Abstract: In a method for producing tablets for extraction of a liquid food product, dosed and moistened amounts of a powder ingredient are heated while contained in respective confined volumes. The method comprises the steps of: providing the ingredient in powder form; loading dosed amount of the powder ingredient into respective forming cavities; moistening each dosed amount of the powder ingredient, only at a surface layer thereof, and heating the dosed and moistened amount of the ingredient while contained in the respective forming cavity.

Abstract: In a method for producing tablets for extraction of a liquid food product, a plurality of dosed amounts of a moistened powder ingredient are loaded into respective forming cavities of a multi-cavity forming device, the multi-cavity forming device is then introduced into a multimode cavity of a microwave oven, and thereafter the multi-cavity forming device is removed from the multimode cavity. The multimode cavity is prearranged in such a way that an irradiation of the microwaves thereinto causes heating of all dosed amounts of the ingredient in the respective forming cavities of the multi-cavity forming device, to form simultaneously a plurality of tablets each having a self-supporting structure.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a food product comprises at least a stationary structure, a hydraulic circuit and a control system. The hydraulic circuit comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and pumping means, as well as a first dispensing element (51), which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam. The first dispensing element (51) is configured for coupling, in particular sealed coupling, with an inlet (18, 26) of a disposable container (11) for preparing and retaining the food product, and the hydraulic circuit (40) is controllable, in particular via the control system, for conveying pressurized hot water and/or steam to the first dispensing element (51).

Abstract: A sealed disposable container (11) for preparing and retaining a food product (17?) has an entry wall (13), a bottom wall (14) opposite to the entry wall (13), and a lateral wall (15), which define an internal volume (16) pre-packaged in which is a predetermined amount of at least one first food substance (17) or of a precursor thereof. The entry wall (13) has at least one axially hollow coupling or positioning element (18), which defines at least part of an inlet (18, 26) of the disposable container (11). The disposable container (11) comprises an axially extending injector element (20), which is couplable with the at least one coupling or positioning element (18) or is integrally formed or fixed therewith, in such a way that at least a first distal portion (DP) of the injector element (20) extends within the internal volume (16).

Abstract: A system for preparing a food product comprises a sealed disposable container (11) and a preparation machine (1), having a hydraulic circuit that comprises at least one water-supply source, means for heating water and pumping means, as well as a first dispensing element (51), which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam. The entry wall (13) of the disposable container (11) has at least one axially hollow coupling element (18, 26), which defines at least part of an inlet of the disposable container (11). The disposable container (11) comprises an axially extending injector element (20), which can be coupled to the at least one coupling element (18, 26) or is formed integrally therewith in such a way that at least one first distal portion of the injector element (20) extends within the internal volume (16).

Abstract: Device for foaming a liquid comprising a mixing unit (30). The mixing unit (30) comprises a first element (31) having an inner surface (33), a second element (34) having an outer surface (35), a gap (36) between the inner surface (33) of the first element (31) and the outer surface (35) of the second element (34), a first opening (37) and a second opening (38) connected through the gap (36). At least one of the first element (31) or the second element (34) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (AR) with respect to the other one. The inner surface (33) and the outer surface (35) are symmetric with respect to a common axis of symmetry (AH, AW), coincident with the axis of rotation (AR), and have circular sections, perpendicularly to the axis of symmetry, having diameters which increase going in a direction along the axis of symmetry (AH, AW).

Abstract: An apparatus for managing water levels in a boiler of a coffee machine is provided. The boiler is connected to a control circuit and includes a first probe arranged, in use, to measure a first water level and at least a second probe arranged to measure a second water level, or working level of the apparatus, higher than the first level. apparatus is arranged to supply steam or hot water through respective ducts connected to the boiler and controlled by respective valves. The first probe is configured for measuring a draining level of the boiler on the basis of draining commands generated by the control circuit and for automatically enabling water replacement in the boiler.

Abstract: Device for foaming a liquid comprising a mixing unit (30). The mixing unit (30) comprises a first element (31) having an inner surface (33), a second element (34) having an outer surface (35), a gap (36) between the inner surface (33) of the first element (31) and the outer surface (35) of the second element (34), a first opening (37) and a second opening (38) connected through the gap (36). At least one of the first element (31) or the second element (34) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (AR) with respect to the other one. The inner surface (33) and the outer surface (35) are symmetric with respect to a common axis of symmetry (AH, AW), coincident with the axis of rotation (AR), and have circular sections, perpendicularly to the axis of symmetry, having diameters which increase going in a direction along the axis of symmetry (AH, AW).

