US 5,398,596 · Granted 1995-03-21

The Cartridge-Piercing Patent Behind Nespresso's Coffee Empire

Imagine a machine that stabs a sealed coffee cartridge with a needle, then sprays hot water at a precise angle to extract the perfect shot of espresso. This patent locks down that exact piercing-and-spraying method—the secret sauce that makes single-serve coffee makers work without leaking everywhere.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a device with a flat surface that seals tightly against a beverage cartridge, combined with a needle-like injector that pierces through and sprays water at a specific angle (between 65 and 90 degrees) to extract the beverage. What's protected here is the particular geometry of how the seal works, how the injector is positioned perpendicular to the flat surface, and crucially, the angle at which water jets exit the injector to efficiently extract flavor without creating leaks or mess.

Why it matters

This patent is core to the single-serve coffee cartridge system. By controlling how water enters the cartridge and at what angle it extracts the grounds, Nestec (Nespresso's parent company) created a reliable, repeatable method that other manufacturers would need to design around or license. The specificity of the angle and sealing geometry made it a valuable barrier to entry in the premium pod-coffee market during the 1990s and beyond.

Real-world use

Every time you slot a Nespresso capsule into the machine and press the button, a needle pierces the top seal and water sprays at that patented angle to pull out your espresso in seconds without dripping all over your counter.

Original USPTO abstract

A device for the extraction of a beverage material contained in a cartridge has a surface member of which at least a portion has a flat surface and a size at least sufficient to overlay and cover at least a peripheral surface of a cartridge, which contains a beverage to be extracted and which is positioned adjacent the member, to effect imperviousness between the flat surface of the surface member and the cartridge during extraction of the beverage material contained in the cartridge. The device also has an injector which extends through the surface member for piercing into the cartridge. The injector extends longitudinally perpendicular to the flat surface of the surface member and has outlets disposed for directing water ejected from the injector for extraction of the beverage material at an angle of from 90° to 65° with reference to a longitudinally extending portion of the injector at the outlets.

Patent details

Publication number: US 5,398,596
Filing date: 1993-05-05
Grant date: 1995-03-21
Assignee: Nestec S.A.
Inventor(s): FOND; OLIVIER
CPC class: A47J31/369

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