US 5,638,741 · Granted 1997-06-17

Group module for coffee machine

A pod group module adapted for attachment to a coffee machine operable for receiving and sealably containing a prefabricated coffee pod and directing the flow of heated water therethrough. A coffee pod consists of a measure of pre-ground coffee beans contained within and enveloped by a water permeable membrane such as a filter paper. The pod group module includes attachment means adapted to mount a pod group module onto a coffee machine. The attachment means includes a flow channel having an intake port which is positioned to receive hot water from a hot water output port on the coffee machine. The pod group module includes a coffee pod receptacle adapted to receive a coffee pod. Activation of a lever-type handle on the pod group module doses and seals the pod receptacle providing a fluid-tight chamber containing the coffee pod. Upon command, heated water issues from the coffee machine's boiler and is conducted, under pressure, through the pod group module's intake pod and into the pressure- and fluid-tight chamber. As the hot water enters the chamber it is dispersed by means of a diffuser to evenly distribute the hot water prior to percolation through the coffee pod. The hot water exits the coffee pod chamber through a continuation of the flow channel in the pod group module. The hot water flowing out of the chamber, containing flavor components extracted from the ground coffee beans during passage through the coffee pod, finally exits the pod group module through a suitable outlet port such as a dispensing spout.

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