Abstract: A beverage-dispensing machine (10) comprises a cabinet housing (11), in which at least a coffee machine unit (16), a milk-frothing device, a water-heating device, an ice-feeding device (12) and an outlet unit (15) are located, the outlet unit being accessible at the front in the lower region of the coffee machine unit (16) and having a plurality of outlet openings (35) for the respective beverages. The ice-feeding device (12) is located above the coffee machine unit (16) in the cabinet housing (11). A tubular ice channel (20) leads to the outlet opening (35) of the outlet unit (15), and ice can be dropped through said tubular ice channel, said tubular ice channel (20) being composed of pieces which can be detached from each other. By means of this arrangement of the ice-feeding device and the ice channel, exact portions of ice can be dispensed in a simple way and without the risk of blockages.

Abstract: Milk module for generating milk foam or milk beverages, preferably for installing into a coffee machine, is designed as an independent unit. The milk module includes a cooling chamber connected to a cooling assembly for receiving a milk container, a conveyor pump, a steam generating device, a device for heating milk or generating the milk foam, and a connection system. The heated milk or generated milk foam is conveyed through a discharge line to the coffee outlet in the coffee machine by the connection system. A cleaning container with a cleaning agent can be positioned into the cooling chamber instead of the milk container. A suction tube is mounted in the refrigerated box in a pivotal manner, which hangs freely at the bottom, and which in the forwards-pivoted position can be contactlessly inserted into the milk container or the cleaning container from the top when being installed.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a beverage, in particular coffee, includes brewing cylinders adjusted in the manner of a carousel about an axis of rotation, each with an extraction cell and an extraction piston, and beneath the brewing cylinder at least two pistons. The pistons are positioned to be pushed into a brewing cylinder or extracted from it. Provided above the brewing cylinders are at least two feed channels and, arranged at a distance therefrom, at least two extraction pistons. These feed channels can each be connected, in a specific position of the brewing cylinders, at least above a brewing cylinder for loading of beverage powder, into which a piston can in each case be inserted from below. The extraction pistons are each insertable into a brewing cylinder adjacent to the loaded brewing cylinder or removable from it.

Abstract: Device for heating milk or milk froth with steam in a steam/liquid mixer which is equipped with a tubular mixing chamber, at least one steam supply pipe and a milk/milk froth supply nozzle aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mixing chamber. The steam supply pipe operatively discharges steam into a steam supply chamber upstream of the mixing chamber and which is connected to the mixing chamber by steam inlet holes running around the milk/milk froth supply nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the mixing chamber. The steam supply holes are preferably aligned axially parallel to the center axis of the mixing chamber. This arrangement of the steam inlet holes brings about even and thorough mixing of the steam with the cold milk or the milk froth in the mixing chamber, and so optimal heating of the milk or the milk froth.

Abstract: With a method for heating in particular milk or milk foam, in which the milk or the milk/air mixture is conveyed through a passage opening and hot steam is conveyed through at least one steam line transversely into this passage opening. The passage opening and the at least one inlet opening opening transversely into the steam line, the steam pressure in this and the pressure and the pressure in the passage opening with flowing milk or milk/air mixture are so coordinated that the hot steam at the at least one transverse inlet opening condenses in the passage opening directly on contact with the milk or the milk/air mixture. Consequently the additional energy produced by the phase change from steam to condensate water is transmitted directly as heat to the heat in the milk or the milk/air mixture.

Abstract: Operating unit for steam discharged from a steam lance in a controlled manner using a manually displaceable operating element. The operating element is displaced in one direction from an engaged starting position, in which there is no steam discharge, into engaged positions for discharge of determined amounts of steam, or displaced in the opposite direction, in which the amount of steam varies with the displacement. The operating element has a fixed casing, an outlet head displaceably mounted on the casing, a steam lance fastened to the head, and a displaceable casing including the operating element. The casing is engaged in the starting position or in the positions or can be displaced in the opposite direction, in which the steam is almost continuously variable. Milk froth is produced optimally according to the desired discharge type, in accordance with the amount of milk located in a cup.

