A beverage maker platen overflow sensing system is disclosed. The sensing system includes a process control board (PCB) in communication with solenoid valves of a manifold, the solenoid valves controlling the flow of hot water (e.g., for brewing coffee or tea) into a server positioned in a platen of the beverage maker. The PCB further includes an overflow detection circuit connected to the solenoid valves. Two signal probes are positioned near the forward edge of the platen. Similarly, ground probes are positioned in the platen below the signal probes and providing a ground path to the PCB. The overflow detection circuit generates an electrical signal between the signal probes and detects an overflow state when fluid in the platen grounds the signal between the signal probes and the ground probes. While the overflow persists, the overflow detection circuit ceases the water flow by electrically signaling the solenoid valves to close.

A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: a beverage preparation module (20, 30) having a front face (21) with an outlet (31) for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support (10) located under the outlet (31) for placing a cup (2) under the outlet (31). The cup support (10) has a rear face (11) removably assembled to the front face (21) by a mechanical connector arrangement (12,22) that comprises a front hook (22) on the front face (21) disassemblable from a corresponding rear hook (12) on the rear face (11). The rear hook (12) has a retaining element (121) and the front hook (22) has a retaining element (221), the retaining elements (121,221) being mutually engaged when the cup support (10) is assembled to the front face (21) and disengaged when the cup support (10) is disassembled from the front face (21). The retaining element (121) of the rear hook (12) extends generally in parallel to the rear face (12) and the retaining element (221) of the front hook (22) extends generally in parallel to the front face (21), so that the rear face (11) and the front face (21) are relatively slid in parallel one over another to move the retaining elements (121,221): together from disengagement into mutual engagement to assemble the rear face (11) to the front face (21); and apart from mutual engagement into disengagement to disassemble the rear face (11) from the front face (21).

The collection tray (1) for discharged liquid/steam of a coffee machine (2) comprises a primary collection compartment (10), a secondary collection compartment (11), an overflow (12) of the primary collection compartment (10) for discharging the liquid into the secondary collection compartment (11), and at least two electrical conductors (13) positioned in the secondary collection compartment (11) and assembled on an oscillating support (14) for connection with two contacts (15) of an external electrical circuit for detecting the level of the liquid present in the secondary collection compartment (11).

A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: a beverage preparation module (20, 30) having a front face (21) with an outlet (31) for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support (10) located under the outlet (31) for placing a cup (2) under the outlet (31). The cup support (10) comprises a liquid collection receptacle (14) supporting a removable cup placement platform (16) that has a peripheral part (18). The collection receptacle (14) is delimited by at least one upright peripheral sidewall (15) forming a seat (15′) for placing the platform (16). The peripheral part (18) extends over and above the peripheral sidewall (15) when the platform (16) is placed in the seat (15′) so that the platform (16) is seizable at the peripheral part (18) adjacent the peripheral sidewall (15) by a user-hand for removing the platform (16) from the receptacle (14).

A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage into a beverage container includes a base, a dispenser, and a platform for supporting the beverage container. The platform is positionable relative to the base between a first position and a second position, in the second position the platform is nearer to the dispenser than in the first position. The platform has a first orientation in the first position and a second orientation in the second position. The second orientation is inverted relative to the first orientation. The platform includes a peripheral sidewall and a central panel defining a first drip tray facing the dispenser in the first orientation of the platform and a second drip tray opposite the first drip tray and facing the dispenser in the second orientation of the platform. A support plate having a support surface is removably positionable on the first peripheral rim and second peripheral rim.

A beverage forming method and system in which a carafe is positionable at a carafe receiving area of a beverage forming machine with a lid of the carafe in an open position or a closed position. The carafe may be positioned at the carafe receiving area in any one of multiple rotational positions within a range of 45 to 180 degrees, and the machine may detect whether the lid is open or not for any of the rotational positions. A drip tray may receive waste liquid into two different waste liquid receiving areas, and may detect the presence of liquid for different volumes received into the respective areas. Holes or other opening in the drip tray may be configured to receive liquid flowing down a side surface of a carafe when the liquid reaches a periphery of the carafe base.

A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: a beverage preparation module (20, 30) having a front face (21) with an outlet (31) for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support (10) located under the outlet (31) for placing a cup (2) under the outlet (31). The cup support (10) has a rear face (11) removably assembled to the front face (21) by a mechanical connector arrangement (12,22) that comprises a front hook (22) on the front face (21) disassemblable from a corresponding rear hook (12) on the rear face (11). The rear hook (12) has a retaining element (121) and the front hook (22) has a retaining element (221), the retaining elements (121,221) being mutually engaged when the cup support (10) is assembled to the front face (21) and disengaged when the cup support (10) is disassembled from the front face (21). The retaining element (121) of the rear hook (12) extends generally in parallel to the rear face (12) and the retaining element (221) of the front hook (22) extends generally in parallel to the front face (21), so that the rear face (11) and the front face (21) are relatively slid in parallel one over another to move the retaining elements (121,221): together from disengagement into mutual engagement to assemble the rear face (11) to the front face (21); and apart from mutual engagement into disengagement to disassemble the rear face (11) from the front face (21).

An on-demand hot water dispenser includes a housing, a water heating system received in the housing, and a faucet connected to the water heating system through the housing for dispensing hot water into a container. A drip tray is positioned below the faucet and a screen covers the drip tray to support the container during dispensing of the hot water.

A machine for dispensing a beverage (5) includes a beverage processing module (2) that has an outlet (20). The module (2) further has a first part (25) and a second part (26) that can be relatively moved between: a transfer configuration for introducing a beverage ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26) and/or removing the ingredient from therebetween; and a processing configuration for forming said beverage (5) from said ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26). The machine also includes: a liquid driver (31) for driving a liquid along a liquid line (30) from a liquid source (32) via the processing module (2) to the outlet (20); a drop collector (1) having a beverage guide (10) and a motor (11) for moving the guide (10) relatively to the outlet (20) into either a dispensing position for dispensing beverage (5) from the outlet (20) into a dispensing area (6) or a collecting position for dispensing residual beverage (5′) from the outlet (20) into a service area (7); a control unit (3) for controlling the liquid driver (31) and the motor (11, 11a, 11b); and a user-interface (3′) for providing user-instructions to the control unit (3). The module (2) comprises a module actuator (21) for driving the first and second parts (25, 26) from the transfer configuration to the processing configuration and vice-versa, the actuator (21) being independent of the motor (11). The control unit (3) is arranged to activate the liquid driver (31) and the motor (11) upon receiving a user-instruction from the user-interface (32) independently of a presence or an absence of a receptacle (60) in the dispensing area (6).

A hot beverage preparer includes a flow control system (2) with a water source (14), a brewing unit (40) with a brewing chamber (41) for accommodating of a substance to be brewed (S1) and an inlet line for dispensing brewing water into the brewing chamber (41), a heating device (9) for heating of the water directed into the brewing chamber (41), a pump (8) configured to move the water from the water source (14) to the brewing chamber (41), a control unit (18) for activating or deactivating the selected actuators (8, 9, 72) for preparation of a chosen beverage, and a discharge system (50) having a collection tray (34) for collecting of liquid (AW), with an inlet opening (53) and a filter medium (56) composed of a non-woven material or multi-layered fabric in the collection tray (34).