There is disclosed herein a level detection system includes a housing (120) having a plurality of wall portions defining a receiving space for a container (200). The system further includes a capacitor having a first plate (142a) and a second plate (142b), the wall portions including a first wall portion having the first plate (142a) and a second wall portion having the second plate (142b). When the container is in the receiving space, a capacitance of the capacitor depends on a level of substance in the container (200). The system also includes a processor configured to determine the level of the substance in the container (200) based on the capacitance of the capacitor.

The invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (1), comprising a delivery unit (2) for delivering a liquid through the beverage preparation machine (1), a dispensing unit (3) for dispensing the liquid delivered by the delivery unit (2), and a collection unit (8) being fluidly connectable to the dispensing unit (3) to selectively form a liquid path (P) to collect the liquid dispensed by the dispensing unit (3). The invention further relates to a method for dispensing a liquid, comprising (a) delivering a liquid through a delivery unit (2) of a beverage preparation machine (1), preferably the beverage preparation machine (1) of any one of the preceding claims, (b) dispensing the liquid delivered by the delivery unit (2) via a dispensing unit (3) of the beverage preparation machine (1), and (c) selectively fluidly connecting a collection unit (8) of the beverage preparation machine (1) with the dispensing unit (3) to form a liquid path (P) for collecting at least part of the liquid dispensed by the dispensing unit (3).

A beverage preparation machine (1) has: a beverage preparation module (2) comprising a module interface (21, 25, 26) and an auxiliary device (10) comprising a device interface (15, 16). The module and device interfaces being arranged for assembling the module (2) and the device (10) together. At least one of the module and device interfaces (15, 16, 21, 25, 26) comprises one or more dampening members (21) so arranged that the module (2) and the device (10) are in direct contact only via the dampening member(s) (21) when the module (2) and device (10) are assembled together via the interfaces (15, 16, 21, 25, 26).

A beverage preparation appliance includes a housing having a base defining a cavity having an open side and a dispensing portion supported on the base and defining a beverage outlet location suspended above the base. The appliance further includes a drip tray body defining a perimeter side wall and an interior wall separating an interior of the tray body within the perimeter side wall into a reservoir area and a storage area. The drip tray body is partially received within the cavity of the base through the open side thereof with the storage area positioned within the cavity and at least a portion of the reservoir area being positioned outside the cavity underlying the beverage outlet location.

A hand coffee maker includes a rack, a filtering device, a placement dish and a water tray. The rack includes an upright sheet, an annular top seat connected with an upper end of the upright sheet, and an annular bottom seat connected with a lower end of the upright sheet. The top seat has a center provided with a circular hole for placing the filtering device. The top seat has an outer periphery provided with a plurality of outer grooves to allow passage of a user's fingers. The bottom seat has a center provided with a circular hole for placing the placement dish. The bottom seat has an inner periphery provided with a plurality of inner grooves to allow passage of a user's fingers. The water tray is placed on the placement dish.

A beverage maker and a method for operating a beverage maker are provided, wherein the. beverage maker includes a discharge channel having a sensor configured to detect a cleaning agent in water and a control unit configured to receive measured values from the sensor and to take the received measured values as a basis for regulating a water intake from the water source. The method includes regulating water intake from the water source based upon the measured values from the sensor in the dis-charge channel to ensure that only an amount of water necessary for re-moving remaining cleaning agent from the beverage maker is utilized for flushing.

A multi-mode beverage brewer includes a body, a brewing chamber in the body configured to receive beverage brewing material, a flow controller in the body, a selector, and a tray. The flow controller is configured to control a flow of water to the brewing chamber such that in a first mode a first quantity of water or in a second mode a second quantity of water is provided to the brew chamber. The selector is configured to actuate the first mode or the second mode of the flow controller. The tray is configured to support a brewed beverage container to receive a brewed beverage from the brewing chamber. The selector is configured as a magnet and a magnetic sensing element. One each of the magnet and the magnetic sensing element is arranged in the body and in the tray.

A heightening device (10) is arranged for heightening a short cup (3) under a beverage outlet (20) of a beverage preparation module (2) configured to dispense beverage into a tall cup (3). The device (10) comprises: a bottom (12) for resting on a support surface (5); a platform (14) that is supported by the bottom and that is configured for receiving said short cup (3) and heightening thereof over the bottom (12); and a means (15,16) for assembling the bottom and the platform as a unit (12, 14) to a corresponding assembling means (25, 26) of said beverage preparation module under said outlet. The assembling means (15, 16; 25, 26) of such device (10) and of the module (2) are disassemblable for separating the unit (12, 14) from the module and removing the unit from under such beverage outlet (20) to allow placement of the tall cup (3) on said support surface (5) under the outlet (20).

A brewing material holder includes a holder body and a holder lid. The holder body is configured to receive and hold ground brewing material. The holder lid is configured to at least partially cover an open receiving end of the holder body. The holder lid includes a recessed portion configured to accommodate a nozzle of a beverage brewer. The holder lid can also include a through-hole configured to receive the nozzle and/or water issued by the nozzle.

Herein is provided a beverage apparatus for an aircraft galley. The apparatus includes: a fixed heater module including a hot water source configured to provide hot water; and a dispensing module. The dispensing module is slidably translatable relative to the fixed heater module between a retracted position and an extended position and includes: a brewing head; a support configured to support a beverage receptacle, wherein the support is attached to the brewing head; and a rigid pipe fluidly connecting the hot water source and the brewing head and attached to the brewing head. The brewing head, support and rigid pipe are configured to slidably translate together as a single unit.