An automated beverage brewing apparatus is provided including a controller for identifying a volume of bloom water and a bloom time for preparing a brewed beverage. A user interface provides at least one input to the controller. The controller is configured to vary the volume of the bloom water based on a type of brewed beverage and a size of brewed beverage input via the user interface.

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 beverage-making machine includes: a housing; an espresso station; a coffee station; a water reservoir; a fluid transport system fluidly connected with the water reservoir, the fluid transport system including a pump configured to provide selectively variable pressure, a heater positioned to heat fluid in the fluid transport system, and a three-way valve fluidly connected with the pump; and a controller configured such that, (a) upon a user's selection to brew espresso, the controller signals the pump to operate at a first, higher operating pressure and signals the three-way valve to direct fluid from the pump to the espresso brewing station, and (b) upon a user's selection to brew coffee, the controller signals the pump to operate at a second, lower operating pressure and signals the three-way valve to direct fluid from the pump to the coffee brewing station.

Some embodiments described here concern a machine for preparing coffee beverages by infusing a coffee powder in an infusion unit. Other embodiments concern a method to prepare a coffee beverage, including a step of pre-infusing and a step of infusing the coffee powder.

A system and method is provided for real time automatic scoring of physical and operational properties of automatic espresso coffee machines applicable both for a single machine and a network of machines. The scoring scheme includes semantic context based on automatic monitoring of operation process variables and end-user annotations and scoring criteria. The method is decoupled from the coffee machine's controlling apparatus and utilizes a sensory reading device that is able to communicate over standard and proprietary network protocols with sensors and with other devices of the same type over direct, peer to peer or standard network, and Internet connections.

A brewing guide device is provided having a communication device, a processing device, and a display device. The communication device obtains real-time weight information and real-time time information from an electronic scale. In a first brewing stage, the processing device determines whether the flow rate is higher than, equal to or lower than a first threshold according to the real-time weight information and the real-time time information to generate a first display instruction. According to the first instruction, the display device displays a first water line corresponding to the real-time weight information, a first target line corresponding to the first brewing stage, and a first display pattern corresponding to a first display block below the first target line on a display interface, wherein the level of the first water line is lower than or equal to the first target line.

A system for preparing a liquid product, for example a beverage. The system comprises a product preparation assembly comprising a concentrate holder for holding product concentrate, a product feedthrough channel, and a concentrate supply channel for feeding a flow of product concentrate from said holder to said product feedthrough channel. The concentrate supply channel is provided with a valve member for regulating the flow of product concentrate, the valve member being movable with respect to the concentrate supply channel between a first position in which the flow of concentrate is blocked and a second position in which the flow of concentrate is enabled. The system comprises a product preparation apparatus configured to cooperate with the product preparation assembly. The apparatus comprises a liquid injector for supplying a flow of liquid into the product feedthrough channel, in particular via the valve member, wherein the liquid injector is configured to engage the valve member for moving the valve member. The apparatus comprises a controller configured for automatically controlling a movement of the valve member along a range of positions via actuation of the liquid injector, said range of positions extending between the first position and the second position.

Various automated and semi-automated beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a container assembly configured to receive beverage, such as a milk. The container assembly can be configured to receive a flow of steam, air, or additional gasses and vapors to heat and/or aerate the beverage residing therein. The container assembly can include a temperature sensor configured to monitor the rate of heating, and automatically adjust the heating and aeration parameters accordingly.

An automated beverage brewing apparatus is provided including a controller for identifying a volume of bloom water and a bloom time for preparing a brewed beverage. A user interface provides at least one input to the controller. The controller is configured to vary the volume of the bloom water based on a type of brewed beverage and a size of brewed beverage input via the user interface.

An appliance for making a beverage comprising: a conduit defining a liquid flow path for the liquid; a pump to move the liquid under pressure along the flow path and configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, different to the first mode, a sensor assembly configured to determine a first flow rate of the liquid in the flow path when the pump operates in the first mode and determine a second flow rate when the pump operates in the second mode; and a controller operatively coupled with the pump and the sensor assembly and configured to cause the pump to switch from the first mode to the second mode if the first flow rate is below a first threshold and to cause the pump to switch from the second mode to the first mode if the second flow rate is above a second threshold. In the second mode, the pump causes the liquid to move under increased pressure than in the first mode to at least aid in resolving cavitation. A method of controlling the appliance to make a beverage is also disclosed.