Abstract: A capsule for extraction of a beverage of the filter-coffee type has a capsule body (2), made of water-impermeable material, which defines a chamber (3), present inside which is a precursor of the beverage, comprising soluble coffee and roast and ground coffee. At least 51 wt % of the precursor is roast and ground coffee having a grain size expressed in x50 comprised between 350 and 800 ?m, and the complement to 100 wt % of the precursor is soluble coffee having a grain size expressed in x50 comprised between 1000 and 5000 ?m. The roast and ground coffee is laid out to form a first layer (GC) in the lower part of the capsule body (3), and the soluble coffee (SC) is laid out to form a second layer (SC) in the upper part of the capsule body, i.e., in a position corresponding to the inlet wall (5) and/or above the first layer (GC).

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus having a height-adjustable support member for supporting a beverage vessel at a plurality of different support positions. The beverage dispensing apparatus may include a beverage dispensing outlet for dispensing a beverage and a movable support member having a top surface for supporting a beverage vessel below the beverage dispensing outlet. The movable support member may include an inner telescoping element and an outer telescoping element. An actuation assembly may be operably coupled to the movable support member to move the movable support member to modify a distance between the top surface of the movable support member and the beverage dispensing outlet. Activation of the actuation assembly may cause both the inner and outer telescoping elements to move simultaneously either towards or away from the beverage dispensing outlet.

Abstract: A frothing head for heating and whipping milk is provided. The frothing head has a mixing chamber, a restriction duct extending from the mixing chamber, a frothing chamber arranged at one end of the restriction duct, a distribution duct, an air suction duct leading into the mixing chamber, and a milk suction duct leading into the mixing chamber. The frothing chamber is disc-shaped, and the restriction duct leads tangentially into the frothing chamber. The distribution duct extends axially from a center of a bottom surface of the frothing chamber and has an upper portion and a lower portion having a greater diameter than the upper portion.

Abstract: A device for heating and frothing milk which has a steam generator and a jet pump is provided. The jet pump has a steam inlet through which pressurized steam is injectable into the jet pump, a first suction inlet and a second suction inlet. The first suction inlet is configured to connect to a milk reservoir. An air inlet is connectable or connected to the second suction inlet of the jet pump for drawing air into the jet pump. A bypass valve is connected to the second suction inlet of the jet pump and has a bypass inlet. The bypass valve is switchable between a first position in which the second suction inlet of the jet pump is shut off from the steam generator, and a second position in which the second suction inlet is in fluid communication with the bypass inlet of the bypass valve for suction of steam.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing foam from a milk-based liquid. The apparatus (1) includes: a support base; a container containing an amount liquid, the container being arrangeable in a working position on the support base; a stirrer adapted to be removably positioned in the container to rotate about an axis of rotation; and a driving device, positioned outside the container (3) and arranged to be magnetically coupled with the stirrer to drive it in rotation about the axis of rotation to stir the liquid contained in the container and form the foam. The driving device includes a stator (12) disposed around a member of the stirrer (8) generating a rotating magnetic field about the axis of rotation for inducing a rotation of the member (9) to drive the stirring device.

Abstract: A beverage-dispensing machine (10), for example, a machine for preparing coffee at home, is configured for being positioned in at least one first position and at least one second position that are rotated (a) with respect to one another about an axis of orientation (X10). The machine (10) comprises a user-interface element (20) carried by the machine in a rotatable way about the aforesaid axis of orientation (X10), with the interface element (20) that is configured to maintain a certain spatial orientation independently of the position of the machine (10).

Abstract: A motorized brewing unit for preparing beverages from a powdered product has a dispensing assembly having a first assembly part provided with a receptacle adapted to receive the powdered product, and a second assembly part, relative to which the first assembly part is movable between an open position and a closed position in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part are coupled to each other to define a brewing chamber therebetween. The motorized brewing unit has an electric motor that controls movement of the first assembly part between the open position and the closed position and a readout device that provides a digital image of the powdered product. The readout device has an optical sensor. The receptacle faces the optical sensor when the first assembly part is in a detection position, intermediate between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a foam from a liquid, particularly a food liquid, such as milk or a milk-based liquid. The apparatus (10) includes a base body (16) provided with electrical connection means (52, 54) and an upper unit (12, 14) arranged to be releasably placed on the base body (16) to be electrically connected to the base body (16) through the electrical connection means (52, 54). The upper unit (12, 14) has an upper body (12) acting as a vessel and an intermediate body (14) separate from each other. The upper body (12) houses a stirring member (24). The intermediate body (14) houses electrically operated driver (42, 44, 46) for driving the stirring member (24) to rotate and a heating element (40) for heating the liquid contained in the upper body (12).

Abstract: A brewing unit includes a first part having a receptacle for receiving a capsule, a cartridge or a compacted pod, a second part movable relative to the first part between an open position in which the first and second parts are at a distance from each other, and a closed position in which the second and first parts are coupled to one another to define a brewing chamber. An electric motor controls movement of the second part relative to the first part. A transmission mechanism arranged between the electric motor and the first or second part comprises a movable member whose position is univocally associated with the relative position of the second part with respect to the first part. An electronic control unit controls the electric motor. A micro-switch switches between an ON operational state and an OFF operational state depending on the position of the movable member.

