Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a housing and a user interface disposed on a vertical corner of the housing. The user interface includes one or more buttons that are accessible from a front view and a side view of the housing.

Abstract: A coffee machine is described. The coffee machine has a removable coffee vessel for fitting to a docking area. A closing piston is driven laterally relative to the coffee vessel into a side opening of the coffee vessel. The closing piston has a water delivery channel leading to its end face.

Abstract: A multiple tank heated water system and method for use with a beverage making apparatus. The system includes at least two individual water tanks for controllable heating water. A first tank of the multiple tanks including an inlet port receiving water from a water source for controllably heating water. A second tank communicating with the first tank to receive heated water from the first tank for controllably heating in the second tank. A control system operatively associated with the heated water system. A thermostat connected to each of the multiple tanks for detecting the temperature of the water within the tank, each thermostat communicating with the control system. A heating element associated with each tank, each heating element communicating with the control system.

Abstract: A cooking device including a cooking chamber comprising at least one cooking surface, a wood pellet burner positioned below the cooking chamber and configured to combust wood pellets and provide a first source of smoke, a wood pellet hopper configured to store a supply of wood pellets, an auger configured to feed wood pellets to the wood pellet burner, and a secondary solid fuel combustion unit removably inserted into the cooking device below the cooking chamber and configured to combust a second solid fuel and provide a second source of smoke.

Abstract: A beverage preparation capsule including front and back sheets that are bonded together along a top edge, first and second side edges, and a bottom edge. A region of bonding along the bottom edge may be releasable to allow escape of beverage from the capsule during beverage preparation. There may be a transverse seal that is interrupted by a gap that provides fluid communication between a beverage ingredient chamber located above said gap and a beverage outlet chamber located below said gap. A folded filter strip extending across the capsule includes a fold extending transversely below said transverse seal and front and back side panels extending upwardly through said transverse seal that are bonded to the front and back sheets of the capsule, respectively. The front and back side panels may not extend more than about 10 mm into said beverage ingredient chamber above said transverse seal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capsule for containing a substance for preparing a beverage by placing the capsule in the cavity of a piston. The capsule has a body with a rim and a sealing ring which is attached to the lower wall of the rim. The sealing ring has an upper face bearing on the lower wall of the ring and a free lower face. The capsule has an inner bearing surface and an outer bearing surface each projecting from the rim forming a groove that is arranged to sealingly receive the peripheral edge of the piston during the preparation of the beverage. At least the outer bearing surface is formed on an inner wall of a ring and formed in one part on the free lower face of the sealing ring.

Abstract: A coffee grinder device includes a tank of coffee beans, at least one grinding member adapted to grind a quantity of coffee beans to obtain a coffee powder, a grain size adjustment device adapted to adjust at least one operating parameter of the grinding member to vary the grain size of the coffee powder (7), and a dispensing opening adapted to deliver the coffee powder towards a container adapted to receive the coffee powder. The coffee grinder device also includes in correspondence with or downstream of the dispensing opening, an optical grain size sensor adapted to intercept the coffee powder exiting the dispensing opening and to generate at least a signal indicative of the grain size of the coffee powder. The grain size of the coffee powder is selectable by the grain size adjustment device on the basis of the signal indicative of the grain size of the coffee powder.

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which the ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the ingredient (2) is held and mixed with the water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10,20); and a fluid module (15) having a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21), the fluid module (15) comprising the first processing unit member (10) of the processing unit (10,20). The fluid module (15) is assemblable by a user as a unit to the water source and to the second processing unit member (20) and is disassemblable by a user as a unit from the water source and from the second processing unit member (20).

Abstract: An apparatus may include a cylindrical member including a primary proximal end and a primary distal end. The apparatus may include a filter comprising a secondary proximal end and a secondary distal end, a filter cavity in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the cylindrical member, and a plurality of filter passages disposed upon a surface of the filter. The apparatus may include a pressure member radially extending from, and disposed about, at least a portion of the cylindrical member. The apparatus may include the pressure member comprising a disposable material disposed across a horizontal plane of the drinking vessel, an outer downward-facing lip, and an inner downward-facing lip, configured to allow for downward pressure.

Abstract: Provided by aspects of the present inventive concept are a brewing system including at least one vessel utilized therein, for example, a grist case; a mash/lauter tun; a recirculation vessel; a boil kettle; a hopback; a whirlpool; and/or at least one fermenter that is transparent. Also provided by the inventive concept are a process of using the brewing system, and beverages prepared using the brewing system and/or process.

Abstract: Dough preparation apparatus and associated methods. The dough preparation apparatus can store and be configured to execute a plurality of dough preparation recipes. In one example, the dough preparation apparatus is configured for thawing or slacking frozen dough and conditioning the dough prior to baking. The dough preparation apparatus facilitates production of baked bread having higher and more consistent quality.

