Individual servings are relatively expensive as they require a sophisticated manufacturing process beyond simply grinding coffee beans. The devices are not particularly mobile. The devices themselves are relatively expensive. The blends of coffee available in pods are restricted to those manufacturers choose to offer. There are multiple pod standards. There is limited flexibility as to the strength of the coffee made.

[0003] In view of the current state of the art, there is a need for a device that can quickly, conveniently and inexpensively brew a single cup of coffee; that allows flexibility as to the strength of the coffee; that can use any blend of coffee beans or ground coffee; and that is inexpensive to acquire.

[0004] Patent No. US4577080A discloses a coffee maker adapted for use in a microwave oven; patent No. US8485089B2 discloses a microwave coffee maker; and patent No. US5095185A also discloses a microwave coffee maker.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to a quick and convenient method and device to freshly brew coffee in a microwave oven.

[0006] Disclosed here in is a vessel having a bottom wall and a fluid communication through the bottom wall; a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall to form a cavity; a lower valve attached below the vessel and covering the fluid communication; a filter inside the cavity; a lid with at least one vent hole that attaches to the vessel to form a seal between the lid and the vessel; and an upper valve on top of the lid and covering the at least one vent hole, wherein the upper valve opens at a higher pressure than the lower valve.

[0007] Also disclosed herein is a method for infusing coffee comprising the steps of: placing a filter inside a cavity formed by a vessel having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall; placing water and coffee grounds in the filter; sealing a lid onto the vessel wherein the lid has at least one vent hole and an upper valve on top of the lid and covering the at least one vent hole; placing the vessel on a mug or cup; microwaving the vessel with water and coffee grounds to bring the water to boil; and expressing infused coffee, via steam pressure generated by the boiling water, through a fluid communication through the bottom wall and a lower valve attached below the vessel and covering the fluid communication, into the mug or cup, wherein the upper valve opens at a higher pressure than the lower valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing representing a microwave coffee maker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional drawing representing a whistle cap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional drawing representing another whistle cap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing the steps for a process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

A. Reference numbers

[0012] Reference may be made to the drawings which illustrate various embodiments that the invention may take, wherein the part labels are:

1. Round container vessel 36. Outer end plate

37. Whistle hole

38. Whistle cavity

39. Side wall

B. Exemplary Apparatus

[0013] A coffee maker that is used to make coffee in a microwave oven includes: a cup-like clear plastic vessel 1 having a flat bottom wall 17 with a round hole 18 in its centre into which is inserted a downward facing food-safe silicone umbrella valve 4 plus 2 - 4 expression vent holes 8 covered by the umbrella valve 4; a side wall 19 extending vertically from the bottom wall with threads 9 for a lid; a plastic inverted U-shaped lid 2 with an airtight food-safe silicone gasket 12 around its interior edge and shaped to press airtight against the lip 20 of the vessel with threads to allow the lid to be screwed tightly onto the vessel, and with a round hole 21 in the center of the lid into which is inserted an upward facing food safe umbrella valve 3 with a pressure release handle 14 plus one or more pressure release vent holes 7 covered by the umbrella valve 3; and a plastic and nylon mesh filter basket 5 (or simply "filter") with a small flange 13 on its bottom exterior to be inserted into the vessel and sit on the bottom wall to create a shallow cavity 22 above the bottom wall umbrella valve 4 and below the basket 5, and a larger cavity 23 above the basket, into which are put ground coffee and water. A flange 1 1 extends from the exterior bottom wall 17 of the vessel 1 with a lesser diameter than the vessel to enable the coffee maker to sit securely in a cup or mug.

[0014] In order to make coffee, the coffee maker sits on and slightly into a typical coffee cup or mug. A nylon mesh filter basket 5, ground coffee and a cup of water are put into the vessel 1. The ground coffee is in the larger cavity 23 of the filter basket 5, above the nylon mesh 6 of the filter basket. The lid 2 is screwed on tight to create an airtight seal between the lid and the vessel 1. Both umbrella valves 3, 4 also make the vessel 1 airtight for pressures below their opening pressures. As a result, no water can escape from the vessel 1 prior to the opening of the lower umbrella valve 4.

