Grind and brew coffee apparatus

Abstract

A grind and brew coffee making apparatus for providing freshly brewed coffee and having a number of features for easy cleaning, more efficient maintenance and improved safety. The coffee making apparatus has a housing assembly with an upper separable top cover, a grinding assembly with a removable grinding chamber and separable grinding chamber cover, a brewing assembly with a removable brew basket and separable brew basket cover, a control assembly with a safety lock mechanism and a control panel for providing a user with control over the various operations of the coffee making apparatus.

1 . A coffee making apparatus for selectively grinding and brewing coffee comprising: 
 a housing assembly;    a grinding assembly for selectively grinding coffee beans;    a brewing assembly for brewing coffee grinds; and    a control assembly for controlling the operation of the coffee making apparatus,    wherein said housing assembly has an upper casing with a selectively separable top cover, an outer enclosure, and a lower support base.    
   
   
       2 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top cover is pivotally connected to said upper casing.  
   
   
       3 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said top cover selectively opens and/or removes to provides access to internal components of the coffee making apparatus including a fluid reservoir, a removable grind chamber and cover, and a removable fluid filter holder and filter.  
   
   
       4 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said fluid reservoir has a relatively large upper fill area for efficient filling and easy cleaning.  
   
   
       5 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top cover has a lock actuator for cooperating with said upper casing to selectively lock said top cover in a closed position.  
   
   
       6 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer enclosure is a single piece of heat resistant material for supporting and insulating said upper casing and said fluid reservoir to dampen operative noise and provide greater thermal efficiency.  
   
   
       7 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said lower support base supports said reservoir, said outer cover, and is configured to retain a carafe.  
   
   
       8 . A coffee making apparatus for selectively grinding and brewing coffee comprising: 
 a housing assembly;    a grinding assembly for grinding coffee beans;    a brewing assembly for brewing coffee grinds; and    a control assembly for controlling the operation of the coffee making apparatus,    wherein said grinding assembly has a motor, at least one grinding blade operatively connected to said motor, a removable grinding chamber having a separable cover and a grate for sieving coffee grinds.    
   
   
       9 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one grinding blade is horizontally disposed.  
   
   
       10 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one grinding blade is vertically disposed.  
   
   
       11 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said grinding chamber cover operates to prevent particles from being extruded from said grinding chamber during a grinding operation.  
   
   
       12 . A coffee making apparatus for selectively grinding and brewing coffee comprising: 
 a housing assembly;    a grinding assembly for selectively grinding coffee beans;    a brewing assembly for brewing coffee grinds; and    a control assembly for controlling the operation of the coffee making apparatus,    wherein said brewing assembly has a fluid reservoir, a removable fluid filter assembly, and a brew basket assembly.    
   
   
       13 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid reservoir has a relatively large upper filling area for efficient filling and easy cleaning.  
   
   
       14 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said fluid reservoir has a fluid level indicator with a stepped construction.  
   
   
       15 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said removable filter assembly has a filter and a filter holder.  
   
   
       16 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said filter is a charcoal fluid filter.  
   
   
       17 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said filter holder has a handle, a stem, and a filter compartment for selectively retaining said filter.  
   
   
       18 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said handle has one or more gripping structures to facilitate the grasping and/or handling of said filter holder.  
   
   
       19 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said filter compartment has an entrance for allowing a user access to said filter.  
   
   
       20 . The coffee making apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said brew basket assembly has a removable brew basket with a separable cover and an access door assembly.