Apparatus and method for preparing pressed coffee

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a pressed coffee maker is provided. The coffee maker can comprise a tank for storing coffee solution; a screen disposed in the tank for pressing coffee grounds in the tank; a squeegee to clean the tank. A removable bottom can be used to both add new coffee grounds and remove used coffee grounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use in brewing coffee, said apparatus comprising:
 a brew chamber body defining a brew chamber, the brew chamber body comprising:
 a brew chamber frame comprising:
 at least one brew chamber sidewall; and 
 
 a removable bottom; 
   a movable squeegee disposed in the brew chamber;   wherein during brewing of a brew of coffee in the brew chamber, the squeegee is operative to squeegee oil disposed on the at least one sidewall back into the brew of coffee;   wherein during cleaning of the brew chamber the squeegee is operative to squeegee   material disposed on the at least one sidewall into a cleaning solution disposed in the brew chamber;   wherein the removable bottom is operative to add fresh coffee grounds to the brew chamber during use of the apparatus;   wherein the removable bottom is configured for watertight engagement with the brew chamber frame; and   wherein the removable bottom is operative to remove the bulk of used coffee grounds from the brew chamber by disengaging the removable bottom from the brew chamber frame during use of the apparatus;   wherein the brew chamber is pre-configured to have a foam chamber so as to provide a pre-configured space for foam produced from the brewing of coffee.   
     
     
         2 . A method of brewing coffee, the method comprising:
 adding coffee grounds to a brew chamber;   adding solvent to the brew chamber;   steeping the coffee grounds in the solvent so as to form a coffee solution;   squeegeeing at least one sidewall of the brew chamber so as to squeegee coffee oil from
 the sidewall into the coffee solution; 
   removing the coffee solution from the brew chamber;   removing the used coffee grounds from the brew chamber;   squeegeeing material from the at least one sidewall of the brew chamber so as to clean the at least one sidewall of the brew chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein said squeegeeing comprises utilizing a squeegee coupled with a filter screen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 2  and further comprising:
 pressing the coffee grounds so as to extract coffee oils from the coffee grounds, the pressing comprising:
 pressing a filter screen against the coffee grounds to a first position so as to press the coffee grounds between the filter screen and the
 bottom surface of the brew chamber; 
 
 retracting the filter screen to a first retracted position so as to release oils from the pressed coffee grounds; 
 pressing the filter screen against the coffee grounds and past the first position at least a second time; 
 retracting the filter screen again. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 4  and further comprising:
 removing coffee grounds from the filter screen when the filter screen is in a retracted position so as to reduce clogging of the filter screen. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the removing comprises:
 shaking the filter substantially up and down to dislodge coffee grounds from the filter and to cause the coffee grounds to fall into the brew chamber bottom. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the removing comprises:
 scraping the bottom of the filter so as to dislodge coffee grounds from the filter and to cause the coffee grounds to fall into the brew chamber bottom. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the removing comprises:
 utilizing vibrational forces to dislodge coffee grounds from the filter and to cause the coffee grounds to fall into the brew chamber bottom. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 2  and further comprising:
 providing the brew chamber with a pre-determined foam chamber so as to provide a preconfigured space for foam produced from the coffee grounds and solvent. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of brewing coffee as claimed in  claim 2  and further comprising:
 positioning a filter screen at a dispensing position in the brew chamber so as to hold the used
 coffee grounds in a bottom section of the brew chamber; 
 
 dispensing brewed coffee solution from a spigot positioned so as to dispense brewed coffee solution taken from above the dispensing position of the filter screen. 
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for use in brewing coffee, said apparatus comprising:
 a brew chamber;   at least one sidewall of the brew chamber;   a movable squeegee disposed in the brew chamber;   wherein during brewing of a brew of coffee in the brew chamber, the squeegee is operative to squeegee oil disposed on the at least one sidewall back into the brew of coffee; and   wherein during cleaning of the brew chamber the squeegee is operative to squeegee from the sidewall material disposed on the at least one sidewall.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising a filter screen. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein:
 the filter screen is operative to press the coffee grounds so as to extract coffee oils from
 the coffee grounds, the pressing comprising: 
 pressing a filter screen against the coffee grounds to a first position so as to press the coffee grounds between the filter screen and the bottom surface of the brew chamber; 
 retracting the filter screen to a first retracted position so as to release oils from the pressed coffee grounds; 
 pressing the filter screen against the coffee grounds and past the first position at least a second time; 
 retracting the filter screen again. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising:
 a coffee grounds remover for removing coffee grounds from the filter screen when the filter screen is in a retracted position so as to reduce clogging of the filter screen. 
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the filter is operative to be substantially shaken up and down to dislodge coffee grounds from the filter and to cause the coffee grounds to fall into the brew chamber bottom. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising:
 a scraper operative for scraping the bottom of the filter so as to dislodge coffee grounds from the filter and to cause the coffee grounds to fall into the brew chamber bottom. 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising:
 a vibrational force generator operative to produce vibrational forces to dislodge coffee grounds from the filter and to cause the coffee grounds to fall into the brew chamber bottom. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the filter screen is coupled with the squeegee. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the brew chamber is pre-configured to have a foam chamber operative to provide a pre-determined space for foam produced from the brewing of coffee. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 a filter screen; 
 a spigot coupled with the brew chamber; 
 a dispensing position of the filter screen operative to hold used coffee grounds in a bottom section of the brew chamber; 
 wherein the spigot is coupled with the brew chamber so as be able to dispense brewed coffee solution taken from above the dispensing position of the filter screen.