Abstract: A machine readable identification on a single-serving unit containing coffee powder for espresso machines, designed so that it can be read easily and accurately, is structured in a rotation-symmetrical manner and is applied to an essentially level surface of the single-serving unit, whereby the single-serving unit preferably consists of a single-serving capsule (1) having an essentially circular base (2) whereupon the identification is applied in a coaxial manner.

Abstract: A hot beverage machine includes a heating unit having a fresh water intake. A fresh water line supplies fresh water to the fresh water intake of the heating unit. A residual fluid line is coupled to the fresh water intake of the heating unit through an on-off valve for conducting fluids to a collection container. A device for letting off residual steam and residual water from the heating unit includes a heat-exchanging and heat-storing condenser having a residual line section coupled to the residual fluid line, a fresh water line section coupled into the fresh water line and a heat storing medium that is connected for conducting heat between the residual line section and the fresh water line section.

Abstract: An espresso machine provided with a rotating ceramic disk valve (1) as a selective water-steam distributor that is in a driving connection with a drive motor (2), and a control device (3) for controlling the drive motor (2). To increase the precision of the rotational-angle setting, a Geneva gear (4) is incorporated into the driving connection between the drive motor (2) and the rotating ceramic disk valve (1), with the gear setting the rotating ceramic disk valve (1) in make-and-break cycles. The control device (3) shuts off the drive motor (2) after at least one make-and-break cycle of the Geneva gear (4).

Abstract: An appliance for preparing hot beverages includes a brewing chamber having an essentially cylindrical outside and at least two chamber parts. One of the chamber parts is movable relative to the other chamber part between a closed position and an opened position. The chamber parts holding a portion container in the closed position. A sleeve having an inside wall is adapted to the essentially cylindrical outside of the brewing chamber. At least two sealing rings for sealing the brewing chamber, encircle a respective one of the chamber parts. The sleeve is pushable over the outside of the brewing chamber in the closed position. Each sealing ring provides a seal between the inside wall of the sleeve and the outside of the brewing chamber.

Abstract: An espresso machine steam docking unit which can be connected to a milk steaming pitcher (1). The steam unit includes a steam inlet (10), a steam outlet (7) which can be pressed, by means of an activation lever (19) that can be swung out of a rest position into an operating position, against a steam inlet opening (2) of a milk steaming pitcher (1), a valve (12) which is connected to the steam inlet (10) and the steam outlet (7) and which can be activated by the activation lever (19). In addition, a switching contact (21), which is activated by the activation lever (19) to activate a steam generator in the espresso machine when the activation lever is in operating position, is provided. In addition, a steam release line (18) is provided and is connected by means of the activation lever (19) through the valve (12) to the steam inlet (10) and the steam outlet (7).

Abstract: An espresso machine steam docking unit which can be connected to a milk steaming pitcher (1). The steam docking unit includes a steam inlet (10), a steam outlet (7) which can be pressed, by means of an activation lever (19) that can be swung out of a rest position into an operating position, against a steam inlet opening (2) of a milk steaming pitcher (1), a valve (12) which is connected to the steam inlet (10) and the steam outlet (7) and which can be activated by the activation lever (19). In addition, a switching contact (21), which is activated by the activation lever (19) to activate a steam generator in the espresso machine when the activation lever is in operating position, is provided. In addition, a steam release line (18) is provided and is connected by means of the activation lever (19) through the valve (12) to the steam inlet (10) and the steam outlet (7).

Abstract: An appliance for preparing hot beverages includes a brewing chamber having an essentially cylindrical outside and at least two chamber parts. One of the chamber parts is movable relative to the other chamber part between a closed position and an opened position. The chamber parts holding a portion container in the closed position. A sleeve having an inside wall is adapted to the essentially cylindrical outside of the brewing chamber. At least two sealing rings for sealing the brewing chamber, encircle a respective one of the chamber parts. The sleeve is pushable over the outside of the brewing chamber in the closed position. Each sealing ring provides a seal between the inside wall of the sleeve and the outside of the brewing chamber.

