A coffee pod is described with an improved sealing surface for a filter disposed within the pod. The improved sealing surface provides better adherence between the filter and a sidewall of the pod so that unadhered portions are minimized and operation is improved. A coffee pod is also described with an improved foot structure having a configuration and thickness designed to minimize buckling while also utilizing a cost-efficient amount of material.

The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into an ingredients-containing cartridge, the device comprising a pump (106) coupled between a fluid inlet (102) and a fluid outlet (104) for pumping the fluid from said inlet to said outlet, and a processing unit (108) for the pump (106) adapted to control an operation of the pump in response to an electrical energy (121) having a wave form such that the pump is energized only throughout selected half cycles (a1,a2,a3 . . . an) of the wave form of the electrical energy, wherein the processing unit (108) is configured to determine the respective selected half cycles (a1,a2,a3 . . . an) in which the pump is energized based on a target ratio (TR) of a target flow rate (FR) and a predefined maxim-um flow rate of the pump, and based on the calculation of an activation ratio (AR) of the number of past half cycles (A) for which the pump was energized to the number of overall half cycles (B) during a respective beverage preparation process. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a pump in a beverage preparation device.

The invention relates to a capsule (10) designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by means of a beverage preparation machine. The capsule (10) comprises a cup-shaped base body (1) for holding beverage preparation ingredients and a flange-like rim (2) with a sealing member (3) comprising an inner and an outer series (4,5) of arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a), wherein the base-body (1), the flange-like rim (2) and the sealing member (3) are made integrally from metallic material such as aluminum, in which the inner and outer series (4,5) of the sealing member (3) are concentrically arranged on a surface (2a) of the flange-like rim (2) such as to form an annular space (6) there-between for receiving a sealing surface (21a) of a capsule engagement member (21) of the beverage preparation machine (20). The respective arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are continuous protrusions with circumferentially extending gaps (4b,5b) formed there-between, wherein the respective arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are arranged such as to circumferentially overlap outside the circumferentially extending gaps (4b, 5b) of the inner and outer series (4, 5) in side view of the capsule, and wherein the arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are locally connected together by at least one bridging element (8) positioned proximate to each circumferentially extending gaps (4b, 5b) of the inner and outer series (4, 5).

The invention relates to a capsule (10) designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by means of a beverage preparation machine. The capsule (10) comprises a cup-shaped base body (1) for holding beverage preparation ingredients and a flange-like rim (2) with a sealing member (3) comprising an inner and an outer series (4,5) of arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a), wherein the base-body (1), the flange-like rim (2) and the sealing member (3) are made integrally from metallic material such as aluminum, in which the inner and outer series (4,5) of the sealing member (3) are concentrically arranged on a surface (2a) of the flange-like rim (2) such as to form an annular space (6) there-between for receiving a sealing surface (21a) of a capsule engagement member (21) of the beverage preparation machine (20). The respective arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are continuous protrusions with circumferentially extending gaps (4b,5b) formed there-between, wherein the respective arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are arranged such as to circumferentially overlap outside the circumferentially extending gaps (4b, 5b) of the inner and outer series (4, 5) in side view of the capsule, and wherein the arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are locally connected together by at least one bridging element (8) positioned proximate to each circumferentially extending gaps (4b, 5b) of the inner and outer series (4, 5).

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid in the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing beverage precursor; wherein the beverage precursor comprises a combination of non-compacted beverage extractable powder and pellets of compacted beverage extractable powder and wherein the largest dimension of each pellet is at least 3.5 millimeters. The invention enables to confer different beverage characteristics, for example, change the beverage extraction and aroma release kinetics, make more intense beverages and/or improve the beverage flow released from the capsule.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine by feeding liquid in the capsule and extracting a beverage out of the capsule, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming an interior cavity containing beverage precursor; wherein the beverage precursor comprises a combination of non-compacted beverage extractable powder and pellets of compacted beverage extractable powder and wherein the largest dimension of each pellet is at least 3.5 millimeters. The invention enables to confer different beverage characteristics, for example, change the beverage extraction and aroma release kinetics, make more intense beverages and/or improve the beverage flow released from the capsule.

A coffee machine is provided. The coffee machine may include a water line configured to supply water, a pump configured to pressurize the water, a first in-line heating element configured to heat the water to an intermediate temperature, a second in-line heating element configured to heat the water from the intermediate temperature to a temperature set point during an extraction process, and one or more electronic control modules configured to receive brewing settings, the brewing settings including the at least one temperature set point, estimate, based partially on the intermediate temperature, a flow rate of the water through the first in-line heating element, and adjust, based at least partially on the estimated flow rate, a power provided to the second in-line heating element.

Dispensing module for a beverage preparation machine For providing a beverage with a proper consistency using a capsule-based brewing system wherein hot liquid is injected into the capsule under pressure, which capsule is placed against a brewing plate (210) with protrusion (212) arranged to cut the capsule cover under pressure, it has been found that a free flow of the prepared beverage can flow gradually from the brewing plate (210) towards an outlet nozzle (126). An open passage (206) from the brewing plate (210) via a collector chamber (204) downstream of the brewing plate, to the outlet nozzle (126) may be provided with an open and slanted gutter (222) to lead the beverage out of the collector chamber (204) to provide the best results. Due to the open nature of the conduit, jets of beverage form the brewing plate may the open gutter and soil the machine. This may be prevented by providing appropriate shielding (250) between the brewing plate and the gutter or an opening thereof.

Dispensing module for a beverage preparation machine For providing a beverage with a proper consistency using a capsule-based brewing system wherein hot liquid is injected into the capsule under pressure, which capsule is placed against a brewing plate (210) with protrusion (212) arranged to cut the capsule cover under pressure, it has been found that a free flow of the prepared beverage can flow gradually from the brewing plate (210) towards an outlet nozzle (126). An open passage (206) from the brewing plate (210) via a collector chamber (204) downstream of the brewing plate, to the outlet nozzle (126) may be provided with an open and slanted gutter (222) to lead the beverage out of the collector chamber (204) to provide the best results. Due to the open nature of the conduit, jets of beverage form the brewing plate may the open gutter and soil the machine. This may be prevented by providing appropriate shielding (250) between the brewing plate and the gutter or an opening thereof.

A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises a source of liquid (2,3) and a dispensing outlet (4) connected via a pump (10) that includes a chamber (11) and a displaceable wall (12) delimiting the chamber (11). The pump (10) further has: an electric actuator (13) driving the displaceable wall (12) for causing an inflow of liquid from the source into the chamber (11) and for causing an outflow of liquid from the chamber (11) to the dispensing outlet (4); and a powering unit (14) that comprises an electric power source (142) and that is configured for supplying power to the actuator (13). The powering unit (14) further comprises: a sensor (143) for measuring an electrical parameter representative of a consumption of power by the actuator (13); and a control unit (144) that is connected to the sensor (143) and to the electrical power source (142) and that is configured to control the power supplied to the actuator (13) by the electric power source (142) as a function of: the measured parameter; and a desired liquid input into the chamber (11) and/or liquid output from the chamber (11), such as a desired flow and/or pressure of the liquid input and/or of the liquid output.