A coffee machine including a frother with an outlet channel for coffee and milk foam, and supply channels for milk, air, and steam respectively, and a nonreturn valve to prevent a fluid in one of the channels from flowing in an undesirable direction. The coffee machine also includes a clean water supply channel that connects to the milk supply channel with a T-junction distant from the frother. The T-junction further connects to a source channel for the milk.

Various automated and semi-automated beverage preparation systems and methods are shown. The beverage preparation system can include a container assembly configured to receive beverage, such as a milk. The container assembly can be configured to receive a flow of steam, air, or additional gasses and vapors to heat and/or aerate the beverage residing therein. The container assembly can include a temperature sensor configured to monitor the rate of heating, and automatically adjust the heating and aeration parameters accordingly.

An espresso machine is provided that utilizes a mechanical valve in addition to a flow meter. This results in a low-cost espresso machine while delivering a measured volume of water for the espresso pour. The mechanical valve facilitates a machine with both selectable espresso pour and steam and/or hot water outlets. In this embodiment, the espresso machine utilizes a shared pump and water heater (e.g., a thermoblock, boiler or similar) for multiple functions and/or through different outlets. For example, water from the reservoir may be sent through the flow meter to the pump, then to the water heater, and eventually to either the grouphead or steam wand, or to a pressure release.

A steam wand assembly that comprises a steam wand pivotable about a pivot axis and a dampening assembly configured to resist pivotable motion of the steam wand about the pivot axis. The steam wand assembly further includes a bias assembly configured to bias the steam wand in a first direction along the pivot axis such that the dampening assembly is configured to moderate a steam wand velocity in the first direction.

A device for emulsifying and/or heating milk comprising a milk heating means, a hermetically closed milk container, a mixer provided with a milk inlet, an air inlet and an outlet of a milk-based drink, a milk supply circuit comprising a connection conduit between the milk container and the milk inlet, and at least one air pump connected in delivery to a pressurisation conduit of the milk container for pushing the pressurised milk towards the milk inlet, where a pressure adjustment means of said pressurisation conduit is included which is used for adjusting the temperature of the milk.

Embodiments of improved generation of steam and heated liquids in a beverage system via the use of different pathways through liquid processing modules to process liquid to different, desired states are disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

A method and apparatus for frothing a beverage, e.g., using a beverage preparing device and an ejector is described. Within a housing of the beverage preparing device, an air supply and steam supply may be arranged to deliver air and steam to an ejector outside of the housing. Beverage liquid may be frothed by providing steam and air, then steam alone to achieve frothing and heating. An ejector may supply a mixture of steam and air and a controller may be used to regulate the flow of steam and air through the ejector. The ejector may have a venturi that uses steam flow to create a low pressure region, which draws air into the ejector.

A method for producing different types of milk-air emulsions with a milk-air emulsion generating device, comprising: producing the milk-air emulsions in dependence on at least one determined physical material characteristic of the milk-air emulsion.

A milk frother/heater for a milk supply circuit in a beverage vending machine has a hollow body and integrally has a first appendage defining a milk inlet to receive smooth milk or a milk-air mixture, a second appendage defining a steam inlet to receive steam, and a third appendage defining a milk outlet to deliver milk. The body internally defines a mixing chamber, and the milk inlet, the steam inlet and the milk outlet internally define a milk inlet passage, a steam inlet passage, and a milk outlet passage, respectively, fluidly communicating with the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has an axis extending from a first closed axial end to a second axial end where the steam inlet passage and the milk outlet passage converge. The milk inlet passage converges at the second axial end or merges with the steam inlet passage upstream from the mixing chamber.

Device (10), comprising a platform (14) for placing a vessel (9) containing the liquid, a pipe (15) with an open end (151) configured for supplying steam to the vessel, a driving device (17) configured to actuate a relative movement between the end of the pipe and the platform, means (140) for determining a liquid level of the liquid in the vessel, and a control unit (18). The control unit is configured to actuate the driving device (17) so that a relative initial position between the end of the pipe and the platform is assumed on the basis of the liquid level. The means (140) for determining the liquid level comprise a weighing device. The control unit is then configured to determine the liquid level from the weight.