An apparatus for preparing a beverage from capsules, including a liquid supply system (12) comprising a water reservoir (14) and a pump (16), an extraction block (8) comprising an injection block (9) including an injector head (28) and a housing (40), and an extraction mechanism (6) comprising a capsule holder (10) configured to receive a capsule. The injector head comprises an injection plate (27) having plurality of inlet injectors (34) with internal liquid channels (37) configured to pierce through a lid (30) of a capsule (26). The injector head comprises a water inlet (42) connected to the water reservoir (14) and an actuating mechanism (5) configured to displace the injector head between an open position whereby the capsule can be inserted or removed from the extraction block to a closed position whereby the injector head is sealingly closed against the capsule holder.

A capsule has an inlet face C formed by a circular section and a bulge section extending from the circular section so that the inlet face C is not symmetric in rotation. The capsule further has an optically readable code on a side wall of a cup-shaped body of the capsule opposite the bulge section. A beverage production machine has a capsule holder for holding the capsule in the beverage production machine so that the optically readable code can be read by a code reader. Liquid can be supplied to the capsule to produce a nutritional product. The optically readable code and the code reader can be prevented from being contaminated with liquid, vapor, dirt or the like. The beverage production machine can perform an automatic detection of the capsule type and a corresponding automatic setting of preparation parameters.

A beverage preparation machine of the type which uses pre-packaged containers of beverage ingredients includes a cartridge recognition device for determining the type of beverage to be prepared from a cartridge inserted into the machine and a variable geometry valve located downstream of a cartridge when inserted in the machine. The valve enables preparation of beverages at a range of pressures by having at least an open position and at least one restricted flow position, and a controller for selecting an initial valve position and controlling the subsequent operation of the valve according to the determination of the type of beverage to be prepared by the cartridge recognition device.

A capsule includes a deformable and/or compressible casing, provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity that is open and suitable for containing an initial product to obtain a final food product. A supporting element is fixed to a first edge of the casing and facing the cavity and a nozzle is fixed to the supporting element and arranged for delivering a fluid into the cavity which interacts with the initial product to make the final product. The nozzle also opens the base wall and enables the final product to exit when the casing is compressed and crushed.

A beverage preparation machine configured to dispense a beverage through an outlet nozzle assembly, the machine comprising: an outlet nozzle assembly having provided therethrough a first outlet and a second outlet; and one or more conduits arranged to deliver selectably fluid to the first outlet or the second outlet.

A beverage dispensing machine for producing a beverage from a capsule containing a product, includes an injecting arrangement arranged for piercing a covering element of the capsule and injecting into the latter a liquid interacting with the product to make a beverage, a housing element provided with a seat into which the capsule is insertable, a dispensing unit for dispensing said liquid into the capsule, said housing element rests on elastic elements and is slidable inside a chamber obtained in a box element that is insertable into a space of the dispensing unit, the chamber being provided with a fixed support intended for constituting a rest for a bottom of the capsule when the latter is inserted into the seat.

A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage with a beverage brewing device is disclosed. The beverage brewing device comprises a receptacle for receiving the capsule. The capsule comprises a cup comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid in use connected to the cup at a second end of the circumferential wall opposite the bottom. The wall, bottom and lid, in use, enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. At least a portion of a surface of the capsule conceived to, in use, interact with the receptacle is provided with at least one projection for forming a sealing engagement with the receptacle.

The present invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising: a reservoir (2) for a fluid, a brewing head (3) adapted to receive at least one ingredient capsule (100) comprising at least one beverage preparation ingredient (104), a pump (6) for pumping a predetermined volume of said fluid from said reservoir (2) to said brewing head (3), such that said fluid can be injected into said capsule (100), when said capsule (100) is received by said brewing head (3), to mix with said ingredient (104) under pressure and produce a predetermined volume of beverage, wherein the reservoir (2), the pump (6), and an inserted ingredient capsule (100) in use are in fluidic communication and form a fluid system (800), and wherein the beverage preparation machine (1) further comprises a pressure sensor (301; 302; 303; 304) adapted to measure internal pressure (P) within an ingredient capsule (100) inserted inside said brewing head (3), and a locking mechanism (401) adapted to prevent disconnection of the inserted ingredient capsule (100) from the fluid system (800) if the measured internal pressure (P) exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure value (Pt).

A portion capsule for producing a beverage. The portion capsule includes a capsule body that has a collar edge and a capsule bottom; a filter element located inside of the capsule body, the filter element is elastic, the filter element has a flange that is attached to the collar edge of the capsule body, the filter element has a bottom; and a cover attached to the capsule body. The bottom of the filter element is spaced apart from the capsule bottom such that a free space remains between the filter element and the capsule bottom. The filter element is spaced apart from the capsule bottom in such a manner that only before a liquid is applied to a beverage substrate, does the filter element not touch the capsule bottom.

Brewing unit (3) for a beverage preparation machine with a first brewing chamber half (11) and a second brewing chamber half (12), which are arranged to be movable relative to one another from a closed position for forming a closed brewing chamber into an open position in which a capsule (60) can be inserted into the brewing chamber. The brewing unit (3) has at least one, preferably two, holding means (38) which hold a capsule (60) in an intermediate position in the open position between the first and second brewing chamber halves (11, 12) when the capsule (60) is inserted and release it when the brewing chamber is closed. Before release by the holding means (38), the first and second brewing chamber halves (11, 12) are spaced apart in such a way that the brewing chamber halves (11, 12) cannot grip a capsule (60).