A beverage preparation machine comprises a fluid circulation system for a fluid substance, at least one container holder adapted for receiving a corresponding ingredient storage container and at least one fluid processing device which is part of the fluid circulation system. The fluid circulation system further comprises at least one fluid source, at least one fluid pump, at least one fluid heating element and at least one fluid circulation conduit. The fluid processing device comprises a fluid processing body comprising in turn at least one inlet means for introducing the fluid substance into the container for the preparation of a beverage product by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the container. The fluid processing body further comprises at least one outlet means for dispensing the beverage product from the container. At least one movement means is provided for separately moving the fluid processing device and the container relatively one to another between a fluid introduction position and a beverage dispensing position. In the fluid introduction position the fluid processing body protrudes inside the internal volume of the container for introducing therein the fluid substance. In the beverage dispensing position the fluid processing body is at least partially withdrawn from the internal volume of the container to allow dispensing of the beverage product from the container through the outlet means. Preferably, the fluid processing body is a needle-shaped fluid processing body comprising at least one end portion configured for perforating, piercing and/or tearing a specific portion or wall of the container before the introduction of the fluid substance into the container.

A coffee compacting assembly (22) that receives ground coffee to compact the coffee in a filter cup (25) having a floor (39), the coffee compacting assembly (22) including: an auger (33) having an axis (30) about which the auger (33) is rotated to compact the ground coffee in the filter cup (25), with the auger (33) extending angularly and longitudinally relative to said axis (30); a motor (51) coupled to the auger (33) to rotate the auger (33) about said axis (30); and an auger positioning device (40) engaged with the auger (33) to provide for movement of the auger (33) between a start position and a raised position above the start position, with the start position being predetermined so that the auger (33) is located at a predetermined location within the filter cup (25).

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10, 20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21) during beverage preparation. The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); and a supporting structure (70) which has a base (72) that is stationary during beverage preparation and that supports the beverage processing unit (10, 20) during beverage preparation. The beverage processing unit (10, 20) is disassemblable by a user from the supporting structure (70) and assemblable by a user to the structure (70).

A machine for preparing a beverage has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4). The machine has a beverage collector (80) for collecting the beverage (3) from the processing unit (10,20). The collector (80) has a collecting wall (81) directing the beverage (3) out of the collector (80) to a beverage dispensing area (90). The machine has: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); and a supporting structure (70) which has a base (72) that supports the beverage collector (80) during beverage preparation. The beverage processing unit (10,20) and/or the beverage collector have a peripheral upright drainage wall (13) external to the chamber (21) and extending at least partly about the chamber (21) for collecting the beverage (3) outside the chamber (21) after the beverage (3) has exited the chamber (21) via at least one outlet (12). The beverage collecting wall (81) extends below a bottom part of the drainage wall (13) and right underneath the processing unit (10,20) to collect the beverage (3) when draining off from the drainage wall (13) and to direct the beverage (3) from the collecting wall (81) out of the collector (80).

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine include: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); one or more electronic devices (60, 65, 721); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that comprises a main outside housing (72′), a fluid line support (72′″) and a supporting foot (72.sup.IV) at a bottom of the main outside housing (72′). The processing unit (10,20) and the water guide (30), and optionally the water source, are supported by the base (72). The foot (72.sup.IV) is configured to rest on an external substantial horizontal surface dining beverage preparation. All electric device(s) (60, 65, 721) are confined in and/or comprised in the main outside housing and/or the foot (72.sup.IV). The beverage processing unit (10,20), the water source and the water guide (30) are located entirely outside the main outside housing (72′) and outside the foot (72.sup.IV).

A mixing apparatus is described. The mixing apparatus has a first port for receiving milk, a second port for receiving steam, and a mixing chamber for mixing the milk, the steam, and air. A channel arrangement connects the first port and the second port, and defines an air intake channel which leads to a frothing section. The mixing apparatus is designed such that, in use, the frothing section fills sufficiently with steamed milk that has a direct path from the second port to the mixing chamber is interrupted by the steamed milk. This provides a noise reduction during use of the mixing apparatus. A flow reducing means, such as a barrier, may be used for this purpose.

A unit for the preparation of beverages by brewing a dose of a product to be brewed, including at least one brewing chamber provided with a receptacle for the dose and with an injection circuit for injecting water into the receptacle, the brewing chamber being topped by a movable tray provided with an orifice adapted to be selectively placed opposite a mouth of the receptacle of the brewing chamber, so as to open or close the brewing chamber depending on the position of the orifice, the brewing chamber comprising a sealing element configured to ensure a sealed contact between a peripheral area of the mouth of the brewing chamber and a lower face of the tray.

A beverage-making machine comprising: an outer casing, a beverage dispensing unit, and a tray. The tray comprises: a vessel for collecting waste liquids, which comprises a bottom and a plurality of sides defining a peripheral edge; a movable support configured to support a container adapted to receive the beverage being dispensed, and comprising a flat portion, walls and a first and a second bearing portion; attachment members for removably attaching the movable support to the vessel. The movable support reversibly alternates between a raised configuration, in which the first bearing portion of the movable support contacts the peripheral edge of the vessel and the attachment members are attached, and a lowered configuration, in which the second bearing portion of the movable support contacts the peripheral edge of the vessel.

A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage has an outside housing (30) having one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d). The machine includes a user-interface device (31) movable from: a deployed operative position adjacent to a face (30a) of such one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c) so that the device (31) is accessible by a user; to a retracted storage position in the outside housing (30). The user-interface device (31) is movable from its deployed operative position into its retracted storage position and vice versa along a first direction (31′) and a second direction (31″) that is non-parallel to the first direction (31′).

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10, 20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); and a water guide (30) extending from the water source into the beverage processing unit (10, 20) arranged such that substantially all the water (4) delivered into the chamber (21) for preparing the beverage (3) is guided by the water guide (30). The water source and the water guide (30) are thermally passive so as to deliver the water (4) into the chamber (21) unconditioned by any active thermal conditioner of such machine (1).