A coffee machine has a supporting body that delivers hot water for producing a beverage. A filter-holder is can be filled with a brewing material and releasably coupleable to the supporting body to receive hot water therefrom for brewing the brewing material to produce the beverage. A coupling device includes a first coupling part mounted on the supporting body and a second coupling part carried by the filter-holder. The coupling device is configured to tighten the filter-holder by a relative rotation of the first coupling part and the second coupling part. An automation device is configured to cause relative rotation of the first coupling part and the second coupling part. A user interface is configured to cause the coupling device to tight-couple and uncouple and/or a beverage delivery to start and stop in response to sensed actions or forces.

Coffee machine having a water system in which pressurized hot water circulates, at least one dispensing unit fed with pressurized hot water, a first filter holder housing a first filter for the preparation of espresso coffee, a second filter for the preparation of American coffee, having a funnel-shaped basket which with an upper collar with a cylindrical shape, which is inferiorly joined with a conical hopper perforated with a plurality of holes.

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.

Filter holder for espresso coffee machines having a cup-shaped body of circular profile, suitable for internally housing the filter, as well as a pouring device of the beverage disposed under the cup-shaped body and provided with at least one pouring spout, the filter holder being provided with connections for connecting the pouring device to the cup-shaped body, wherein the connections enable a bayonet coupling between the pouring device and the cup-shaped body.

A system for detecting the presence of a filter holder in a dispensing assembly of a coffee machine includes: a ring with an internal groove, a filter holder with a tab coupled with the groove and a proximity sensor. The groove has a semi-annular shape and is configured in such a way to receive the tab of the filter holder in bayonet coupling mode, wherein the filter holder is translated and rotated. The ring has a rotation stopper suitable for stopping the rotation of the filter holder in the ring in a stop point. The proximity sensor passes through the ring and finishes in the stop point of the groove of the ring.

A coffee tamping tool, comprising: a main body including, an internal compartment; and, a portafilter receptacle area configured for receipt of a portafilter therein; a control circuit board disposed within the internal compartment; and, a tamper disc disposed within the portafilter receptacle area.

A compacting auger for ground coffee has an automatic cut off that responds to either timing signals or to the torque resistance to the augur offered by the coffee that has been compacted. The automation of the cut off increases the consistency of compaction and reduces the amount of skill required to compact ground coffee for making espresso.

The present invention is directed to a capsule holder (2) for holding a capsule (C) carrying a beverage component and for being attachable in an attachment direction (I) to a beverage preparation device (3) of a beverage preparation machine (1) for beverage production, the capsule holder (2) comprising a holder body (4) having a cavity (40) configured to receive a capsule (C) via an insertion opening (41), and a lock element (5) for fixing the capsule holder (2) to the beverage preparation device, wherein the lock element (5) and the holder body (4) are connected to each other so that i) the lock element (5) is rotatably moveable relative to the holder body (4) about a fixing axis (F), and ii) the holder body (4) is translationally moveable relative to the lock element (5) along the attachment direction (I). The present invention is further directed to a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a capsule holder (2) according to the present invention and a beverage preparation device (3). Moreover, the present invention is further directed to a method for delivering a liquid through a beverage preparation machine (1) according to the present invention.

A tamping augur may be controlled in various ways to obtain a consistent fill height and uniformity in the distribution of coffee grinds in a portafilter.