HK40100297A - Apparatuses, systems, and methods for brewing a beverage - Google Patents

Description

Apparatus, systems and methods for brewing beverages

Cross-references to related applications

This application is a continuation-to-file of U.S. Application No. 17/175196, filed February 12, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application relates to U.S. Patent No. 9,930,987, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to a bulk hopper replacement unit that allows for the brewing of smaller portions of beverages (e.g., coffee), such as single-serving or personalized servings, after being engaged with an existing bulk hopper of an automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated bulk coffee brewing system).

Background Technology

Many methods and systems for brewing beverages such as coffee are known. Existing commercial coffee brewing systems include multiple hoppers, each storing different coffee beans, to facilitate the batch preparation of a variety of different coffee beverages. However, such beverage brewing systems are limited to using coffee beans stored in the hoppers to prepare coffee beverages.

Summary of the Invention

Automated bulk coffee brewing systems (e.g., those provided by Starbucks Coffee Company) can be used in commercial coffee shops or cafes to improve the accuracy and repeatability of personalized service portions, such as single-serving or multi-serving portions of coffee beverages typically ordered, and to accomplish this efficiently. For example, the same grinder and brewing components can be advantageously used to prepare personalized (e.g., single-serving) portions of coffee beverages using coffee beans stored in multiple different hoppers or storage containers. However, if a shop customer orders coffee beverages using coffee beans different from those in one of the hoppers currently installed on the automated bulk coffee brewing system, the barista may need to use a different coffee maker (e.g., a French press or a pour-over maker) to prepare the desired personalized (e.g., single-serving) portion of the coffee beverage. This can lead to inefficiencies (e.g., reduced output, additional cleaning time, additional preparation time), additional required equipment (thus requiring extra space in small beverage and/or food preparation areas), and reduced customer satisfaction due to longer wait times and/or a lack of anticipated automation.

Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to bulk hopper replacement units or personalized service feeder adapters that allow baristas or other users to brew different beverages (e.g., coffee drinks) in personalized service portions using a single automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated brewing system commercially used in coffee shops operated by Starbucks Coffee Company). For example, a bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service feeder adapter includes an adapter component or module configured to removably engage (mounted on or within, mates with, docks with, or is coupled to) an open hopper trough of the bulk hopper assembly of an automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated bulk coffee brewing system). The adapter component may include, for example, a mounting base that replaces the bulk hopper (e.g., fitted into an existing bulk hopper trough and engaging or interfaced with components or mechanisms such as hopper motors, chute leading to the grinder assembly, hopper selector assemblies, etc., present in conventional bulk hoppers).

The bulk hopper replacement unit may also include container components or modules configured to removably mate or engage with adapter components (e.g., mounting bases). The container components may engage, mate with, or otherwise connect with the adapter components before or after engagement with the bulk hopper trough. Multiple personalized service container components may be pre-loaded with appropriate coffee bean ingredients for corresponding desired coffee beverages and then lined up or queued until interchangeably engaged with the adapter components to prepare various personalized service portions of corresponding coffee beverages using an automated bulk beverage preparation system (e.g., an automated bulk coffee brewing system). According to several embodiments, the bulk hopper replacement unit can eliminate the need for coffee shops to use French press or pour-over coffee machines.

The container component may include a sliding door or other retaining mechanism that holds the contents (e.g., coffee beans) required for preparing a personalized serving size of beverage within the internal volume of a temporary storage container or reservoir until the container component engages with the adapter component. Upon engagement with the adapter component, the sliding door or other retaining mechanism automatically moves or switches to a second configuration (e.g., an open or unlocked configuration), in which the contents of the container component's storage reservoir are allowed to leave the storage container (e.g., no longer held by the sliding door or other retaining mechanism). In other embodiments, the sliding door or other retaining mechanism is manually moved or switched between a first and a second configuration.

The adapter component may include an opening configured to receive the contents of a storage container or reservoir of the container component when a sliding door or other retaining mechanism is removed. The adapter component may include a feed screw pusher at least partially disposed within the internal volume of the adapter component to facilitate the delivery of controlled-metered contents (e.g., coffee beans) received from the container component to the grinding assembly of an automated beverage preparation system (e.g., a bulk coffee brewing system). Components or modules of the bulk hopper replacement unit can be disassembled without tools to facilitate cleaning. The adapter component may also include a hopper motor connected to the screw pusher. The hopper motor can rotate the screw pusher in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. In other embodiments, the hopper motor is a component of the hopper assembly of the automated beverage preparation system (e.g., a bulk coffee brewing system).

Any feature, structure, or step disclosed herein may be replaced or combined with any other feature, structure, or step disclosed herein, or may be omitted. Furthermore, certain aspects, advantages, and features of the invention have been described herein for the purposes of this disclosure. It should be understood that any or all of these advantages are not necessarily achieved according to any particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein. No aspect of this disclosure is necessary or indispensable.

Attached Figure Description

The various embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments. Furthermore, various features of different disclosed embodiments may be combined to form additional embodiments that are part of this disclosure.

Figure 1A shows a perspective view of an automated bulk coffee brewing system, and embodiments of the bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service supply hopper system disclosed herein can be used with this automated bulk coffee brewing system.

Figure 1B shows a front view of the automated bulk coffee brewing system shown in Figure 1A.

Figure 1C shows a rear view of the automated bulk coffee brewing system shown in Figure 1A.

Figure 1D shows a side cross-sectional view of the automated bulk coffee brewing system shown in Figure 1A.

Figure 1E shows a front cross-sectional view of the automated bulk coffee brewing system shown in Figure 1A.

Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an automated beverage preparation system.

Figures 3A and 3B show two perspective views of an embodiment of the bulk hopper replacement unit, wherein the two main components of the bulk hopper replacement unit are joined together. Figure 3C shows a perspective view of the bulk hopper replacement unit with the two main components separated.

Figures 4A to 4C illustrate the operation of the retaining member of the bulk hopper replacement unit shown in Figures 3A to 3C. Figure 4A shows a perspective view of the retaining member being removed from the coffee container component of the bulk hopper replacement unit. Figure 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the coffee container component with the retaining member in a closed configuration. Figure 4C shows a bottom perspective view of the coffee container component with the retaining member in a closed configuration.

Figure 5A shows a perspective side section view of the bulk hopper replacement unit shown in Figure 3A.

Figure 5B shows another cross-sectional view of the bulk hopper replacement unit shown in Figure 3A.

