Hot Beverage Maker with Cup-Actuated Dispenser

Abstract

A method for operating a hot beverage maker includes the steps of infusing fresh water and storing the resulting beverage in a removable brewed beverage tank. An actuator is engaged for dispensing the brewed beverage from the tank. The tank is placed on a platform in a relationship so as to engage a warmer plate to keep the contents of the tank warm. Accordingly, the hot beverage maker produces a brewed beverage that is stored in the tank until it is dispensed by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of brewing and dispensing coffee to a mug comprising the steps of:
 supplying a volume of heated water to a filter basket in a hot beverage maker;   infusing the water with a material to create a brewed beverage;   directing the brewed beverage from the filter basket into a brewed beverage tank;   holding the brewed beverage in the brewed beverage tank;   contacting a warmer plate to a heat transfer surface of the brewed beverage tank;   energizing a heater adjacent to the warmer plate to keep the brewed beverage in the brewed beverage tank heated;   providing an actuator;   engaging the actuator to dispense a brewed beverage from the tank to a brewed beverage receptacle via an outlet; and   subsequently removing the brewed beverage tank from the hot beverage maker.   
     
     
         2 . A method of brewing and dispensing coffee to a mug comprising the steps of:
 transporting fresh water to a hot beverage maker via a brewed beverage tank;   heating the fresh water;   supplying a volume of the heated fresh water to a filter basket in the hot beverage maker;   infusing the water with a material to create a brewed beverage;   directing the brewed beverage from the filter basket into a brewed beverage tank;   holding the brewed beverage in the brewed beverage tank;   contacting a warmer plate to a heat transfer surface of the brewed beverage tank;   energizing a heater adjacent to the warmer plate to keep the brewed beverage in the brewed beverage tank heated;   providing an actuator; and   engaging the actuator to dispense a brewed beverage from the tank to a brewed beverage receptacle via an outlet.