Coffee and Tea Pod

Abstract

A container for holding ground coffee or tealeaves. The container may include a body and a lip extending from the body. The lip may include a top substantially flat surface and a width of no more than about 2.6 millimeters (about 0.1 inch).

1 . A container for holding ground coffee or tealeaves, comprising: 
 a body; and    a lip extending from said body;    said lip comprising a top substantially flat surface; and    a width of no more than about 2.6 millimeters (about 0.1 inch).    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising polystyrene, polyethylene, or polypropylene.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a sidewall and a base.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of apertures therein.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of support ribs thereon.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of spikes thereon.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each of said plurality of spikes comprises a base surrounded by a plurality of blades.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said lip comprises a flange extending from said flat surface.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein said flange extends downwardly at an angle so as to form a pocket with said body.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said pocket comprises an upper curved radius.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid to be positioned within said body.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said lid comprises a concave shape.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said lid comprises a plurality of apertures therein.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said body comprises one or more over-cuts therein for said lid.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more layers of filter paper positioned within said body.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a foil envelope for holding the ground coffee or the tealeaves.  
   
   
       17 . A container for holding ground coffee or tealeaves, comprising: 
 a base;    said base comprising a plurality of apertures therein;    a circular sidewall extending from said base; and    a lip extending from said sidewall;    said lip comprising a top substantially flat surface; and    a flange extending downwardly from said flat surface.    
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein said flange comprises a width of no more than about 2.6 millimeters (about 0.1 inch).  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of spikes thereon.  
   
   
       20 . A dispenser for brewing a beverage from a beverage material, comprising: 
 a pod with the beverage material therein;    said pod comprising a lip extending from a body;    a pod holder;    said pod holder adapted to receive said pod therein and support solely said lip of said pod; and    an injection head;    said injection head comprising about 136 to 160 kilograms (about 300 to 350 pounds) of force applied to said lip of said pod.    
   
   
       21 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of pods.  
   
   
       22 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein said pod comprises about five (5) to about eight (8) grams of a plastic material.  
   
   
       23 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising a turret assembly such that said turret assembly comprises said pod holder.  
   
   
       24 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , further comprising an injector assembly such that said injector assembly comprises said injection head.  
   
   
       25 . The dispenser of  claim 24 , wherein said injector assembly comprises a drive mechanism so as to maneuver said injection head.  
   
   
       26 . The dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein said drive mechanism maneuvers said injection head about 6.4 to about 12.7 millimeters (about one-quarter to about one-half inches) in a substantially vertical direction.  
   
   
       27 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein said lip comprises a substantially flat top surface and said injection head comprises a sealing ring sized to accommodate said flat top surface.  
   
   
       28 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein said injection head provides water pressurized at about 1.4 to 14 kilograms per square centimeter (about 20 to about 200 pounds per square inch) to said pod.  
   
   
       29 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of spikes therein.  
   
   
       30 . A method for preparing a beverage from a beverage material, comprising: 
 placing the beverage material within a container;    tamping the beverage material down with a lid of said container;    positioning said container within a holder; and    injecting said container with water pressurized water at about 1.4 to 14 kilograms per square centimeter (about 20 to about 200 pounds per square inch).    
   
   
       31 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein said pod comprises a rigid pod.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said container comprises a lip extending therefrom and wherein said positioning step comprises supporting said container solely by said lip.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus for mixing a material, comprising: 
 a pod with the material therein;    said pod comprising a lip extending from a body;    a pod holder,    said pod holder adapted to receive said pod therein and support solely said lip of said pod; and    an injection head positioned about said pod holder.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said injection head comprises water pressurized at about 1.4 to 14 kilograms per square centimeter (about 20 to about 200 pounds per square inch).  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said injection head comprises about 136 to 160 kilograms (about 300 to 350 pounds) of force applied to said lip of said pod  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of pods.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said pod comprises a rigid pod.