[0015] Next, the coffee maker and cup are put into a microwave oven. The coffee maker and its contents are heated in the microwave oven at the high setting (e.g.) for the length of time the microwave oven requires to boil a cup of water (approximately two to two and a half minutes) plus 5-10 seconds. When the water in the vessel 1 boils, the steam created generates the pressure required to open the lower umbrella valve 4 and the hot coffee infusion (freshly brewed coffee) is rapidly expressed through the expression vent holes 8. The nylon mesh 6 prevents contamination of the coffee infusion with coffee grounds. If the lower umbrella valve 4 fails to open, the upper umbrella valve 3 opens at a higher pressure to relieve the steam pressure in the vessel 1 , while the screwed on lid 2 is designed to resist this pressure.

[0016] After the coffee has been made and the coffee maker removed from the microwave oven and begins to cool, the interior of the coffee maker contains a partial vacuum. The upper umbrella valve 3 has a small handle 14 to enable it to be opened manually to allow air to enter the coffee maker to equalize the pressure in order to easily remove the lid 2. It should be noted the coffee maker does not require metal or bi metal parts, melting parts or essentially any moving parts such as are typical with other patented or patent applied for microwave coffee makers.

[0017] In one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clear plastic microwave coffee maker that includes a round container vessel 1 having a bottom wall 17 with a downward facing exterior flange 1 1 , a side wall 19 that extends upwardly from the bottom wall to form a vessel cavity 24 with threads 9 around the top region of the side wall 19 close to the lip 20; a nylon mesh filter basket 5 with a flange 13; and a screw- on lid 2 with a gasket 12 and threads 10 on the interior side wall 25 of the lid. The bottom wall 17 includes a food safe umbrella valve 4 plus 2-4 expression vent holes 8 covered by the umbrella valve 4 to enable a hot coffee infusion to be expressed from the vessel cavity 24 into the mug or cup onto which the coffee-make is placed. The lid 2 is designed to create an airtight seal with a food safe gasket 12 around the interior diameter of the lid. The lid 2 has a food safe umbrella valve 3 with a pressure release handle 14 plus one or more pressure release vent holes 7 covered by the umbrella valve 3 to allow for pressure release if the lower umbrella valve 4 fails to open. The umbrella valves 3, 4 have concave flexible flaps 16 that become less concave or even convex under sufficient steam pressure to allow for venting. The nylon mesh filter basket 5 is immersed in water, or sits partially in the desired amount of water to be used for making the coffee, and contains ground coffee. The nylon mesh 6 is sufficiently fine to prevent ground coffee granules from expressing out of the vessel expression vent holes 8 and contaminating the freshly brewed coffee. There are one or more grooves 15 in the outside of the bottom wall 17 of the coffee maker to allow air to easily vent from the cup being filled with coffee. The vessel 1 is made of clear plastic to visually monitor boiling and venting.

[0018] In another and/or alternative aspect of the present invention, the coffee maker is made of coloured plastic, ceramic pottery, glass or similar non-metallic material. Said aspect may require a different method to maintain the airtight seal other than threads 9, 10, such as making the lid 2 heavy enough to resist the steam pressure generated in the coffee maker or clamps to hold the lid tight against the lip of the vessel. Visual monitoring might not be possible.

[0019] In another aspect of the invention the umbrella valves 3, 4 are made of food safe rubber (natural or synthetic), silicone or a similar material,

[0020] In another aspect of the invention the lower umbrella valve 4 could be another type of pressure-operated one-way valve.

[0021] In another aspect of the invention the lid is made entirely of food-safe rubber or silicone or similar material with an umbrella release valve that would release at a higher pressure than the bottom valve 4 and is designed to wrap around a lid similar to the lid on some travel mugs. In this case, the vessel requires an exterior or sideways facing lip for the lid to wrap around. Said lid would be ideal for a ceramic vessel.

[0022] In another aspect the present invention the coffee maker could be used to brew tea or an herbal infusion. In another aspect, milk could be used instead of water. In another aspect of the invention milk and sugar could be added to the water.

[0023] In another aspect of the present invention there are small handles on the lid 2 and/or vessel 1.

[0024] In another aspect of the invention the coffee maker can use more or less than a cup of water. For example, one embodiment is for a multi-cup model with larger dimensions and capacity, and proportioned for placement over a jug.

C. Second exemplary apparatus

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a whistle cap (i.e. whistle) that is incorporated into some embodiments of the coffee maker. The bottom wall 17 of the vessel 1 has a second flange 26 extending downwards from the exterior of the bottom wall. The outer surface 27 of the second flange 26 is threaded. The second flange 26 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the first bottom wall flange 1 1. The diameter of the second flange 26 is larger than the diameter of the bottom umbrella valve 4.