Figures 6A to 6D show another embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit that can be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing system of Figures 1A to 1E.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate examples of how embodiments of the bulk hopper replacement unit described herein can be used with the automated bulk coffee brewing systems of Figures 1A through 1E. In Figure 7A, the bulk hopper replacement unit is shown mounted on one of the hopper slots of the bulk hopper assembly of the automated bulk coffee brewing system. In Figure 7B, the container component of the bulk hopper replacement unit is removed from the adapter component, and the adapter component remains installed for further use with the same or different container components.

Detailed Implementation

Figures 1A to 1E illustrate exemplary embodiments of an automated bulk coffee brewing system 2 designed to quickly and automatically brew individual serving portions of coffee beverages, such as single-cup or traveler-portion (e.g., multi-cup) coffee beverages. Typically, the coffee brewing system 2 may include an upper part 4 and a lower part 6. The upper part 4 and lower part 6 house internal components, including a grinder assembly 34 and a brewing assembly 36 (shown in Figure 1D). External components include a bulk hopper assembly 8, a hopper selector assembly 10, a user interface assembly 12, a waste bin assembly 14, a dispensing assembly 16, and a base 18.

As described above, the coffee brewing system 2 allows users to quickly and easily brew various types of single-serving or passenger-sized bulk coffee beverages. To accommodate different types of coffee beverages, the bulk hopper assembly 8 of the coffee brewing system 2 is adapted to hold multiple hoppers 20, each of which can hold different types of coffee beverage ingredients (e.g., dark roast coffee beans, medium roast coffee beans, light roast coffee beans, and/or decaffeinated coffee beans). The bulk hopper assembly 8 of the coffee brewing system 2 can be configured to hold three bulk hoppers (as shown) or more or fewer than three hoppers.

The bulk hopper assembly 8 can be positioned above the upper portion 4 of the coffee brewing system 2. For example, the bulk hopper assembly 8 may include a hopper holder 22 for holding the hoppers 20. The hopper selector assembly 10 includes a plurality of paddles 24 that can be used to select one or more of the hoppers 20 based on the desired beverage material (e.g., type of coffee beans). Furthermore, the paddles 24 can be mechanically reset to indicate the completion of a brewing cycle. Each paddle 24 corresponds to a separate hopper slot. The paddles 24 can be aligned with the hoppers 20. The alignment of the paddles 24 with the hoppers 20 provides visual confirmation of the correspondence between each paddle 24 and the selected hopper slot.

Pressing one or more paddles 24 initiates the brewing cycle of the coffee beverage system 2. Pressing one or more paddles 24 activates a controlled feeding assembly (e.g., a spiral pusher 38) of one or more hoppers 20. When one or more paddles 24 are manually released (e.g., lifted), the paddles 24 can end the brewing cycle (e.g., before dispensing the beverage). The paddles 24 and/or the spiral pusher 38 can be configured to provide visual confirmation to the user of the equipment and/or to the customer when a particular hopper is selected. For example, selecting one or more paddles can initiate agitation of the contents of the corresponding hopper, which can be observed from the outside of the coffee beverage system 2.

User interface component 12 may include a display screen 26 that can display data or information related to the coffee brewing system 2, such as beverage parameters, settings, or maintenance reminders. The coffee brewing system 2 may also include a display controller 28 to control the type of information displayed or to input specific parameters or settings. The display screen may include a touchscreen display or multiple input buttons for scrolling and selecting menu options. Waste bin component 14 includes a reservoir to hold brewed "used" coffee grounds. This reservoir may be removable to facilitate emptying its contents.

The dispensing component 16 facilitates the dispensing of brewed coffee beverage into a reservoir 30 located on the base 18. The base 18 may include a drip plate 32 to catch any spilled beverage. The base 18 may be in fluid communication with a drain.

Referring to FIG1D, the internal components of the coffee brewing system 2 may include a grinder assembly 34 and a brewing assembly 36. The hopper 20 includes a feed screw pusher 38 and a hopper motor 40. The hopper motor 40 is configured to rotate the feed screw pusher 38, and the feed screw pusher is configured to provide a controlled dose of coffee beans to the grinder assembly 34. Referring to FIG1E, the grinder assembly 34 is positioned below the hopper 20, and the hopper assembly 8 may include a tapered chute 39 to facilitate the conveying of coffee beans from the hopper 20 to the grinder assembly 34. In some embodiments, the hopper motor may be a component of the hopper assembly 8 (e.g., the hopper retainer 22) rather than a component of the hopper 20.

Each or a subset of hoppers 20 can be connected to a single grinder assembly 34. Sharing a single grinder assembly 34 for all hoppers can reduce commodity costs, reduce points of failure, and reduce the size of the coffee brewing system 2.

The grinder assembly 34 is configured to grind coffee beans into grounds and can be configured to provide a controlled grind size. The grinder assembly 34 may include a grinder adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust the grind size based on the selected beverage. Furthermore, the grinder assembly 34 may also include various safety features to de-block or prevent operation if the grinder assembly 34 is not properly positioned within the coffee brewing system 2.

The brewing component 36 is configured to brew a coffee beverage using hot water and coffee grounds from the grinder component 34. The brewing component 36 then delivers the prepared coffee beverage to the dispensing component 16.

Referring to Figure 1C, one or more cables 37a, 37b can be connected to the rear side of the coffee brewing system 2 to deliver power to the coffee brewing system 2. The coffee brewing system 2 may also include multiple vents 41 for cooling the coffee brewing system 2. The rear side of the coffee brewing system 2 may also include multiple Ethernet or USB ports 42 to transmit information to and from the coffee brewing system 2, for example, to form a daisy chain. As another example, information related to the use of the coffee brewing system 2 can be transmitted to a central database for data mining. In yet another example, software updates can be transmitted to the coffee brewing system 2. The coffee brewing system 2 can also communicate with other coffee brewing systems, for example, to coordinate power usage. Furthermore, the coffee brewing system 2 may include a circuit breaker 43 located at the rear side of the coffee brewing system 2.

Although the coffee brewing system 2 is described as having certain features, one or more of the aforementioned components or parts may be omitted, replaced, combined, or divided into multiple sub-components. Additional structural and operational features may also be included as described below in conjunction with Figure 2 or in U.S. Patent No. 9,930,987 (which is previously incorporated herein by reference).

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a beverage apparatus 1000 for brewing beverages. Components of the beverage apparatus 1000 can be implemented in a coffee brewing system 2. Although the beverage apparatus 1000 and the coffee brewing system 2 can brew beverages other than coffee (e.g., tea, cocoa), for illustrative purposes, the structure and operation of the beverage apparatus 1000 are described in conjunction with machine-brewed coffee (e.g., coffee brewing system 2).

