A machine (M) for preparing beverages, in particular espresso coffee, comprises a hydraulic circuit, which includes: a brewing unit (1), comprising at least one first part (1a) and one second part (1b), which are able to define between them a brewing chamber, at least the first part (1a) being movable with respect to the second part (1b); a fluid actuator (12), in particular a hydraulic actuator, which can be supplied for causing at least a displacement of the first part (1a) of the brewing unit (1) towards the second part (1b); a water tank (4); a pump (3) having the inlet connected in fluid communication with the water tank (4) and the outlet or delivery connected in fluid communication with the brewing unit (1) and to the fluid actuator (12); at least one normally closed unidirectional hydraulic valve (9), set between the pump (3) and the brewing unit (1), to enable a flow of water towards the brewing unit (1) when the pressure of the water delivered by the pump (3) exceeds a substantially pre-set threshold; a heater device (8) for heating the water delivered by the pump (3); and a normally open discharge valve (10), which has: a main inlet (10.sub.IN), connected to the fluid actuator (12); a main outlet (10.sub.OUT)> connected towards a collecting space, in particular the water tank (4); and a valve member set between the main inlet (IOIIM) and the main outlet (10.sub.OUT)> able to assume an open condition and a closed condition, where it enables and prevents, respectively, a flow of fluid between said main inlet (10IN) and said main outlet (10O) The discharge valve (10) is a hydraulically driven valve, which further comprises a driving chamber, for hydraulic driving of the valve member, an auxiliary inlet (10.sub.DR-IN) of the driving chamber, connected to the delivery of the pump (3), and an auxiliary outlet (10.sub.DR-OUT) of the driving chamber (26), connected to the brewing unit (1) and to the fluid actuator (12), in such a way that water delivered by the pump (3) passes through the driving chamber (26) before reaching the brewing unit (1) and the fluid actuator (12).

Systems for and methods of controlled liquid food or beverage product creation are provided. A method of producing a liquid product from a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents includes receiving the receptacle containing a frozen liquid contents in a dispenser, identifying a characteristic of the receptacle, the contents, and/or a desired product, melting at least a portion of the contents to generate the product by selectively heating the receptacle and/or the contents without adding liquid to the interior of the receptacle and/or supplying a liquid to the interior of the receptacle, wherein the selectively heating without adding liquid to the interior of the receptacle and/or suppling the liquid is based on the identified characteristic. The method also includes perforating the receptacle and dispensing the product from the receptacle.

A kitchen appliance includes a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage. A hot water generator (HWG) has an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway extending therebetween. The inlet end of the HWG is connected to the first reservoir. Liquid from the first reservoir flows into the HWG through the inlet end. A selector valve is connected to the outlet end of the HWG. At least a portion of the selector valve is movable by a user between a first valve position and a second valve position.

The disclosure introduces a beverage cooling device, including a body, a first cooling tank, a second cooling tank, a cooling pipeline, a cleaning module and a control unit. The first cooling tank is configured in the body and filled with a first coolant; the second cooling tank is configured in the body and filled with a second coolant; the cooling pipeline includes a first pipeline and a second pipeline, wherein the first pipeline is connected to an inlet end, the second pipeline is configured in the second cooling tank and connected to the first pipeline and an outlet end; the cleaning module is configured in the body and includes a cleaning pipeline and a valve body, wherein the cleaning pipeline is connected to a cleaning liquid source and the inlet end, the valve body is connected to the cleaning pipeline, the control unit is connected to the valve body.

A fermenter may include a fermentation container having a fermentation space in which a beverage is fermented and a first gas passage communicating with the fermentation space, and a fermentation lid opening and closing the fermentation container and having a second gas passage. When the fermentation lid closes the fermentation container, a gas chamber communicating with each of the first gas passage and the second gas passage is provided between the fermentation container and the fermentation lid.

The present invention concerns a food or beverage preparation machine (M) comprising a casing, a mineralized fluid source (1), a receptacle (10) adapted for functionally enclosing at least one food or beverage ingredient container (C), means (3) for conducting said mineralized fluid (13) from said source (1) to the interior of said capsule (C), optionally a heating and/or chilling device (4), and a fluid pipe system (2, 20, 21, 22) that fluidly connects said source (1), said conducting means (3), said receptacle (10), and said heating and/or chilling device (4), characterized in that at least one portion of the fluid pipe system (2, 20, 21, 22) and/or conducting means (3), and/or heating/chilling device (4) is made of a smart memory alloy (SMA), or smart memory polymer (SMP) designed to reversibly expand or contract above a defined temperature threshold in order to negate the buildup of scale or other deposits on the surfaces in contact with the mineralized fluid (13) by mechanical action, during operation of said machine.

Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.

A coffee making device has a body with a drip tray and a removable water tank that supplies water to a heat system of the device. The water tank is internal to the device and removable by a user. The body has a fluid refill opening that leads to the tank. The tank includes an overflow channel or conduit that dispenses into the drip tray.

A coffee making device has a body with a drip tray and a removable water tank that supplies water to a heat system of the device. The water tank is internal to the device and removable by a user. The body has a fluid refill opening that leads to the tank. The tank includes an overflow channel or conduit that dispenses into the drip tray.

A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.