[0026] A whistle cap 28 is screwed onto the second flange 26 via its threaded inner surface 29. The whistle cap 28 is similar in size to a regular plastic bottle cap that is used, for example, in a 2-litre pop bottle.

[0027] When screwed onto the second flange 26, the whistle cap 28 forms a cavity 31 between the bottom wall 17 of the vessel 1 and the end plate 32 of the whistle cap. In some embodiments, the seal between the whistle cap 28 and the second flange 26 is airtight. In some embodiments, the seal between the whistle cap 28 and the second flange 26 is not airtight.

[0028] There is a whistle hole 30 in the centre of the whistle cap 28. The diameter of the whistle hole 30 is smaller or equal in cross-sectional area to the path through which the steam escapes from the vessel cavity 24. This path is through the expression vent holes 8 and the gap between the bottom wall 17 and lower umbrella valve 4 when the lower umbrella valve is opened.

[0029] In this embodiment, the coffee is expressed from the umbrella valve 4 into the cavity 31 , then straight down from the whistle hole 30 into a cup placed under the coffee maker. After the coffee has been expressed, residual steam exits through the whistle hole 30 and a whistling sound is created to indicate that the coffee is ready. The whistle sounds when steam passes from vessel 1 through the fluid communication formed by the expression vent holes 8, through the umbrella valve 4 when it is open, and through the whistle hole 30. The amount of water placed in the coffee maker should be such that the lower outer surface of the whistle cap 28 does not touch the upper surface of the expressed coffee that collects in the cup or mug.

[0030] Residual steam is generated from the moist coffee grounds in the filter basket 5 after the coffee has been expressed out. In another embodiment, a basin in or dam on the inside of the bottom wall 17 retains a small residue of liquid in the coffee maker after the coffee has been expressed. This residue of liquid continues to generate the steam after the coffee has been expressed. In other embodiments, the filter basket has a bottom which is at least partially solid and can retain the residue of liquid required for the generation of the steam after the coffee has been expressed.

[0031] The whistle cap 30 is removable in order to replace the bottom umbrella valve 4 in case of failure or need of replacement because the valve is worn out.

D. Third exemplary apparatus

[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a second embodiment of the whistle cap 33 mounted on the coffee maker. The whistle cap 33 is mounted on the second flange 26 projecting downwards from the bottom wall 17 of the coffee maker. The whistle cap 33 has an inner end plate 34 with a hole 35 in its centre. The whistle cap 33 also has an outer end plate 36 with a hole 37 in its centre. The inner and outer end plates 34, 36 form a cavity 38 with the side wall 39 of the whistle cap 33. In some embodiments, the diameters of the holes 35, 37 are the same. In some embodiments, the diameters of the holes 35, 37 are equal or smaller in cross-sectional area than the path through which the steam escapes from the vessel cavity 24. This path is through the expression vent holes 8 and the gap between the bottom wall 17 and lower umbrella valve 4 when the lower umbrella valve is opened. As above, the whistle sounds when steam passes from vessel 1 through the fluid communication formed by the expression vent holes 8, through the umbrella valve 4 when it is open, and through the whistle hole 37. The amount of water placed in the coffee maker should be such that the outer end plate 36 does not touch the upper surface of the expressed coffee that collects in the cup or mug.

[0033] In some embodiments, the volume of the cavity formed by the end plates 34, 36 and the side wall 39 is chosen in such a way that the cavity 38 optimizes the whistle sound created by the coffee maker. The dimensions of the holes 35, 37 of each end plate 34, 36 are also chosen to optimize the whistle created by the coffee maker. The whistle cap 33 is removable in order to replace the bottom umbrella valve 4 in case of failure or need of replacement because the valve is worn out.

[0034] In some embodiments, the thread on the second flange is located on the inner surface of the second flange. As a result, the thread of the whistle cap is located on the outer surface of its side wall in order for the whistle cap to be screwed into the second flange instead of around it.

E. Exemplary method

[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, in step 40, a filter is placed into a cavity formed by a vessel having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall. The filter may be cup-shaped, for example, such as the filter basket 5. Water and coffee are then poured into the filter in the vessel in step 41 . The vessel with the coffee and water is then closed using a lid in step 42. The lid has at least one vent hole and an upper valve. The upper valve is located on the top of the lid and covers the vent hole(s).

[0036] In step 43, the vessel is placed on a mug or a cup. Then, the vessel containing water and coffee grounds is microwaved in step 44 in order to bring the water to boil.

