Brewer system, method and apparatus

Abstract

A brewer system includes a reservoir, a steep chamber movable relative to the reservoir and positioned over a mouth of the reservoir, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the reservoir. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber to form a brewed beverage that passes through the filter tape and into the reservoir through the mouth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brewer system comprising:
 a reservoir including a body and a lid coupled to the body, the lid formed to define a mouth extending through the lid and into the reservoir;   a filter tape extending over the mouth of the reservoir and movable relative to the reservoir;   a steep chamber movable relative to the reservoir, the steep chamber configured to retain the filter tape over the mouth;   a brewing substance delivery system configured to dispense brewing substance into the steep chamber; and   a water delivery system configured to deliver water into the steep chamber to mix with the brewing substance and form a brewed beverage,   wherein the lid includes a base and a raised platform coupled to the base, the raised platform defines a sealing surface that is spaced apart from the base, the mouth is aligned with the raised platform, and the steep chamber is configured to force the filter tape against the sealing surface to form a seal around the mouth.   
     
     
         2 . The brewer system of  claim 1 , wherein the raised platform includes a perimeter wall extending upward from the base and a gasket coupled to an upper end of the perimeter wall away from the base, and wherein the gasket defines the sealing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The brewer system of  claim 2 , wherein the steep chamber is aligned with the raised platform and is controllably displaceable toward and away from the raised platform. 
     
     
         4 . The brewer system of  claim 3 , further comprising a filter element coupled to the raised platform over the mouth and configured to support the filter tape. 
     
     
         5 . A method of operating a brewer system, the method comprising:
 positioning a steep chamber relative to a reservoir to trap a filter tape between the steep chamber and the reservoir;   controllably dispensing a brewing substance and water into the steep chamber onto the filter tape to combine the brewing substance and water for forming a brewed beverage;   collecting the brewed beverage in the reservoir;   displacing the steep chamber away from the reservoir; and   moving the filter tape relative to the reservoir,   wherein the reservoir includes a body and a lid coupled to the body, the lid is formed to define a mouth extending through the lid and into the reservoir, the lid includes a base and a raised platform coupled to the base, the raised platform defines a sealing surface that is spaced apart from the base, the mouth is aligned with the raised platform, and moving the filter tape relative to the reservoir forces particles off of the gasket to allow the steep chamber to force the filter tape against the sealing surface to form a seal around the mouth.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the raised platform includes a perimeter wall extending upward from the base and a gasket coupled to an upper end of the perimeter wall away from the base, and wherein the gasket defines the sealing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the steep chamber is aligned with the raised platform and is controllably displaceable toward and away from the raised platform. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reservoir further comprises a filter element coupled to the raised platform over the mouth and configured to support the filter tape.