The beverage apparatus 1000 may include a water inlet assembly 1002. The water inlet assembly 1002 may include a water filter to filter the water used for brewing the beverage. However, if the coffee brewing system 2 is installed in a facility with a water purification system separate from the machine, the water filter may be optional. The water inlet assembly 1002 may include a radiator through which the water flows. The radiator dissipates conductive or radiant heat by transferring heat to the water passing through it. Transferring heat to the water can preheat the water before it enters the brewer 1004. Preheating the water before it enters the brewer 1004 can reduce the power requirements of the brewer 1004 and/or other components within the coffee brewing system 2. At least some of the water may flow directly to the brewer 1004 and bypass the water inlet assembly 1002 (if present).

The boiler 1004 can receive and store water from the water inlet assembly 1002 and heat the stored water to a desired temperature, such as 150°F to a temperature range slightly below the boiling point of water, such as between about 190°F and about 200°F.

Beverage preparation apparatus 1000 may include one or more sensors to measure the water temperature in or out of brewer 1004. For example, beverage apparatus 1000 may include a water temperature control component 1006 that can change the temperature of the water from brewer 1004 to provide different brewing temperatures for different cups. The water temperature control component 1006 may receive water from brewer 1004 during a brewing cycle and, in response to controller 1026, can adjust the temperature of the water received from brewer 1004. The water temperature control component 1006 may mix heated water from brewer 1004 with colder water from inlet assembly 1002 or water inlet to lower the temperature of the water used for brewing beverages. The water temperature control component 1006 may include a heat exchanger that allows cold water to cool heated water without actually mixing with the heated water. The water temperature control component 1006 is also capable of heating the water used for brewing beverages to a temperature higher than that in brewer 1004.

The water temperature control component 1006 can sense the temperature of the fluid in the brewing chamber. Based on the sensed temperature, the water temperature control component 1006 can control the temperature of the water flowing into the brewing chamber. For example, if the fluid temperature in the brewing chamber is too high, cold water can be directed to the brewing component 1010. If the fluid temperature in the brewing chamber is too low, hot water can be directed to the brewing component 1010.

Alternatively, the beverage device 1000 may not include the water temperature control component 1006, and the water may be heated to the desired temperature according to the cooker 1004.

During the brewing cycle, the water measurement and delivery assembly 1008 delivers a predetermined amount of water from the temperature control assembly 1006 to the brewing assembly 1010. The brewing assembly 1010 can receive heated water from the water measurement and delivery assembly 1008, receive ground material from the grinder assembly 1024, brew the beverage, and then provide the brewed beverage to the dispensing assembly 1014 via the fluid delivery assembly 1012.

The water measurement and delivery assembly 1008 may not include a pump and may rely on gravity and/or external fluid line pressure to move fluid to the brewing chamber 1010. The controller 1026 may determine the amount of water supplied to the brewing assembly 1010 based on multiple flow meters in the beverage device 1000. However, the water measurement and delivery assembly 1008 may include a pump for directing water to the brewing assembly 1010. The controller 1026 may determine the amount of water supplied to the brewing assembly 1010 based on the pump speed and the amount of time the pump is in operation.

The water measurement and delivery assembly 1008 can also deliver a predetermined amount of water to the brewing assembly 1010 during a cleaning cycle. The brewing assembly 1010 may also include a cleaning system, such as a plow assembly, to move used ground material and residue from the brewing assembly 1010 to the solid waste disposal unit 1020. The solid waste disposal unit 1020 may include a reservoir that can be periodically removed for emptying, or the reservoir may be connected to an electronic waste disposal unit or directly to the wastewater line of the facility where the coffee brewing system 2 is installed. Furthermore, the solid waste disposal unit 1020 may be configured to receive tap water, and tap water may be used to flush "ground" and used coffee from the disposal unit to the waste disposal unit or directly to the wastewater line. The solid waste disposal unit 1020 may periodically initiate an automatic flushing sequence (e.g., after brewing each cup of coffee), or the flushing sequence may be manually initiated. In some embodiments, the solid waste disposal unit 1020 is identical to the liquid waste disposal unit 1016.

The beverage device 1000 may include a fluid delivery assembly 1012 to direct beverages to a dispensing assembly 1014 and/or to liquid waste to a liquid waste disposal unit 1016 (e.g., a waste bin or drain). The fluid delivery assembly 1012 may include a valve or valve assembly that can switch between a first valve position and a second valve position, wherein, in the first valve position, fluid communication is provided between the interior of the foaming assembly 1010 and the dispensing assembly 1014, and wherein, in the second valve position, fluid communication is provided between the foaming assembly 1010 and the liquid waste disposal unit 1016. The fluid delivery assembly 1012 may be responsive to a controller 1026 to move between the first valve position and the second valve position.

Dispensing assembly 1014 may include one or more dispensers. For example, dispensing assembly 1014 may include a beverage dispenser capable of dispensing a selected beverage. Dispensing assembly 1014 may include a water dispenser. The water dispenser may include one or more fluid inlets connected to a water source external to the cooker 1004 and/or device 1000. Dispensing assembly 1014 may include one or more valve assemblies to control fluid inflow and outflow.

While the dispenser assembly 1014 fills the reservoir with brewed beverage (or water as described below), the base assembly 1018 can hold or contain the reservoir. The base assembly 1018 may include a drain section to absorb, for example, spills from the cup and drips from the dispenser assembly 1014. The drain section may be removable for emptying and may be connected to the liquid waste disposal section 1016 or directly to the wastewater line of the facility where the coffee beverage system 2 is installed. The base assembly 1018 may include a reservoir sensing unit (not shown) to indicate to the controller 1026 the presence of a reservoir in the base assembly 1018. If no reservoir is present after the brewing assembly 1010 has brewed the beverage, the controller 1026 may deactivate or shut off the fluid delivery assembly 1012 to prevent dispensing of the brewed beverage. As another example, if a reservoir is present during a cleaning cycle, the controller 1026 may deactivate or shut off the fluid delivery assembly 1012 to prevent rinsing water from being dispensed into the reservoir. The cup sensing unit can include any type of sensor, such as optical, mechanical, or ultrasonic sensors.

The beverage apparatus 1000 may include one or more hopper assemblies 1022 for holding beverage materials supplied to the grinder assembly 1024. A controller 1026 may indicate the amount of beverage material to be fed to the grinder assembly 1024. In the case of the coffee brewing system 2 including multiple hopper assemblies 1022, different types of beverage materials can be loaded into the corresponding hopper assembly 1022.

