A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage has an outside housing (30) having one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d). The machine includes a user-interface device (31) movable from: a deployed operative position adjacent to a face (30a) of such one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c) so that the device (31) is accessible by a user; to a retracted storage position in the outside housing (30). The user-interface device (31) is movable from its deployed operative position into its retracted storage position and vice versa along a first direction (31) and a second direction (31) that is non-parallel to the first direction (31).

The present invention relates to a beverage preparation system (10) for controlling a beverage preparation process by injection of liquid into a cartridge (20), the system comprisinga pressure adjustable pump (2) for delivering different pressures upon varying at least one of its drive characteristics such as the speed of the pump, a sensor (3) for measuring an operating parameter of the pump (2) such as a current absorbed by the pump, a flow sensor (1) for measuring a liquid flow parameter of liquid injected into the cartridge (20), a control unit (6) designed to control an extraction pressure of the cartridge (20) by adjusting the drive characteristics of the pump (2) based on pre-established pressure interpolation data (12) depending on the measured liquid flow parameter and the measured operating parameter of the pump.

An apparatus for preparing a coffee beverage. The apparatus comprises a holder for receiving a coffee container. The holder comprising at least one outlet opening having at least one orifice for generating a coffee beverage flow when coffee beverage is fed to the outlet opening. A liquid flow path extends between the orifice and at least one outflow opening for discharging coffee beverage from the apparatus, a coffee outlet chamber being included in the liquid flow path. The apparatus further comprises an air flow generator for during operation- generating a flow of air in the coffee outlet chamber for entraining in the flow of air an aroma of the coffee beverage; said coffee outlet chamber comprising at least one dispenser opening for dispensing coffee beverage aroma in a direction away from the apparatus, in particular into the direction of the user. The at least one dispenser opening is separate from the at least one outflow opening. A method for preparing coffee beverage comprises the step of generating a flow of air in the coffee outlet chamber.

Provided are a coffee extraction device and a coffee extraction method, which are capable of extracting coffee from a coffee capsule (capsule coffee) and the like. The coffee extraction device can comprise: a coffee extraction unit on which a coffee capsule is to be mounted; a pump for pressurizing water and supplying the same to the coffee extraction unit; a flow rate sensor for measuring the flow rate of water to be supplied to the coffee extraction unit; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the pump on the basis of the flow rate to be sensed at the flow rate sensor.

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.

The present invention refers to a supply cartridge (1) comprising a package casing (11) adapted for housing a support (2) of single portions, provided as a strip-like flexible support, or similar, and presenting a plurality of single dose portions (21) of an edible substance, such as for example coffee, disposed successively along a respective longitudinal direction. In particular, the supply cartridge (1) according to the present invention comprises a package casing (11) that presents an exit open adapted so that provided a more efficient and reliable displacement of said support (2) of single portions out of said package casing (11). The present invention further refers to a system of supply cartridges comprising at least two types of supply cartridges (1, 1), as well as to a process for preparing beverages in a machine (10) for preparing beverages of the type of the present invention.

A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage has an outside housing (30) with one or more outside faces (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d). The machine includes a dispensing head (35) that has a beverage outlet (36) and that is movable: outwards out of the outside housing (30) into a deployed operative position in which a beverage is dispensible via the outlet (36) to a user-cup or user-mug (4); and inwards into the outside housing (30) into a retracted storage position. The machine has a liquid circuit for processing beverage and delivering such beverage into the beverage outlet (36), the liquid circuit comprising at least one activatable unit (40, 51, 52) that is passed through by liquid during beverage preparation. The dispensing head (35) is configured so that it can be maintained in: the deployed operative position whether the activatable unit(s) (40, 51, 52) is/are activated or maintained activated or deactivated or maintained deactivated; and/or the retracted storage position whether the activatable unit(s) (40, 51, 52) is/are activated or maintained activated or deactivated or maintained deactivated.

Provided is a refrigerator, comprising a cabinet, a door and a water dispensing device, the water dispensing device comprises a first water tank connected with an external water source, a first water passage, a beverage making chamber, a dispenser, a second water tank and a second water passage connected with the dispenser. The refrigerator according to the present invention at least has two water passages, in which the first water passage provides a room temperature beverage, and the second water passage provides ice water, so that user may obtain at least the room temperature beverage and the ice water through the dispenser.

A machine (1) has a unit for preparing and dispensing via an outlet (36) a beverage. The machine includes: an outside housing (30) with one or more outside faces (30a,30a,30b,30c,30d); and at least one placement member (30e) for resting onto a generally flat external support surface (5) in a configuration such that the unit is in an orientation for preparing and dispensing the beverage via the beverage outlet (36) to a beverage dispensing surface (5,37). At least one placement member (30e) is movable and has: a deployed placement position providing a stability of the unit in this orientation on the external support surface (5); and a retracted rest position within the outside housing (30) or collapsed against the outside housing (30).

A machine for dispensing beverages from a pod, includes a frame, a container including a pod-receiving zone, and an opening/closing device arranged between the frame and the container so as to pivot the container along a vertical axis between a closed position permitting the beverage to be dispensed and an open position permitting access to the pod-receiving zone, wherein the opening/closing device is configured such that the container has a 180 angular stroke for moving from the closed position to the open position and vice versa, such that a direction of rotation of the container can be clockwise or counter-clockwise, at the user's discretion.