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.

A nozzle 20 has a fluid flow passage 26 which defines a fluid flow path from an inlet 5 end of said passage towards an outlet end of said passage. A restrictor 29a is movable under the control of an actuation system 27 relative to the passage to vary the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid flow path through the passage. The restrictor 29 is moved to project into the passage to provide a restricted opening in the passage or removed from the passage to allow an unrestricted flow through the 10 passage. The nozzle 20 is particularly suitable for use in a beverage preparation machine to generate microfoam in a beverage. When the restrictor 29 is retracted from the passage 29, the passage and the restrictor can be cleaned by flushing the nozzle. The restrictor 29 may be a pin-like member aligned with the passage and moveable parallel to the axis of the passage.

Milk module for generating milk foam or milk beverages, preferably for installing into a coffee machine, is designed as an independent unit. The milk module includes a cooling chamber connected to a cooling assembly for receiving a milk container, a conveyor pump, a steam generating device, a device for heating milk or generating the milk foam, and a connection system. The heated milk or generated milk foam is conveyed through a discharge line to the coffee outlet in the coffee machine by the connection system. A cleaning container with a cleaning agent can be positioned into the cooling chamber instead of the milk container. A suction tube is mounted in the refrigerated box in a pivotal manner, which hangs freely at the bottom, and which in the forwards-pivoted position can be contactlessly inserted into the milk container or the cleaning container from the top when being installed.

A mixing apparatus is described. The mixing apparatus has a first port for receiving milk, a second port for receiving steam, and a mixing chamber for mixing the milk, the steam, and air. A channel arrangement connects the first port and the second port, and defines an air intake channel which leads to a frothing section. The mixing apparatus is designed such that, in use, the frothing section fills sufficiently with steamed milk that has a direct path from the second port to the mixing chamber is interrupted by the steamed milk. This provides a noise reduction during use of the mixing apparatus. A flow reducing means, such as a barrier, may be used for this purpose.

The invention provides a beverage preparation system (1) for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, which system comprises a hot beverage ingredient cartridge (2′), a cold beverage ingredient cartridge (2), and a beverage preparation device (4) adapted to prepare hot and cold beverages. According to the invention, the beverage preparation device (4) comprises a water dispensing manifold (10) for directing hot water and cold water to a dispensing location, the water dispensing manifold (10) comprising a feed lace (11), a cold water conduit (14) and a hot water conduit (16) that ends in a port (20) provided in a wall of the cold water conduit (14). The hot water conduit (16) has a cross section that is smaller than the cross section of the feed lance (11), such that a flow of hot water fed from the hot water conduit (16) into the feed lance (11) via the port (20) passes through part of the cold water conduit (14) and through the feed lance (11) without contacting them.

A fan-based steaming and foaming device is provided with a fan assembly and an activation device between a steam tube and an ejection tube. The invention employs an air pressure difference of a fan to directly inject, into a liquid, air required for foaming.

A mixing apparatus has a first port for receiving milk, a second port for receiving steam and a mixing chamber for mixing milk, steam and air. A channel arrangement connects the ports as well as defining an air intake channel which leads to a frothing section. An adjustment element is provided for adjusting a seal in the vicinity of the air intake channel, thereby to adjust a frothing level.

An electromagnetic induction continuous-flow milk heater for an automatic beverage vending machine has a tubular body that includes an inlet and an outlet. Milk to be heated into the tubular body. Heated milk flows out of the tubular body through the outlet. An electrical winding is wound around the tubular body that can be electrically powered to generate an electromagnetic induction field. The tubular body is made of an electrically conductive material to enable heating by electromagnetic induction from the electromagnetic induction field. The heater can include an insert housed inside the tubular body that extends along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The tubular body and the insert delimit, at least between an external surface of the insert and an internal surface of the tubular body, a helical flow channel for the milk, which extends in a helix around the longitudinal axis.

A machine for dispensing coffee comprising: includes at least one pump, at least one heating device, and at least one delivery group. The pump sends pressurized water to the delivery group, and the heating device heats the water sent to the delivery group.

The machine further includes at least one container of ground coffee; and a dispensing opening adapted to deliver, into a cup, coffee obtained by percolating the pressurized heated water through a dose of coffee powder in the container, wherein the coffee includes liquid coffee and coffee cream;

The machine includes, in proximity of the dispensing opening, a coffee quality optical sensor adapted to intercept the coffee flow exiting the dispensing opening which detection is processed by a processing and control unit to generate a signal indicative of the properties of the coffee cream and/or a signal proportional to the extraction of coffee in the liquid coffee.

The invention relates to a system for aerating a liquid food product, wherein the system includes a bubble generator (5) for generating bubbles in a liquid food product flow. The bubble generator (5) includes a wall (23) having gas transmissive pores, which wall separates an air supply space (24) from the liquid food product flow, wherein an air supply (4) is provided for supplying air to the air supply space (24). The air supply (4) includes an air drying device (7) for drying air, preferably dehumidifying air, to be supplied to the air supply space (24) and/or a container (8) containing pre-dried air, said container (8) being arranged for supplying dried air to the air supply space.