A grinder for grinding whole coffee beans into coffee grounds with automatically adjustable coarseness. The grinder comprise a burr assembly for grinding whole coffee beans, which comprises an inner burr having a side surface that is slanted and abrasive or serrated, and an outer burr surrounding the inner burr. The side surface of the inner burr and the outer burr define a gap. The grinder comprise a main motor configured to provide a first rotational movement to the inner burr. A second motor is configured to adjust a vertical position of the inner burr relative to the outer burr, wherein changes in the vertical position of the inner burr relative to the outer burr changes the gap between the inner burr and the outer burr. A coarseness of the coffee grounds depends on the gap between the inner burr and the outer burr.

A grind size adjustment assembly, in particular a telemetric grind size adjustment assembly, has at least one grinder (2) for grinding coffee beans and a grind size adjustment device of the at least one grinder. The grind size adjustment assembly also has at least one remote control unit, which adjusts a grind size of the at least one grinder in operative connection with the grind size adjustment device of the at least one grinder.

A foodstuff dispensing system is provided in which a foodstuff dispensing hopper comprises a gate rotatably mounted adjacent a bottom opening for selectively opening and closing the bottom opening. The hopper further comprises coupling means for detachably and rotationally coupling the hopper to the apparatus, and an interlock mechanism for interoperating with the gate to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into an open position when the coupling means is being rotationally coupled to the apparatus and to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into a closed position when the coupling means is being counter-rotationally decoupled from the apparatus.

A foodstuff dispensing system is provided in which a foodstuff dispensing hopper comprises a gate rotatably mounted adjacent a bottom opening for selectively opening and closing the bottom opening. The hopper further comprises coupling means for detachably and rotationally coupling the hopper to the apparatus, and an interlock mechanism for interoperating with the gate to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into an open position when the coupling means is being rotationally coupled to the apparatus and to enable rotation of the bottom opening relative to the gate into a closed position when the coupling means is being counter-rotationally decoupled from the apparatus.

The invention relates to a method for dispensing ground coffee for preparing a coffee beverage. The method comprises the steps of: providing a machine (110), which comprises one or more receptacles (13, 14) for storing one or different types of roasted coffee beans, one or more dosing devices (60, 70) for dispensing coffee beans, which are stored in the one or more receptacles (13, 14), and a grinder (30) for receiving coffee beans, which are dispensed by the one or more dosing devices (60, 70), the grinder (30) being configured to move into different grinding positions for different grinding degrees, respectively; setting up the grinder (30) so that the grinder (30) is in a specific grinding position; dispensing, with the one or more dosing devices (60, 70), a specific amount of coffee beans to the grinder (30) subsequent to the step of setting up the grinder (30); and grinding, with the grinder (30), said specific amount of coffee beans and, thus, dispensing the so ground coffee beans until the grinder (30) is free from coffee beans.

The invention relates to a method for dispensing ground coffee for preparing a coffee beverage. The method comprises the steps of: providing a machine (110), which comprises one or more receptacles (13, 14) for storing one or different types of roasted coffee beans, one or more dosing devices (60, 70) for dispensing coffee beans, which are stored in the one or more receptacles (13, 14), and a grinder (30) for receiving coffee beans, which are dispensed by the one or more dosing devices (60, 70), the grinder (30) being configured to move into different grinding positions for different grinding degrees, respectively; setting up the grinder (30) so that the grinder (30) is in a specific grinding position; dispensing, with the one or more dosing devices (60, 70), a specific amount of coffee beans to the grinder (30) subsequent to the step of setting up the grinder (30); and grinding, with the grinder (30), said specific amount of coffee beans and, thus, dispensing the so ground coffee beans until the grinder (30) is free from coffee beans.

A grinder for grinding coffee beans having a first grinding tool and a second grinding tool forming a grinding nip, and the second grinding tool being rotatable relative to the first grinding tool. The grinder has at least one force generation device for applying a selectable force F to a first grinding tool or a second grinding tool, which force can be transmitted to the coffee beans. A coffee machine having such a grinder and a method for preparing coffee using said type of coffee machine and said type of grinder.

A bean grinding device and a bean grinding coffee machine including the bean grinding device the bean grinding device includes a grinding assembly and an adjusting assembly; the grinding assembly includes a bean grinding chamber, an outer grinding wheel, and an inner grinding wheel; the outer grinding wheel and the inner grinding wheel are disposed inside the bean grinding chamber; the adjusting assembly includes at least two stages of adjusting mechanisms; the at least two stages of adjusting mechanisms includes a first adjusting mechanism and a second adjusting mechanism; the first adjusting mechanism and the bean grinding chamber are connected by means of a first track; the second adjusting mechanism and the outer grinding wheel are connected by means of a second track; and positions of the first adjusting mechanism and the second adjusting mechanism are relatively fixed in an axial direction.

A bean grinding device and a bean grinding coffee machine including the bean grinding device the bean grinding device includes a grinding assembly and an adjusting assembly; the grinding assembly includes a bean grinding chamber, an outer grinding wheel, and an inner grinding wheel; the outer grinding wheel and the inner grinding wheel are disposed inside the bean grinding chamber; the adjusting assembly includes at least two stages of adjusting mechanisms; the at least two stages of adjusting mechanisms includes a first adjusting mechanism and a second adjusting mechanism; the first adjusting mechanism and the bean grinding chamber are connected by means of a first track; the second adjusting mechanism and the outer grinding wheel are connected by means of a second track; and positions of the first adjusting mechanism and the second adjusting mechanism are relatively fixed in an axial direction.

A grinding device includes: first and second grinding elements, the first grinding element being rotatable relative to the second grinding element around a rotary axis for grinding coffee beans between the grinding elements into a powder; a carrier wheel rotatable around the rotary axis for conveying powder on the carrier wheel to an outflow channel to output the powder; a housing surrounding the grinding elements and the carrier wheel and including the outflow channel, the second grinding element being stationary relative to the housing, a rolling bearing with inner and outer rings and rolling elements therebetween, the outer ring being stationary on the housing and the first grinding element, the carrier wheel and the inner ring being rotatable around the rotary axis together. An annular seal ring seals an intermediate region above the outer ring around the rotary axis between the carrier wheel and the outer ring.