Hot beverage maker

Abstract

A process for making a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea, includes placing ground coffee or tea into a filter, inserting the filter into a filter basket to support the filter with respect to a reservoir that is to receive a brewed beverage; introducing water into the filter; and repeatedly deforming the filter to alter its shape as water passes through the filter and ground coffee or tea en route to the reservoir. A device for making a hot beverage includes a drive and a filter basket. The filter basket defines a filter basket chamber for receiving an associated filter. The filter basket includes a movable component operably connected to the drive and movable for deforming the associated filter. The movable component is operable between a first operating position where the filter chamber has a first dimension and a second operating position where the filter chamber has a second dimension that is smaller than the first dimension.

1 . A process for making a beverage comprising:
 placing ground coffee or tea into a filter;   inserting the filter into a filter basket to support the filter with respect to a reservoir that is to receive a brewed beverage;   introducing water into the filter; and   repeatedly deforming the filter to alter its shape as water passes through the filter and ground coffee or tea en route to the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the repeatedly deforming further includes cyclically radially pressing against a side of the filter. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the deforming further includes pressing against the side of the filter at a first location and at a second location at the same time. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the deforming further includes compressing and releasing the filter in a cycle and repeating at greater than about 30 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the deforming further includes repeating at less than about 360 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         6 . A process for making a beverage comprising:
 placing ground coffee or tea into a filter;   inserting the filter into a filter basket having a side wall such that the filter basket supports the filter with respect to a reservoir that is to receive a brewed beverage;   introducing water into the filter such that the water passes through the ground coffee or tea in the filter; and   repeatedly displacing the filter away from the side wall of the filter basket while the water is passing through the ground coffee or tea in the filter.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein repeatedly displacing the filter further includes repeatedly displacing the filter with a paddle. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein repeatedly displacing the filter with the paddle further includes rotating the paddle about a generally horizontal axis away from and back towards the side wall of the filter basket. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the filter basket defines a filter basket chamber having a generally vertical axis, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter further includes repeatedly displacing the filter away from the side wall of the filter basket towards the generally vertical axis. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein repeatedly displacing the filter further includes repeatedly displacing the filter using an electrically powered drive mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein repeatedly displacing the filter using the electrically powered drive mechanism further includes repeatedly displacing the filter using a filter deforming member connected with the electrically powered drive mechanism, wherein the filter deforming member rotates about a generally horizontal axis 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the electrically powered drive mechanism includes an electromechanical solenoid, a linear motor or a linear actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein repeatedly displacing the filter using the electrically powered drive mechanism further includes using the electrically powered drive mechanism to move a paddle that is connected with the filter basket. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein repeatedly displacing the filter using the electrically powered drive mechanism further includes using the electrically powered drive mechanism to rotate the paddle about a generally horizontal axis. 
     
     
         15 . A process for making a beverage comprising:
 inserting a filter into a filter basket chamber defined by a filter basket having a side wall and a filter deforming member;   placing ground coffee or tea into the filter;   introducing water into the filter basket chamber; and   repeatedly driving the filter deforming member away from or back towards the side wall of the filter basket while water is flowing through the ground coffee or tea.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein repeatedly driving further includes repeatedly driving the filter deforming member using an electrically powered drive mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the electrically powered drive mechanism includes an electromechanical solenoid, a linear motor or a linear actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein repeatedly driving further includes repeatedly driving the filter deforming member using the electrically powered drive mechanism to rotate the filter deforming member about a generally horizontal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein repeatedly driving further includes repeatedly driving the filter deforming member using the electrically powered drive mechanism to rotate the filter deforming member toward a generally vertical axis defined by the filter chamber.