[0037] In step 45, the coffee is expressed by the steam pressure generated by the boiling water. The steam pressure forces the coffee out of the vessel via a fluid communication path through one or more expression vent holes 8 in the bottom wall of the vessel and a lower valve attached below the bottom wall of the vessel. The lower valve covers the expression vent hole(s) when steam is not being generated, blocking the fluid communication path. The expressed coffee passes out from the fluid communication path into the mug or cup. As a safety feature, the upper valve opens at a higher pressure than the lower valve, and opens if the lower valve fails or becomes blocked.

F. Further variations

[0038] One embodiment is a clear plastic coffee maker that sits on and partially within a typical coffee mug or cup and includes a vessel having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall to form a container cavity; a plastic and nylon mesh filter basket that forms a small cavity below it and a larger cavity above it; and a lid with a gasket and threads. The bottom wall includes 2 - 4 expression vent holes and an umbrella valve that covers the holes, said umbrella valve manufactured to immediately open under the pressure of steam generated by water in the vessel just brought to the boil and that by opening enables an infusion of hot, freshly brewed coffee to be expressed from said container cavities. The lid with a gasket that when screwed onto the vessel forms a locked, airtight seal over the top of said container cavities, said seal providing greater resistance to the steam pressure generated by boiling water than each umbrella valve; said lid including one or more pressure release vent holes and an umbrella valve that covers the holes and manufactured to open at slightly more pressure than the lower umbrella valve should the lower umbrella valve fail to open.

[0039] In some embodiments, the coffee maker is equal to or larger in exterior diameter than the coffee cup upon which it sits to prevent the bulk of the vessel from entering the coffee cup.

[0040] In some embodiments, the coffee maker has a flange extending downward from the exterior bottom wall that is smaller in diameter than the exterior diameter of the main vessel and smaller in diameter than the interior diameter of a typical coffee cup or mug, so that the coffee maker can snugly sit on and partially within a typical coffee cup.

[0041] In some embodiments, the coffee maker has one or more grooves engraved in the outside bottom edge of the bottom wall to allow air inside the coffee cup to freely escape from the coffee cup as the coffee is expressed into the cup.

[0042] In some embodiments, the lid is fastened in position to create an airtight seal so as to retain water for sufficient time for it to be heated to the boiling point in order to form a typical infusion with ground coffee, and for the lower umbrella valve to open at the boiling point and for the infusion of coffee to express rapidly through the expression vent holes into a coffee cup or mug.

[0043] In some embodiments the side wall has, at its exterior, top threads to accommodate a screw on lid.

[0044] In some embodiments, the screw on lid has a top wall with a food safe gasket on the interior and a side wall that extends downwards, and has a very slightly larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the main vessel threads, and has its own threads that allow it to be screwed tightly onto the exterior side wall of the vessel in order to press the gasket tightly against the rim of the vessel in order to form an airtight barrier requiring significant steam pressure to break the airtight seal. There is an umbrella valve in the center of the lid with a pressure release handle and with one or more pressure release vent holes that release under less steam pressure than would be required to break the gasket seal and more steam pressure than is required to open the lower umbrella valve.

[0045] In some embodiments, the vent holes 7, 8 are dispersed to evenly distribute pressure against the concave flexible flaps of the corresponding umbrella valve.

[0046] In some embodiments, the umbrella valves 3, 4 are intended to be replaceable.

[0047] In some embodiments, the mesh filter basket 5 has a downward facing flange on its bottom exterior, above the bottom wall of the vessel, to create a cavity above the umbrella vent and expression vent holes so the mesh filter basket does not block the holes.

[0048] In some embodiments, the mesh 6 is sufficiently fine to prevent coffee grounds from passing though it and contaminating the freshly brewed coffee.

[0049] In some embodiments, the mesh 6 is strong enough when sufficiently supported by the plastic basket so as not to lose its shape or integrity in boiling water.

[0050] In some embodiments, the mesh filter basket 5 allows a sufficient volume of boiling water to pass through the ground coffee to create an acceptable coffee infusion before being expressed out of the expression vent holes.

[0051] In some embodiments, the mesh 6 is made of other materials, provided that they are non-metallic.

[0052] In some embodiments, the expression vent holes 8 enable the vessel to express the coffee infusion as rapidly as possible to limit the time the coffee grounds are exposed to boiling water.

