An actively heated or cooled food container can have a lid movable between an open and a closed position and an insulated body to which the lid can be attached. The insulated body can have a sidewall that defines a perimeter of the container body and a base, the sidewall and base defining one or more chambers that can be sealed by the lid. The food container can have a temperature control system that can include one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with one or both of the sidewall and the base and operable to heat or cool one or both of the sidewall and the base to thereby heat or cool the one or more chambers in the food container.

An apparatus for production of French press style coffee via a process to immerse and steep coffee grounds in heated water in a non-oil-absorbing environment. Filtering a finished beverage from the steeped mixture through a microperforated non-oil-absorbing filter, where microperforations are sized to achieve sediments levels equivalent to or less than that of traditional French press, and filtration rate is enhanced via any combination of vibratory energy, air pressure, and air flow to the brewed mixture. The microperforated filter may be permanent and reusable, or may be disposable. The disposable filter is preferably made from flexible aluminum foil and recyclable. The apparatus and method support modification of filter size, microperforation size, perforation density, air pressure, air flow and vibratory action to vary beverage filtration rate and finished beverage composition.

Methods and systems for employing a sensor to detect disconnection of a liquid supply tank and a low fill level of the liquid supply tank are disclosed herein. The sensor may have a conductive probe to contact liquid, e.g., to detect a liquid level in a removable liquid supply tank.

The coffee machine (1) with a system for emulsifying and heating milk comprises a body (2) having a coffee dispenser (3) and a device (4) for emulsifying and/or heating milk having a carafe (6) for containing the milk and a lid (7) for closing the carafe (6), means (8) for conveying the steam generated inside the coffee machine, to a Venturi tube (9) present in the lid (7) so as to emulsify and/or heat the milk inside said lid, the device (4) being provided with detection means (12) for detecting the presence of milk in the carafe (6) so as to interrupt the dispensing of milk when said carafe (6) is completely empty.

A drip tray cover for a beverage machine has a projection for facing a downward direction in use having a tip which is adapted to reach below a maximum liquid level of a drip tray base beneath. At least one opening makes the projection visible to a user and it functions as dipstick for inspecting the liquid level in the drip tray.

The present disclosure includes many embodiments of devices and related methods for creating an infused extract from a mixture of infusible material and one or more liquids using “pour-over” type methodologies. Any desired infusible material can be used, as well as any desired combination of liquids.

Methods and systems for electrically powering liquid-contacting components of a beverage machine using a non-isolated power supply.

The collection tray (1) for discharged liquid/steam of a coffee machine (2) comprises a primary collection compartment (10), a secondary collection compartment (11), an overflow (12) of the primary collection compartment (10) for discharging the liquid into the secondary collection compartment (11), and at least two electrical conductors (13) positioned in the secondary collection compartment (11) and assembled on an oscillating support (14) for connection with two contacts (15) of an external electrical circuit for detecting the level of the liquid present in the secondary collection compartment (11).

A drip filter coffee making device has a filter basket with a lid. The lid supports a water dispenser for wetting grounds in the filter basket. The basket is removable from a body of the device. The lid may have a dampened opening motion, biased into an open position by a spring.

A drip filter coffee making device has a filter basket with a lid. The lid supports a water dispenser for wetting grounds in the filter basket. The basket is removable from a body of the device. The lid may have a dampened opening motion, biased into an open position by a spring.