Abstract: A hot beverage machine includes a heating unit having a fresh water intake. A fresh water line supplies fresh water to the fresh water intake of the heating unit. A residual fluid line is coupled to the fresh water intake of the heating unit through an on-off valve for conducting fluids to a collection container. A device for letting off residual steam and residual water from the heating unit includes a heat-exchanging and heat-storing condenser having a residual line section coupled to the residual fluid line, a fresh water line section coupled into the fresh water line and a heat storing medium that is connected for conducting heat between the residual line section and the fresh water line section.

Abstract: An automatic coffee beverage machine, in particular an automatic espresso machine, suitable for selecting a coffee beverage from a plurality of preparation varieties. A plurality of switching contact groups is provided for this, of which respectively one is assigned to a preparation variety and respectively only one can be activated for selecting one of the preparation varieties while the other switching contact groups are blocked. The preparation of the variety selected with one of the switching contacts can subsequently be triggered with a starting contact. To simplify the operation and make the selection clearer, the switching contact groups are designed to form components of a lockable rotary selection switch provided with a turning knob (4). This rotary selection switch is assigned a preparation variety in each lockable rotary position and activates one of the contact groups in each lockable rotary position.

Abstract: An espresso machine is provided with an infusion piston displaceable inside an infusion cylinder. The infusion piston is force-connected to a spring and to a device for activating the infusion piston and, in a first position, tightly encloses ground coffee inside an infusion chamber of the infusion cylinder between itself and an outlet sieve. A pressurized water inlet is connected to the infusion chamber, the infusion piston is automatically pushed by the pressure of the infusion water flowing into the infusion cylinder and counter to a spring force to a second predetermined position, thereby expanding the infusion chamber, whereupon during a pressure drop inside the infusion chamber the infusion piston is returned automatically to the first position.

Abstract: A device for producing milk froth for cappuccino, comprising: a nozzle arrangement disposed downstream of a steam supply line, and containing mixing vacuum chamber into which a steam-nozzle opening opens, and in which an air-milk-mixture supply line, leading from a pre-mixing chamber, terminates, and with the pre-mixing chamber being connected to an air conduit and a milk supply line. The nozzle arrangement further includes a calming portion disposed at an exit of the vacuum-chamber, with one end of the calming portion forming at least one discharge opening for releasing a steam-air-milk mixture from the mixing vacuum-chamber to the outside. The calming portion comprises a plurality of calming conduits that have a parallel flow direction, and that each form a respective discharge opening at one open end for discharging a steam-air-milk-mixture partial flow to the outside.

Abstract: A safety device for a steam frothing machine to form a froth beverage, which machine has a steam pipe (3) that is connected to a steam generator 1′ and has a steam discharge opening (13), and a frothing head (4), which can be pushed onto the steam pipe and surrounds the steam discharge opening (13) in the mounted state. To protect an operator from steam in the event that the steam discharge is accidentally activated when the frothing head is removed, a hollow body is pushed onto the steam pipe (3) and enable the discharge of steam essentially downward in an enabling position. In a position other than the enabling position of the hollow body, the downward discharge of steam is essentially prevented.

Abstract: A displaceable nozzle (8) of an injection steam generator for small appliances, particularly irons or ironing stations, comprising a steam chamber (3) inside a steam generator housing (1) provided with an injection opening (5), is positioned telescopically on a fixed member to define a nozzle chamber (10). This nozzle (8) can be displaced by an inside pressure in the nozzle chamber in a first pressure range in the direction of the injection opening (5) and can be moved back from the injection opening (5) by a restoring force e.g., a restoring spring (12), wherein the inside pressure in the nozzle chamber (10) is lower in second pressure range than in the first pressure range. A drain passage (18) for the nozzle chamber 10 is connected via a valve arrangement (19, 21) to the fixed member (11), so that excess residual water, which exits when the nozzle (18) is moved back from the nozzle chamber (10), does not cause calcification of the nozzle opening (9) and the injection opening (5).

