A foodstuff preparation device may include a roasting chamber having grinding funnel configured for communicating a foodstuff, having a pre-ground particle size, between two or more grinding stones, such as a first grinding stone and a second grinding stone. A grinding motor may be configured to motivate the foodstuff between the two or more grinding stone so that the foodstuff exits from between a first grinding stone and second grinding stone with a first ground particle size, the first ground particle size smaller than the pre-ground particle size. Generally, the device may be configured to prepare foodstuffs, such as sesame seeds, by roasting and grinding them to produce Tahini, or any other similar prepared food. Optionally, the foodstuff may be communicated into the grinding funnel from a dispensing funnel or from a roasting cavity having a heating element configured to govern the temperature of the roasting cavity.

A coffee machine equipped with a grinder that grinds coffee beans, and a blade that grinds the coffee beans can be replaced with a blade having a different pattern. A main body includes a drive source, first power transmission portions, and a gear portion (gear of a manual setting disc dial), a grinder unit is fitted into the main body, the grinder unit includes a second power transmission portion, and interlocking portions, and is detachable from the main body, and when the grinder unit is fitted into the main body, the second power transmission portion and the like are coupled to the first power transmission portions, and the interlocking portions are coupled to the gear portion (gear of the manual setting disc dial).

A grinding unit (12) for selectively grinding beans (20), in particular coffee beans, is disclosed. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of storage containers (16, 18) for storing the beans (20) and a grinding module (14) associated to the storage containers for grinding the beans. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of shutters (28, 30), wherein each of the shutters is associated to one of the storage containers for feeding the beans from a selected storage container to the grinding module, wherein the shutters are movable with respect to each other to selectively feed the beans from the selected container to the grinding module. An actuation unit (46) is associated to the shutters for actuating the shutters and for opening and closing the storage containers independently. The grinding unit comprises a control unit (32) for controlling the actuation unit in order to open and close the selected storage container and for controlling the grinding module, wherein the control unit is adapted to start driving the grinding module after opening the selected container and to drive the grinding module for a predetermined time period or for a predetermined number of rotations after closing the selected storage container. The control unit is configured to determine said predetermined time period or said predetermined number of rotations, respectively, based on an opening time during which the selected storage container has been open.

A grinding unit (12) for selectively grinding beans (20), in particular coffee beans, is disclosed. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of storage containers (16, 18) for storing the beans (20) and a grinding module (14) associated to the storage containers for grinding the beans. The grinding unit comprises a plurality of shutters (28, 30), wherein each of the shutters is associated to one of the storage containers for feeding the beans from a selected storage container to the grinding module, wherein the shutters are movable with respect to each other to selectively feed the beans from the selected container to the grinding module. An actuation unit (46) is associated to the shutters for actuating the shutters and for opening and closing the storage containers independently. The grinding unit comprises a control unit (32) for controlling the actuation unit in order to open and close the selected storage container and for controlling the grinding module, wherein the control unit is adapted to start driving the grinding module after opening the selected container and to drive the grinding module for a predetermined time period or for a predetermined number of rotations after closing the selected storage container. The control unit is configured to determine said predetermined time period or said predetermined number of rotations, respectively, based on an opening time during which the selected storage container has been open.

A coffee grinding apparatus includes a removable holder assembly having first and second arms that are spaced-apart from one another to define an open receiving area therebetween. The arms each include upper and lower tabs that extend inwardly into the open receiving area first and second distances, respectively. The first and second distances of the upper and lower tabs are configured to retain and support portafilter assemblies of various sizes for filling with coffee grounds using the coffee grinder apparatus. Another holder assembly for use with the coffee grinding apparatus may include opposed abutment surfaces for engaging inner and outer surfaces of a cup portion of various sized portafilter assemblies. Each disclosed holder assembly is configured to attach to a pedestal portion of the coffee grinding apparatus in use, and can be stored in a support base of the coffee grinding apparatus when not in use.

A separation apparatus for separating an unwanted substance from an extraction target includes a forming unit configured to form a separation chamber through which the extraction target passes, and a suction unit communicating with the separation chamber in a direction crossing a passage direction of the extraction target and configured to suck air in the separation chamber. The forming unit includes an inlet for the extraction target, which communicates with the separation chamber, and an outlet for the extraction target, which communicates with the separation chamber, and the air is sucked from the outlet into the separation chamber by suction of the suction unit.

A separation apparatus for separating an unwanted substance from an extraction target includes a forming unit configured to form a separation chamber through which the extraction target passes, and a suction unit communicating with the separation chamber in a direction crossing a passage direction of the extraction target and configured to suck air in the separation chamber. The forming unit includes an inlet for the extraction target, which communicates with the separation chamber, and an outlet for the extraction target, which communicates with the separation chamber, and the air is sucked from the outlet into the separation chamber by suction of the suction unit.

The present invention proposes a method for controlling a roasting process of coffee beans comprises sampling a first batch of coffee beans and a second batch of coffee beans from said coffee beans during roasting (S12; S42); detecting a surface color of the first batch of coffee beans (S14; S44); grinding the second batch of coffee beans and detecting a powder color of the second batch of coffee beans after grinding (S16; S46); and controlling the roasting process at least partially based on the detected surface color of the first batch of coffee beans and the detected powder color of the first batch of coffee beans (S18; S48). The present invention also provides apparatus using the above described method.

The present invention proposes a method for controlling a roasting process of coffee beans comprises sampling a first batch of coffee beans and a second batch of coffee beans from said coffee beans during roasting (S12; S42); detecting a surface color of the first batch of coffee beans (S14; S44); grinding the second batch of coffee beans and detecting a powder color of the second batch of coffee beans after grinding (S16; S46); and controlling the roasting process at least partially based on the detected surface color of the first batch of coffee beans and the detected powder color of the first batch of coffee beans (S18; S48). The present invention also provides apparatus using the above described method.

A coffee machine, including a grinder configured to grind coffee beans, and a coffee machine made to remove waste, such as chaff, from a separation area, where the waste such as chaff is separated from ground beans. The coffee machine includes a first grinder configured to grind the coffee beans by grinding, a separation area where the waste is separated from the ground beans ground by the first grinder. And, the waste from the separation area is cleaned by wind pressure while the first grinder is in a stop state.