Infusion maker

This article describes how to make an allround "infusion maker", suited to making a variety of drinks. This design was taken from my website.

Overview

The infusion maker outlined herein would be suitable for making (perfect) tea, herbal tea, coffee, mate, ginger ale, jamaica/karkade, set hot water and make other warm beverages. The infusion maker would primarily replace current tea makers. Current tea makers are presently in no way qualified for their job as they do not include accurate temperature control per type of tea and as they do not include certain extra functions (found in my model). The infusion maker I created would also be able to replace a number of different devices, including water boiler, coffee machine, tea maker (if present) through the extra functions I added. In addition, the tea maker would facilitate tea making as one does not need to remain any longer with the machine, and through the use of an embedded control panel with buttons, black, green and other teas can be made precisely right (at correct temperature). In addition, the device is created so that the tea cannot be corrupted (eg., by the warming plate keeping the tea at a higher temperature than optimal for the tea in question, ...)

Parts

Infusion maker with parts indicated

Water boiler compartment
Water compartment with constant temperature control (below 100°C e.g. 80° or 90°, depending on the setting entered) Note that a valve is present (marked in green)
Control panel with buttons, presets, ..
French press rod (controlled via on-board microchip/control panel); hollow on the inside for letting the water to pass;outside has a screw thread; another screw thread is present on the machine itself. The water comes out at the yellow circle
french press (may be possible to use 1 or 2 together); the top of the french press is removable and can be secured to the bottom by screwing or alternatively with a rubber band
hot plate (keeps beverage warm)
electric motor (rotates the french press rod with screw thread)
water tap, directly connected to water boiler compartment; has embedded valve/faucet

Notes on the control panel

The control panel would feature a small LCD-screen on which the number of degrees can be set for the heat of the water and warming plate, as well as speed of the motor, and the number of minutes the water needs to boil prior to use it. Optional would be to implement several preset-buttons. The flash-memory would also need to have data about the best temperature for common herbal teas, mate's, coffees, ... so with a simple push of a preset-button, tea (and other beverages) can be made. Perhaps an aerator can be added to the machine to aerate the tea (this is normally done by pouring from great height in a cup) and controlled by the control panel. Although the latter is not essential, the practice is used in many parts of the world to enhance tea flavour and would thus make a valuable extra asset.

Notes on the french press-section cavity

The french pot (or pots) themselves would feature two securing bars (extracted when placed in machine) to hold the cups firmly when placed in the machine (in addition to the plunger). Also the plunger of the french press would be electrically operated by the infusion maker. This would be done by a physical connection between the plunger and the machine (see 6 on the drawing). When plugged in, the plunger would be operated by a electrical engine which would be able to move the plunger entirely up (within a certain time limit). When moving up, the plunger would also turn around its axis (to stir up the herbal tea evenly around on the plunger). When the plunger reaches the top, it should be out of the water (water level is not to come to the upmost top). Also, the cavity in the tea maker would need to allow the insertion of 1 or 2 french presses (secured by respectively 1 or 2 physical connecting bars; see 6).

The lids of the french pots should also include a firm closure to prevent the pot from spilling as the rods within the pots turn.

Advantages

The tea maker allows the user to set perfect tea, no matter whether he has any experience with tea setting (several different temperatures are used depending on the type of tea)
trough the rotating catchment in the french press, the full bouquet/extraction of the tea leaves/powder can happen, unlike in teabags
less trouble to set tea; like a coffeemaker its quicker and one does not need to remain with the teasetting
embedded other functions, allowing multiple use (hereby being cheaper than buying all the separate machines and allowing more space in the kitchen and less clean-up as well)

Users

As interest is again increasing for healthy beverages, a model for a good all-round infusion maker is now probably highly wanted. With the step-up of health diets (CRON-diet, veganism, vegetarianism, macrobiotics, ...) and the increase in health food stores, low (or no)-sugar beverages that taste right will probably come up again on the list. In addition, increasing support is now given in certain parts of the world (eg Kenya) against ethanol consumption. This, as in these countries (in ours by the way as well), ethanol-consumption (spirits, beers, ...) is a major factor of not only health problems but other social problems as domestic violence as well. In parts as Kenya, local "moonshining"-cultures have created even greater problems as at these places, local spirits are sometimes corrupted (eg through addition of sulphuric acid) or are made in a bad manner, hereby accidentally allowing the formation of methanol (which causes blindness). Problems as these are now high on the agenda and have recently come about again with the public charge Yunasi has done with their song (which won a major BBC contest).

More information

French press example

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press

Wikipedia Tea-article (see preparation and difference in preparation depending on culture)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea

Ethanol-culture sparking problems in Kenya, ...

http://www.yunasi.com/events.htm