In response to the controller 1026, the grinder assembly 1024 can grind the beverage material from the hopper assembly 1022 and then supply a predetermined amount of ground material to the brewing assembly 1010. The controller 1026 can instruct the grinder assembly 1024 to choose one of a variety of grind sizes (e.g., coarse, normal, fine), as the grind size may affect the taste and other properties of the brewed coffee.

The beverage device 1000 may include a barrier 1028 to isolate the controller 1026 and associated circuitry from other components of the device 1000. For example, steam from hot water and beverage preparation may condense and damage or otherwise render the controller 1028 inoperable. Furthermore, condensation on conduits carrying cold tap water may cause similar problems. Therefore, the moisture barrier 1028 helps keep the controller 1026 and associated circuitry dry.

The controller 1026 controls the operation of some or all of the other components of the beverage device 1000 as described above, and includes a processor 1032, a memory 1038, a control panel and a display 1030, and a communication port 1036.

The processor 1032 executes a software program stored in memory 1038 or another memory (not shown) and controls the operation of the components of the beverage device 1000 as described above and below.

As further detailed below, in addition to storing one or more software programs, memory 1038 may also store a set of predetermined brewing parameters or recipes. Memory 1038 may also store data associated with machine activities (e.g., the quantity of beverages brewed, the type of beverages brewed, or the size of the beverages brewed).

The control panel and display 1030 allow the operator to input brewing options (e.g., coffee type, cup size, and brewing parameters) or select brewing options from a menu generated on the display by the processor 1032. For example, the operator can select personalized brewing parameters (e.g., grind size, water temperature, brewing time, and coffee grounds to water ratio) via the control panel and display 1030, or select a set of predetermined brewing parameters stored in the memory 1038. As an example of the latter, a coffee roaster may have already determined the preferred brewing parameters for its coffee. These preferred parameters can then be stored as a set in the memory 1038 and associated with an identifier such as the name or type of coffee. Thus, instead of potentially tedious individual input or selection of each brewing parameter, the operator simply inputs or selects an identifier from the menu, and the controller 1026 causes the beverage device 1000 to brew the coffee according to the set of parameters corresponding to the identifier.

In some embodiments, as an alternative to or in addition to a control panel and display, the beverage device 1000 may include a plurality of other input controls 1034 for selecting brewing options.

Communication port 1036 allows processor 1032, memory 1038, and control panel and display 1030 to communicate with one or more devices external to beverage device 1000. For example, port 1038 can be connected to a computer, enabling programming or diagnostics to be run from the computer. Port 1038 can also be connected to another beverage device 1000 to exchange information (e.g., brewing parameters or power information). As another example, port 1036 can be connected to the Internet, enabling data such as a set of brewing parameters to be downloaded to memory 1038 or usage statistics to be uploaded from beverage device 1000. Additionally, port 1036 can receive data via a wireless channel, such as a set of brewing parameters from an RFID tag or barcode on the coffee reservoir or coffee cup (the tag may hold the cup owner's preferred coffee type, cup size, or brewing parameters). Furthermore, port 1036 can allow processor 1032 to download demographic information such as coffee drinker preferences and number of cups brewed to the coffee roaster or supplier or the manufacturer/supplier of beverage device 1000.

Many of the features described herein are designed for rapid beverage brewing, including, but not limited to, a grind size adjustment unit, a brewing component, a water input system, a beverage dispensing feature, and a plow assembly. Existing brewing processes for beverages in personalized serving sizes (e.g., single-serving portions) typically require more than 60 seconds. In contrast, the coffee brewing system 2 described herein can grind, brew, and dispense personalized serving sizes (e.g., single-serving portions) of beverage in less than about 60 seconds, such as less than 40 seconds, less than about 35 seconds, or less than about 30 seconds. In some embodiments, the coffee brewing system 2 can dispense personalized serving sizes (e.g., single-serving portions) in less than about 10 seconds or less than about 5 seconds. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a reset process including cleaning the brewing component can also take about 30 seconds or less.

Alternative embodiments of the beverage device 1000 are conceivable. For example, one or more of the aforementioned units or components may be omitted, the functions of multiple units may be combined into fewer units, or the functions of a single unit may be divided into multiple units.

Turning to Figures 3A through 3C, embodiments of a bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 are shown that can be used with an automated bulk beverage preparation system or apparatus (e.g., coffee brewing system 2 and/or beverage apparatus 1000). The personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 includes two main components or modules: an adapter component 301 and a container component 302. While two main components may be particularly advantageous, additional intermediate components may be used, or the two main components may be subdivided into sub-components.

Adapter component 301 is a mounting base adapted to be mounted onto or into an open bulk hopper trough of an automated bulk brewing system (e.g., hopper retainer 22 of coffee brewing system 2) in place of a bulk hopper. Adapter component 301 may include the same mating or engaging features as the bulk hopper. Adapter component 301 may include a housing 303 having a rear portion 304 and a front portion 305. The rear portion 304 may be generally vertical, and the front portion may be generally horizontal, generally forming an "L" shape. The rear portion 304 may include structural features sized and shaped to allow adapter component 301 to mate or engage with corresponding structural features of the hopper trough of the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., hopper assembly 8 of coffee brewing system 2) to facilitate the preparation of beverages (e.g., brewing of coffee beverages) using the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., coffee brewing system 2). For example, the rear portion 304 of the adapter component 301 may include a screw pusher connector 306 adapted to connect an adapter screw pusher 307 (shown in FIG. 5A) to a hopper motor of an automated bulk brewing system (e.g., hopper motor 34 of coffee brewing system 2). In some embodiments, the adapter component 301 may include a hopper motor connected to the screw pusher connector 306.

Referring to Figure 3B, the rear portion 304 may further include a rear connector 308 adapted to interface with a corresponding structure of the hopper compartment of the automated bulk brewing system, such that the adapter component 301 is properly engaged with the hopper compartment (e.g., mounted on or in the hopper compartment). As best shown in Figure 3A, the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301 may include a tab 309 configured to facilitate engagement of the adapter component 301 with the hopper compartment or to facilitate easy removal of the adapter component 301 from the hopper compartment. The adapter component 301 may, for all intents and purposes, appear to be connected to the automated bulk brewing system (e.g., coffee brewing system 2) as being connected to a bulk hopper rather than a bulk hopper replacement unit.

