PREPARATION OF HOT, MILK-CONTAINING BEVERAGE

Abstract

Process for the preparation of a hot, milk-containing beverage in a coffee machine which comprises a brewing section and a milk section, wherein the milk section comprises a liquid milk concentrate supply and a mixing device in fluid connection with the liquid milk concentrate supply. Coffee machine for executing this process.

Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a hot, milk-containing beverage in a coffee machine, which comprises: (i) a brewing section, (ii) a milk section, wherein the milk section comprises a liquid milk concentrate supply, and (iii) a mixing device comprising an eductor and a microfiltration device, where the mixing device is in fluid connection with the liquid milk concentrate supply, the process comprising: (a) passing a first water stream into the brewing section and a second water stream into the milk section; (b) heating the first water stream in a first water heater in the brewing section and using the resulting first hot water stream to prepare a hot beverage in the brewing section; (c) heating the second water stream in a second water heater in the milk section and mixing the resulting second hot water stream with an amount of liquid milk concentrate from the liquid milk concentrate supply in the mixing device, resulting in a hot milk stream, (d) mixing the hot milk stream with air by introducing air into the hot milk stream via an air inlet in the mixing device resulting in a hot milk froth; and (e) dispensing the hot beverage of (b) and the hot milk froth from (d) into a receptacle yielding the hot, milk-containing beverage.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the liquid milk concentrate supply and mixing device are irreleasably connected and together constitute a replaceable stock keeping unit for the liquid milk concentrate.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein in (b), the first hot water stream is passed through a portion of ground coffee in a brewing unit resulting in a hot coffee stream as the hot beverage.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein per serving of hot, milk-containing beverage dispensed in the receptacle, a system control unit comprised in the coffee machine, controls at least one of: (i) the amount of water passed through the first water inlet and the amount and flowrate of water passed through the second water inlet, (ii) the volume ratio of second hot water stream to liquid milk concentrate used to prepare the hot milk stream, (iii) the amount of hot beverage and the respective amounts of ground coffee and first hot water stream needed to prepare such amount of hot beverage, (iv) the volume ratio of hot milk stream to hot beverage, and (v) the order in which the hot milk stream and hot beverage are dispensed into the receptacle.

5. A coffee machine for preparing a hot, milk-containing beverage, comprising: (a) a brewing section, comprising a first water inlet, a first water heater, coffee supply, a brewing unit and a hot beverage outlet, wherein (i) the first water inlet is fluidly connected to the first water heater, (ii) the first water heater and the brewing unit are fluidly connected, (iii) the coffee supply means are fluidly connected to the brewing unit, and (iv) the hot beverage outlet is fluidly connected to the brewing unit; (b) a milk section, comprising a second water inlet, a second water heater, at least one holder for receiving a replaceable stock keeping unit of liquid milk concentrate and an outlet for a hot milk stream, wherein: (i) the second water inlet is fluidly connected to the second water heater, (ii) the second water heater is fluidly connected to the holder via a hot water conduit, (iii) the holder comprises a first releasable connector connecting the hot water conduit to the water inlet of a replaceable stock keeping unit of liquid milk concentrate when placed in the holder, and (iv) the holder comprises a second releasable connector for connecting the outlet means for a hot milk froth with the outlet of a replaceable stock keeping unit of liquid milk concentrate when placed in the holder, and wherein the milk section further comprises an air inlet and a third releasable connector for connecting the air inlet to the replaceable stock keeping unit of liquid milk concentrate when contained in the holder, and (c) a system control unit for controlling the operation of the brewing section and milk section.

6. The coffee machine according to claim 5, wherein the system control unit is programmed to control, per serving of hot, milk-containing beverage dispensed into the receptacle, at least one of: (i) the amount of water passed through the first water inlet and the amount of water passed through second water inlet, (ii) the volume ratio of liquid milk concentrate to second hot water stream used to prepare the hot milk stream, (iii) the amount of hot beverage and the respective amounts of the portion of ground coffee and first hot water stream needed to prepare such amount of hot beverage, (iv) the volume ratio of hot milk stream and hot beverage, and (v) the order in which the hot milk stream and hot beverage are dispensed into the receptacle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0061] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary flow scheme of a coffee machine for carrying out the process of the present invention.

[0062] In FIG. 1 the coffee machine 1 comprises a milk section 2 and a brewing section 3. Water stream 8 enters the coffee machine 1 and passes through valve 10 where it is split into a first water stream 12 and a second water stream 11. The first water stream 12 enters brewing section 3 and successively passes water pump 19, water flow meter 20 and first water heater 21 resulting in first hot water stream 12a. Bean hopper 23 that forms part of brewing section 3 is fed with coffee bean supply 9. The coffee beans from bean hopper 23 are ground in grinder 24 and ground coffee 9a is passed into brewing unit 22. The first hot water stream 12a is also passed into brewing unit 22, where coffee 28 is prepared. Meanwhile, the second water stream 11 enters the milk section 2 and successively passes water pump 16, water flow meter 17 and second water heater 18 resulting in second hot water stream 11a that enters mixing device 6 of SKU 4. In the flow scheme of FIG. 1 an air stream 17 enters the coffee machine 1 in milk section 2 and after passing through particle filter 13 it is pressurized in air pump 14, after which the pressurized air 7a enters the mixing device 6 of SKU 4 via air sealed connector 15 that ensures a releasable, air tight connection with mixing device 6. Liquid milk concentrate from liquid milk concentrate supply 5 enters the mixing device 6. In mixing device 6 the liquid milk concentrate is first mixed with the second hot water stream 11a resulting in a hot milk stream before pressurized air 7a is introduced in this hot milk stream resulting in milk froth 27. Coffee 28 and milk froth 27 are eventually dispensed in receptacle 29. The coffee cake resulting from brewing coffee in brewing unit 22 is collected in cake tray 25 whilst any water contained in the cake is collected in drip tray 26.