Abstract: A machine for the preparation of beverages, comprising a hydraulic circuit that includes: —a brewing unit; —a water tank; —a pump having its inlet connected in fluid communication to the water tank and its outlet or delivery connected in fluid communication to the brewing unit; —a heating device for heating water forced by the pump towards the brewing unit; —a self-priming device (22), which comprises a hollow housing structure (27, 28), having an inlet (22a) in fluid communication with the outlet or delivery of the pump, and an outlet for spillage of water towards a collecting space, in particular the water tank. The self-priming device (22) comprises a spillage member (30), which is set between the inlet (22a) and the outlet (22b). The spillage member (30) has a body that is made of a material that is permeable to water and to air and that is such as to be traversed by water and air when the pump is active.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a steam generator (2, 4), a compressed-air generator (9, 11) and a dispensing wand (10) connected or adapted to be connected to the steam generator (2, 4) and the compressed-air generator (9, 11) and adapted to be introduced into a receptacle (R) containing the milk (M) to be heated and frothed. The dispensing wand (10) defines first and second conduits (21, 22) separate from each other and having respective separate inlets (10a, 10b) for connection to the steam generator (2, 4) and the compressed-air generator (9, 11), respectively, as well as respective separate outlets (10c, 23; 10d, 24) for dispensing during use a flow of steam and a flow of compressed air, respectively, within the milk (M) contained in the receptacle (R), said outlets (23, 24) being arranged such that the flows of steam and compressed air exiting therefrom intersect each other.

Abstract: A machine for preparing beverages has a hydraulic circuit including a normally open discharge valve, which comprises a main inlet connected to a fluid actuator, a main outlet connected towards a collecting space, and a valve member between the main inlet and the main outlet, for enabling and preventing a flow of fluid between the main inlet and the main outlet. The discharge valve is a hydraulically driven valve, which also comprises a driving chamber for hydraulic driving the valve member. The driving chamber has an auxiliary inlet, connected to the delivery of a pump, and an auxiliary outlet, connected to a brewing unit and to the fluid actuator, in such a way that water delivered by the pump passes through the driving chamber before reaching the brewing unit and the fluid actuator, respectively. The driving chamber has a further outlet, connected in fluid communication to a device for spillage of water from the driving chamber.

Abstract: A brewing unit, machine and system for the preparation of a beverage using prepackaged capsules. The brewing unit (1) includes a piercing and liquid-supplying device (23, 34, 35) having points (35) for piercing the top wall (12) of a capsule (C) and a conduit (36) for supplying a flow of pressurized liquid to a brewing chamber above the top wall (12) of the capsule (C) and thereafter inside the capsule (C) through the pierces holes in the top wall. A drawer (3) holds a capsule (C) such that its top wall (12) lies in an inclined plane. A discharge channel (40) is provided in the drawer and in fluid communication with the region above the top wall (12) of the capsule (C) when, after the beverage has been prepared and dispensed, the piercing and liquid-supplying device moves from the extracted work position to the retracted rest position to allow the remaining liquid to be poured into the discharge channel (40).

Abstract: A dispensing assembly (2) for a machine for the preparation of liquid food products comprises a preparation chamber (7, 8) and a hydraulic circuit (20), which is configured for supplying water and/or steam to the preparation chamber (7, 8). The preparation chamber (7, 8) is configured for receiving at least one dose (9) of a precursor of a liquid food product and for dispensing the liquid food product following upon passage of water and/or steam through the preparation chamber (7, 8). The preparation chamber comprises a first chamber part (7), preferably configured for introducing water and/or steam, and a second chamber part (8), preferably configured for dispensing the liquid food product.

Abstract: The cartridge (1) according to the invention comprises an envelope (2) having a first and a second end wall (4, 5) connected together by an annular lateral wall (6) and defining an inner chamber (7) containing a quantity or dose of a substance (S) for preparation of the beverage. The envelope (2) has at least one first and at least one second permeable wall (6a, 5) acting as an inlet for the introduction of a flow of water into the chamber (7) and as an outlet from it respectively for outflow of the beverage from chamber (7). Between the first and the second permeable walls (6a, 5) the envelope (2) has an outwardly projecting annular formation (3g). A portion of the permeable inlet wall (6a) for the introduction of water into the chamber (7) is made in the annular lateral wall (6) of the envelope (2). The annular formation (3g) extends from the second end wall (5) in a direction substantially opposite to the first end wall (4).

Abstract: A system for the preparation of beverages with the use of capsules including an infusion assembly (1) and a capsule (C). The infusion assembly includes a capsule-holder (2) and a cooperating body (3), adapted to assume an open configuration for positioning a capsule (C) therebetween, and a closed configuration for preparing a beverage through the capsule (C) clamped in a liquid-tight manner therebetween. In the capsule-holder (2) there is defined a recess (4) adapted to receive the capsule (C) with the bottom wall (20a, 20f) facing the interior of the capsule-holder (2) and wherein is provided a first piercing member (8) provided with at least a piercing point (9) adapted to penetrate through the bottom wall (20a) of said capsule (C). The capsule-holder (2) is adapted to supply a flow of fluid introduced into the capsule (C) through the tear created in its bottom wall (20a) from the at least one point (9).