Embodiments of improved generation of steam and heated liquids in a beverage system via the use of different pathways through liquid processing modules to process liquid to different, desired states are disclosed. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

A machine for preparing coffee beverages comprises an infusion unit comprising an infusion chamber suitable to contain a quantity of coffee powder to be subjected to infusion, a grinding unit to grind coffee beans and obtain coffee powder, a water tank connected to the grinding unit, means for feeding and heating the water, and a dispensing unit fluidically connected to the infusion unit and configured to dispense the beverage prepared into a receptacle. The invention also concerns a method to regulate a machine for preparing coffee beverages.

A method of brewing hot beverage with an electric hot beverage brewer (20) with a duty cycle modulated DC voltage dispense pump (44) with an inlet (46) connected to a de-aerator (24) and beneath a lower limit and an outlet (48) located above an upper limit the surface a hot water tank (22) is finely controlled by a high frequency pulse-width, modulated, square power input voltage (FIG. 2) with a duty cycle controlled in accordance with predetermined profiles stored within a controller (28) to selectively change the flow rate out of the pump onto a distribution dome (50) during a dispense period of a brew cycle to achieve optimum brewing of different types of beverage ingredients and varieties of the different types and to selectively change the spray pattern of hot water onto the ingredient (53) within the basket assembly (52) between vertical and acute angles including acute angles that pass hot water into a bypass gap (56).

A flow delivery system to deliver and monitor a liquid flow, using a pump, and a monitoring device (e.g. a flow meter) are described. A controller determines if the flow is a liquid flow or a gas flow by reducing a drive signal for the pump from a first drive signal to a second drive signal. This changes the characteristics of both the pump drive signal and the characteristics of the resulting flow. Based on the change in the characteristics, the flow is determined to be a liquid flow or a gas flow.

A beverage system includes a housing and a brew basket associated with the housing. The brew basket includes a brew chamber. A pressurization system is associated with the brew chamber. The pressurization system is selectively operable to increase a pressure within the brew chamber to control a rate at which a fluid passes through the brew chamber to an outlet formed in said brew basket.

Coffee makers with features for rapid and/or multiple extraction processes, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes a brew chamber, a coffee chamber, a filter device, and an accelerated extraction device configured to accelerate a flow of coffee from the brew chamber to the coffee chamber. During a first brewing process, a controller directs a first volume of hot water into the brew chamber to form a first a volume of coffee for delivery from the brew chamber into the coffee chamber. During a second brewing process, the controller directs a second volume of hot water into the brew to form a second volume of coffee for delivery into the coffee chamber to mix with the first volume of coffee. The controller activates the accelerated extraction device to move at least one of the first and second volumes of coffee.

The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a beverage, more particularly, for a vehicle comprising: —a brewing unit (2) for receiving a dose (3) of beverage ingredients, —a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit, —an electronic control unit (5) for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump, wherein the electronic control unit (5) is arranged to control the activation and deactivation of the pressure pump (4), by providing output to the pressure pump as response to input indicative of a determined inclination angle relative to horizontal and/or to a detected spatial displacement or acceleration; said input being received from inclination angle and/or displacement sensing means (6) which are part of and/or foreign to the device.

A hot beverage brewing apparatus comprising a water input, a water pump connected to the water input and provided with a first control loop for controlling a flow generated by the water pump, a thermal heater connected to the water pump and provided with a second control loop for controlling the heating by the thermal heater of the water supplied by the water pump, and a brewer unit connected to the thermal heater with a first outlet for the hot beverage, wherein the thermal heater is provided with a second outlet for steam.

A coffee maker efficiently automates the process of pour-over coffee brewing by employing a computer system that controls how and when hot water is dispensed into a coffee filter. The computer system controls a mechanism that pulls a nozzle back and forth along a linear track, and rotates the linear track. A user generally puts a coffee filter in place and then pushes a button on the computer system once to allow the system to wet the coffee filter. Then the user could put coffee grounds into the coffee filter and push the button again to allow the system to lightly wet the surface of the coffee grounds. The user could then place the coffee cup underneath the filter and push the button a third time to allow coffee to be slowly brewed as spirals of hot water are dispensed on the coffee grounds.

Procedure and machine for preparing hot drinks starting from a tank of water at atmospheric pressure that allows fine adjustment of the infusion and extraction parameters, as well as automatic or manual management thereof, by way of at least one control unit, with selection being allowed by way of a rotary coder with a button function, the machine being equipped with a single rotary pump controlled by way of a pulse-width modulation circuit and with wireless communication means. The machine is destined for the industrial sector of manufacturing machines for preparing hot drinks.