High pressure, low temperature, continuous flow extraction systems and methods are designed to produce fluid consumables, including water-based consumables such as coffee or tea. The extraction systems and methods are designed to be safer, more efficient, and more scalable than other known and conventional extraction techniques, and to have significantly quicker extraction times and higher yields.

High pressure, low temperature, continuous flow extraction systems and methods are designed to produce fluid consumables, including water-based consumables such as coffee or tea. The extraction systems and methods are designed to be safer, more efficient, and more scalable than other known and conventional extraction techniques, and to have significantly quicker extraction times and higher yields.

A beverage preparation machine having an inlet arrangement and a gasket arrangement is provided, where the inlet arrangement is configured with a plurality of inlet ports to deliver liquid to a beverage cartridge. The gasket arrangement may include a single unitary shape with a plurality of openings for receiving the plurality of inlet ports. The gasket arrangement may include one or more inner ribs disposed about each of the plurality of openings. A perimeter rib may extend along a perimeter of the gasket arrangement.

A dispensing assembly (2) for a machine for the preparation of liquid food products comprises a preparation chamber (7, 8) and a hydraulic circuit (20), which is configured for supplying water and/or steam to the preparation chamber (7, 8). The preparation chamber (7, 8) is configured for receiving at least one dose (9) of a precursor of a liquid food product and for dispensing the liquid food product following upon passage of water and/or steam through the preparation chamber (7, 8). The preparation chamber comprises a first chamber part (7), preferably configured for introducing water and/or steam, and a second chamber part (8), preferably configured for dispensing the liquid food product. At least one chamber part (8) is displaceable with respect to the other chamber part (7) between a spaced-apart position, to enable loading of the aforesaid dose (9) into the preparation chamber, and a close position, to enable introduction of water and/or steam into the preparation chamber and dispensing the liquid food product therefrom. The dispensing assembly (2) further comprises a pneumatic circuit (30) configured for supplying compressed air to the preparation chamber, in particular when the first chamber part (7) and the second chamber part (8) are in the close position.

An apparatus (1) for preparing a beverage is described, comprising: at least one infusion assembly (2a, 2b); a hydraulic circuit (3) connecting the infusion assembly or assemblies (2a, 2b) to an external water-supply system (100) and comprising a first and a second fluidic path (31) to connect said infusion assembly (2a, 2b) alternatively to said external supply system (100) or a pump.

A milk frother/heater for a milk supply circuit in a beverage vending machine has a plastic hollow body made of one or more undismountably coupled parts and integrally has a first appendage defining a milk inlet to receive either smooth milk or a milk-air mixture, a second appendage defining a steam inlet to receive steam, and a third appendage defining a milk outlet to deliver cold or hot, smooth or frothed milk. The body internally defines a mixing chamber, and the milk inlet, the steam inlet and the milk outlet internally define a milk inlet passage, a steam inlet passage, and a milk outlet passage, respectively, in fluidic communication with the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has an axis and includes a first closed axial end and a second axial end, opposite the first axial end, at which the steam inlet passage and the milk outlet passage end up. The milk inlet passage either ends up directly in the second axial end in the mixing chamber or merges with the steam inlet passage upstream from the mixing chamber.

A fully automatic beverage machine for preparing freshly brewed hot beverages, having at least one hot-water generator (10, 20), a brewing device (50) to which hot water can be supplied from the hot water generator (10, 20), and a water pump (11, 21) which pumps drinking water from a drinking water supply line (30) to the hot water generator (10, 20). The hot water generator (10, 20) is a continuous flow heater and a flowmeter (12, 22) for determining the volume of drinking water pumped by the water pump (11, 21). Additionally, the fully automatic beverage machine is equipped with an automatic decalcification system (40) for automatically decalcifying the continuous flow heater (10, 20). The decalcification system has a mixing container (41) for mixing a descaling solution, a receiving chamber for a storage container (42) for liquid decalcifier concentrate, and a metering pump (43) for pumping decalcifier concentrate out of the storage container (42) into the mixing container (41) in a metered manner, wherein the descaling solution is mixed from decalcifier agent concentrate and water in the mixing container. The water pump (11, 21) can be connected to a removal line (49) of the mixing container (41) in a switchable manner on the suction side via a first directional valve (44) in order to pump the descaling solution from the mixing container (41) to the hot water generator (10, 20) in the switched valve position of the first directional valve (44), and the water pump (11) can be connected to a water supply line (47) of the mixing container (41) in a switchable manner on the pressure side via a second directional valve (45) in order to pump drinking water to the mixing container (41) in the switched valve position of the second directional valve (45).

Beverage supply apparatus (100) has milk tank (3), milk flow path (L3) connecting the milk tank to beverage delivery port (10), first pump (7), air flow path (L6) to supply air via its connection portion (Z1), and third pump (9). The apparatus drives the third pump to supply air to the milk flow path, and drives the first pump to thereby deliver and supply a mixed beverage of milk and air from the beverage delivery port. The apparatus includes path (L7) for releasing a portion of the air flowing through the air flow path., one end portion of which is connected to release point (Z8) which is a predetermined portion of the air flow path between a beverage flow path side end portion (location of a connection portion (Z6)) and the third pump. The other end portion thereof is open to the outside.

A method, and apparatus for implementing the method, for adjusting a dispensing temperature of a hot beverage by an automatic beverage maker The temperature of the hot beverage and/or the water supplied to a brewing unit for producing the hot beverage is measured. The measured temperature is compared with a desired value and the temperature of the hot beverage is adjusted to the desired value by cooling. The hot beverage or the water supplied to the brewing unit for producing the hot beverage is cooled directly via a machine-controlled addition of cold water. The temperature is adapted to the desired value by an amount of cold water supplied by the machine-controlled addition of cold water. The temperature is adapted by a controllable metering valve that meters the amount of added cold water.

An infusion group for machines for the dispensing of beverages in the form of infusion is disclosed. The infusion group has a capsule-holder configured to receive a capsule for the preparation of an infusion beverage, a dispensing head adapted to cooperate with the capsule-holder to form a chamber for the infusion of the capsule. The dispensing head has a dispensing channel, a perforation disc and an associated supporting member mounted on the dispensing head. The dispensing head also has a discharge channel upstream of the dispensing channel. The configuration of the dispensing head is such that the discharge channel is closed when the perforation disc and the supporting member are in the dispensing position and open when they are in the rest position.