Referring to FIG3C, the upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter member 301 may include an engaging member 310. The engaging member 310 includes a central opening 311. The engaging member 310 includes a groove or recess 312 formed on each lateral side of the engaging member 310. The groove or recess 312 is adapted to receive a corresponding track 313 formed on and extending from the lower portion 314 (e.g., a horizontal platform) of the container member 302. The inner surface of the track 313 may be rounded to facilitate insertion into and sliding along the groove or recess 312. As the container member 302 advances horizontally along the upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter member 301, the track 313 is adapted to insert into and slide along the groove or recess 312 of the engaging member 310 of the adapter member 301. The mating interface between the groove or recess 312 and the corresponding track 313 facilitates a removable engagement or mating between the single-cup container member 302 and the adapter member 301. In addition to the designs or features shown in the figures, other suitable interlocking designs or features may be provided as desired and/or required. When the container component 302 is fully advanced along the engaging member 310 (e.g., contacting the front wall 316 of the rear portion 303), the central opening 311 is adapted to align with a corresponding lower opening at the bottom of the storage container or reservoir 315 of the container component 302. As shown and described in further detail with reference to Figure 5A, the adapter component 301 includes a supply screw pusher 317 positioned below the central opening 311. The supply screw pusher 317 is operatively coupled to the adapter screw pusher 307 to facilitate rotation of the supply screw pusher 317.

Container component 302 includes a storage container 315, a handle 318, and a retaining member 319. The storage container 315 includes an upper opening 320 adapted to receive coffee beans (or other beverage contents) and a lower opening 321 adapted to align with a central opening 311 of the adapter component 301 to facilitate the release of coffee beans toward the supply screw pusher 317 when the retaining member 319 moves so as not to obstruct or cover the lower opening 321. As shown, the upper opening 320 is larger than the lower opening 321, and there is a tapering cross-sectional dimension along the height of the storage container 315 between the upper and lower openings 320 and 321. The larger upper opening 320 can facilitate easier addition of coffee beans without spillage. In other embodiments, the storage container 315 may have a uniform or substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension along its height. The storage container 315 may define an internal volume sized to hold enough coffee beans to prepare a personalized serving size (e.g., a single cup) of coffee. In some implementations, the internal volume may be designed to hold enough coffee beans to prepare passenger-sized portions of coffee (e.g., multiple single-cup servings). The handle 318 is adapted to facilitate easy one-handed gripping and transport of the container component 302 by a barista or other user.

Although the disclosure refers to "single cup" or "personalized service" portions, the personalized serving hopper adapter or bulk hopper replacement unit 300 may be adapted and used to prepare desired portions using a storage container (e.g., hopper, container) designed to hold smaller portions of beverage contents (e.g., coffee beans) than the bulk hopper 20. For example, a personalized service portion or single cup portion may be a portion or size suitable for individual consumption that is more or less than the actual cup size of the beverage (i.e., 8 fl ounces) (e.g., 4 fl ounces to 24 fl ounces, 4 fl ounces to 16 fl ounces, 8 fl ounces to 24 fl ounces). In some embodiments, a personalized service portion may be a passenger portion (e.g., a multi-cup portion, such as 1 to 4 personalized service sizes, or up to 96 fl ounces). According to various embodiments, the storage container 315 may be defined with an internal volume (e.g., maximum storage capacity) that is less than 20% (1:5 ratio), less than 15% (3:20 ratio), less than 10% (1:10 ratio), or less than 5% (1:20 ratio) of the internal volume of the bulk hopper 20 being replaced by the bulk hopper replacement unit or the personalized service supply hopper adapter 300. The ratio of the internal volume of the storage container 315 to the internal volume of the bulk hopper 20 may be between 1:100 and 1:5 (e.g., between 1:100 and 1:20, between 1:50 and 1:20, between 1:50 and 1:10, between 1:20 and 1:10, between 3:20 and 1:20, between 1:10 and 1:5). The dimensions of storage container 315 (e.g., having a maximum storage capacity) may be designed to accommodate less than 20%, less than 15%, less than 10%, or less than 5% of the amount of coffee beans contained in the bulk hopper 20 (e.g., the maximum storage capacity). The dimensions of storage container 315 may be designed to have a maximum coffee bean storage capacity between 15 grams and 250 grams (e.g., between 15 grams and 60 grams, less than 60 grams, less than 250 grams, between 20 grams and 60 grams, between 30 grams and 60 grams, between 15 grams and 100 grams, their overlapping ranges, or any value within said range). "Maximum storage capacity" may have a common and ordinary meaning and may include a capacity greater than this, at which point the coffee beans in storage container 315 would overflow or spill, preventing the coffee beans from being contained within the storage container. In some embodiments, the storage container 315 may be sized to hold 15 grams to no more than 250 grams of coffee beans (e.g., 15 grams to no more than 60 grams, no more than 250 grams, 20 grams to no more than 60 grams, 30 grams to no more than 60 grams, 15 grams to no more than 100 grams, their overlapping ranges, or any value within the range).

In some embodiments, a personalized service hopper adapter or bulk hopper replacement unit 300 replaces a bulk hopper having a first maximum storage capacity, wherein the storage container 315 of the personalized service hopper adapter 300 has a second maximum storage capacity. The second maximum storage capacity may be smaller than the first maximum storage capacity. For example, the second maximum storage capacity may have the maximum storage capacity described in the preceding paragraph. Baristas or other users may fill the storage container 314 with less than 20% (1:5 ratio), less than 15% (3:20 ratio), less than 10% (1:10 ratio), or less than 5% (1:20 ratio) of the bulk hopper size that can store the amount of coffee beans (e.g., the maximum storage capacity of the bulk hopper). Baristas or other users may fill or load storage container 314 with between 15 and 250 grams of coffee beans (e.g., between 15 and 60 grams, less than 60 grams, less than 250 grams, between 20 and 60 grams, between 30 and 60 grams, between 15 and 100 grams, their overlap, or any value within said range). The amount of coffee beans may be sufficient to brew a coffee beverage of 3 to 96 fluid ounces (e.g., 3 to 20 fluid ounces, 3 to 30 fluid ounces, 8 to 64 fluid ounces, their overlap, or any value within said range, such as 3 fluid ounces, 4 fluid ounces, 8 fluid ounces, 12 fluid ounces, 16 fluid ounces, 20 fluid ounces, 30 fluid ounces, 31 fluid ounces, 48 fluid ounces, 96 fluid ounces). Storage container 314 may be filled before or after the personalized service feed hopper adapter or bulk hopper replacement unit 300 is docked or engaged with the bulk hopper slot of the automatic coffee brewing system. Then, the (manual or automatic) automatic coffee brewing system can be activated to brew a personalized serving of coffee using the amount of coffee beans added to the storage container 314 by the barista or other user.

