A method of preparing a brewed beverage using a beverage brewing apparatus includes providing a flavorant, identifying a process cycle including one or more infusion cycles for preparing the brewed beverage, performing said one or more infusion cycles, wherein said performing of said one or more infusion cycles includes providing fluid to said flavorant, and varying a temperature of said fluid provided to said flavorant during a single infusion cycle of said one or more infusion cycles, or between a plurality of infusion cycles of said one or more infusion cycles.

Disclosed herein is a bifurcated beverage preparation system for use with beverage capsules having frustoconical side walls, first and second sealed ends for containing a predetermined volume of a flavoring agent, a beverage preparation head including a housing having a liquid inlet and a beverage delivery spout, a retractable holder for positioning a beverage capsule along a liquid flow path extending between the liquid inlet and the beverage delivery spout, a hydraulically operated plunger for engaging and puncturing the beverage capsule when positioned along the liquid flow path, thereby exposing the flavoring agent contained therein, and a hydraulic operating unit mounted remotely from the housing and the faucet spout, operative to supply a liquid at a predetermined temperature and under a predetermined pressure to the liquid, thereby causing a flow of the liquid along the flow path through the beverage capsule, thereby delivering an outflow of a flavored beverage.

A beverage brewer includes a pump, a container, an intake channel, an outflow channel, and a brewing material holder. The pump has inlet and outlet ports to provide negative fluid pressure at the inlet port and positive fluid pressure at the outlet port. The intake channel provides fluid communication between an interior of the container and the inlet port. The outflow channel provides fluid communication between the outlet port and the interior of the container. The brewing material holder is configured to hold ground brewing material and is arranged at an issue end of the outflow channel. The pump is configured to draw liquid from the interior of the container through the intake channel and to issue the liquid to the brewing material holder through the outflow channel, thereby brewing a beverage. The brewing material holder is configured to issue the brewed beverage into the interior of the container.

A method of generating a desired temperature of an infused beverage within a brewing assembly that includes inducing a flow of a first solvent at a first temperature within a first solvent conduit upstream of a brewing chamber in a brewing assembly, inducing a flow of a second solvent within a second solvent conduit, separate from the first solvent conduit, upstream of the brewing chamber, and thermally modulating the second solvent to a second temperature higher and different than the first temperature. The method also includes selectively combining the first and second solvents at a resulting solvent conduit upstream of the brewing chamber to form a resulting solvent at a selectively desired temperature lower than the second temperature, receiving the resulting solvent at the brewing chamber housing a solute at the selectively desired temperature to produce an infused beverage, and discharging the infused through an outlet on the beverage assembly.

A sensor assembly for determining a temperature and an orientation of a jug having a bottom surface to rest on the assembly, the sensor assembly comprising: a temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the bottom surface, the temperature sensor being urged to move in a first direction; a diaphragm, the diaphragm being sealingly engageable with the temperature sensor and a platform supporting the jug, such that the temperature sensor extends through the platform to engage the bottom surface; a retainer, the retainer being connected to the temperature sensor and limiting movement of the temperature sensor in the first direction; and a signal generator for producing a signal when the temperature sensor is moved against the urge to move in the first direction.

A method for controlling a beverage maker involves the steps of preparing a first beverage having a first value of a beverage-preparation parameter, preparing 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 the beverage-preparation parameter of the selected beverage as a specification for the preparation of the beverage. A beverage maker includes a beverage-preparation device with at least one variable beverage-preparation parameter, which can assume at least two different values, and a control device configured to carry out the method.

A machine (1) for serving a beverage (7) via a dispensing outlet (8) to a consumer receptacle (9) by mixing water (3) from a water source (3′) with a flavouring ingredient (2), has a mixing unit (10) that comprises: a stationary support (11); a seat (12) having an ingredient opening (120); a closure part (13) configured to close and open the ingredient opening (120); and a wall part (14) that is movable inside the seat (12). The seat (12), the closure part (13) and the wall part (14) are: mounted to the support (11); and relatively movable between a transfer configuration and a mixing chamber configuration in which the seat (12) and the closure part (13) and the wall part (14) form a mixing chamber (12′) fluidically connected with the water source (3). The mixing unit (10) is provided with a chamber thermal conditioner (23,24), such as a chamber heater and/or a cooler, for conditioning at least one of the seat (12), the closure part (13) and the wall part (14). The chamber conditioner (23,24) is configured to thermally condition the mixing chamber (12′) prior to supplying water into the mixing chamber (12′) and independently of any thermal conditioning of such water (3) prior to such supplying of the water (3).

Described is a control method for dispensing a hot fluid in a fluid dispensing device, which comprises a power supply source; a source of fluid to be heated; a feed unit configured for picking up the fluid to be heated; a boiler or heat exchanger; a dispensing device configured for dispensing the hot fluid and a data control and processing system which actuates the following steps: a measurement of inlet parameters comprising at least an inlet power value and an inlet temperature of the fluid towards the boiler or heat exchanger; a cyclical calculation of a quantity of heat generated which must supply the boiler or heat exchanger and/or a quantity of fluid dispensed; consequent adjustment of the value of heat generated by the boiler or heat exchanger and/or the quantity of fluid dispensed, as a function of the measurements of the inlet parameters and of a wanted or desired value of outlet temperature of the fluid; the above-mentioned measurement, cyclical calculation and adjustment steps are performed simultaneously and in real time during a step of dispensing fluid by the dispensing device.

A coffee machine is provided. The coffee machine may include a water line configured to supply water, a pump configured to pressurize the water, a first in-line heating element configured to heat the water to an intermediate temperature, a second in-line heating element configured to heat the water from the intermediate temperature to a temperature set point during an extraction process, and one or more electronic control modules configured to receive brewing settings, the brewing settings including the at least one temperature set point, estimate, based partially on the intermediate temperature, a flow rate of the water through the first in-line heating element, and adjust, based at least partially on the estimated flow rate, a power provided to the second in-line heating element.

An apparatus for brewing coffee in a pre-existing vessel includes a frame, a basket, a means for agitating the basket and a power source. The basket includes at least one opening that is capable of permitting liquid to transgress into and out of the basket. The power source provides the necessary power for operating the motor. The motor is attached to the frame and a linkage connects the motor to the basket. The means for agitating the basket imparts motion to the basket during operation. The apparatus may further include an on-board heat source.