An espresso machine has a built-in coffee grinder. A coffee grinding apparatus cooperates with a removable portafilter having a handle, the apparatus including: a cradle for supporting the portafilter; an actuator adjacent to the cradle for co-operating with the portafilter; a downward facing ledge engages a front tab of the portafilter for resisting imbalance of the portafilter when supported by the cradle. Wherein, when the portafilter is supported by the cradle and advanced forward, the front tab of the portafilter further contacts the actuator to operate an electrical switch, thereby causing a signal to be sent to a microprocessor for delivering coffee grinds to the portafilter.

An espresso machine has a built-in coffee grinder. A coffee grinding apparatus cooperates with a removable portafilter having a handle, the apparatus including: a cradle for supporting the portafilter; an actuator adjacent to the cradle for co-operating with the portafilter; a downward facing ledge engages a front tab of the portafilter for resisting imbalance of the portafilter when supported by the cradle. Wherein, when the portafilter is supported by the cradle and advanced forward, the front tab of the portafilter further contacts the actuator to operate an electrical switch, thereby causing a signal to be sent to a microprocessor for delivering coffee grinds to the portafilter.

A brewer system includes a reservoir, a steep chamber movable relative to the reservoir and positioned over a mouth of the reservoir, and a filter tape positioned between the chamber and the reservoir. Brewing substance and water are added to the chamber to form a brewed beverage that passes through the filter tape and into the reservoir through the mouth.

A method of recognizing a type of coffee from reference types of coffee, wherein each of the reference types of coffee is associated with a respective reference signal and wherein each type of coffee is associated to a characteristic combination of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee, may include: sensing, by one or more sensors, presence and concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee; generating a signal representative of the type of coffee according to the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds and the respective concentrations of the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds; comparing the generated signal with the reference signal associated with each of the reference types of coffee; and generating a recognition signal in response to the comparing of the generated signal with the reference signals.

A method of recognizing a type of coffee from reference types of coffee, wherein each of the reference types of coffee is associated with a respective reference signal and wherein each type of coffee is associated to a characteristic combination of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee, may include: sensing, by one or more sensors, presence and concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee; generating a signal representative of the type of coffee according to the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds and the respective concentrations of the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds; comparing the generated signal with the reference signal associated with each of the reference types of coffee; and generating a recognition signal in response to the comparing of the generated signal with the reference signals.

A control unit, a pump for supplying infusion water, a boiler for heating the infusion water, an infusion unit, a coffee mill, and a user interface including a selector for a beverage and/or a ground coffee dose. The coffee mill has a hopper for coffee beans, a rotating and a non-rotating grinder, a motor for directly or indirectly driving the rotating grinder, all with capability to adjust the distance between the grinders. A first sensor detects a number of turns and/or speed of the motor and/or of the rotating grinder. A second sensor detects a distance between the grinders. The control unit stores an algorithm for calculating a correct dose of ground coffee, configured to receive the value of ground coffee selected and the distance between the grinders to automatically generate the number of motor turns necessary to obtain the correct dose of ground coffee.

A control unit, a pump for supplying infusion water, a boiler for heating the infusion water, an infusion unit, a coffee mill, and a user interface including a selector for a beverage and/or a ground coffee dose. The coffee mill has a hopper for coffee beans, a rotating and a non-rotating grinder, a motor for directly or indirectly driving the rotating grinder, all with capability to adjust the distance between the grinders. A first sensor detects a number of turns and/or speed of the motor and/or of the rotating grinder. A second sensor detects a distance between the grinders. The control unit stores an algorithm for calculating a correct dose of ground coffee, configured to receive the value of ground coffee selected and the distance between the grinders to automatically generate the number of motor turns necessary to obtain the correct dose of ground coffee.

A coffee machine has a container for coffee beans, a grinder to which coffee beans can be fed from the container, a filter holder into which ground coffee can be fed from the grinder via a shaft, and a supply device for hot water which can be introduced into the filter holder. In the shaft between the grinder and the filter holder a closing device is provided with a rotatable flap which is movable between an open and a closed position. The flap is rotatable about an axis which extends substantially parallel to a plane of the flap and has a seal arranged on the outer periphery. This allows the shaft to be effectively opened and closed.

A coffee machine has a container for coffee beans, a grinder to which coffee beans can be fed from the container, a filter holder into which ground coffee can be fed from the grinder via a shaft, and a supply device for hot water which can be introduced into the filter holder. In the shaft between the grinder and the filter holder a closing device is provided with a rotatable flap which is movable between an open and a closed position. The flap is rotatable about an axis which extends substantially parallel to a plane of the flap and has a seal arranged on the outer periphery. This allows the shaft to be effectively opened and closed.

A coffee machine includes a housing that comprises a first platform, a second platform, a first robotic arm, a second robotic arm, and an information handling system. The information handling system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to receive and store a multiple beverage orders in a log and to monitor a position of a first cup and a second cup corresponding to a first beverage order and a second beverage order. The processor is configured to initiate a second sub-step of the second beverage order prior to initiating a second sub-step of the first beverage order in response to determining that a first sub-step of the second beverage order has terminated first and to transmit to the log of the memory that the second cup is at the third designated position for the second sub-step of the second beverage order to be performed.