Abstract: Method for producing beverages, preferably foamed milk or milk beverages, in which milk is sucked up out of a container by a pump through at least one line and is conveyed through the latter to an outlet. Preferably, multiple different flavor liquids can be supplied as desired from a respective vessel at least individually into the line for conveying the milk. In this manner, the flavor liquid is mixed in already during production of the milk beverage, with the result that a high degree of mixing and thus the desired flavor is optimally achieved.

Abstract: Method and device for producing milk froth, in particular for preparing beverages containing milk froth using coffee machines. The beverage, preferably cold milk, is at least partially introduced into a container before the preparation. The introduced beverage, in the container positioned on a placement surface of a station, is guided through at least one line, which leads away from the station, to a device for preparing milk froth or hot milk. The beverage is subsequently led back into the container, and this circulation is repeated until the beverage has a certain temperature and/or consistency. Using this method, a container can be used by operating personnel in a conventional way for preparation of the beverage, because the beverage can thus be prepared manually and specifically in accordance with the desires of the guest, while the milk froth or the like can be produced and served with constant and high quality.

Abstract: In a method for producing coffee, coffee beans are ground very finely, with or without the addition of water, and a mixture of the coffee powder and water is formed, and the coffee is extracted from this mixture and preferably conveyed to an outlet. Coffee beans and the water in the grinding chamber can be supplied to at least one mill, and the coffee beans ground with the water supplied, and the mixture formed from this. To form the mixture, cold or hot water is supplied to the mill during the grinding process in the grinding chamber and/or after the grinding process. Thus, the coffee produced has an especially full-bodied flavor.

Abstract: Coffee machine including a housing frame and device for generating coffee, and an integrated device for dispensing milk froth onto a coffee drink in a container. This device, possibly in the form of a robot, includes a dispenser controllable to enable automated movement in two or three coordinate directions, and dispenses the milk froth directly onto a surface of the coffee drink previously poured into the container. An automated movement mechanism controls movement of the dispenser during dispensing of the milk froth to cause automatic and controlled addition of a specific amount of the milk froth onto the coffee drink surface and produce an aesthetically decorative graphic pattern thereon. The specific amount of milk froth remains on and/or beneath the coffee drink surface. The coffee drink is poured into the container and the graphic pattern of milk forth is produced on the coffee drink surface by the same coffee machine.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided with an outlet, in particular for milk froth, which apparatus can be moved in two or three coordinate directions (x, y, z) using a control unit. When dispensing the fluid, a graphic pattern can thus be created automatically on the surface of the beverage dispensed into the container, preferably coffee. A pivotably housed guide sleeve and a hose element are provided with the outlet, which element can be pivoted in the sleeve and through which element the milk froth passes. This outlet can be moved with the hose element and the guide sleeve in a plane in these two coordinate directions (x, y) above the container in controlled manner, and the milk froth can thus be dispensed into the container. The result is a compact structure of the apparatus and this can be integrated into a coffee machine in a very space-saving manner.

Abstract: In a method for producing milk foam, in particular for the preparation of drinks that contain milk foam in a coffee machine, a gaseous medium, in particular air, is delivered to milk conveyed, and the milk/air mixture that is formed is conveyed to an outlet for milk foam or drinks containing milk foam. The consistency of the milk foam that is produced is determined here and is monitored by a regulating process and/or is changed by a setting. Even with variable conditions of use and operation, perfect quality of the milk foam that is produced is guaranteed, in which, moreover, its consistency can be changed.

Abstract: In a method for producing milk foam, in particular for the preparation of drinks that contain milk foam in a coffee machine, a gaseous medium, in particular air, is delivered to milk conveyed, and the milk/air mixture that is formed is conveyed to an outlet for milk foam or drinks containing milk foam. The consistency of the milk foam that is produced is determined here and is monitored by a regulating process and/or is changed by a setting. Even with variable conditions of use and operation, perfect quality of the milk foam that is produced is guaranteed, in which, moreover, its consistency can be changed.

