A technique allows display of a state in a process of extracting an extract from an ingredient. An extraction device includes a supply unit that supplies a liquid to an extraction vessel for extracting an extract from an ingredient, a control unit that controls the supply of the liquid by the supply unit, and a display unit that displays a state in the extraction vessel when the extract is extracted under the control of the control unit.

A method for operation of a drinks preparation machine serves for creating a total product from a first part-product and at least a second part-product and a third part-product. The method includes detecting a user input for specifying three quantity shares and creating a total product as a combination of the three part-products with quantities that correspond to the specified quantity shares. A graphic representation of the quantity shares is represented, each with a share display per quantity share, wherein a size of the share display is essentially proportional to the respective quantity share, and the size of at least one of the share displays and thus of the respective quantity share can be adapted in accordance with a user input.

A smart inductive heating appliance includes an interface for interacting with a package intelligence and communication module on a smart package. The smart heating appliance may also detect and charge chargeable devices inductively. A number of data sets may be utilized to enhance control of heating/cooking and to enhance safety. A thermodynamic load profile of the package may include detailed data correlations established in a package testing step and utilized to control heating of the package as well as to validate and authenticate the package.

Beverage preparation device (1) for preparing a beverage from a beverage dose (2) comprising: —a brewing unit (3) for receiving the dose (2) and preparing a beverage from the ingredients contained within the dose and pressurized liquid injected in the dose, —a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit (3), —beverage dispensing means (5) connected to the brewing unit and comprising a beverage injector (6) arranged for dispensing the beverage through a bottom (8) of a beverage receptacle (7); wherein the beverage dispensing means (5) comprises a residual beverage draining valve (9), between the beverage injector (6) and the brewing unit (3), which is arranged to be moved between a beverage dispensing position and a residual beverage draining position, wherein the residual beverage draining valve (9) and/or the beverage receptacle (7) comprise valve activation means (10) arranged to move the draining valve between a beverage dispensing position in response to the engagement of the bottom of the receptacle with the beverage injector and a residual beverage draining position in response to the removal of receptacle from the beverage injector (6).

A beverage preparation apparatus and method are provided, the apparatus including a brewing chamber, at least one pump configured to supply a diluent to the brewing chamber, two heaters configured to heat the diluent, at least one heater of the two heaters being a pipe heater, a controller configured to independently supply power to one or both of the heaters as a function of a flow rate and of a temperature of the diluent.

An electrically operated beverage maker, in particular electrically operated coffee machine, having at least one component which is subjected to wear and tear and hence maintenance-relevant, wherein at least one load parameter which characterises an actual wear and tear of the maintenance-relevant component can be determined, and in that at least one reliability parameter of the maintenance-relevant component can be calculated, taking into account the specific load parameter(s) of the maintenance-relevant component.

An apparatus for providing an infused or brewed beverage comprises a brewing arrangement which is configured to brew a beverage according to a selected one of a plurality of brewing processes, at least one being a hot brewing processes and at least one being a cold brewing process. The apparatus includes a controller configured to receive a user selection indicative of a required beverage, and to control the brewing arrangement in dependence upon the user selection. The apparatus may for example be used to provide either hot brew or cold brew coffee as required, without the need for multiple machines.

A handheld cylinder (103) capable of containing hot water. The cylinder has a pump 105 for pressurised the headspace above the hot water with air. The cylinder (103) also has a spout (107) which can be open and closed by a valve (500). When the pressurised air which has been warmed by the hot water is released from the spout (107), the air can be directed into a body of milk to swirl the milk in its container (109) to cause frothing and foaming of the milk.

A tamping device is disclosed herein which measures a tamp force applied to ground coffee in a portafilter and provides feedback to the user when a desired tamp force has been achieved so that the user can stop the tamping step when preparing the portafilter to brew espresso. The tamping device may also have a plurality of force sensors, which measure how even the user applied force is being applied to the ground coffee in the portafilter so that a density of the ground coffee is even throughout the compressed ground coffee formed by tamping the ground coffee.

A method for controlling a beverage maker (1) involves the steps of preparing (101) a first beverage having a first value of a beverage-preparation parameter, preparing (102) a second beverage having a second value of the beverage-preparation parameter different than the first value, receiving a user input that selects the first or the second beverage, and storing (105, 106) the beverage-preparation parameter of the selected beverage as a specification for the preparation of the beverage. A beverage maker (1) includes a beverage-preparation device (3) with at least one variable beverage-preparation parameter, which can assume at least two different values, and a control device (2) configured to carry out the method.