A professional coffee machine includes a supporting frame; a boiler; a preheater to prepare a coffee infusion having a first heat exchanger with the boiler to heat the supply water crossing the first exchanger to a first temperature T.sub.1 close or substantially equal to a second temperature T.sub.2 corresponding to the optimal temperature for a coffee infusion; a dispensing unit of the coffee infusion having a thermo-controlled heating element that brings the water released from the preheater to the second temperature T.sub.2 if T.sub.1 is lower than T.sub.2; a thermal insulator that mechanically constrains the dispensing unit to the frame; a heater for preparing a tea infusion or the like having a second heat exchanger with the boiler to heat the supply water crossing the second heat exchanger up to a third temperature T.sub.3 corresponding to the optimal temperature for preparing a tea infusion or the like.

An apparatus for preparing beverages comprises a water induction heater, a pump for feeding the water to the heater, a logic unit for controlling said heater and said pump, a device for heating and/or frothing milk, wherein said logic unit is configured for controlling the pump and the heater so that it is produced steam for heating and/or frothing the milk fed into said device.

Frothing milk for cappuccinos is a skill that not many of the employees of restaurants and caf s poses. Cappuccinos are therefore not always as creamy as preferred by the customers. The invention provides a device for frothing a liquid. This device allows employees of restaurants and caf s with a minimum of skill and training to froth milk for much appreciated cappuccinos. The device comprises a support for positioning the device on a receptacle holding the liquid; and a guide for guiding an outlet for expelling a fluid for frothing the liquid, wherein the guide is adapted for positioning the outlet at an angle and/or a depth inside the receptacle relative to the support.

A milk frothing apparatus which includes a steam probe; a jug and jug support; a sensor to determine the depth of milk in a jug. The steam probe or jug support is movable preferably driven by stepper motor, to maintain the tip of the probe below the milk surface. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the milk in the jug. A micro controller is programmable to start the process; maintain the position of the steam probe relative to the milk surface, stop the process when the milk reaches a desired temperature and maintain records of the number of cycles and a measure of the quantity of milk treated. By using a sensor to measure the distance to the milk surface in a jug the tip of the steam probe can be maintained at the appropriate distance below the milk surface by moving the jug relative to the probe or preferably moving the probe. The process can be more precisely controlled by sensing the milk temperature and ensuring that the process is completed before the milk becomes too hot. The units may use steam generated in the espresso machine or use a designated steam boiler. The units may have multiple stations each with a jug and steam probe and associated temperature sensor. The stations may have the provision of a locking mechanism to prevent removal of the jug while the process is in progress.

An automated frothing assembly. The automated frothing assembly has a wand module that includes an elongate member having an inlet, one or more outlets, and a fluid passageway extending between and in fluid communication with the inlet and the plurality of outlets. At least one of the one or more outlets extends parallel to a vertical plane that includes the centerline of the elongate member and at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the vertical plane and the centerline of the elongate member. The assembly further includes an actuator configured to be operatively coupled to the wand module and to drive the movement of at least a portion of the wand module along an axis, and an electronic controller configured to be electrically coupled to the actuator and to control the operation of the actuator to control the movement of the wand module.

A beverage dispensing machine provided with a cappuccino maker includes a heater, a jug provided with a lid having a hole, and a pipe, operated by an actuator, which moves the pipe perpendicularly with respect to the jug so that, during operation of the heater, the pipe emits steam into the jug, at the same time locking the jug inside its seat. The pipe is operated with a mechanism sliding upwards and downwards inside guides and is provided with a flexible connection piece for connection to the heater.

Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a dispensing unit configured to receive beverage, such as a shot of espresso, from a beverage preparation machine. The dispensing unit can include a dispensing unit with a first end and a second end. The dispensing unit can be rotatable between an upright position and an inverted position. The dispensing unit can be configured to receive the beverage through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the upright position, and can be configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position. In some embodiments, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the beverage out of the first end and into a cup or other vessel.

A beverage preparation device, in particular a coffee maker, including at least one water pump for supplying water to a first continuous-flow heater (17), which is embodied for generating hot water, and to a second continuous-flow heater (18), which is also embodied for generating hot water and/or for generating steam, and having a control unit for controlling the at least one pump as well as the continuous-flow heaters (17, 18) for realizing different operating modes. According to the invention, provision is made for the first continuous-flow heater (17) to be connected to a first inlet (3) of a manifold valve (21) via a first connecting line (20) and for the second continuous-flow heater (18) to be connected to a second inlet (1) of the same manifold valve (21) via a second connecting line (22), and for the manifold valve (21) to be embodied in such a manner that the first inlet (3) and the second inlet (1) are fluidically connected to separate outlets in a first switch position and that the first inlet (3) as well as the second inlet (1) are fluidically connected to a common outlet in a second switch position.

A coffee machine comprising: a coffee extraction module with a dispensing spout and a supporting body; a platform for detachable connection with the supporting body at a plurality of different spacings beneath the dispensing spout; and a drip tray assembly positionable beneath the dispensing spout, the drip tray assembly having a support surface, wherein the support surface of the drip tray assembly is configured to receive the platform such that the support surface and the platform are substantially co-planar, and wherein the platform and the drip tray assembly are configured to engage and disengage from the supporting body via horizontal relative movement.

There is disclosed herein a coffee machine (10) including: a body (12); a steam wand (14), to froth milk, attached to the body (12); and a cleaning mechanism (20), the cleaning mechanism (20) including: a stem (22) having a first end portion (24) attached to the body (12), and a second end portion (26) extending longitudinally away from the first end portion (24); and a supply of water under pressure to deliver water to the second end portion (26), wherein water under pressure is delivered to the second end portion (26) to produce at least one water jet directed at the steam wand (14).