Referring to Figures 4A to 4C, the retaining member 319 can be sized and shaped to fit into a groove or recess formed on a track 313 of the container component 302, and slide along the track 313 along the groove or recess. The lateral sides of the retaining member 319 can be rounded to facilitate insertion into the groove or recess and sliding within it along the track 313. The retaining member 319 can be partially or completely removed from the groove or recess (as shown in Figure 4A). As shown in Figures 4B and 4C, the retaining member 319 can be advanced distally until it covers the lower opening 321 at the bottom of the storage container 315, thereby retaining (or preventing dispensing or release) the coffee beans or other beverage ingredients contained in the storage container 315.

As shown in Figure 3A, the advancement of the container component 302 along the upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305 toward the distal side and toward the wall 316 of the rear portion 304 of the adapter component 301 causes the retaining member 319 to automatically slide proximally (towards or toward the barista) along a groove or recess on the track 313 when it contacts the front (e.g., proximal) portion 322 of the engaging member 310 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305 of the adapter component 301. This exposes the lower opening 321 and allows coffee beans to fall through the central opening 311 toward the supply screw pusher 317 in the adapter component 301.

In some embodiments, there is no biasing member (e.g., a spring) that automatically returns the retaining member 319 to a closed (or locked) configuration, in which the lower opening 321 of the storage container 315 is covered. In some embodiments, there is no magnetic component or other actuation mechanism that controllably switches the retaining member 319 between a closed and an open configuration. Instead, the retaining member 319 switches between configurations by mechanical or physical contact generated by manual force. Therefore, the retaining member 319 may not have a default configuration.

In other embodiments, a biasing member (e.g., a spring) may be present to automatically return the retaining member 319 to a closed (or locked) configuration, in which the lower opening 321 of the storage container 315 is covered. Thus, the retaining member 319 may have a default closed or locked configuration.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment of the screw pusher assembly of the bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service supply hopper adapter 300. The screw pusher assembly includes a screw pusher connector 306, an adapter screw pusher 307, and a supply screw pusher 317. The adapter screw pusher 307 and the supply screw pusher are mechanically and operatively connected such that rotation of the adapter screw pusher 307 (e.g., via the hopper motor 34) causes a corresponding rotation of the supply screw pusher 317. The supply screw pusher 317 advantageously prevents coffee beans from entering the grinder assembly 34 positioned below it until the screw pusher rotates, allowing the coffee beans to be metered into the grinder assembly 34 at a specific rate.

Figure 5B shows a cross-sectional view that helps illustrate the supply screw pusher 317. As shown, the supply screw pusher 317 may include a flat impeller design comprising an inner core 323 and blades or grooves 324 at least partially surrounding the inner core 323. However, in some embodiments, the supply screw pusher 317 may include angled or wavy blades or grooves 324 designed to reduce required and/or desired driving force and noise. A hopper motor 34 can rotate the adapter screw pusher 307 clockwise or counterclockwise, which in turn can rotate the supply screw pusher 317. In some embodiments, the hopper motor 34 is a component of the screw pusher assembly of the adapter component 301. A screw pusher retainer 325 at the proximal end of the supply screw pusher 317 can secure the proximal end of the supply screw pusher 317 within a groove in the adapter component 301.

Figure 5B also shows that the bottom of the adapter component 301 may include one or more engagement features 326, 327 (e.g., lips, ridges, protrusions, notches, grooves, or openings) that can extend intermittently or continuously along at least a portion of the bottom of the adapter component 301. Engagement features 326, 327 are adapted to facilitate engagement with mating features or interface features of the hopper trough of an automated bulk brewing system (e.g., coffee brewing system 2). In some embodiments, the adapter component 301 slides distally onto or into the hopper trough in a generally horizontal (e.g., non-vertical) direction. In other embodiments, the adapter component 301 mats and falls onto or into the hopper trough from a generally vertical direction. Figure 5B also shows a close-up view of how the track 313 of the container component 302 is fitted within a corresponding slot or recess 312 of the engagement member 310 of the adapter component 301.

The blades or grooves 24 may be evenly distributed circumferentially around the inner core 323. The inner core 323 and the blades 324 may be made of the same or different materials. For example, the inner core 323 may be made of stainless steel, and the blades 324 may be injection molded around the inner core 323 using nylon, PVC, polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof. As another example, the inner core 323 and the blades 324 may each comprise nylon, PVC, polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof.

Manufacturing the feed screw pusher 317 may include a two-step injection molding process. First, the inner core 323 may be injection molded using nylon, PVC, polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof. After the inner core 323 has cooled, blades 324 may be injection molded onto the inner core 323 using nylon, PVC, polymer, ceramic, or any combination thereof.

Figures 6A to 6D illustrate another embodiment of the bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service supply hopper adapter 300', which can be used in conjunction with an automated bulk coffee brewing system such as the automated coffee brewing system 2 shown in Figures 1A to 1E. Figure 6A is a side perspective view of the bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service supply hopper adapter 300', and Figure 6B is a side cross-sectional view of Figure 6A.

The bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service supply hopper adapter 300' may include similar structural and operational features to those described in conjunction with Figures 3A to 5B. For example, the bulk hopper replacement unit 300' includes an adapter component 301' and a container component 302', which may include similar structural and operational features to those described above. The container component 302' also includes a removable retaining member 319' (e.g., a door or other retaining mechanism) that can provide a retaining function similar to that described above.

However, the container component 302' can be adapted to engage, dock, or mate with the adapter component 301' from a generally vertical rather than a generally horizontal direction (e.g., a top-loaded embodiment rather than a side-loaded embodiment). Figure 6C shows the container component 302' positioned above a central opening 311' formed in the raised upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305' of the adapter component 301'. The central opening 311' is sized and shaped to accommodate the distal docking member or portion 330 of the container component 302'. The distal docking member 330 is inserted into the central opening 311' from a position above the central opening 311' along a generally vertical trajectory. Container component 302' also includes a proximal docking member or portion 331, which is sized and shaped to be larger in length and width than the central opening 311' of adapter component 301' (and larger than the distal docking member 330), such that the lower circumferential surface of the proximal docking member 331 rests on the raised upper surface of the platform of the front portion 305' of adapter component 301'. The proximal docking member 331 includes a groove 333 sized and shaped to accommodate the retaining member 319'. Similarly, as described with the retaining member 319', any contents (e.g., coffee beans) within container component 302' are retained within container component 302' when the retaining member 319' is fully inserted into the groove 333. However, when the action of removing the retaining member 319' from the slot 333 (partially or completely) is performed, the contents of the container member 302' are no longer retained in the container member 302' and can enter (e.g., fall into) the central opening 311' of the adapter member 301' and then into the supply spiral pusher 317.