Abstract: An infant formula cartridge for preparing infant formula from premeasured quantities of dry or concentrated liquid components. The cartridge includes a base portion defining a vessel adapted to be received in a seated relation in a concentrate-introduction chamber, a cover portion sealably joined to an opening of the base portion, the base portion and the cover portion cooperating to define an inner containment space, and an inner casing disposed within the inner containment space of the base portion and containing powdered infant formula concentrate, wherein an interior of the inner casing is in fluid communication with an exterior of the inner casing.

Abstract: Various illustrative systems, devices, and methods for beverage machines (e.g., drip coffee machines, espresso machines, etc.) are provided. In an exemplary implementation, an espresso machine is configured to brew and dispense espresso. In an exemplary implementation, the espresso machine is configured to determine a recommended coffee bean grind size for a beverage, e.g., an espresso or a sprover-style drink, selected by a user and to provide the recommended coffee bean grind size to the user.

Abstract: A coffee machine is provided. The coffee machine may include a water line configured to supply water, a pump configured to pressurize the water, a first in-line heating element configured to heat the water to an intermediate temperature, a second in-line heating element configured to heat the water from the intermediate temperature to a temperature set point during an extraction process, and one or more electronic control modules configured to receive brewing settings, the brewing settings including the at least one temperature set point, estimate, based partially on the intermediate temperature, a flow rate of the water through the first in-line heating element, and adjust, based at least partially on the estimated flow rate, a power provided to the second in-line heating element.

Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) includes: a beverage processing unit (10, 20) that delimits a chamber (21) in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is mixed with water (4) during beverage preparation; a water source for delivering the water towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); and a water guide (30) extending from the water source into the beverage processing unit (10, 20) arranged such that substantially all the water (4) delivered into the chamber (21) for preparing the beverage (3) is guided by the water guide (30). The water guide (30), and optionally the water source, is/are configured such that the water (4) is driven from the water source into the chamber (21) along the water guide (30) substantially only by effect of gravity and/or capillary and/or gas pressure and/or depression forces.

Abstract: The invention involves an electrical corn-on-the-cob roaster including a repository with a cavity having a structure that generally forms a plurality of cylindrical tubes for receiving a plurality of cobs of corn. In exemplary embodiments, a corn roaster assembly includes a cover concealing a heating element, a repository including a cavity defined by the heating element, a and a removable cage forming a plurality of cylindrical receptacles, each of the plurality of cylindrical receptacles configured to receive a cob of corn. To improve heating or roasting the cob of corn a polygonal, circular, or semi-circular configuration of heating panels may be disposed about a heating chamber so as to maximize heat for roasting the corn but minimizing heat on the casing or cover surrounding the heating element.

Abstract: A food processing line that includes at least one grinder which grinds or pre-grinds food to form a food mass; at least two mixers which mix the ground or pre-ground food mass or at least two mixer-grinders which further mixes and grinds the ground or pre-ground food mass; and at least one portioning/moulding apparatus to portion and/or mould individual food/feed products. The at least one grinder, the at least two mixers, and the at least one portioning/moulding apparatus are connected by conveyors.

Abstract: A method for making and/or dispensing a beverage may be provided. For example, a beverage may be selected from a user interface of a beverage dispensing apparatus. A beverage pressure value may be provided. A package containing a beverage preparation ingredient may be inserted into the beverage dispensing apparatus. A type of the inserted package may be detected. A package pressure value for the inserted package may be determined based on the type of the inserted package. If the package pressure value corresponds to the beverage pressure value, the beverage dispensing apparatus may inject a liquid into the inserted package at the beverage pressure value. If the package pressure value does not correspond to the beverage pressure value, the beverage dispensing apparatus may inject the liquid into the inserted package at the package pressure value. The selected beverage and/or the modified beverage may be dispensed into a drinking vessel.

Abstract: A juice module includes a juice drum accommodating a mesh body therein and coupled to an upper end of a main body, wherein a lid into which a juice object is input is coupled to an upper portion of the juice drum; and a screw mounted inside the mesh body to rotate with respect to a screw rotation shaft, having a spiral rib formed on an outer circumferential surface, and receiving and crushing the juice object from the lid, wherein the screw includes a support surface formed in a direction intersecting the screw rotation shaft to support the juice object input into the lid and a crushing portion formed on an upper end to intersect the support surface and cutting the juice object, and wherein the lid includes an inlet into which the juice object is input, the inlet guiding the juice object to reach the spiral rib or the support surface.

Abstract: A system for controlling a heating device by monitoring the status of any dish being cooked. The system is provided with connectivity to cloud server comprising the relevant reference data, one or more sensors configured to monitor the status of dish being cooked, and processing circuitry that prevents the dish from being overcooked, burned, or spilled over by using the combination of reference data that is stored on the cloud server as well as the sensory data from one or more of its sensors, and generating a warning signal to the user. Additionally, the system and its one or more sensors will monitor the surroundings for hazardous conditions such as cooking gas leakages, active heating device left unattended for a long time.