A machine for making food products including: at least a first container containing a liquid or semi-liquid base product to be processed therein; a stirrer mounted inside the first container; thermal treatment means operatively associated with the first container; a dispenser connected to the first container to allow the product to be extracted from the first container; at least one device for generating gas micro bubbles or nano bubbles, operatively configured to release gas micro bubbles or nano bubbles into the mixture being processed in the machine; a control and drive unit connected to the device for generating gas micro bubbles or nano bubbles in order to control and drive it.

A machine for making food products including: at least a first container containing a liquid or semi-liquid base product to be processed therein; a stirrer mounted inside the first container; thermal treatment means operatively associated with the first container; a dispenser connected to the first container to allow the product to be extracted from the first container; at least one device for generating gas micro bubbles or nano bubbles, operatively configured to release gas micro bubbles or nano bubbles into the mixture being processed in the machine; a control and drive unit connected to the device for generating gas micro bubbles or nano bubbles in order to control and drive it.

A cup is provided for a device for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture with a stirring element stirring liquid mixture in the cup being cooled by a cooling unit of the device. The cup includes a cup wall enclosing a holding volume for liquid mixture and frozen food product. At the inside of the cup, the cup wall includes an inner bottom portion, a circumferential inner upright portion, and a circumferential inner transition portion extending from the inner bottom portion to the inner upright portion.

A cup is provided for a device for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture with a stirring element stirring liquid mixture in the cup being cooled by a cooling unit of the device. The cup includes a cup wall enclosing a holding volume for liquid mixture and frozen food product. At the inside of the cup, the cup wall includes an inner bottom portion, a circumferential inner upright portion, and a circumferential inner transition portion extending from the inner bottom portion to the inner upright portion.

A device for preparing frozen food product from a liquid mixture includes: a cup holder for a cup for preparing the frozen food product, a cooling unit for cooling the cavity, a stirring unit for stirring liquid mixture in the cup with a stirring element driven with a motor, a torque sensor for measuring torque applied by the motor, and a control unit configured for: starting an operational phase of the device, monitoring in a first period before a first time the torque of the motor, determining a linear increase of the torque in the first period, monitoring, after the first time, the torque of the motor, and if with respect to the linear increase of the torque in the first period an increase above a threshold occurs in the monitored torque, then initiating an ice cream termination phase, otherwise a sorbet termination phase.

A device for preparing frozen food product from a liquid mixture includes: a cup holder for a cup for preparing the frozen food product, a cooling unit for cooling the cavity, a stirring unit for stirring liquid mixture in the cup with a stirring element driven with a motor, a torque sensor for measuring torque applied by the motor, and a control unit configured for: starting an operational phase of the device, monitoring in a first period before a first time the torque of the motor, determining a linear increase of the torque in the first period, monitoring, after the first time, the torque of the motor, and if with respect to the linear increase of the torque in the first period an increase above a threshold occurs in the monitored torque, then initiating an ice cream termination phase, otherwise a sorbet termination phase.

A device is provided for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture wherein the messy removal of the stirring unit is alleviated. The device includes a cup holder, a cooling unit, and a stirring unit having a stirring element, a motor, and a coupling element configured for releasably coupling the stirring element to the motor. The stirring element is releasably coupled to the coupling element by a bayonet coupling, and the motor is arranged for rotating in a first direction during an operational phase, thereby imparting a forward stirring motion to the stirring element, and for rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction during a termination phase following the operational phase, thereby imparting a reverse stirring motion to the stirring element such that the stirring element decouples from the coupling element.

A device is provided for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture wherein the messy removal of the stirring unit is alleviated. The device includes a cup holder, a cooling unit, and a stirring unit having a stirring element, a motor, and a coupling element configured for releasably coupling the stirring element to the motor. The stirring element is releasably coupled to the coupling element by a bayonet coupling, and the motor is arranged for rotating in a first direction during an operational phase, thereby imparting a forward stirring motion to the stirring element, and for rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction during a termination phase following the operational phase, thereby imparting a reverse stirring motion to the stirring element such that the stirring element decouples from the coupling element.

A cup is provided for a device for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture with a stirring element of the device stirring the liquid mixture in the cup while the cup is being cooled by a cooling unit of the device. The device includes a cup holder with a cavity for receiving the cup. The cup holder includes a first upper surface surrounding an entrance opening of the cavity, and is provided on the first upper surface with at least one upwards first protrusion. The cup has a predetermined height such that the cup extends a predetermined distance above the first upper surface. The cup includes at its top a circumferential flange provided with at least one first extension, which is arranged such that it contacts the at least one first protrusion for preventing rotation of the cup in the cavity.

A cup is provided for a device for preparing a frozen food product from a liquid mixture with a stirring element of the device stirring the liquid mixture in the cup while the cup is being cooled by a cooling unit of the device. The device includes a cup holder with a cavity for receiving the cup. The cup holder includes a first upper surface surrounding an entrance opening of the cavity, and is provided on the first upper surface with at least one upwards first protrusion. The cup has a predetermined height such that the cup extends a predetermined distance above the first upper surface. The cup includes at its top a circumferential flange provided with at least one first extension, which is arranged such that it contacts the at least one first protrusion for preventing rotation of the cup in the cavity.