A coffee grinder suitable for home use can include a housing that receives coffee beans, a grinding component within the housing, a removable container that receives coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a base located beneath the grinding component that supports the container. Magnetic components in the base and removable container can optimally align the container when placed atop the base. A knocker system can dislodge ground coffee residue into the container when actuated. An intelligent drive system can utilize feedback to drive the grinding component at a constant speed to minimize coffee grounds size variances. A grinds chamber in the housing can define an asymmetrical cross-sectional geometry. An augur that drives the grinding component can have an outer thread that forces coffee beans through the grinds chamber, and a grinds chamber housing can include a protective shoulder that covers a lead-in portion of the outer thread.

A coffee grinder suitable for home use can include a housing that receives coffee beans, a grinding component within the housing, a removable container that receives coffee grounds dispensed from the grinding component, and a base located beneath the grinding component that supports the container. Magnetic components in the base and removable container can optimally align the container when placed atop the base. A knocker system can dislodge ground coffee residue into the container when actuated. An intelligent drive system can utilize feedback to drive the grinding component at a constant speed to minimize coffee grounds size variances. A grinds chamber in the housing can define an asymmetrical cross-sectional geometry. An augur that drives the grinding component can have an outer thread that forces coffee beans through the grinds chamber, and a grinds chamber housing can include a protective shoulder that covers a lead-in portion of the outer thread.

A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

An apparatus for grinding coffee is described. The apparatus includes a mechanical user input device, a grinding unit for grinding coffee, an electrical switch which connects the grinding unit to a source of electrical power and a mechanical coupling for the mechanical coupling of the user input device to the grinding unit. The user input device provides electrical power to the grinding unit when it is displaced from an initial position and ceases the provision of electrical power to the grinding unit when it is in the initial position. The mechanical coupling returns the user input device to the initial position when the grinding unit is operational.

An apparatus for grinding coffee is described. The apparatus includes a mechanical user input device, a grinding unit for grinding coffee, an electrical switch which connects the grinding unit to a source of electrical power and a mechanical coupling for the mechanical coupling of the user input device to the grinding unit. The user input device provides electrical power to the grinding unit when it is displaced from an initial position and ceases the provision of electrical power to the grinding unit when it is in the initial position. The mechanical coupling returns the user input device to the initial position when the grinding unit is operational.

A method of recognizing a type of coffee from reference types of coffee, wherein each of the reference types of coffee is associated with a respective reference signal and wherein each type of coffee is associated to a characteristic combination of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee, may include: sensing, by one or more sensors, presence and concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee; generating a signal representative of the type of coffee according to the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds and the respective concentrations of the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds; comparing the generated signal with the reference signal associated with each of the reference types of coffee; and generating a recognition signal in response to the comparing of the generated signal with the reference signals.

A method of recognizing a type of coffee from reference types of coffee, wherein each of the reference types of coffee is associated with a respective reference signal and wherein each type of coffee is associated to a characteristic combination of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee, may include: sensing, by one or more sensors, presence and concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the type of coffee; generating a signal representative of the type of coffee according to the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds and the respective concentrations of the sensed one or more volatile organic compounds; comparing the generated signal with the reference signal associated with each of the reference types of coffee; and generating a recognition signal in response to the comparing of the generated signal with the reference signals.

A control unit, a pump for supplying infusion water, a boiler for heating the infusion water, an infusion unit, a coffee mill, and a user interface including a selector for a beverage and/or a ground coffee dose. The coffee mill has a hopper for coffee beans, a rotating and a non-rotating grinder, a motor for directly or indirectly driving the rotating grinder, all with capability to adjust the distance between the grinders. A first sensor detects a number of turns and/or speed of the motor and/or of the rotating grinder. A second sensor detects a distance between the grinders. The control unit stores an algorithm for calculating a correct dose of ground coffee, configured to receive the value of ground coffee selected and the distance between the grinders to automatically generate the number of motor turns necessary to obtain the correct dose of ground coffee.

A control unit, a pump for supplying infusion water, a boiler for heating the infusion water, an infusion unit, a coffee mill, and a user interface including a selector for a beverage and/or a ground coffee dose. The coffee mill has a hopper for coffee beans, a rotating and a non-rotating grinder, a motor for directly or indirectly driving the rotating grinder, all with capability to adjust the distance between the grinders. A first sensor detects a number of turns and/or speed of the motor and/or of the rotating grinder. A second sensor detects a distance between the grinders. The control unit stores an algorithm for calculating a correct dose of ground coffee, configured to receive the value of ground coffee selected and the distance between the grinders to automatically generate the number of motor turns necessary to obtain the correct dose of ground coffee.

A coffee grinder-loser apparatus has a removable grinding chamber that is extractable with a fast release. Grinding adjustment is independent of access to the grinding chamber. An interface flange is interposed between an adjusting ring nut and a fixed chamber of the grinding chamber. The flange makes an indirect coupling of the ring nut and of an extractable group of components to the fixed structure. A locking system includes levers with a cam tooth mounted externally on the interface flange. The cam tooth hooks a head of tie-rod assemblies with an elastic spring so as to place them in traction and joined to the fixed structure of the grinding chamber.