Abstract: A device for producing milk froth for cappuccino, comprising: a nozzle arrangement disposed downstream of a steam supply line, and containing mixing vacuum chamber into which a steam-nozzle opening opens, and in which an air-milk-mixture supply line, leading from a pre-mixing chamber, terminates, and with the pre-mixing chamber being connected to an air conduit and a milk supply line. The nozzle arrangement further includes a calming portion disposed at an exit of the vacuum-chamber, with one end of the calming portion forming at least one discharge opening for releasing a steam-air-milk mixture from the mixing vacuum-chamber to the outside. The calming portion comprises a plurality of calming conduits that have a parallel flow direction, and that each form a respective discharge opening at one open end for discharging a steam-air-milk-mixture partial flow to the outside.

Abstract: Espresso coffee capsules (2, 2a) having an essentially rotationally symmetric shape, especially the frustum of a right cone, being fitted and slide into an essentially cylindrical magazine tube (1) of a magazine which can be set up vertically. The espresso coffee capsules can be stacked in the magazine tube (1). The magazine tube (1) has a removal opening (4) at the bottom, allowing the espresso coffee capsules to be removed. The magazine tube (1) has, at the top (5), an insertion guide (6) that has a side insertion opening (7) so that the espresso coffee capsules can be inserted simply and exactly into the magazine tube.

Abstract: A hose wire-clamp arrangement includes a hose clamp (1) that comprises a helical, resilient wire, which is angled outward nearly radially or circumferentially at at least one end portion (3) and at one further portion (6). To allow the hose wire-clamp (1) to be mounted to a fitting such that it can be released easily without a tool and, once mounted, can withstand high internal pressure on the hose, a retaining sheet (2) having two spaced cutouts (8, 9) is detachably mounted to the hose wire-clamp (1) such that each of the two angled portions (3,6) rests against a respective one of the two cutouts (8, 9).

Abstract: An arrangement for indicating the calcification status of flow heaters, particularly in espresso machines, with the flow heater having a cold-water inlet line and a hot-water outflow line, and which is intended to precisely indicate the calcification status, yet have an uncomplicated design. For this purpose, a differential-pressure fluid gauge (9) is provided, with the gauge having two pressure chambers (11, 12) separated by a diaphragm, with one of the pressure chambers (11) being in a fluid-conducting connection with the cold-water inlet line (4) and the other pressure chamber (12) being in a fluid-conducting connection with the hot-water outflow (5). The diaphragm acted upon by the pressure difference between the two chambers (11, 12) is coupled to indicator elements.

Abstract: Espresso coffee capsules (2, 2a) having an essentially rotationally symmetric shape, especially the frustum of a right cone, being fitted and slide into an essentially cylindrical magazine tube (1) of a magazine which can be set up vertically. The espresso coffee capsules can be stacked in the magazine tube (1). The magazine tube (1) has a removal opening (4) at the bottom, allowing the espresso coffee capsules to be removed. The magazine tube (1) has, at the top (5), an insertion guide (6) that has a side insertion opening (7) so that the espresso coffee capsules can be inserted simply and exactly into the magazine tube.

Abstract: A coffee maker includes a reservoir for accommodating a quantity of water to brew a coffee beverage; a filter basket for accommodating ground coffee to be brewed therein; a water quantity sensor for producing a first signal representing the quantity of water in the reservoir; a coffee quantity sensor for producing a second signal representing the quantity of coffee in the filter basket; and a comparator for comparing a ratio between the first and second signals. The comparator has a first input which is connected to the water quantity sensor and to which the signal is applied; and a second input which is connected to the coffee quantity sensor and to which the second signal is applied. A display device is connected to the comparator for being actuated thereby as a function of the ratio between the first and second signals.

Abstract: A brewing head includes a lower brewing head part having a first recess and a coffee discharge conduit formed therein. An upper brewing head part has a second recess and a hot water conduit formed therein. The upper brewing head part is pivotable to a closed position in which the first recess and the second recess form a receptacle that receives a coffee portion capsule. A plurality of hollow needles are attached to the upper brewing head part, and are in fluid communication with the hot water conduit. The needles project into the receptacle and are penetratable into a top side of the coffee portion capsule for delivering hot water from the hot water conduit into an interior of the coffee portion capsule when the upper brewing head part is in the closed position. A pyramid plate is located within the first recess and has a plurality of projections formed thereon, and a plurality of discharge holes formed therethrough that communicate the receptacle with the coffee discharge conduit.