Tea brewer with movable spout

Abstract

An apparatus for brewing tea in accordance with an aspect of the invention includes a brew chamber that holds water. An infuser disposed in the chamber holds tea leaves and allows the water to contact the tea leaves. A heater heats the water in the brew chamber. A control sets a tea characteristic of the tea leaves. The tea characteristic can include one or both the tea format (loose or bagged) and tea type. The control can also set tea strength. A control circuit communicated with the heater. The control circuit controls power to the heater to heat the water to a steep temperature and then controls power to the heater to maintain the steep temperature for a steep time. The control circuit determines the steep temperature and the steep time based on the set tea characteristic or characteristics. It can further determine steep time based on the set tea strength. The tea leaves steep in the heated water until expiration of the steep time to produce a brewed tea.

1 . An apparatus for brewing tea, comprising:
 a brew chamber that holds water;   an infuser disposed-in the brew chamber that holds tea leaves to be brewed in the water, wherein the infuser includes a temperature sensitive valve that prevents flow of the water into the infuser until said water reaches a predetermined temperature;   a control that sets a tea characteristic of the tea leaves; and   a control circuit in communication with the control and wherein the control circuit is suited to determine a steep temperature and a steep time based on the set tea characteristic.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the temperature sensitive valve is a bimetal valve and the predetermined temperature is lower than a steep temperature. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the settable tea characteristic includes at least one of a tea type, tea format, or tea strength. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the settable tea characteristic is a tea type and includes at least two of a black, oolong, green, white, or herbal tea. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the settable tea characteristic is a tea format and includes bagged or loose tea. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein control circuit includes a memory in which data is stored for steep times and steep temperatures for each settable tea characteristic, the control circuit determining the steep time and steep temperature from the data stored in the memory based on the set tea characteristic. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein control circuit includes a memory in which data is stored for steep times and steep temperatures for each settable tea characteristic, the control circuit determining the steep time and steep temperature from the data stored in the memory based on the set tea characteristic. 
   
   
       8 . A tea brewing and serving system, comprising:
 a brewing apparatus;   a carafe suited for receiving brewed tea;   at least one serving cup; and   a tray.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tray has an hourglass-shaped recess for positioning of the brewing apparatus and carafe in an interactive relationship. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hourglass-shaped recess includes a first region for receipt of the brewing apparatus and a second region for receipt of the carafe, wherein the brewing apparatus and carafe are shaped so as to fit together such that the brewing apparatus upon completion of a brewing cycle can dispense the brewed tea into the carafe. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein after dispensing the brewed tea, the tray can function as a serving tray by removal of the brewing apparatus from said first region of the hourglass-shaped recess and the insertion of said at least one serving cup therein. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for brewing tea, comprising:
 a brew chamber that holds water;   an infuser disposed within the brew chamber that holds tea leaves;   a base for supporting said brew chamber, wherein said base includes a dispensing spout, a valve in fluid communication with the brew chamber, and a control circuit, said control circuit in communication with both the valve and the dispensing spout; and   wherein the control circuit signals the dispensing spout to cooperatively interface with a receiving vessel for dispensing the brewed tea and signals the valve to open such that the tea is dispensed.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said dispensing spout is rotated between stored and dispensing positions by a motor in the base controlled by said control circuit. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cooperative interface between the dispensing spout and the receiving vessel includes the partial insertion of an end portion of the dispensing spout into a corresponding opening in the receiving vessel to prevent relative movement between the base and the receiving vessel during dispensation of the brewed tea. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the infuser further comprises a temperature dependent valve that allows the water in the brew chamber into the infuser upon reaching a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the temperature dependent valve is a bimetal valve and the predetermined temperature is less than a steep temperature. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for brewing tea, comprising:
 a brew chamber having a dispensing valve, said brew chamber operative to receive water;   an infuser disposed within said brew chamber for holding tea leaves; and   a base for supporting said brew chamber, wherein said base includes at least two user operable control switches and a control circuit, wherein said control circuit operates to open the dispensing valve after a predetermined time.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a carafe for receiving the brewed tea. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said base aides in aligning the brew chamber and the carafe to ensure dispensation of the brewed tea into the carafe. 
   
   
       20 . A tea brewing apparatus, comprising a dispensing spout for automatic selective physical engagement with a vessel suited for receipt of brewed tea.