A machine for preparing a food product comprises at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit and a control system. The hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and pumping means, as well as a first dispensing element (51), which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam. The first dispensing element (51) is configured for coupling, in particular sealed coupling, with an inlet (18, 26) of a disposable container (11) for preparing and retaining the food product, and the hydraulic circuit (40) is controllable, in particular via the control system, for conveying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element (51).

A weighing assembly for weighing an amount of ground coffee with high precision is provided. The weighing assembly includes a container dedicated to ground coffee weighing and weighing means operatively connected to the container. A coffee grinder and a coffee machine, namely a fully automatic coffee machine, are also provided and include the weighing assembly. A method for the operation thereof is also provided.

The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a coffee machine (100) and a coffee grinder (200), wherein said coffee machine is able to prepare a plurality of different coffee-based drinks according to several recipes. In order to avoid errors when preparing a specific recipe, the coffee machine (100) comprises a plurality of brewing groups and a corresponding plurality of filter holder assemblies (1), and at least one filter holder assembly (1)—preferably each filter holder assembly (1)—comprises an electronics (11) equipped with a memory (15), in which the parameters of one or more of said recipes are stored, and with communication devices (13) that allow said filter holder group to communicate on one hand with the electronics (101) of the coffee machine (100) and, on the other hand, to communicate with the electronics (201) of the coffee grinder (200), whereby said filter holder assembly communicates to each device the data necessary for preparing the selected recipe.

A method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee from a plurality of reference characteristics associated with each type of coffee, each reference characteristic being associated with a respective reference signal, said method comprising the steps of: sensing, by one or more sensors, the concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the coffee in a sampling time interval; generating a coffee-representative sampling signal for each sampling time interval, as a function of the volatile organic compounds; comparing each sampling signal so generated to detect a change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee at successive sampling time intervals; generating a signal representative of the change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee when the change is sensed; comparing the change-representative signal so generated with the reference signals associated with each reference characteristic; generating a characteristic-recognition signal as a function of the comparison between the signal representative of the change over time and the reference signals.

A device (1; 1′) is shown and described for metering and/or preparing a medium to be prepared, in particular baby food, in particular baby milk formula or semi-solid baby food, coffee and/or tea, the device comprising a housing (3) with a first receiving region (5; 5′) and a second receiving region (7; 7′), wherein the first receiving region (5; 5′) is configured for receiving a first container (9; 9′) for a first component of the medium to be prepared, and wherein the second receiving region (7; 7′) is configured for receiving a second container (11) for a fluid, a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the fluid, a metering device (29; 29′) for metering the first component, wherein the first receiving region (5; 5′) has a metering device receiving region (27; 27′) for receiving the metering device (29; 29′), and wherein an actuating and/or drive device (39) for the metering device (29; 29′) is arranged in the metering device receiving region (27; 27′).

A portable beverage dispensing container comprises a housing and an internal beverage holding tank positioned in and contained within the housing. The internal beverage holding tank is configured to receive and store a beverage, and the internal beverage holding tank is constructed from a translucent material. The housing includes an opening through a rear surface thereof, such that light from a light source (which is installed at a brewing station) can be directed through the opening and through the internal beverage holding tank, such a light pattern is projected on a sight glass window on a front surface of the housing that provides a visual indication of provide a visual indication of the level of the beverage in the shuttle, along with a visual indication of the status of the brewed beverage.

Systems and processes of distribution of edible products, including an apparatus, in particular a beverage preparation apparatus, for example aromatic beverages such as espresso coffee and similar, that has a recipient placement disposition adapted for placing a recipient of collection of edible product, and an apparatus casing and an access disposition whereby the access disposition is adapted so that can provide selective access to the recipient placement disposition, for example for placing the recipient.

A beverage brewing pot and a beverage brewing method using the same. The brewing pot includes a first pot liner, a second pot liner, a water-air pump and a controller. A brewing chamber is arranged between the first pot liner and the second pot liner. The first pot liner, the second pot liner and the brewing chamber are in communication. At least the first pot liner is sealed during operation. A first water-level sensor is provided at the top of the first pot liner, and a second water-level sensor is provided at the top of the second pot liner. The controller controls the water-air pump to feed air to the first pot liner to direct the water to flow into the second pot liner. The controller controls the water-air pump to operate reversely, such that the water in the second pot liner is pumped back to the first pot liner.

An apparatus for preparing coffee grounds for a coffee brewing process includes a control system that receives a coffee order. The coffee order includes information indicative of a composition of coffee beans ordered, and a quantity of the coffee beans to be included in the composition. A metering device receives the coffee beans from a hopper assembly, and is controlled by the control system to: measure the quantity of the coffee beans to be included in the composition, and output the quantity of the coffee beans measured from an outlet aperture. An inlet aperture of a grinder receives the measured quantity of the coffee beans output through the outlet aperture of the metering device and grinds the coffee beans to produce ground coffee. A nozzle is arranged to introduce moisture to the ground coffee output by the grinder, producing ground and moistened coffee that is dispensed for brewing coffee in fulfillment of the coffee order.

An automatic machine to deliver a beverage containing caffeine includes a water container, a possible pump, a filtering element to contain, during use, a powdered mixture, a main pipe that connects the container to the filtering element, and a heating element, associated with the container and/or with the main pipe, able to be selectively activated to heat the stream of water delivered from the container toward the filtering element in order to infuse the powdered mixture.