An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a; 1b) of two different heights (ha;hb) comprises a seat (11, 12, 13; 15) for receiving any of the cartridges (1a;1b). The seat is delimited by a first part (11,12,13) and a second part (15) that are relatively movable between an extraction position and a loading and/or ejection position. The first part has a first portion (11,12) and a second portion (13) that are relatively movable to delimit a cavity (12) having selectively: a first depth (da) for receiving a cartridge (1a) of the first height (ha); and a second depth (db) for receiving a cartridge (1b) of the second height (hb). The seat has a depth detecting arrangement (20), such as a detecting arrangement comprising a control unit (21) connected to sensor (22) via a connection (23). The depth detecting arrangement is configured to detect a relative position of the first portion and the second portion to determine whether the cavity has at least one of the first and second depths.

The invention relates to an adapter comprising an interior which accommodates a single serve capsule and which has an opening at a first end for introducing the capsule into the interior and a receptacle for a pricking spike at the opposite end.

A filter holder for an espresso coffee machine comprising a handle (1) and an outer holder (2), which outer holder is adapted to receive a filter plate (8). The filter plate (8) comprises a plurality of upstanding elements such as truncated pyramids adapted to tear, in use, a surface of a coffee capsule. Between the pyramids a plurality of perforations allow passage of coffee from a capsule to a cup. The holder further comprising a retaining member, which retaining member is adapted to retain the capsule in position and to permit water or steam to be applied under pressure to a surface of the capsule remote from the surface adjacent to the filter plate, the water or steam penetrating the capsule surface to reach the coffee in the capsule.

Various beverage preparation machines having a multi-chambered basket unit are shown. The basket unit can be configured to accept multiple cartridge configurations. For example, some embodiments are configured to receive a first cartridge configuration in a first chamber of the basket unit and a second configuration in a second chamber of the basket unit. In various embodiments, the basket unit can rotate to allow selective accessibility of the first and second chambers. This can facilitate loading the cartridges into the appropriate chamber, such as loading the first cartridge configuration into the first chamber and the second cartridge configuration into the second chamber.

An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a; 1b) of two different heights (ha;hb) comprises a seat (11, 12, 13; 15) for receiving any of such cartridges (1a; 1b) for extraction thereof in the seat. The seat is delimited by a first part (11,12,13) and second part (15) that are relatively movable between a cartridge extraction position and a cartridge loading and/or ejection position. The first part (11,12,13) has a first portion (11,12) and a second portion (13) that are relatively movable to delimit a cavity (12) having selectively: a first depth (da) for receiving a cartridge (1a) of the first height (ha); and a second depth (db) for receiving a cartridge (1b) of the second height (hb), the first part (11,12,13) has a lock (112, 132, 132, 142) for locking the first and second portions (11,12,13) when the delimited cavity (12) has the first depth (da) or the second depth (db). Such extraction unit (10) further comprises a mechanical sensor (14) that senses the height (ha;hb) of a cartridge (1a; 1b) and that controls the lock (112, 132, 132, 142) to lock or unlock the first and second portions (11,12,13) when the sensor is actuated by a cartridge of first height (ha) or of second height (hb).

A system for the preparation of beverages including capsules (C) with a cup-shaped body (1) having an annular lateral wall (6) which tapers from a mouth opening (2) towards a bottom wall (5). These capsules (C) are of at least a first type and a second type, and have identical bottom walls (5) and different axial lengths (h1, h2, h3). An infusion assembly (10) has a variable-volume infusion chamber (20), having an introduction opening (20a), an end delimitation part (16a) having a shape corresponding to that of the bottom wall (5) of the capsules (C), and with a lateral delimitation structure (13a, 13b; 14) which includes a static portion (13a, 13b) and which extends between said introduction opening (20a) and the end delimitation part (16a). The latter is movable away from the introduction opening (20a).

An extraction unit (10) for extracting cartridges (1a; 1b) of two different dimensions (da, ha; db, hb) comprises a seat (14,20) for receiving any of these cartridges (1a; 1b) for extraction thereof in the seat. The seat is delimited by a first part (20, 30, 33) and second part (12,13,14) that are relatively movable between a cartridge extraction position and a cartridge loading and/or ejection position. The first delimiting part has a first member (30) and a second member (33) that are relatively movable between: a first member position delimiting a cartridge cavity of a first depth (Ha) for receiving a cartridge (1a) having a first height (ha); and a second member position in which the ca cartridge cavity has a second depth (Hb) different to the first depth (Ha) for receiving a cartridge (1b) having a second height (hb) different to the first height (ha). The unit (10) further comprises an actuator (21,25), in particular a motorized actuator having a motor (21), for relatively moving the first and second members (30,33) from the first to the second member position and/or vice versa depending on the dimension (da, ha; db, hb) of a cartridge (1a; 1b) to be received in the seat (30,33,14) and extracted.

A coffee pot or moka pot of the type comprising three main components is described, i.e.: a boiler (1) designed to receive water to be heated; a funnel filter (2) which can be inserted inside the boiler (1); and a collector (3) which can be mounted on top of the boiler (1) and the funnel filter (2) and is designed to collect the coffee extracted by means of the flow of hot water from the boiler (1) across the funnel filter (2). The funnel filter (2) comprises an upper cylindrical portion (21) of predefined height having a perforated base (22) for receiving the coffee powder, and a lower tube-shaped portion (23) having a proximal end (24) close to the bottom (11) of the boiler and an opposite distal end on the perforated base (22). An adapter having at least one body (100) is provided. The body (100) can be inserted inside the upper cylindrical portion (21) of the filter. The body (100) comprises a through-hole (101). The body is configured to reduce the volume intended to receive coffee powder inside the funnel filter. The body is configured to receive coffee powder only in the said through-hole (101).

A machine (1) comprises a frame (1) and a capsule handling device (1) mounted in and/or on the frame (1). The device (1) comprises: a first part (10) that is movable relatively to the frame (1) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing said capsule (2a,2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule and vice versa; a second part (20) that has a capsule receptacle (21) delimiting a cavity (21) for receiving such capsule (2a,2b) and for forming an extraction chamber (21) with the first part (10) in its extraction position, the second part (10) comprising a first portion (21a) and a second portion (21b) that are relatively movable between a first relative position and a second relative position to change at least one dimension of the cavity (21) and of the extraction chamber (21); an actuator (30,300) connected to the first part (10) for driving the movable first part (10) between the transfer position and the extraction position. The actuator (30,300) is further connected to the second part (20) for driving the first and/or second portions (21a,21b) to relatively move the first and second portions (21a,21b) between their first and second relative positions.

The coffee machine (1) comprises a controller, a boiler for heating a flow of infusion water, a movable infusion unit (3) that comprises an open infusion chamber (4) connected to a dispensing line (6) for dispensing the coffee infusion and an ejection piston (9) slidably supported in the infusion chamber (4), a supply line (5) for supplying said flow of infusion water to the infusion unit (3), a closing piston (8) that is engageable for closure of the infusion chamber (4), the controller being programmed to subject the infusion unit (3), prior to execution of the infusion process, to a first course of translational movement for closure of the infusion chamber (4) by the closing piston (8), and to subject the infusion chamber (4) and the ejection piston (9) or only the ejection piston (9), following execution of the infusion process, to a second course of translational movement in the same direction as the first course of translational movement, for compression of the load of spent coffee grounds (33) against the closing piston (8) and drainage of the liquid contained therein.