Tea and coffee brewer

Claim 2

A brewer comprising a central brewing chamber adapted to receive solid particles in admixture with a brewing liquid, a liquid reservoir surrounding said central brewing chamber, heating means in said reservoir, an inlet coupled to said reservoir for supplying fresh liquid to said reservoir, means coupling said reservoir and said brewing chamber for passing from said reservoir to said brewing chamber a like amount of heated liquid, and outlet means coupled to said brewing chamber for discharging a mixture of particles and liquid from said brewing chamber in response to passage of liquid from said reservoir into said brewing chamber, said outlet means including a siphon for discharging said mixture in regulated quantities.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said heating means includes a temperature control for maintaining the temperature of the liquid in said brewing chamber and surrounding reservoir at a predetermined level below 100* centigrade.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical resistance heater in said reservoir and said control means comprises a thermostat electrically coupled to said heater.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said brewing chamber is provided with an opening to atmospheric pressure, said opening providing access for solid particles into said brewing chamber.

Claim 6

A brewer comprising a central brewing chamber, a standpipe communicating with the interior of said chamber and extending outwardly of said chamber, a liquid reservoir surrounding said central brewing chamber, heating means in said reservoir for heating liquid in said reservoir and brewing chamber, an inlet coupled to said reservoir for supplying charges of fresh liquid to said reservoir, a conduit coupled between said reservoir and a portion of said standpipe exterior of said brewing chamber whereby the addition of fresh liquid to said reservoir forces a like amount of heated liquid from said reservoir into said standpipe, said standpipe having an open end for the addition of solid particles, and outlet means coupled to said brewing chamber for discharging a mixture of particles and liquid from said brewing chamber in response to the passage of liquid from said reservoir into said standpipe.

Claim 7

A brewer comprising a central brewing chamber, a standpipe communicating with the interior of said chamber and extending outwardly of said chamber, a liquid reservoir surrounding said central brewing chamber, heating means in said reservoir for heating liquid in said reservoir and brewing chamber, an inlet coupled to said reservoir for supplying charges of fresh liquid to said reservoir, a conduit coupled between said reservoir and a portion of said standpipe exterior of said brewing chamber whereby the addition of fresh liquid to said reservoir forces a like amount of heated liquid from said reservoir into said standpipe, said standpipe having an open end for the addition of solid particles, and outlet means coupled to said brewing chamber for discharging a mixture of particles and liquid from said brewing chamber in response to the passage of liquid from said reservoir into said standpipe.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said standpipe terminates in a mixing bowl for receiving solid particles and liquid.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said outlet means includes a tubular section surrounding but spaced from a portion of said standpipe extending from the inside to the outside of said brewing chamber, the portion of said tubular outlet section inside said chamber defining an air and vapor lock space in conjunction with adjacent walls of said chamber.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said outlet means includes a siphon tube communicating with said tubular section outside said brewing chamber for discharging a mixture of said particles and liquid from said brewing chamber.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said reservoir comprises a heat insulating container, said brewing container depending from the interior top wall of said reservoir and being spaced from the bottom and sidewalls of said reservoir.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said reservoir includes an inner surface of stainless steel, said brewing container being made of glass.

Claim 13

A brewer comprising an outer container including a layer of heat insulating material, said outer container including a removable lid, an inner brewing container supported by the lid of said outer container, said inner brewing container having a removable cap, said brewing container being spaced from the bottom and side walls of said outer container, heating means in the space between said outer container and said brewing container, a standpipe removably mounted on said brewing container cap and passing through said cap to the interior of said brewing container, a pipe coupling the space between said containers to the interior of said standpipe externally of said brewing container, said standpipe terminating exteriorly of said brewing container in an open end through which solid particles may be inserted into said standpipe and brewing container, a tubular discharge section mounted on said cover and surrounding in spaced relation a portion of said standpipe passing interiorly and exteriorly of said brewing chamber through said cover, the portion of said section interior of said brewing chamber forming an air and vapor lock space within said brewing chamber in conjunction with said cap and the adjacent wall portions of said brewing container, a siphon tube communicating with said tubular discharge section exteriorly of said brewing chamber for discharging a mixture of solid particles and liquid from said brewing container, and an input pipe coupled to the space between said containers for supplying fresh liquid to said brewer.

Claim 14

A brewer comprising an outer container including a layer of heat insulating material, said outer container including a removable lid, an inner brewing container supported by the lid of said outer container, said inner brewing container having a removable cap, said brewing container being spaced from the bottom and side walls of said outer container, heating means in the space between said outer container and said brewing container, a standpipe removably mounted on said brewing container cap and passing through said cap to the interior of said brewing container, a pipe coupling the space between said containers to the interior of said standpipe externally of said brewing container, said standpipe terminating exteriorly of said brewing container in an open end through which solid particles may be inserted into said standpipe and brewing container, a tubular discharge section mounted on said cover and surrounding in spaced relation a portion of said standpipe passing interiorly and exteriorly of said brewing chamber through said cover, the portion of said section interior of said brewing chamber forming an air and vapor lock space within said brewing chamber in conjunction with said cap and the adjacent wall portions of said brewing container, a siphon tube communicating with said tubular discharge section exteriorly of said brewing chamber for discharging a mixture of solid particles and liquid from said brewing container, and an input pipe coupled to the space between said containers for supplying fresh liquid to said brewer.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 including a conically shaped mixing bowl secured to the top of said standpipe for receiving solid particles and mixing them with liquid in said bowl.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11 including a cover secured to said outer container, said inlet pipe, said siphon tube and said standpipe passing through said outer container cover.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 including a thermometer projecting into the space between said container and extending through a setback in said outer container cover so that it may be read from outside said brewer.