Abstract: The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a fluid system comprising a fluid source (2), a pump (3), a heating element (4), at least two container holders (7a, 7b) adapted for receiving ingredient containers (11, 17), a control unit (8) for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers, wherein the control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage, wherein the container holders (7a, 7b) differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types and, and wherein it further comprises separate fluid injection interfaces (9a, 9b) having different structural and kinematic configurations, and arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers; each interface being connected to the fluid system and bein

Abstract: The invention relates to a roasting and processing apparatus for coffee beans comprising a roasting device (50) and an associated coffee processing device (60, 70); the roasting device (50) being configured for receiving coffee beans of a certain type that will be roasted, the roasting device comprising reading means (53) to identify the characteristics of the coffee beans dispensed to it, the roasting device (50) further comprising a control unit configuring the roasting profile of the beans according to the characteristics retrieved from the reading means (53) and/or from the characteristics of the beans in a database (51) in this control unit and/or according to the user input; the roasted coffee beans being transferred into a coffee processing device (60, 70) for beverage preparation, the roasting device (50) comprising a data transfer function to communicate product parameters of the roasted coffee beans of a certain type to the coffee processing device (60, 70); the coffee processing device (60, 70) rec

Abstract: The invention relates to a grinding and extraction apparatus for roasted coffee beans comprising a grinding device (60) and an associated extraction device (70); the grinding device (60) comprising one or more housings for receiving one or more beans containers (10, 20) with roasted coffee beans of the same or different types; the grinding device (60) comprising a reader (62) to obtain the information of the product parameters of the roasted coffee beans of the one or more beans containers (10, 20); the grinding device (60) further comprising a control unit configured to adapt the grinding size and the quantity of roasted coffee beans for obtaining a certain coffee blend from each beans container to be grinded according to these product parameters and/or according to a recipes database (64) comprising the beverage information associated to the beverage to be prepared; the grinding device (60) further comprising an encoder (62) to encode the beverage information on programmable identification means (65) on a p

Abstract: The invention relates to a roasting and grinding apparatus for coffee beans comprising a roasting device (50) and an associated grinding device (60); the roasting device (50) being configured for receiving coffee beans of a certain type that will be roasted, the roasting device (50) comprising reading means (53) to identify the characteristics of the coffee beans dispensed to it, the roasting device (50) further comprising a control unit configuring the roasting profile of the beans according to the characteristics retrieved from the reading means (53) and/or from the characteristics of the beans in a database (51) in this control unit and/or according to the user’s input; the roasted coffee beans being dispensed into a beans container (10, 20), the beans container (10, 20) comprising programmable identification means where product parameters of the roasted coffee beans of a certain type are encoded on it by an encoder (52) in the roasting device; the grinding device (60) comprising one or more housings for r

Abstract: A coffee bean container configured to store green and/or partially roasted coffee beans includes an inner volume where the beans are stored, roasting means allowing beans to roast at a certain required degree depending on the original roasting level of the stored beans, and at least part of a grinder to allow for grinding of the beans, once roasted, to a certain grinding size. The roasting means may be a roasting hollow tube through which pressurized hot air circulates such that coffee beans circulate inside the tube and within the internal volume, creating a fountain effect.

Abstract: A roasting and grinding system (100) for preparing and delivering on demand roast and ground coffee, the system having: one or more raw containers (10, 10?, 10?, etc.) having green coffee beans of the same or of different types; a roasting unit (20) receiving green coffee beans from one or more of the raw containers (10, 10?, 10?, etc.) at the time, the roasting unit (20) adapting automatically the roasting parameters to the type of green coffee beans to roast; a conservation area (30) where the roasted coffee is stored at appropriate atmosphere until it is grinded; a grinding area (40) having one or more grinding units (41, 41?, 41?, etc.) one per type of coffee to be ground, adapting automatically the grinding parameters to the type of coffee or coffee mix to be ground. The invention further relates to a raw container (10, 10?, 10?, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine. The beverage preparation machine is adapted for preparing a beverage by receiving a capsule in a capsule extraction unit, circulating a carrier liquid, such as water in particular heated water, through said capsule in the extraction unit and by dispensing a resulting beverage. The machine is in data communication with a remote server via a communication network. The machine monitors parameters related to the machine and submits the monitored parameters to the server. The server initiates a service functionality depending on the submitted parameters. The present invention further relates to a beverage preparation machine adapted to support such a method and to a system for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine at a customer location.

Abstract: A machine for preparing frozen confectionery has the ability or characteristic of forming a seat used for accommodating an essentially cup-shaped container. The machine has a heat exchange element having a heat exchange contact surface arranged to be in contact with a heat exchange portion of the container when the container is placed in the machine. The heat exchange element has an inverted conical or curved shape or a number of inverted conical sections, or a combination of curved and inverted conical sections. The confectionery produced can be a frozen product, such as soft ice, or a chilled dessert, such as mousse or whipped yogurt.

Abstract: The present invention presents a pumping system (1) with a preheated reservoir (2), a main pump (4) for pumping a preheated liquid (3) from the reservoir (2), and pressurizing means (5) for pressurizing the reservoir (2). Preferably, the pressurizing means set an absolute pressure of 0.5 to 1 bar in the reservoir (2). The liquid (3) in the reservoir (2) can be heated up to 90° C. or more. The present invention achieves a nearly complete suppression of the phenomenon of cavitation at the main pump entrance, and thus achieves an increased pumping performance at elevated liquid temperatures.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing a beverage or liquid from a food substance contained in a filtering receptacle by passing water through the substance using brewing centrifugal forces. The method includes feeding water into the receptacle, and driving the receptacle in centrifugal rotation to force water to flow through the substance in a centrifugal flow path to the outlet of the receptacle. The system includes equipment necessary to carry out the method. The receptacle is a sealed capsule which is opened for water to be introduced into the capsule, contains a predetermined dose of food substance and is discarded after use.

