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 invention comprises an apparatus and method of manufacture thereof for forming a frothing agent, including the steps of: forming a frozen pellet by at least partially immersing a first material in a liquid, the first material including at least one of: (1) a solid particle comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass and (2) a liquid drop comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass; sealing the frozen pellet in a container comprising an initial pressure exceeding one hundred pounds per square inch; and heating contents of the container, the step of heating resultant in: (1) a phase change of the nitrous oxide; and (2) formation of the frothing agent.

A method of operating a milk frothing device that includes at least one processor operatively associated with one or more actuators. The method is performed by the at least one processor and includes calculating a number of the actuators activated by way of contact with an underside of a vessel, determining a presence or an orientation of the vessel based on the calculated number of the activated actuators, and controlling an operation mode of the milk frothing device based on the determined presence or orientation of the vessel.

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.

A dispensing assembly for cold beverages includes a beverage supply conduit, an opening and closing tap for closing or opening the beverage supply conduit, a beverage dispensing conduit delimiting a fluid passage, a dispensing outlet arranged at the end of the dispensing conduit, an air supply conduit delimiting an air passage. The tap is directly connected to the dispensing outlet by providing a connecting coupling which connects the air supply conduit to the beverage dispensing conduit, the beverage dispensing conduit comprising a Venturi segment between the tap and the outlet in which, by flowing through the Venturi segment, the fluid passage reduces the cross section thereof and then increases the cross section thereof as in a Venturi conduit. An air passage regulating valve is provided in said air supply conduit for regulating the width of the air passage.

A method of printing with coffee-based ink comprises providing a thermal ink-jet cartridge having a quantity of a coffee-based ink disposed within; receiving optical density data from a user via a touch-screen computerized interface, where the data describes an optical density of the coffee-based ink present within an ink-jet pod; and computing a customized droplet-size for the coffee-based ink in its current state within the thermal ink-jet cartridge. A suitable printing apparatus can include coffee-based ink in a cartridge, an image-processing system, an image processing module for determining, inter alia, droplet size and missing/defective nozzles, and a nozzle-compensation module. Suitable ink formulations are human-edible and aqueous.

Disposable foaming device (100) for foaming a fluid (1) comprising a container compartment (20) and a foaming compartment (10), the container compartment (20) being pressurized by primary incoming air (14′) so that the fluid (1) is driven into the foaming compartment (20), wherein the foaming compartment (20) is provided with secondary incoming air (15′) to be mixed with the fluid (1) coming from the container compartment (20), the foaming compartment (10) being designed in such a way that the mixture of air and fluid (1) is moved under certain level of shear stress calculated so that it allows the mixture of air and fluid (1) to be emulsified in the foaming compartment (10). Typically, the foaming compartment (20) comprises an inner cylinder (11) and an outer cylinder (12), the inner cylinder (11) and the outer cylinder (12) being arranged concentrically so that a gap (13) is formed between them, the inner cylinder (11) being rotatable with respect to the outer cylinder (12), such that the mixture of fluid (1) and air is emulsified when driven through the gap (13).

A milk frother (1) including a container having a chamber (2) for containing milk, a mixing chamber (3) equipped with an external dispenser (4) for dispensing the milk, a connecting channel (5) for connection between the containment chamber (2) and the mixing chamber (3), a transfer impeller (6) for transferring the milk from the containment chamber (2) to the mixing chamber, a mixing impeller (8) provided in the mixing chamber (3), and disconnectable connector (9) for connecting the transfer impeller (6) and the mixing impeller (8).

The system for foaming milk comprises a container (2) for milk; an air inlet (3); a pump (4), wherein liquid milk is mixed with the air in order to produce foamed milk; and an outlet (6), wherein foamed milk is supplied, wherein the container is a container for powdered milk, and wherein the system for foaming milk further comprises a tank (8) for water and a premixing chamber (9). In the method for foaming milk, the milk is provided as powdered milk and is premixed with water in order to provide liquid milk which is mixed with the air in order to produce foamed milk. It enables a system and method for foaming milk to be provided which achieves the foaming of the milk with a “gel” effect from dehydrated powdered milk, the durability of which is much greater than liquid milk.

A method and device of providing a customized drink and/or printing on a drink.