[0053] In other embodiments, the lower umbrella valve is designed to open at a lower pressure and therefore lower temperature, which is near the boiling point of water, for example 90°C (195°F). This offers some choice as to when the infusion is expressed, according to user preference.

[0054] In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. [0055] Throughout the description, specific details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail and repetitions of steps and features have been omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

[0056] It will be clear to one having skill in the art that further variations to the specific details disclosed herein can be made, resulting in other embodiments that are within the scope of the invention disclosed. All parameters, dimensions, proportions, quantities of parts, positions of parts, shapes of parts, materials, and configurations described herein are examples only and actual ones of such depend on the specific embodiment. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1 . A coffee maker comprising:

a vessel having a bottom wall and a fluid communication through the bottom wall; a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall to form a cavity;

a lower valve attached below the vessel and covering the fluid communication; a filter inside the cavity;

a lid with at least one vent hole that attaches to the vessel to form a seal between the lid and the vessel; and

an upper valve on top of the lid and covering the at least one vent hole, wherein the upper valve opens at a higher pressure than the lower valve.

2. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the fluid communication comprises two or more expression vent holes.

3. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lower valve opens when water boils in the vessel.

4. The coffee maker of claim 3, wherein the lower valve opens immediately as a result of steam pressure generated when water is just brought to boil in the vessel.

5. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lower valve is an umbrella valve.

6. The coffee maker of claim 5, wherein the fluid communication comprises two or more expression vent holes, wherein the expression vent holes are dispersed to distribute pressure against flexible flaps of the umbrella valve.

7. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lower valve is a pressure-operated one way valve.

8. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein, when coffee grounds and water are placed in the filter and the coffee maker microwaved, infused coffee is expressed through the fluid communication and lower valve when the water boils.

9. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lid attaches to the vessel via screw threads.

10. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lid has a gasket that forms the seal.

1 1. The coffee maker of claim 10, wherein the gasket is food-safe.

12. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is equal or larger in exterior diameter than a cup or mug onto which the coffee maker is placed.

13. The coffee maker of claim 12, comprising a flange extending downward from the bottom wall, the flange being smaller in diameter than the exterior diameter of the vessel and smaller in diameter than an interior diameter the cup or mug.

14. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein one or more grooves are located in an outside bottom edge of the vessel in order to release air from a coffee cup or mug onto which the coffee maker is placed.

15. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the upper valve is an umbrella valve.

16. The coffee maker of claim 15, wherein the umbrella valve has a pressure release handle and opens under less pressure than would be required to break the seal.

17. The coffee maker of claim 15 comprising at least two vent holes, wherein the vent holes are dispersed to distribute pressure against flexible flaps of the umbrella valve.

18. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower valves are food-safe and replaceable.

19. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the filter has a downward facing flange on an outer, bottom surface thereof that creates a space between the filter and the fluid communication.

20. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the filter is a mesh filter basket.

21. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the filter basket maintains its shape and integrity in boiling water.

22. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the filter retains coffee grounds that are placed in the filter.

23. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is clear.

24. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is plastic.

25. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises nylon.

26. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein the seal retains water for sufficient time for the water to be heated to boiling, and for the lower valve to open and express infused coffee from the filter through the fluid communication.

27. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises handles attached thereto.

28. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises handles attached thereto.

29. The coffee maker of claim 1 , having no metal parts.

30. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the upper valve is attached to the lid via a hole in the lid.

31. The coffee maker of claim 1 , wherein the lower valve is attached to the vessel via a hole in the bottom wall.

32. The coffee maker of claim 1 , comprising a whistle that is mounted to the vessel and sounds when steam passes from vessel through the fluid communication, through the lower valve when it is open, and through the whistle.

33. The coffee maker of claim 32, wherein the whistle is removable.

34. A method for infusing coffee comprising the steps of:

placing a filter inside a cavity formed by a vessel having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwards from the bottom wall;

placing water and coffee grounds in the filter;

sealing a lid onto the vessel wherein the lid has at least one vent hole and an upper valve on top of the lid and covering the at least one vent hole;

placing the vessel on a mug or cup;

microwaving the vessel with water and coffee grounds to bring the water to boil; and

expressing infused coffee, via steam pressure generated by the boiling water, through a fluid communication through the bottom wall and a lower valve attached below the vessel and covering the fluid communication, into the mug or cup, wherein the upper valve opens at a higher pressure than the lower valve.

35. The method of claim 34 comprising:

after the expressing and after the expressed coffee begins to cool, opening the upper valve to equalize pressure in the cavity.