The present invention provides a coffee tamper, comprising a casing. A driving device is arranged on the inner top of the casing, connected to a tamping device and used to drive the tamping device to press down and move up. The tamping device is used to press down a container filled with coffee powder and comprises a main shaft, the driving device is connected to the upper end of the main shaft, and a tamping head is connected to the lower end of the main shaft and can be pressed into the container; and in one of embodiments, a container pressing head is sleeved on outside of the tamping head and has an outer cover sleeved on outside of the tamping head, the lower edge of the outer cover is located on the same horizontal plane and presses against the upper edge of the container, and the tamping head can move up and down relative to the container pressing head. The present invention provides a novel coffee tamper, which can overcome defects of existing equipment, apply uniform pressure on coffee powder and make flat coffee powder.

Device and method embodiments discussed herein may be used to enhance a brewing process, extraction process, steeping process or infusing process. Such infusion processes may be used for making coffee, tea, oil, alcohol or any other suitable infused liquid where a user desires to enhance or control such a process.

A barcode, comprising: a code region, comprising at least bright point and a dark point, comprising code information; and a boundary region, formed as a closed shape surrounding the code region. A decoding direction of the code region is not relative to the boundary region. The code information is represented by at least one of: a color sequence, an intensity sequence and a relation between the bright point and the dark point. The present invention also provides a barcode processing system which can process the barcode to generate a control command, and provides a coffee machine using the barcode processing system. The barcode can be easily aligned by a closed boundary region, without using a frame buffer with a large size.

Container for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material comprises a code encoding preparation information, in particular preparation information for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine to prepare a beverage or a foodstuff with beverage or foodstuff material contained in the container, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion. The reference portion comprises at least one reference configuration defining a virtual reference line. The data portion comprises a virtual encoding line intersecting the virtual reference line at a virtual intersection point and a sequence of data units comprising at least two data units aligned at a distance from each other along the virtual encoding line for encoding a sequence of operations of the preparation information. Each data unit of the sequence of data units encodes an operation of the sequence of operations, wherein a relative position of each data unit in the sequence of data units encodes a nature of the encoded operation and wherein a distance between the data unit and the virtual intersection point and/or a distance between the data unit and another data unit of the sequence of data units or of another sequence of data units encodes a value of a condition for the performance of the encoded operation.

Machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2), such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food, wherein the machine comprises a capsule recognition module (8) for recognizing a type of a capsule (3) inserted in the machine (1), the capsule recognition module (8) comprising a light source (82) for lighting at least part of the surface of the capsule (3) and an optical sensor (81) for sensing an optical property of the at least part of the surface of the capsule (3); and wherein the capsule recognition module (8) is configured to: determine a correction value of the optical property by sensing the optical property of the at least part of the surface of the capsule (3) while said light source (82) is switched off; determine at least one sample value of the optical property by sensing the optical property of the at least part of the surface of the capsule (3) while the light source (82) is switched on; calculate a corrected sample value with the correction value and the at least one sample value; determine a type of the capsule by comparing the corrected sample value with at least one reference value, the at least one reference value being representative of a type of capsule.

Machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2), such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food, wherein the machine comprises a capsule recognition module (8) for recognizing a type of a capsule (3) inserted in the machine (1), the capsule recognition module (8) comprising a light source (82) for lighting at least part of the surface of the capsule (3) and an optical sensor (81) for sensing an optical property of the at least part of the surface of the capsule (3); and wherein the capsule recognition module (8) is configured to: determine a correction value of the optical property by sensing the optical property of the at least part of the surface of the capsule (3) while said light source (82) is switched off; determine at least one sample value of the optical property by sensing the optical property of the at least part of the surface of the capsule (3) while the light source (82) is switched on; calculate a corrected sample value with the correction value and the at least one sample value; determine a type of the capsule by comparing the corrected sample value with at least one reference value, the at least one reference value being representative of a type of capsule.

Water fed under pressure by a pump is heated using a heater to become hot water. The hot water flows through a main flow passage and is discharged into a dripper in which coffee ingredients have been set. A temperature control unit controls the heater based on a temperature detected by a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the hot water, such that the temperature of the hot water reaches a target temperature set in advance by a coffee beverage manufacturing program. In an extracting step for extracting the coffee beverage, a target temperature TTb in a middle stage of the extraction and a target temperature TTc in a later stage of the extraction are lower than a target temperature TTa in an initial stage of the extraction.

A system for distribution of beverages, such as espresso coffee and similar aromatic beverages, comprising at least one type of beverage recipient (1, 1′), such as a glass, cup or similar, and a beverage discharge disposition (2) operatively associated with a beverage preparation device (3). The beverage discharge disposition (2) is provided so that the beverage discharge flow impinges, with a given flow pressure, a flow regulation disposition (12) in the base region (11) of beverage recipient (1, 1′) along a direction opposite to the gravity force. The beverage discharge disposition (2) presents at least two engagement elements (23) arranged in common perimeter alignment and symmetric distribution around said beverage discharge element (21) and provided so that can be moved radially, outwards or inwards, between the open (I) and retention position (II), and vice-versa, by actuation means (25; 251, 252) arranged in centred and symmetric manner with relation to the beverage discharge element (21).

An espresso machine is provided that utilizes a mechanical valve in addition to a flow meter. This results in a low-cost espresso machine while delivering a measured volume of water for the espresso pour. The mechanical valve facilitates a machine with both selectable espresso pour and steam and/or hot water outlets. In this embodiment, the espresso machine utilizes a shared pump and water heater (e.g., a thermoblock, boiler or similar) for multiple functions and/or through different outlets. For example, water from the reservoir may be sent through the flow meter to the pump, then to the water heater, and eventually to either the grouphead or steam wand, or to a pressure release.

An espresso machine is provided that utilizes a mechanical valve in addition to a flow meter. This results in a low-cost espresso machine while delivering a measured volume of water for the espresso pour. The mechanical valve facilitates a machine with both selectable espresso pour and steam and/or hot water outlets. In this embodiment, the espresso machine utilizes a shared pump and water heater (e.g., a thermoblock, boiler or similar) for multiple functions and/or through different outlets. For example, water from the reservoir may be sent through the flow meter to the pump, then to the water heater, and eventually to either the grouphead or steam wand, or to a pressure release.