A beverage maker includes a heating device for heating water, a cold water inflow, a first hot water outlet, at least one second hot water outlet, a cold water path connecting the cold water inflow to the heating device, a first hot water path connecting the heating device to the first hot water outlet, at least one second hot water path connecting the heating device to the at least one second hot water outlet, a conveying device for conveying water, a first flow meter that is arranged in the cold water path or in the first hot water path, and at least one second flow meter that is arranged in the at least one second hot water path. A method of determining hot water amounts dispensed by a beverage maker and/or hot water amounts used for beverage preparation is also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for automated preparation and delivery of a beverage. A first cup-transfer-mechanism is configured to receive a cup from a cup dispenser and to move the cup along a first axis within the apparatus during the preparation of the beverage. A second cup-transfer mechanism is configured to receive the cup containing the beverage from the first cup-transfer mechanism after the beverage has been prepared, wherein the second cup-transfer mechanism is configured to move the cup along at least one of a second axis and a third axis within the apparatus, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are mutually perpendicular. A pick-up station where the customer picks up its beverage is configured to receive the cup from the second cup-transfer mechanism and to make room to receive subsequent cups without requiring human interaction. Multiple beverages can be prepared and delivered simultaneously.

The disclosure generally relates to a beverage dispensing system for parallel beverage extraction. The beverage dispensing system may include two brew chambers configured to both prepare beverage components at the same time. The beverage dispensing system may include two dispensing points configured to simultaneously dispense beverage components prepared by a first brew chamber and a second brew chamber. In some embodiments, a beverage dispensing system configured to prepare beverage components in one brew chamber can be modified to include one or more components, features, and/or functionalities from the beverage dispensing system for parallel beverage extraction.

A professional coffee machine includes a supporting frame; a boiler mounted thereon with a tank of at least 8 liters receiving water and heating it to a temperature of about 122-130 C. for the thermo-controlled production of pressurized steam; a preheater having a first heat exchanger associated to the boiler so that the boiler water heats, by heat exchange, the supply water crossing the first exchanger to a first temperature T.sub.1 that is lowerly close or substantially equal to a second temperature T.sub.2, optimal for preparing a coffee infusion; a dispensing unit of the coffee infusion having its own thermo-controlled heating element, configured to bring the water outlet from the preheater to the second temperature T.sub.2, if T.sub.1 is less than T.sub.2; a thermal insulating member that mechanically constrains the dispensing unit to the supporting frame; and a dispenser of pressurized steam in communication with the tank.

Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.

The present invention is related to a coffee machine comprising a first brewing chamber (9) and a second brewing chamber (10) located in a housing (8), a control panel (15) for selecting the brewing mode (16), one or more brewing buttons (26) (28) (30) (32) (34) located thereon, and a controller (18) having a processor (36), a memory module (40) and a speaker (42) associated with a signal transmission from the first brewing chamber (9) and the second brewing chamber (10); being the controller (18) configured to receive a notification signal by tripping the thermostat switch (24) set to transmit a signal from the first brewing chamber (9), and to wait for 5 minutes and then to play a brewing completed notification sound file (44) stored in a memory module (40) of the controller (18) through a speaker (42); and being the controller (18) also configured to play a brewing completed notification sound file (44) stored in the memory module (40) of the controller through the speaker (42) with a notification signal from the level sensor (20) set to transmit a signal from the second brewing chamber (10) to the controller (18).

A single or multi-level stirrer and dispenser having a base with a motor and preferably at least two beverage infusers, a first one placed on top of the base and the second placed on top of the first infuser, with any subsequent infusers stacked top of a lower infuser. Each infuser includes a receiving spindle affixed to its bottom. A stirrer with an axle and at least one blade extending from the axle is insertable into the receiving spindle so that the axle rotates within the receiving spindle. Each infuser includes a cover and a discharge valve for dispensing a beverage within the infuser. A lid is removably attached to top of the last infuser. The motor includes a rotor which is removably coupled to the axle in the first infuser, and each axle in each of the infusers is removably coupled to the axle in an adjacent infuser.

A method and apparatus for simultaneous brewing and beverage dispensing, in which a brew basket is positionable in a beverage dispenser to permit brewing. The brew basket includes a novel shape that permits it to take advantage of current beverage dispenser configurations to ease the brewing process.

A beverage system comprising a vessel and a liner assembly. The vessel may include a spigot with a passage configured to receive at least a portion of a liner assembly. The liner assembly may include a flexible liner, a flexible tube, a rigid cuff, and a tamper evident connection therebetween. The flexible liner may be positionable in the vessel. The flexible tube positionable in the passage of the spigot. The rigid cuff disposed in at least a portion of the tube. The tamper evident connection may be provided between the tube, liner, and cuff.

A professional coffee machine includes a supporting frame; a boiler; a preheater to prepare a coffee infusion having a first heat exchanger with the boiler to heat the supply water crossing the first exchanger to a first temperature T.sub.1 close or substantially equal to a second temperature T.sub.2 corresponding to the optimal temperature for a coffee infusion; a dispensing unit of the coffee infusion having a thermo-controlled heating element that brings the water released from the preheater to the second temperature T.sub.2 if T.sub.1 is lower than T.sub.2; a thermal insulator that mechanically constrains the dispensing unit to the frame; a heater for preparing a tea infusion or the like having a second heat exchanger with the boiler to heat the supply water crossing the second heat exchanger up to a third temperature T.sub.3 corresponding to the optimal temperature for preparing a tea infusion or the like.