Figure 6D shows the retaining member 319' in an open or removed configuration, in which any contents of the container part 302' are no longer prevented from entering the central opening 311' of the adapter part 301'. As shown, the retaining member 319' can be inserted and removed from the side of the proximal mating member 331 facing the handle 318' of the container part 301'. The length and width of the retaining member 319' are designed to completely cover the lower opening 321' of the container part 302' to prevent any release or discharge of contents when the retaining member 319' is fully inserted into the slot 333.

The first end of the retaining member 319' may include a gripping member 334 extending substantially perpendicular to the first end of the retaining member to facilitate insertion and removal of the retaining member 319' into and from the slot. The gripping member 334 may also prevent over-insertion of the retaining member 319'. Alternatively, the gripping member 334 may include a knob that does not necessarily extend perpendicular to the first end of the retaining member. According to various embodiments, the retaining member 319' is manually inserted into and removed from the slot (e.g., via push-pull on the gripping member 334) and does not automatically switch between closed and open configurations when the container member 302' abuts or engages with the adapter member 301'. The retaining member 319' may not automatically bias in the closed configuration.

In other embodiments, the operation of the retaining member 319' can be automatic (in one or both directions). For example, a mechanical cam system (e.g., a rotary and/or sliding cam mechanism and/or crank mechanism) can be operatively coupled (e.g., mechanically attached) to the retaining member 319' and the helical pusher assembly (e.g., the supply helical pusher 317) of the adapter member 301', such that as the supply helical pusher 317 rotates, the cam system causes the retaining member 319' to switch between a closed and an open configuration. The cam system can include a unidirectional cam system that is manually reset (e.g., manually switching the retaining member 319' to a closed configuration) when coffee beans or other contents are loaded into the container member 302'. In some embodiments, the cam system is automatically reset.

How to use

Figure 7A illustrates an embodiment of a bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 installed on a bulk hopper trough of an automated coffee brewing system 2. As shown in Figure 7A, one bulk hopper trough can be occupied by a bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service feed hopper adapter 300, and other bulk hopper troughs can be occupied by bulk hoppers. Of course, in some cases, multiple bulk hopper replacement units or personalized service feed hopper adapters 300 can be connected to multiple bulk hopper troughs as needed and/or required. In addition, multiple container components 302 can be pre-filled with beverage contents and arranged in rows or queues, and can be interchangeably engaged with adapter components 301 installed on one of the bulk hopper troughs to increase production capacity.

By selecting the appropriate hopper selector (e.g., paddle 24) of the automatic coffee brewing system 2, either a bulk hopper replacement unit or a personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 can be selected. In some configurations, when the personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 (e.g., adapter component 301 and/or container component 302) is connected (e.g., docked, fitted, engaged) to one of the bulk hopper slots of the coffee brewing system 2, the coffee brewing system 2 immediately and automatically detects or recognizes that the personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 has been docked and causes a menu screen corresponding to the personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 to be displayed on the display screen 26. The menu screen allows the barista or user to select the beverage type (e.g., coffee) and/or other beverage parameters. In some configurations, based on the inventory of beverages (e.g., coffee types) available in the coffee shop, various options for the beverage type (e.g., coffee) to be selected are pre-populated on the menu screen. After the automatic coffee brewing system 2 is started, the bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service feed hopper adapter 300 can dispense a personalized service dose (e.g., a single cup dose) of beverage ingredients to the grinder assembly 500.

A controlled dose can be fed into the grinder assembly 34 via the chute 39. The grinder assembly 34 can be set to a specific grinding size based on hopper selection. After the grinder assembly 34 grinds the beverage material, the beverage material can flow into the brewing assembly 36, then from the brewing assembly to the dispensing assembly 16, and then into the beverage reservoir 30 located below the discharge nozzle of the dispensing assembly 16. The container part 302 can then be removed from the adapter part 301 (as shown in FIG. 7B), and a new container part 302 loaded with beverage contents (e.g., coffee beans) can be mated or engaged with the adapter part 301, and the brewing process can be repeated. The adapter part 301 can remain docked in place with the coffee brewing system 2 for an extended period of time to prepare additional beverages, or it can be replaced using a bulk hopper after a single use or short period of time. Additionally or alternatively, the bulk hopper replacement unit or personalized service supply of the hopper adapter 300' of FIG. 6A-6D can also be used.

Using a single grinder assembly 34 for the bulk hopper and personalized service supply hopper adapter 300 reduces the space required for the grinder assembly, lowers commodity costs, reduces points of failure, and reduces the amount of calibration required. The grinder assembly 34 grinds beverage materials to a controlled particle size. The particle size can vary based on many factors, including but not limited to the type of beverage material or beverage type.

the term

For illustrative purposes, the term "horizontal" as used herein is defined as a plane or surface parallel to which the described apparatus is used or the described method is performed, regardless of the orientation of that plane or surface. The term "vertical" refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as defined above. Terms such as "above," "below," "bottom," "top," "side," "higher," "lower," "upper," "above," and "below" are defined relative to a horizontal plane.

As used herein, the relative terms “proximal,” “distal,” “front,” and “rear” should be defined by the user (e.g., a barista) facing the control unit. Thus, the proximal side refers to the side of the machine with the user-operable control unit, and the distal side refers to the opposite side of the machine.

Unless otherwise specifically stated or otherwise understood in the context in which they are used, conditional languages such as “may,” “can,” “may,” or “will” are generally intended to express that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and/or steps that are not included in other embodiments. Therefore, such conditional languages are generally not intended to indicate that one or more embodiments require these features, elements, and/or steps in any way, or whether these features, elements, and/or steps will be included or performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and similar terms are synonyms and are used in an open-ended manner, and do not exclude additional elements, features, actions, operations, etc. Additionally, the term “or” is used in an inclusive sense (and not in an exclusive sense) such that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” refers to one, some, or all of the elements in that list.

As used herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “basically” refer to a quantity that is close to a specified quantity but still performs the desired function or achieves the desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “basically” can refer to a quantity that is less than 10% of a specified quantity, as the context suggests. As another example, in some embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “basically parallel” refer to a value, quantity, or characteristic that deviates from exact parallelism by less than 10 degrees, as the context suggests.

Unless otherwise specifically stated, disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, Z” is understood in context to generally express that an item, term, etc., can be X, Y, or Z or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Therefore, such disjunctive language is generally not intended and should not imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z.

