A method for operating a drinks preparation machine, for producing a total product amid the use of a portion package, and according to a preparation prescript. The method includes detecting a portion code of a portion package by way of a portion recognition unit; determining first preparation parameters of the preparation prescript that are assigned to the portion code and are stored in the drinks preparation machine, and determining second preparation parameters of the preparation prescript, wherein at least one of the first and/or the second preparation parameters is an adaptable preparation parameter, and at least one preparation parameters is not adaptable; detecting a user input for adapting at least one adaptable preparation parameter; and preparing the total product according to the preparation prescript with at least one adapted preparation parameter.

A method for operation of a drinks preparation machine serves for creating a total product from a first part-product and at least a second part-product and a third part-product. The method includes detecting a user input for specifying three quantity shares and creating a total product as a combination of the three part-products with quantities that correspond to the specified quantity shares. A graphic representation of the quantity shares is represented, each with a share display per quantity share, wherein a size of the share display is essentially proportional to the respective quantity share, and the size of at least one of the share displays and thus of the respective quantity share can be adapted in accordance with a user input.

A coffee machine 1 supplies milk into a cup placed at a cup station from a milk nozzle 25, a distal end of which is disposed above the cup, in which the distal end of the milk nozzle 25 is provided so as to be movable between a supply position above the cup and a standby position in which the distal end of the nozzle is retracted from above the cup, in a vertical position between the cup placed at the cup station and the milk nozzle 25, a nozzle lower tray 20 is provided which includes a tray part 20a that is provided below the distal end of the milk nozzle 25 at least when the milk nozzle 25 is positioned at the standby position and which receives a liquid dropped from the milk nozzle 25 positioned at the standby position.

Pumping and foaming device (100) comprising a pumping and foaming unit (102) rotatable around a shaft (130) by driving means (104), the pumping and foaming unit (102) comprising a pumping element (110) whose rotation pumps both air and fluid and mixes them; the pumping and foaming unit (102) further comprising a foaming element (120) whose relative rotation in a foaming chamber (121) drives the mixture of air and fluid coming from the pumping element (110) under a certain level of shear stress which allows this mixture to be foamed.

The invention provides a beverage preparation system (1) for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, which system comprises a hot beverage ingredient cartridge (2′), a cold beverage ingredient cartridge (2), and a beverage preparation device (4) adapted to prepare hot and cold beverages. According to the invention, the beverage preparation device (4) comprises a water dispensing manifold (10) for directing hot water and cold water to a dispensing location, the water dispensing manifold (10) comprising a feed lace (11), a cold water conduit (14) and a hot water conduit (16) that ends in a port (20) provided in a wall of the cold water conduit (14). The hot water conduit (16) has a cross section that is smaller than the cross section of the feed lance (11), such that a flow of hot water fed from the hot water conduit (16) into the feed lance (11) via the port (20) passes through part of the cold water conduit (14) and through the feed lance (11) without contacting them.

Coffee machine including a housing frame and device for generating coffee, and an integrated device for dispensing milk froth onto a coffee drink in a container. This device, possibly in the form of a robot, includes a dispenser controllable to enable automated movement in two or three coordinate directions, and dispenses the milk froth directly onto a surface of the coffee drink previously poured into the container. An automated movement mechanism controls movement of the dispenser during dispensing of the milk froth to cause automatic and controlled addition of a specific amount of the milk froth onto the coffee drink surface and produce an aesthetically decorative graphic pattern thereon. The specific amount of milk froth remains on and/or beneath the coffee drink surface. The coffee drink is poured into the container and the graphic pattern of milk forth is produced on the coffee drink surface by the same coffee machine.

A steam dispensing apparatus for preparing hot beverages comprises a boiler, a steam wand, a steam delivery conduit connected to the first outlet of the boiler and configured to deliver steam to the wand and a valve for delivering steam to the wand and draining condensation water. The valve comprises a hollow body, a steam inlet connection, a steam outlet connection and a drain connection for draining condensation water, a rod, which is axially accommodated in said hollow body and able to perform axial movements in either direction along said longitudinal axis, a control lever which is axially engaged with said rod to impart said axial movements thereto.

A milk container associated with a coffee machine includes a containment body for containing milk; a mixing unit for mixing milk with air and steam; an external dispenser of the mixed milk; and a movement mechanism for moving the external dispenser configured and disposed to subject the external dispenser to a combined movement for lifting it with respect to a resting surface and distancing it from the containment body without changing its own angular orientation.

Inline fluid foaming device (10) for providing a foamed fluid directly into a container, the device (10) comprising an air path (120) for introducing a certain quantity of air into the device (10), and a fluid path (130) for introducing fluid into the device (10) coming from a fluid container (16), the mixture of air and fluid passing to a centrifugal pumping and foaming element (11) such that the amount of fluid into the device (10) is pumped by the centrifugal movement of the pumping and foaming element (11) and the foaming of the mixture is provided by driving it under a certain level of shear stress in the element (11), the device (10) further comprising a heating unit (14) to where the foamed mixture of fluid and air is conveyed for its optional later heating. The invention further relates to a beverage system comprising such an inline fluid foaming device (10) and a beverage dispensing machine.

The milk frother (1) comprises a container that has a chamber (2) for containing the milk, a mixing chamber (3) equipped with an external dispenser (4) for dispensing the milk, a connecting channel (5) for connection between the containment chamber (2) and the mixing chamber (3), a transfer impeller (6) for transferring the milk from the containment chamber (2) to the mixing chamber, a mixing impeller (8) provided in the mixing chamber (3), and disconnectable connection means (9) for connection between the transfer impeller (6) and the mixing impeller (8).