A combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer. The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer includes a water heating section and a water storage section. The water heating section includes a boiler reservoir, a heating element, a first water discharge mechanism, and a second discharge mechanism. The water storage section includes a cold water reservoir and a hot water reservoir disposed above the boiler reservoir.

In an automatic beverage preparation machine operable to dispense a beverage in a container, a fluid for preparing the beverage is heated by an electromagnetic-induction, continuous-flow heater having a tubular body delimiting a flow path form the fluid to be heated. The tubular body has an end outlet segment leading into a chamber closed by a plug-shaped body that is removable to allow access to the flow path. The plug-shaped body is arranged outside a casing or is uncouplable and extractable from the casing through an opening formed in the casing to allow direct access from the outside to the flow path.

A coffee brewer contains a brewing unit in which coffee grounds having been poured in are compressed by a plunger driven by an actuator. Heated water flows through the compressed coffee grounds. A control device controls the actuator in accordance with signals of an angle of rotation sensor. The control device first moves the plunger against a stop in an ejection position to calibrate the sensor, then moves the plunger by a predetermined distance in a downwards direction into a pouring-in position. Afterwards the control device moves the plunger by a second distance into the brewing position, a length of the predetermined distance and the second distance corresponds to a number of pulses of the sensor which are stored in the memory. The control device subsequently moves the plunger by a third distance back into the ejection position in which the coffee grounds are removed from the plunger.

A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.

A heating apparatus and method of heating. The embodiments of the invention relate to coffee machine heating apparatuses for providing heated brew water for passing through coffee grounds. The apparatus and method involves using low pressure steam (i.e. less than 1 bar absolute) at a saturation temperature that is substantially equal to the desired brew water temperature. Advantageously, improved temperature control of the brew water is achieved in a manner which is more convenient to an end user. The operating temperatures are more stable (the need for a “cooling flush” is removed) and the operating temperatures is reached in a quicker manner than with conventional machines.

A method and device for detecting the amount of limescale that accumulates in liquid heating devices, in particular for heating water. The method is capable of establishing, through simple temperature measurements, if the amount of limescale deposited on the heater element of a device for heating liquids is such as to jeopardize the correct operation thereof and provides the user with information on the need to clean the aforesaid heater.

A device for preparing hot beverages (1) has a flow control system (2) with a water source; (14) a brewing unit (40) with a brewing chamber (41) to hold brewing material and an with inlet line (L4) for the inlet of brewing water into the brewing chamber (41); a heating device (9) for heating the water supplied to the brewing chamber (41); a pump (9) configured to pump the water from the water source (14) to the brewing chamber (41); and a control device (18) to activate and deactivate the functional components for preparing of a selected beverage. In order to obtain an optimum brewing result, the control device (18) is configured to activate the pump (9) at a preselected rate of flow from a selection of different rates of flow ({dot over (V)}) for a subsequent beverage preparation.

The portable coffee brewer is configured for use in brewing coffee. The portable coffee brewer comprises a containment pan, a brewing pan, a lid structure, and a control circuit. The lid structure and the containment pan attach to the brewing pan. The control circuit mounts in the brewing pan. The control circuit controls the operation of the portable coffee brewer. The lid structure encloses the brewing pan. The containment pan contains accessories associated with the brewing and consumption of beverages. The beverage pan forms the space within which the beverage is brewed. The control circuit heats and circulates a fluid stored within the beverage pan for the purpose of preparing the beverage for consumption.

A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.

Device (10), comprising a platform (14) for placing a vessel (9) containing the liquid, a pipe (15) with an open end (151) configured for supplying steam to the vessel, a driving device (17) configured to actuate a relative movement between the end of the pipe and the platform, means (140) for determining a liquid level of the liquid in the vessel, and a control unit (18). The control unit is configured to actuate the driving device (17) so that a relative initial position between the end of the pipe and the platform is assumed on the basis of the liquid level. The means (140) for determining the liquid level comprise a weighing device. The control unit is then configured to determine the liquid level from the weight.