Apparatus and method for foaming a beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12207755-B2
Application number	US-202318337858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2023
Priority date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a container assembly configured to receive beverage, such as a milk. The container assembly can be removably engaged with a base. The container assembly can be temporarily removed from the base to facilitate transport of the beverage residing therein. The container assembly can be configured to receive a flow of steam, air, or additional gasses and vapors when the container assembly is mounted on the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a heated and aerated liquid, the method comprising:
engaging a bottom end of a container assembly with an upper surface of a base;
supplying steam from a steam supply through a steam outlet in the upper surface of the base to deliver steam into the container assembly through at least one slit formed on a nozzle that extends into an interior of the container assembly; and
supplying air from an air supply through the steam outlet to deliver air into the container assembly through the nozzle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the container assembly is filled with milk or a milk product before supplying the steam through the steam outlet.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising opening a valve in an exhaust path that is in fluid communication with the steam outlet in the upper surface of the base through the nozzle.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising supplying the steam at a pressure that does not open the at least one slit formed in the nozzle to purge air from an air and steam conduit in fluidic communication with the steam outlet.

5. A method of producing a heated and aerated liquid, the method comprising:
engaging a container assembly onto a base;
introducing a flow of steam from a steam supply into the container assembly through a nozzle that includes at least one aperture that acts a check valve to allow the flow of steam to flow into the container assembly and inhibit fluid from leaving the container assembly when the container assembly is disengaged from the base; and
introducing a flow of air from an air supply into the container assembly through the nozzle.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein introducing the flow of air from an air supply into the container assembly through the nozzle is done simultaneously with introducing the flow of steam into the container assembly.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the flow of steam into the container assembly is automatically halted when the fluid in the container assembly reaches a threshold temperature.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising purging air from an air and steam conduit in fluidic communication with a steam outlet by opening a valve in the air and steam conduit and delivering the flow of steam to the nozzle.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein when purging the nozzle the at least one aperture in the nozzle remains closed.

10. The method of claim 8 , when introducing the flow of steam into the container assembly, a valve in a exhaust line is closed.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Cummer Michael
• Koller Izaak

Classifications

• B01F23/00

  Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying · CPC title

• B01F23/2361

  within small containers, e.g. within bottles · CPC title

• B01F23/236

  specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages · CPC title

• A47J31/4489 Primary

  Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk · CPC title

• A47J31/00

  Apparatus for making beverages (household machines or implements for straining foodstuffs A47J19/00; preparation of non-alcoholic beverages, e.g. by adding ingredients to fruit or vegetable juices, A23L2/00; coffee or tea pots A47G19/14; tea infusers A47G19/16; brewing of beer C12C; preparation of wine or other alcoholic beverages C12G) · CPC title