A fluid-driven stirring apparatus includes a fluid introduction passageway, a fluid chamber connectable to the fluid introduction passageway, a container for accommodating liquid to be stirred, and a stirring assembly. The stirring assembly includes a driving impeller arranged in the fluid chamber, a stirring shaft fixedly connected with the driving impeller and extending through the fluid chamber into the container, and a stirring member arranged on the stirring shaft and adjacent to the bottom of the container. Thus, the fluid drives the driving impeller to rotate the stirring shaft, so that the stirring member can stir the liquid in the container.

An automatic apparatus for heating and frothing milk comprises a device for generating steam for heating the milk, a first high temperature hydraulic circuit, a refrigerating group for maintaining the conservation temperature of the milk, and a second low temperature hydraulic circuit. The refrigerating group includes a milk container and pump for drawing milk therefrom. A first total separation valve separates the second hydraulic circuit from the first hydraulic circuit, a second total separation valve modulates the quantity of air drawn by the pump, a third total separation valve separates both the first hydraulic circuit and the second hydraulic circuit from a milk dispensing circuit, a steam injection device mixes the steam with the frothed milk, and a fourth total separation valve modulates the quantity of steam outlet from the steam generating device. Each total separation valve is provided with an actuator element manufactured with a shape memory alloy.

There is disclosed a method for forming tea using a tea material, the method includes providing a vessel comprising an internal space configured to receive a liquid, inserting a container assembly into the vessel, the container assembly configured to contain the tea material and allow the liquid to interact with the tea material when submerged within the liquid, injecting steam through a double-walled nozzle into the vessel to heat the liquid while maintaining an exterior surface of the steam nozzle below the temperature of the steam, and allowing the tea material to stew within the liquid to form the tea. There is also disclosed an apparatus for forming a tea configured to inject steam into a vessel to heat a liquid to be infused with a tea material, and a beverage cartridge for forming a tea to be deposited into the vessel.

Assemblies, machines, systems, and methods for the generation of superheated are discussed A steam super-heat assembly is employed for generating superheated steam for the preparation of coffee-based beverages. The assembly includes a body that includes an internal cavity, a heating element that includes heating surfaces positioned within the internal cavity, and a flow path within the internal cavity. The body also includes an input that enables fluid access into the internal cavity and an output that enables fluid egress out of the internal cavity. The heating element heats the heating surfaces of the heating element. The flow path enables fluid to flow from the input, through the internal cavity of the body, and to the output of the body. The heating surfaces form a portion of the flow path. When the fluid flows through the internal cavity, the fluid is in direct physical contact with the heating surfaces.

A coffee machine makes use of a valve arrangement for controlling the coupling of a water heater outlet selectively to one of two or more outlets, such as a steam delivery nozzle and a brew chamber. The valve arrangement comprises an active valve between the inlet channel and a first one of the outlets and a passive valve downstream of the active valve from the water heater outlet, coupled to a second one of the outlets. A cam surface controls the active valve, wherein the angular position of the cam surface controls the coupling of the inlet channel to the first one of the outlets. The rotation may be driven by rotational coupling to a brew chamber motor. This coffee machine design makes use of a single valve arrangement to provide the flow control from the water heater. This provides a compact arrangement with a low component count and simple control mechanism. It also enables all valve mechanisms to be outside the water or steam flow.

A container for frothing a beverage or component of a beverage, comprising a side wall and a base which define an inner volume, and an opening for filling said inner volume with said beverage or component, characterised in that an interior surface of said base and/or side wall comprises at least a primary protrusion and/or a primary depression, connected thereto and/or formed therein.

An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk, and an electrically operated drive for delivering and/or frothing the milk. The appliance includes a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine,—an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk.

An appliance for preparing frothed milk is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. The milk frothing unit is configured such that an operating parameter is adjustable in a manner depending on a measured value and/or on a user input.

An appliance that is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine, for preparing frothed milk and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current delivered from the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. A mixing nozzle is provided on a path of milk delivered by the gear pump, to which mixing nozzle this milk, the steam as well as the air can be fed.

An automatic coffee machine including a hydraulic circuit having a fixed terminal piece, for supplying water and/or steam, accessible from a front wall of the machine at a distance above a resting surface of the machine. Also included is a dispenser extending frontally of the front wall, comprising a hollow body having a first longitudinal portion, and a second longitudinal portion rigidly connected to the first longitudinal portion and developing along a second longitudinal axis transverse to a first longitudinal axis of the first longitudinal portion. The first longitudinal portion has a first longitudinal end conformed for a rigid, removable hydraulic and mechanical connection with the fixed terminal piece and a second longitudinal end distal from the front wall, wherefrom the second longitudinal portion extends. The second longitudinal portion slidingly supports along the axis thereof an extension for regulating a dispensing distance from the resting surface.