A motorized brewing unit for preparing beverages from a powdered product has a dispensing assembly having a first assembly part provided with a receptacle adapted to receive the powdered product, and a second assembly part, relative to which the first assembly part is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are coupled to each other to define a brewing chamber therebetween. The motorized brewing unit has an electric motor that controls movement of the first assembly part between the open position and the closed position and a readout device that provides a digital image of the powdered product. The readout device has an optical sensor. The receptacle faces the optical sensor when the first assembly part is in a detection position, intermediate between the open position and the closed position.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage from at least one ingredient (2) comprises: an ingredient processing module (30); an ingredient passage (40) for inserting an ingredient from outside such machine into the ingredient processing module; and a cover (10) forming a user-handle that is manually movable between a position covering the ingredient passage and a position uncovering the ingredient passage. The cover (10) is manually slidable, in particular translationally slidable, from the covering to the uncovering positions and/or vice versa.

A brewing device includes a frame that has an insertion area for inserting a capsule towards a brewing position. Further, the brewing device includes a brewing chamber that has a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions of the brewing chamber are slidingly arranged in a sliding area of the frame. The first portion and the second portion both slide with respect to each other and with respect to the frame between a closed position and an open position. Ducts supply a brewing fluid to the chamber and outlet a brewed product from the brewing chamber. A pair of opposed guiding channels are provided for inserting, from a top of the insertion area, the capsule in the brewing position which is fixed with respect to the frame, and at least one member is provided for supporting the capsule in the brewing position.

A capsule for preparing a beverage, for example coffee, includes a hollow element for containing a product from which the beverage is made, for example ground coffee. The hollow element is provided with a side wall, a top surface, a bottom surface and a flange. The flange includes a deformable element which is deformed by a deforming member arranged on the capsule holder. A device for using the capsule and a method for extracting a beverage are also provided.

Apparatus and method for forming beverages using a beverage cartridge and sonic energy. A cartridge may include a sonic receiver, such as a feature that extends into an interior space of the cartridge and is arranged to receive a sonic emitter that introduces sonic energy into the interior space. The sonic receiver may be excited by sonic energy, which causes the sonic receiver to itself introduce sonic energy into the cartridge.

A food preparation system includes a food preparation machine with a receptacle for a food capsule and a fluid injecting member, and the food capsule including a capsule body, a cavity, a first end, an opening communicating with the cavity, a second end including at least one outlet communicating with the cavity, an injection wall, and at least one partition dividing the cavity into chambers containing a respective quantity of an alimentary substance and having at least one outlet with an independently-operable closure member in the second end. The injection means injects a quantity of fluid into the capsule through a single injection point, and a sealing member selectively blocks fluid communication between the chambers, resisting a pressure difference between the chambers of between 2 and 20 bar, preferably between 4 and 15 bar.

A food preparation system includes a food preparation machine with a receptacle for a food capsule and a fluid injecting member, and the food capsule including a capsule body, a cavity, a first end, an opening communicating with the cavity, a second end including at least one outlet communicating with the cavity, an injection wall, and at least one partition dividing the cavity into chambers containing a respective quantity of an alimentary substance and having at least one outlet with an independently-operable closure member in the second end. The injection means injects a quantity of fluid into the capsule through a single injection point, and a sealing member selectively blocks fluid communication between the chambers, resisting a pressure difference between the chambers of between 2 and 20 bar, preferably between 4 and 15 bar.

The invention relates to a magazine unit for fitting a brewing device with a portion capsule. The magazine has a storage magazine for storing portion capsules, said portion capsules being stacked one after the other in a stacking direction, and the magazine unit has a transporting means for transporting a portion capsule out of the storage magazine into the brewing device. The transporting means can be pivoted about a pivot axis between a removal position for removing the portion capsule from the storage magazine and a dispensing position for fitting the brewing device with the portion capsule, said pivot axis being perpendicular to the stacking direction.

The invention relates to a system for a drinks extraction machine using capsules introduced into a capsule cage, said system having slides allowing a capsule to be guided into the machine, held and then released in order to move into an extraction position, said cage being moved between a retracted position allowing the insertion of a capsule into the machine, and a position for the extraction of the drink wherein the capsule is held in the cage against an extraction plate, said slides being moved by actuating means in a coordinated manner with the cage, but with a delay, in such a way as to release the capsule introduced into the machine for the insertion thereof into the cage when said cage moves back into the extraction position thereof, and only to go back to the initial position once the used capsule has been extracted from the cage.

A beverage preparation apparatus for preparation of a beverage from a capsule in a clamp assembly (30). The clamp assembly has a first clamp member (31) and a second clamp member, where the inner surfaces of the first clamp member and the second clamp member form a clamp chamber (33) for substantially enclosing and supporting a capsule (10) during beverage preparation. The second clamp member comprises a rigid peripheral frame (32) having a central void and a resilient layer (37) extending across said central void. There is a piston (36) positioned in the central void and resiliently coupled to the peripheral frame (32) to allow limited resilient movement of the rigid peripheral frame (32) relative to the piston (36).