Abstract: With a method for heating in particular milk or milk foam, in which the milk or the milk/air mixture is conveyed through a passage opening and hot steam is conveyed through at least one steam line transversely into this passage opening. The passage opening and the at least one inlet opening opening transversely into the steam line, the steam pressure in this and the pressure and the pressure in the passage opening with flowing milk or milk/air mixture are so coordinated that the hot steam at the at least one transverse inlet opening condenses in the passage opening directly on contact with the milk or the milk/air mixture. Consequently the additional energy produced by the phase change from steam to condensate water is transmitted directly as heat to the heat in the milk or the milk/air mixture.

Abstract: Method for manually controlling an operating unit for steam discharged from a steam lance in a controlled manner using a manually displaceable operating element. The operating element is displaced in one direction from an engaged starting position, in which there is no steam discharge, into engaged positions for discharge of determined amounts of steam, or displaced in the opposite direction, in which the amount of steam varies with the displacement. The operating element has a fixed casing, an outlet head displaceably mounted on the casing, a steam lance fastened to the head, and a displaceable casing including the operating element. The casing is engaged in the starting position or in the positions or can be displaced in the opposite direction, in which the steam is almost continuously variable. Milk froth is produced optimally according to the desired discharge type, in accordance with the amount of milk located in a cup.

Abstract: Using a steam lance, the water vapor and compressed air are supplied to the milk via two pipelines which are separated from one another up to the outlet from the steam lance, wherein only steam is supplied through the outer pipeline at a vapor velocity necessary for breaking up the protein molecules of the milk, whereas a steam-air mixture is supplied through the inner pipeline to enrich the milk with the necessary air proportion, and is only mixed with the steam from the outer pipeline in the milk to be frothed. The steam lance includes the two pipelines arranged coaxially to one another, and an end piece which separates them from one another in the outlet area and has outlet openings for the two media, the steam and the steam-air mixture, designed as radial nozzles which are inclined horizontally and also relative to one another.

Abstract: In a method for producing milk foam, in particular for the preparation of drinks that contain milk foam in a coffee machine, a gaseous medium, in particular air, is delivered to milk conveyed, and the milk/air mixture that is formed is conveyed to an outlet for milk foam or drinks containing milk foam. The consistency of the milk foam that is produced is determined here and is monitored by a regulating process and/or is changed by a setting. Even with variable conditions of use and operation, perfect quality of the milk foam that is produced is guaranteed, in which, moreover, its consistency can be changed.

Abstract: A milk module (2) for generating milk foam or milk beverages, preferably for installing into a coffee machine, is designed as an independent unit. The milk module (2) comprises a cooling chamber (5) which is connected to a cooling assembly for receiving a milk container (6), a conveyor pump (42), a device for generating the steam, a device (24) for heating milk or for generating the milk foam, and a connection means. The heated milk or the generated milk foam can be conveyed through a discharge line to the coffee outlet in the coffee machine by the connection means. In a very advantageous manner, a cleaning container (14) with a cleaning agent can be positioned into the cooling chamber (5) instead of the milk container (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating milk or milk froth with steam in a steam/liquid mixer (5) which is equipped with a tubular mixing chamber (21), at least one steam supply pipe (16) and a milk/milk froth supply nozzle (25) aligned in the longitudinal direction of the mixing chamber, the steam supply pipe (16) discharging into a steam supply chamber (20) upstream of the mixing chamber (21) and which is connected to the mixing chamber (21) by steam inlet holes (22) running around the milk/milk froth supply nozzle (25) in the longitudinal direction of the mixing chamber. The latter are preferably aligned axially parallel to the center axis of the mixing chamber (21). This arrangement of the steam inlet holes (22) brings about even and thorough mixing of the steam with the cold milk or the milk froth in the mixing chamber, and so optimal heating of the milk or the milk froth.