A flexible lid may include a body including an upper portion connected approximately perpendicular to a cylindrical sidewall, the body defining a recess and inner wall constructed and arranged to facilitate the attachment of the flexible lid to a container. The flexible lid may include a plurality of ribs integrally formed with the cylindrical sidewall constructed and arranged to facilitate the elastic attachment of the approximately cylindrical sidewall to a container. A floating ball valve may be disposed within the upper portion being constructed and arranged to function as a one-way valve such that escape gases and fluids may escape the container while also preventing environmental fluids and contaminants from passing through the flexible lid into a container.

A portion capsule for the preparation of a beverage with the aid of a beverage production machine, the portion capsule having a base element with a cavity for receiving a beverage raw material and having a capsule lid which closes the cavity, the base element includes a capsule bottom, a circumferential flange, and a capsule wall which extends from the capsule bottom to the circumferential flange, the capsule lid being fastened to the flange, the portion capsule having a feature which can be visually detected, in particular, by a detector of the beverage production machine.

A steam wand assembly for an espresso machine has features for preventing overheating of the tip of the steam wand. In a first aspect there is provided a steam wand device comprising a metallic main body tube, a steam hose that passes through the tube, the steam hose also passing through a flexible spacer that is within the tube. In a further aspect there is provided a steam wand device comprising a main body tube having a metallic primary tube and a metallic tip, the primary tube and the tip being attached to one another by a polymeric steam nozzle, the nozzle having a central bore that extends from an inlet adjacent to a lower end of a steam hose to an exit opening.

Operating unit for steam discharged from a steam lance in a controlled manner using a manually displaceable operating element. The operating element is displaced in one direction from an engaged starting position, in which there is no steam discharge, into engaged positions for discharge of determined amounts of steam, or displaced in the opposite direction, in which the amount of steam varies with the displacement. The operating element has a fixed casing, an outlet head displaceably mounted on the casing, a steam lance fastened to the head, and a displaceable casing including the operating element. The casing is engaged in the starting position or in the positions or can be displaced in the opposite direction, in which the steam is almost continuously variable. Milk froth is produced optimally according to the desired discharge type, in accordance with the amount of milk located in a cup.

The present invention relates to a centrifugal coffee brewing device, having: a spinning assembly which is rotatable about a main axis, the spinning assembly having: a chamber element comprising a bottom wall, a cylinder element having a filter, wherein the chamber element and the cylinder element form a brewing chamber, a main drive for rotating the spinning assembly about the main axis for centrifuging the coffee, wherein the cylinder element including the filter is movable between a first, lower position in which the filter forms the circumference of the brewing chamber and in which the spinning assembly has a brewing configuration, and a second, upper position in which the circumference of the brewing chamber is open, and in which second position coffee residue can be ejected by spinning the chamber element.

A beverage preparation machine using capsules and configured to automatically recognize a type of a capsule inserted in the machine in order to adapt the beverage preparation parameters to the recognized capsule type.

The present invention discloses an electric sparkling water machine, comprising a machine body, and a water bottle and a gas bottle which are installed on the machine body, wherein the machine body is provided with a control switch and a control board, and the control switch provides a plurality of control gears; the machine body is provided with a movable pressure rod for driving an intake thimble to downward control the gas bottle to inflate the water bottle; the electric sparkling water machine further comprises: a motor connected with the pressure rod through a transmission mechanism for controlling the pressure rod to move; a detection switch for providing signals for the control board; a pressure sensor communicated with an exhaust port of the water bottle for triggering the detection switch; and an exhaust valve connected with the exhaust port of the water bottle.

A containment vessel (1) with integrated infusion capability for infusing a solid substance with a liquid. The containment vessel (1) includes a main containment body (3), a dispensing assembly (5), an infusion assembly (9), a transmission assembly (15), and an actuating assembly (17), the actuating assembly (17) being operatively connectable to the transmission assembly (15) for displacing one of inner and outer infusion components (11,13) with respect to the other via the transmission assembly (15), so as to in turn selectively operate the infusion assembly (9) between active and inactive modes, the actuating assembly (17) being manually operated and having at least one actuating component (17a), such an actuating ring (27), for example, being provided about a peripheral surface of the containment vessel (1).

A coffee-making apparatus has a brew-water chamber for containing heated brew water, a coffee chamber, a water delivery system for delivering heated brew water from the brew-water chamber to the coffee chamber, and a cooling apparatus for cooling the heated brew water before it reaches the coffee chamber. The water delivery system comprises a conduit and a valve, openable when the pressure at a valve inlet reaches a valve opening pressure, for controlling a flow of brew water into the coffee chamber. The water delivery system is configured to control the flow rate of brew water while the coffee chamber is filling with brew water. A method of making coffee is also provided.

A system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising an outer casing (6) and a recognition element (11) placed inside the outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) associated with the first piercing unit (17) for lighting the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11) and an electronic control unit, wherein, moreover, the recognition element (11) has a reading surface (12) which forms a convexity directed towards the detecting device (13).