Abstract: A device arranged for measuring a level of a liquid in a container. The device has a sensor, arranged to sense a pressure of a liquid in a tube, a pump arranged to pump the liquid from the container through the tube, and a valve located along the tube between the sensor and the pump and arranged to impede back flow of the liquid into the container when the pump stops pumping the liquid. The device is arranged to measure the level of the liquid into the container on the basis of the hydrostatic pressure measured by the sensor after each stop of the pump. Also disclosed is a method for measuring a level of a liquid in a container by a pressure sensor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring coffee machines, comprising: a coffee machine (10) having an electronic circuitry (14, 40, 41) configured for collecting and storing usage parameters of the machine; and a display (12) connected to the electronic circuitry and configured for displaying information processed by the electronic circuitry (14, 40, 41) in the form bar codes of QR code type. The system includes a device (50) external to the machine (10) and configured for acquiring through photographs the processed information, in order to decode it and transmit it to a remote server (15). A method of for monitoring coffee machines is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an infusion machine comprising a boiler having first heating means provided for heating a liquid suitable for infusion preparation, in particular for espresso coffee preparation, at least one supplying group (14), and infusion means (43, 43b) provided for infusion preparation and associated with second heating means (46). The supplying group (14) in the machine further comprises an accumulation chamber (41) hydraulically connected to the infusion means (43, 43b) and arranged to contain a certain amount of liquid. Second heating means (46) are provided, which are arranged to directly heat the liquid contained in the accumulation chamber (41) for hydraulically feeding the infusion means (43). The invention also relates to the supplying group and the method of manufacturing the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing water levels in a boiler, in particular a boiler of a coffee machine, in which the boiler (12) comprises, connected to a control circuit (14): a first probe (21) arranged, in use, to measure a first water level; at least a second probe (22, 23) arranged to measure a second water level, or working level of the apparatus, higher than the first level, in which it is provided that the apparatus is arranged to supply steam or hot water through respective ducts (26, 27) connected to the boiler (12) and controlled by respective valves (36, 37). The first probe (21) is configured for measuring a draining level of the boiler on the basis of draining commands generated by the control circuit and for automatically enabling water replacement in the boiler.

Abstract: A system for monitoring coffee machines, comprising: a coffee machine (10) having an electronic circuitry (14, 40, 41) configured for collecting and storing usage parameters of the machine; and a display (12) connected to the electronic circuitry and configured for displaying information processed by the electronic circuitry (14, 40, 41) in the form bar codes of QR code type. The system includes a device (50) external to the machine (10) and configured for acquiring through photographs the processed information, in order to decode it and transmit it to a remote server (15). A method of for monitoring coffee machines is also described.

Abstract: A device for heating and/or frothing a beverage includes a first duct connectable to an upstream steam source and to downstream mixing means arranged to introduce and mix at least steam into said beverage, said first duct having a first valve configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct, and a second duct connectable to the upstream steam source and to said downstream mixing means, said second duct having a second valve configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct, wherein a first one of said two ducts comprises a Venturi assembly configured to operate by Venturi effect in order to mix air with said steam in said first one of said two ducts when a second one of said two ducts is closed.

Abstract: A device (1) for grinding roasted grains, in particular coffee beans, of a kind including a grinding chamber (9) in which one or more electrically operated grinders grind coffee beans in order to reduce them to powder. The grinding chamber of the device is equipped with a plurality of cooling fins (29) that assist in removing heat produced during grinding, without the need to use cooling fins or similar cooling devices. Thanks to the provision of the cooling fins (28), the device (1) is inexpensive and compact and avoids an excessive increase in coffee temperature during grinding, thereby preserving the organoleptic qualities of the coffee.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device to regulate the level of a liquid inside a boiler of a coffee machine, having a transparent duct connected to the boiler and designed to visibly display the level of the liquid inside the boiler, a capacitive sensor that can be positioned outside the transparent duct in determined positions and designed to generate electric signals representing the presence or absence of liquid in correspondence to the position of the sensor along the transparent duct. The sensor of the device has first measuring elements and second measuring elements, both of capacitive type; the second measuring elements are positioned at a predetermined distance from the first measuring elements, and a measuring device designed to measure the impedance between the first and second measuring elements and to generate signals indicating the presence or absence of liquid in correspondence to the position of the sensor. The invention also relates to the machine that includes this device.

Abstract: A device arranged for measuring a level of a liquid in a container. The device has a sensor, arranged to sense a pressure of a liquid in a tube, a pump arranged to pump the liquid from the container through the tube, and a valve located along the tube between the sensor and the pump and arranged to impede back flow of the liquid into the container when the pump stops pumping the liquid. The device is arranged to measure the level of the liquid into the container on the basis of the hydrostatic pressure measured by the sensor after each stop of the pump. Also disclosed is a method for measuring a level of a liquid in a container by a pressure sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for heating and/or frothing a beverage (19), including: a first duct (21) connectable to an upstream steam source and having a first valve (31) configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct; a second duct (22) connectable to the upstream steam source and having a second valve (32) configured to be opened and closed and to enable or prevent steam flow into the duct; mixing means (14), which are connected to a common point of the first and second ducts (21, 22), are located downstream of the first duct (21) and the first valve (31) and downstream of the second duct (22) and the second valve (32) and are arranged to introduce and mix at least steam into the beverage. The device further comprises a Venturi assembly (22a) configured to operate by Venturi effect in order to mix air with steam in one the two ducts when the other of the two ducts is closed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a brew group for an infusion machine, in particular a machine for espresso coffee, having infusion means (43, 43b) designed for the preparation of infusions, a holding chamber (41) hydraulically connected to the said infusion means (43, 43b) and having at least two liquid inlets (411) allowing the delivery of liquids and heating means (46) capable of directly heating the liquids delivered to the holding chamber (41) through the inlets such as to hydraulically feed the infusion means (43, 43b) for the preparation of infusions. The invention also relates to a machine which includes the brew group and a method for operating the machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for grinding roasted grains, in particular coffee beans, of a kind including a grinding chamber (9) in which one or more electrically operated grinders grind coffee beans in order to reduce them to powder. According to the invention, grinding chamber (9) of device (1) is equipped with a plurality of cooling fins (29) which assist in removing heat produced during grinding, without need to use cooling fins or similar cooling devices. Thanks to the provision of said cooling fins (28), the device (1) according to the invention is cheap and compact and allows avoiding an excessive increase in coffee temperature during grinding, thereby preserving the organoleptic qualities of the coffee.