Prototypes of a machine, that is said (by its manufacturers) to make the perfect cup of tea, are being tested in US coffee shops.
Bkon, the company behind the machine, says the brewing process is a lot more complicated than simply dipping a tea-bag into some boiling water.
The Craft Brewer relies on a novel process of brewing, called reverse atmospheric infusion (RAIN).
It uses a brewing chamber, into which loose tea leaves and water are placed.
The air is then drawn out to create a vacuum.
This negative pressure in the chamber brings the tea leaves to the surface of the liquid and, according to Bkon, draws out flavour more precisely than simply adding boiling water.
The process is repeated for between 60 and 90 seconds – different flavors need different numbers of infusion cycles – and variables such as water temperature and contact time can be fine-tuned.
Dean Vastardis, Bkon co-founder, said;
“Reverse Atmospheric Infusion actually changes the air pressure, so the soluble flavor elements and natural sugars are extracted more completely and with greater purity.”
Bkon says that a comparable cup of tea brewed using negative pressure could only be produced in space.
However, one thing that’s shocking about this machine is the price. It has a £7,700 ($13,000) price tag. Experts are questioning if anyone would want to pay so much for a tea maker.
Ms Thomson said of the Craft Brewer: “The price tag shocks me, but I can see why it would cost that.”
“There are a lot of parameters to consider when making a good cup of tea, and the pressure parameter is one of the most expensive,” she said.
“But it is an important parameter and would be likely to have a significant impact on taste.”
The machine can brew more than 60 cups of tea an hour which has led the makers to boast of having created “tea 2.0”.
Source: BBC
