Abstract: Apparatus includes a water reservoir, a container for containing flavor-containing materials and a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each including a water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials. This extracts the useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses. The fluid delivery system includes a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with the chamber, a valve disposed between the reservoir and the chamber which opens to permit water to flow from the reservoir to the chamber when pressure in the chamber drops below a predetermined pressure. Method for making flavor-containing liquid with a plurality of pressure pulses includes generating and delivering a first pressure pulse in the form of a pressurized hot water pulse and a pulse of pressurized steam to and through the flavor-containing materials in a container.

Abstract: An apparatus for making drinks such as filtered water, coffee, espresso or tea which comprise a cold water filter system for purifying water for either direct consumption or use in extracting flavor-containing materials like coffee and a hot water filter assembly located on the brew head for removing impurities originated from both water itself and the parts of the apparatus in contact with water. The cold water filter system comprises a removable water container having at its bottom a water passageway, a filter cartridge removably mounted in the water passageway, a containing chamber for receiving the filtered water, and a valve in the water passageway for closing the passageway when the container is removed from and opening the passageway when placed onto the containing chamber.