A dispenser for dispensing a selected volume of water at a specified temperature. The dispenser includes a source of water at an elevated temperature and a source of water at a lower temperature. An electronic controller determines the volume of water needed from each source in order to arrive at the selected volume and temperature. The dispenser uses a recirculation valve to circulate at least the elevated temperature water in the tank and in the outlet in order to ensure the temperature of the water is as expected throughout the system to achieve the specified temperature.

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient from a pod. The dispensing apparatus comprises a pod support region configured to support a pod, an actuator configured to engage with a corresponding actuator engagement region of the pod, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the pod. The apparatus is configured to cause the actuation member to cause an opening to be formed in a pod supported by the pod support region. The apparatus is further configured to cause the rotation mechanism to cause the pod to rotate about an axis of rotation during a dispensing operation, so as to cause the beverage preparation ingredient to be released from the pod via said opening.

A beverage preparation device, in particular for preparing coffee, tea or milk beverages, having a milk system for dispensing milk and/or milk froth, and having a control unit for controlling the beverage preparation device to dispense beverages portion by portion. The milk system here has a connectable conveying line to a milk container, and a milk pump which is attached to the conveying line. A first mechanical flow meter is arranged in the conveying line, this flow meter meters the volume of milk conveyed by the milk pump and is connected in terms of signaling to the control unit.

A liquid dispensing system, a liquid flow control assembly or member and a liquid dispenser. Preferably, the liquid dispensing system includes a single hot water tank. A liquid flow control assembly operably connected to the hot water tank is configured to direct only water from an upper portion of the hot water tank to a flavored beverage brewer (e.g., coffee or tea brewer) so that the flavored beverage is at an optimal elevated temperature when dispensed. The liquid flow control assembly or member is further configured to mix water from an upper portion of the hot water tank with water from a lower portion of the hot water tank and provide the water mixture to a hot water dispensing nozzle or outlet of the liquid dispenser to reduce the temperature of the water directed to the hot water dispensing nozzle or outlet.

A mixing apparatus is configured to efficiently input noodles coated with an additive to a receiving tray, with no need to perform weighing again after the noodles are input to the receiving tray. The mixing apparatus includes at least two hoppers that each house falling noodles and that allows the noodles to fall through rotation of the hoppers. A supply device supplies a sauce to the noodles in the hoppers, and the two hoppers are spaced from one another in the falling direction.

This disclosure relates to a sanitary fitting for dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages. A disclosed system includes a first control element for setting a quantity of the prepared liquid to be dispensed and an actuating element for providing the quantity of prepared liquid set by means of the first control element, wherein at least one second control element is configured to select a type of preparation, for example, from at least two different types of preparation, of non-prepared liquid, wherein the first and the at least one second control element are actuatable independently of one another.

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

A water boiler for dispensing units of espresso coffee machines. It is composed of a first hollow body (2) having an upper end (12) and a lower end (3), in which conventional means are placed for attaching and detaching a portafilter (4), the latter being operable via a handle (5).

The boiler comprises a second hollow body (11) sealingly connected to the upper end (12) of the first body (2), and an electric heating serpentine resistor (13) accommodated in the cavities (9, 10) formed by the two hollow bodies (2, 11). A bottom wall (16) adjacent to the lower end (3) of the first body (2) has a plurality of ducts (22, 23, 24, 25, 29) which are part of the hydraulic circuit of the dispenser unit for supplying the beverage-forming hot water to the dose of pressed coffee contained in the filter.

The boiler includes a tubular element (19), having a predetermined volume capacity, inserted in at least one (25) of the plurality of ducts that are part of said hydraulic circuit for supplying hot water to the dose of coffee. This tubular element acts as a pre-infusion chamber for the dose of coffee and is removably mounted in said bottom wall (16) of said first body (2), to be able to be replaced with another one having a different capacity.

An automatic beverage system for producing a hot flavored beverage. The system includes a base unit having a water reservoir, a control system for heating liquid from the reservoir, a cartridge arm having a water injector and a cartridge holder, a pump and tubing system connecting the water reservoir to the cartridge holder and used to move water, and a container base positioned in an area adjacent the base unit and below the cartridge holder. The cartridge holder is adapted to receive interchangeable cartridges depending on the type and size of beverage desired. The beverage system is capable of using a beverage pod to dispense an individual cup of coffee or the like, and it is also capable of brewing larger volumes of coffee using freshly ground coffee beans. The heating element and related safety features ensure that the water is safely heated and maintained at an optimal brewing temperature.

A machine (1) for dispensing espresso coffee is described, comprising at least one boiler (3) for containing and heating water, at least one container (4) suitable to contain the water for dispensing the coffee, at least one inlet hydraulic circuit (5) suitable to connect said boiler (3) and said container (4) to a water supply line, at least one coffee dispensing unit (6), at least one outlet hydraulic circuit (7) suitable to connect at least said container (4) to said coffee dispensing unit (6). The inlet hydraulic circuit (5) comprises at least one inlet block (8) having at least one water passage duct (9) provided with at least one inlet port (9a) connectable to a water supply line, with at least one passage mouth (9b) communicating with said boiler (3) and with at least one outlet port (9c) fluidically connected with at least one water distributing element (80, 80) to distribute the water to at least one container (4). The distributing element is provided with at least one inlet opening (82, 82) fluidically connectable to the outlet port (9c) of the inlet block (8) and with at least one distribution opening (83, 83) for the fluidic connection to said container (4).