Abstract: The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a fluid system comprising a fluid source (2), a pump (3), a heating element (4), at least two container holders (7a, 7b) adapted for receiving ingredient containers (11, 17), a control unit (8) for controlling the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers, wherein the control unit is further arranged to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage, wherein the container holders (7a, 7b) differ from one another for holding containers of different sizes and/or types and, and wherein it further comprises separate fluid injection interfaces (9a, 9b) having different structural and kinematic configurations, and arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding ingredient containers; each interface being connected to the fluid system and bein

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device for preparing hot and cold beverages, the device (30) comprising a hot extraction module (10) comprising a brewing unit (1) for injection of hot liquid into a beverage ingredients containing capsule, a hot beverage outlet (2) connected to the brewing unit (1) for dispensing of a hot extracted beverage, and a cooling module (20) comprising a cooling reservoir (5) for receiving the hot extracted beverage, wherein the hot beverage outlet (2) and the cooling module (20) are arranged moveably relative to each other such that the hot extracted beverage may be selectively dispensed from the hot beverage outlet (2) into the cooling reservoir (5) of the cooling module (20) in at least one relative position of the hot beverage outlet (2) and the cooling module (5).

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of the beverage preparation machines having an ingredient processing module for preparing a beverage with at least one ingredient supplied with a capsule. The machine comprises a positioner arranged to hold at least one capsule out of the ingredient processing module. It further comprises a sensing arrangement adapted to detect an event related to the insertion by a user of a capsule and/or the presence of the capsule on or into the positioner. The machine is configured, upon detection of the event, to transfer the capsule to the ingredient processing module by using transfer means, and then to start the preparation of the beverage. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine providing a convenient and safe solution to fully automate the preparation of a beverage.

Abstract: A device for producing milk foam uses Couette flow and a high shear stress that is accordingly applied to a milk-air mixture between two concentrically arranged cylinders. The cylinders are rotated relatively to another. The high shear stress leads to an emulsion of the milk and the air, which is the basis for a foaming effect, once the emulsion flows out of a gap between the two cylinders and expands. The parameters of the device that mainly influence the foaming effect are the width of the gap and the relative rotation speed of the cylinders.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of the beverage preparation machines having an ingredient processing module for preparing a beverage with at least one ingredient supplied with a capsule. The machine comprises a positioner arranged to hold at least one capsule out of the ingredient processing module. It further comprises a sensing arrangement adapted to detect an event related to the insertion by a user of a capsule and/or the presence of the capsule on or into the positioner. The machine is configured, upon detection of the event, to transfer the capsule to the ingredient processing module by using transfer means, and then to start the preparation of the beverage. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine providing a convenient and safe solution to fully automate the preparation of a beverage.

Abstract: The invention concerns pack (1) with an inner volume (2) in which a food or beverage ingredient (7) is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside,—said inner volume (2) being defined by two sheets of material (10) joined to one another at their edges and said inner volume (2) presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane (P) vertically oriented during beverage production,—said pack comprising at least one inlet (3) for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet (4) for delivering the beverage from said inner volume, the water inlet (3) and the beverage outlet (4) being included in one single insert (5), said single insert (5) being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material (10), the water inlet (3) being oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane (P) defined by the inner volume (2), and—wherein the single insert (5) comprises a centring hole (53) extending essentially pe

Abstract: Beverage production device for preparing a liquid extract by interaction between a liquid and food ingredients to form the liquid extract by effect of centrifugation of the liquid passing through the ingredients comprising: a brewing unit (2) for receiving the food ingredients, a collecting unit (18) for collecting the liquid extract centrifuged outside the centrifugal unit, driving means connected to the centrifugal unit for driving the centrifugal unit in rotation, liquid supply means being connected to the centrifugal unit to supply liquid in the centrifugal unit, wherein the collecting unit (18) comprises a heater (10) for heating the liquid supplied in the centrifugal unit, said heater (10) being further arranged to heat the liquid extract after it leaves the brewing unit (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for preparing a cooled food product, comprising: —a receiving seat (1), for accommodating an essentially cup-shaped container, comprising a heat exchange element (1a) having a heat exchange contact surface (21) arranged to be in contact with an outer surface of a side wall (8d) of the container when the container is placed in the machine, —a cooling unit (4) arranged for cooling the heat exchange element (1a) and, —a stirring unit (5) connectable to a stirring member (9) and arranged for driving the stirring member (9) in at least one rotational movement; wherein it comprises —means for measuring the temperature of the product while being prepared, —a control unit for automatically setting output parameters according to input parameters received by the control unit and compared to threshold values stored in the unit; —wherein the output parameters comprises: at least one rotational velocity of the stirring member and the cooling power of the cooling unit, and —wherein the in

Abstract: The invention relates to a coffee bean container (10, 10?) comprising green and/or partially roasted coffee beans, the container comprising: an inner volume (14) where beans are stored; roasting means allowing beans roasting in a certain required degree depending on the original roasting level of the stored beans; at least part or complete grinding means allowing grinding of the beans, once roasted, to a certain grinding size. The roasting means preferably comprise a roasting hollow tube (11) through which hot air at pressure circulates such that coffee beans circulate within the internal container volume and inside the tube (11), creating a fountain effect.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a food preparation machine (1) for preparing a food product by mixing a fluid with an ingredient, said machine comprising: i. a base (2) having a fluid reservoir (3) and a pump able to withdraw said fluid through fluid-conducting pipes, said base optionally comprising an element suitable for heating and/or chilling said fluid, ii.