The present inventive concept consists of a logic controlled submersion brewing device that operates reliably with minimal user interaction. The brewer employs a submersion brewing technique to ensure a uniform extraction of beverage from solid extraction media. The device may be programmable to start on a timer. Parameters of the brew program may be customizable including serving size and extraction settings. The device will use vapor pressure to forcibly move beverage liquid across a sieve thereby separating the liquid from spent extraction media. Reliability and repeatability of the separation procedure is enhanced using a novel method of pressure control.

A passive valve arrangement is described. The passive valve arrangement is used in a hydraulic circuit of a coffee machine. The passive valve arrangement includes an inlet channel and an outlet channel with a valve member between the inlet and outlet channels. The valve member is biased to isolate the inlet and outlet channels. Further, the valve member couples the inlet and outlet channels in response to a pressure present at the inlet channel. An integrated valve status detector is used to provide valve status feedback.

This disclosure provides methods and apparatus for a beverage brewer. The beverage brewer including a burner, a reservoir, a controller, and a thermoelectric generator. The burner produces combustible heat across a surface. The reservoir stores a brewing fluid. The controller controls a brewing process. The thermoelectric generator is structured with a supply side, a waste side and a power output. The supply side is directed towards the surface of the burner. The waste side contacts the reservoir. The power output powers the controller.

An article of manufacture for providing a foot pedal controlled beverage dispenser is disclosed. The foot pedal controlled beverage dispenser has a beverage dispenser having a beverage storage cavity and a beverage dispenser signal controller, a dispensing valve coupled to the beverage storage cavity and operating under the control of the beverage dispenser signal controller and a foot pedal communicatively coupled to the beverage dispenser signal controller providing an input signal to open the dispensing valve.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21) during beverage preparation. The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); a valve arrangement (50) for controlling a flow of the water (4) along the water guide (30); an actuator for actuating the valve arrangement (50) to control the water flow along the water guide (30); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that is stationary during beverage preparation and that supports at least the valve arrangement (50). The valve arrangement (50) is rotatably mounted to the support structure (70) and driven in rotation by the actuator to control the water flow.

A flow delivery system to deliver and monitor a liquid flow, using a pump, and a monitoring device (e.g. a flow meter) are described. A controller determines if the flow is a liquid flow or a gas flow by reducing a drive signal for the pump from a first drive signal to a second drive signal. This changes the characteristics of both the pump drive signal and the characteristics of the resulting flow. Based on the change in the characteristics, the flow is determined to be a liquid flow or a gas flow.

A brewing apparatus may include a chassis. The chassis may include a chassis beverage cup base. A chassis beverage cup cavity defined within the chassis beverage cup base may be configured to receive a beverage cup of a plurality of beverage cups. The brewing apparatus may include an adaptor insert assembly dimensioned to fit within the chassis beverage cup cavity. An adaptor insert cavity defined within the adaptor insert may be configured to receive a second beverage cup of a plurality of beverage cups. The brewing apparatus may include a controller configured to acquire data about the beverage cup or the second beverage cup via the one or more sensors. The controller may be configured to at least one of select or adjust a catering profile of a plurality of catering profiles based on the acquired data.

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 present disclosure is for an electronic control system for a brewing device for a machine for preparing beverages, in particular coffee or tea. The brewing device comprises a brewing chamber having an opening through which a material to be brewed may be loaded and discharged; a closing body movable away from and towards a sealed closing position of the opening angularly spaced apart from the closing position, through an intermediate ejection position, in which the closing body is raised with respect to the closing position along the longitudinal axis of the brewing chamber; a piston slidably mounted in the brewing chamber in a position axially opposite the closing body; a first electric actuating device for the movement of the closing body; and a second electric actuating device for the movement of the piston. The electronic control system is configured to be arrangeable in the brewing device and comprises a sensory system configured to output electrical signals to allow the reaching, by the closing body, of the opening, closing and ejection positions to be sensed, and the axial position of the piston in the brewing chamber to be determined, and an on-board electronic control unit configured to be connectable to the sensory system to receive electrical signals therefrom, to the first and second electric actuating device to supply electrical control signals thereto, and to an electronic control unit of the beverage preparation machine external to the brewing device to receive therefrom commands relating to the operation of the brewing device. The on-board electronic control unit is further configured to execute commands received from the external control unit to responsively output, also based on the electrical signals received from the sensory system, electrical control signals for the electric actuating devices.

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.