A coffee machine for producing and dispensing coffee-based beverages comprising: at least one hydraulic pump, a boiler and a brewer unit equipped to receive ground coffee and pass through hot water received from the boiler, and comprising a flow meter to measure the flow of water and a control unit receiving electrical signals from the flow meter and controlling the at least one hydraulic pump to regulate the flow rate of water, wherein the coffee machine incorporates an input of the control unit that establishes a variable set-point value of the flow rate that depends on a desired fixed extraction time of the ground coffee received in the brewer unit, wherein the control unit is arranged to calculate a difference between the variable setpoint value of the flow rate, and a measured value from the flow meter, and that the control unit supplies this difference as an error value to a control tool, and wherein the control tool drives a converter that converts DC power at a powerline into an amplitude variable electrical pulse signal at a driver line that drives the at least one hydraulic pump.

A food or beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a control panel (5), said control panel (5) comprising an actuator (5x) for setting at least one beverage preparation parameter to a predetermined value and a controlling unit for controlling the functioning of the food or beverage preparation machine (1), the food or beverage preparation machine (1) comprising in association with said actuator (5x): a light emitting device (6x) for emitting a light beam, an element for reflecting the light beam that has been emitted by the light emitting device (6x), the position of the reflecting element being modified when a press action (F) is applied to the actuator (5x), a coupler (8x) for generating an interference signal based on the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam, a value of at least one parameter of the interference signal depending on the position of the reflecting element, and a light sensor (7x) for detecting the interference signal, said light sensor being electronically connected with the controlling unit, the controlling unit being configured for detecting a press action applied to the actuator (5x) based on the value of the at least one parameter of the interference signal so as to set at least one food or beverage preparation parameter.

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); a valve arrangement (50) for controlling a flow of the water (4) along the water guide (30); an actuator for actuating the valve arrangement (50) to control the water flow along the water guide (30); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that is stationary during beverage preparation and that supports at least the valve arrangement (50). The valve arrangement (50) is rotatably mounted to the support structure (70) and driven in rotation by the actuator to control the water flow.

A temperature controlling structure and a filter assembly including the same are provided, where the temperature controlling structure includes a bottom portion and a surrounding portion connected to the bottom portion, the bottom portion is configured for a filter cup detachably disposed thereon so that the filter cup is surrounded by an accommodation space defined by the surrounding portion and the bottom portion.

A multipurpose beverage preparation machine includes a beverage preparation chamber for receiving a liquid, a processor for processing the beverage in the beverage preparation chamber, a motor configured for driving the processor in the beverage preparation chamber, a heater configured for heating the liquid in the beverage preparation chamber, a control unit operable to execute a beverage preparation process comprising control of the motor and the heater, the control unit being coupled to a network interface of the machine to receive beverage process parameters from an external electronic device, wherein the processor comprises at least one foaming insert and/or at least one support insert for supporting solid ingredients, which are selectively and removably positioned within the beverage preparation chamber and wherein the control unit is configured for actuating the motor and the heater based on at least a part of the received process parameters.

A multipurpose beverage preparation machine includes a beverage preparation chamber for receiving a liquid, a processor for processing the beverage in the beverage preparation chamber, a motor configured for driving the processor in the beverage preparation chamber, a heater configured for heating the liquid in the beverage preparation chamber, a control unit operable to execute a beverage preparation process comprising control of the motor and the heater, the control unit being coupled to a network interface of the machine to receive beverage process parameters from an external electronic device, wherein the processor comprises at least one foaming insert and/or at least one support insert for supporting solid ingredients, which are selectively and removably positioned within the beverage preparation chamber and wherein the control unit is configured for actuating the motor and the heater based on at least a part of the received process parameters.

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 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 brewed beverage-making machine comprising: a supply line having a branch point; a mixing unit configured to receive and mix water at a first temperature with water at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to generate a mixture; a first fluid path connecting the branch point to the mixing unit and configured to supply the water at the first temperature to the mixing unit; a second fluid path connecting the branch point to the mixing unit and configured to supply water at the second temperature to the mixing unit, said second fluid path being in parallel with the first flow path; a first nozzle and a second nozzle arranged respectively along the first and the second fluid path, said first nozzle and second nozzle being configured to define respectively the fluid flow rate along the first fluid path and the second fluid path.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for brewing a desired portion of a beverage, such as a single-cup portion of coffee, are provided. The system can include one or more hopper assemblies configured to provide a controlled dose of beverage material to a brew chamber. The system can also include a water input system configured to wet the ground beverage material as the grinds enter the brew chamber and substantially prevent steam from reaching grinder components of the system. Further, the system can include an automatic cleaning mechanism such that a user does not need to manually clean components of a brewing machine between brew cycles.