The scope disclosed herein also includes any and all overlapping, subranges, and combinations thereof. Languages such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and “between” include the enumerated numbers. Numbers beginning with terms such as “about” or “approximately” include the enumerated numbers. For example, “about 5 inches” includes “5 inches.”

Although certain embodiments and examples have been described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that various combinations and/or modifications can be made to many aspects of the systems and devices shown and described herein to form other embodiments or acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Various designs and methods are possible. The features, structures, or steps disclosed herein are not essential or indispensable.

Some embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale. Distances, angles, etc., are merely illustrative and do not necessarily have an exact relationship with the actual size and layout of the illustrated apparatus. Components may be added, removed, and/or rearranged. Furthermore, any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, etc., disclosed herein in relation to the various embodiments can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, it should be appreciated that any method described herein can be implemented using any device suitable for performing the steps.

For the purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. It should be understood that not all of these advantages may necessarily be achieved according to any particular embodiment. Therefore, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure may be practiced or performed in a manner that achieves one or a set of advantages as taught herein, without necessarily achieving other advantages as taught or suggested herein.

Furthermore, while illustrative embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in the art will understand based on this disclosure that any elements, variations, omissions, combinations (e.g., combinations of aspects of various embodiments), adaptive modifications, and/or alterations having equivalent scope to all embodiments are permissible. Limitations in the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims and are not limited to the examples described in this specification or during the examination of this application, which should be interpreted as non-exclusive. Moreover, the actions of the disclosed processes and methods can be varied in any way, including by reordering actions and/or inserting additional actions and/or deleting actions. Therefore, the specification and embodiments are illustrative only, and the full scope of the claims and their equivalents indicates the true scope and spirit of the matter.

Claims (21)

1. A bulk hopper replacement unit, the bulk hopper replacement unit being used to replace the bulk hopper of the hopper assembly of an automatic coffee brewing system, the bulk hopper replacement unit comprising: An adapter component configured to removably engage with the bulk hopper trough of the hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system; and A container component configured to removably engage with the adapter component. The container component includes a reservoir defining an internal volume, the size and shape of which are designed to hold a smaller amount of coffee beans than the amount of coffee beans that can be stored in the bulk hopper. The adapter component includes an opening and a supply screw pusher disposed below the opening, the supply screw pusher being configured to control the dispensing of coffee beans into the grinder assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system, and When the container component engages with the adapter component, the opening of the adapter component aligns with the lower opening of the reservoir of the container component to facilitate the transfer of coffee beans into the adapter component. 2. The replacement unit according to claim 1, wherein the adapter component includes one or more hopper engagement features adapted to facilitate engagement with the bulk hopper trough of the hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system. 3. The replacement unit of claim 1, wherein the adapter component includes a generally vertical rear portion and a generally horizontal front portion, wherein the upper surface of the front portion includes an engagement member disposed on the upper surface to facilitate engagement with the container component, the engagement member including the opening. 4. The replacement unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container component includes a handle. 5. The replacement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adapter component includes an adapter screw pusher operatively coupled to the supply screw pusher to control the rotation of the supply screw pusher, and wherein the adapter screw pusher includes a screw pusher connector adapted to be coupled to the hopper motor of the hopper assembly of the automated brewing system. 6. The replacement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the supply spiral pusher is positioned along the adapter component such that the supply spiral pusher is substantially aligned with the grinder assembly of the automatic brewing system. 7. The replacement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the container component includes a slot positioned above the lower opening of the reservoir, and wherein the container component includes a removable retaining member adapted to be inserted into the slot and sized to cover the lower opening of the reservoir so as to retain the coffee beans within the reservoir until the removable retaining member is at least partially removed from the slot. 8. The replacement unit according to claim 3, wherein the engaging member includes a notch extending along opposite lateral sides of the engaging member. 9. The replacement unit according to claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the container component includes an inwardly extending transverse track adapted to be fitted into the recess. 10. The replacement unit of claim 9, wherein the container component includes a retaining member configured to removably engage with the transverse track to retain the coffee beans within the reservoir until the container component engages with the adapter component. 11. The replacement unit of claim 10, wherein the retaining member is configured to slide along the track between a closed configuration that prevents the coffee beans from being transferred out of the reservoir and an open configuration that no longer retains the coffee beans in the reservoir. 12. The replacement unit of claim 11, wherein contact between the guide surface of the retaining member and the front surface of the engaging member causes the retaining member to slide proximally along the track of the container component to expose the lower opening of the container and allow the coffee beans to be transferred to the adapter component. 13. A bulk hopper replacement unit, the bulk hopper replacement unit being used to replace the bulk hopper of a hopper assembly in an automatic coffee brewing system, the bulk hopper replacement unit comprising: An adapter component configured to removably engage with the bulk hopper trough of the hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system; and A container component configured to removably engage with the adapter component. The container assembly includes a reservoir defining an internal volume, the internal volume being sized to have a maximum storage capacity of less than 250 grams of coffee beans. The container component includes a removable door that allows movement from a closed configuration to an open configuration, thereby allowing the coffee beans to leave the storage container. 14. The replacement unit of claim 13, wherein the removable door is slidably attached to the container component. 15. The replacement unit of claim 14, wherein contact between the guide surface of the removable door and the front surface of the engagement member on the adapter assembly causes the retaining member to slide proximally into the opening configuration. 16. The replacement unit of claim 15, wherein the adapter component includes an opening, and the reservoir of the container component includes a lower opening, the opening and the lower opening being configured to align when the container component is fully engaged with the adapter component and the removable door has been moved to the open configuration. 17. The replacement unit according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the removable door is not automatically biased in the closing configuration. 18. A method for preparing personalized serving portions of coffee beverage using an automated coffee brewing system including a bulk hopper assembly, the method comprising: The adapter component of the bulk hopper replacement unit is removably mounted on the bulk hopper slot of the bulk hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system; The container component of the single-cup feed hopper replacement unit is filled with an amount of coffee beans sufficient to prepare a personalized serving of coffee beverage. Connecting the container component to the adapter component; and The automatic coffee brewing system is activated to prepare the coffee beverage. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: Remove the container component from the adapter component; The second container component is filled with an amount of coffee beans sufficient to prepare a second coffee beverage for a personalized serving size; Connect the second container component to the adapter component; and The automatic coffee brewing system is activated to prepare the second coffee beverage. 20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein activating the automatic coffee brewing system comprises activating a hopper selector of the bulk hopper assembly corresponding to the bulk hopper trough on which the adapter component is mounted. 21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising removing the adapter component from the bulk hopper compartment of the bulk hopper assembly of the automatic coffee brewing system.