Abstract: An appliance (10) to heat a liquid, the appliance (10) including: a hollow body (16) providing a chamber (23) to receive the liquid, the body (16) having a bottom wall (17) and a side wall (18) extending upwardly from the bottom wall (17) so as to surround the chamber (23); an electrical resistance heater (27) fixed to the body (16) and to which electric power is delivered so that the heater (27) has a raised temperature to heat the liquid contained in the chamber (23); a switch (29), adjacent the heater (27), that receives electric power and delivers electric power to the heater (27), the switch (29) being mounted in the body (16) and located so that heat generated by the switch (29) can be delivered to the liquid via conduction; and wherein the switch (29) is mounted on the body (16) to inhibit heat transfer by conduction between the heater (27) and switch (29).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a toaster (10) including: a housing (12); a pair of opposing food guards (24a, 24b) located within the housing (12) and defining a toasting cavity (25a, 25b) for receiving foodstuff to be toasted; a pair of heating elements (28) located within the housing (12), each heating element (28) being located on a respective side of the pair of food guards (24a, 24b), wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) is spaced from the corresponding heating element (28) by a clearance (81); and wherein each food guard (24a, 24b) has an upwardly-extending portion (75c, 75d) that extends upwardly to a portion (75a, 75b) that extends transversely from the upwardly-extending portion so as to extend above the corresponding heating element (28), the transversely-extending portion (75a, 75b) of each food guard (24a, 24b) projecting away from the opposing food guard (24a, 24b).

Abstract: A drip filter coffee making device has a filter basket with a lid. The lid supports a water dispenser for wetting grounds in the filter basket. The basket is removable from a body of the device. The lid may have a dampened opening motion, biased into an open position by a spring.

Abstract: A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, and further arranged to control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components.

Abstract: An appliance for making a beverage, the appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, and a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: an energy storage device, wherein at least a first function of the appliance requires simultaneous operation of a first heating component and a second heating component of the plurality of heating components, and wherein at least the first heating component comprises a first heater element and a second heater element, where the first heater element is powered using mains power, and the second heater element is powered using the energy storage device.

Abstract: An espresso machine has a built-in coffee grinder. A coffee grinding apparatus cooperates with a removable portafilter having a handle, the apparatus including: a cradle for supporting the portafilter; an actuator adjacent to the cradle for co-operating with the portafilter; a downward facing ledge engages a front tab of the portafilter for resisting imbalance of the portafilter when supported by the cradle. Wherein, when the portafilter is supported by the cradle and advanced forward, the front tab of the portafilter further contacts the actuator to operate an electrical switch, thereby causing a signal to be sent to a microprocessor for delivering coffee grinds to the portafilter.

Abstract: A toaster (103) having a side wall (10) with a reflective surface (16) to reflect radiant heat towards a toasting chamber (13), and an external surface to which there is attached a sensor assembly (12). The sensor assembly (12) provides a source beam to illuminate part of the product and receives a reflected beam that is received by a sensor, with the sensor providing a signal indicative of a property of the reflected beam and therefore a chromatic property of the product.

Abstract: A domestic beverage carbonator for carbonating a liquid in a bottle comprising temperature and pressure sensors that communicate with processor to improve the carbonation process. The device further comprises a CO2 cylinder coupling and a cylinder discharge valve, an exhaust valve, a fill head and a user interface. The user interface further comprises user controls and a graphic display and the fill head has a pressure sensor to sense a pressure in the attached bottle and communicate a pressure signal to the processor and the processor uses the pressure signal to regulate the cylinder valve and the exhaust valve.

Abstract: A domestic beverage carbonator for carbonating a liquid in a bottle comprising temperature and pressure sensors that communicate with a processor to improve the carbonation process. The device further comprises a CO2 cylinder coupling and a cylinder discharge valve, an exhaust valve, a fill head and a user interface. The user interface further comprises user controls and a graphic display and the fill head has a pressure sensor to sense a pressure in the attached bottle and communicate a pressure signal to the processor and the processor uses the pressure signal to regulate the cylinder valve and the exhaust valve.

Abstract: An espresso machine has a built-in coffee grinder. A coffee grinding apparatus cooperates with a removable portafilter having a handle, the apparatus including: a cradle for supporting the portafilter; an actuator adjacent to the cradle for co-operating with the portafilter; a downward facing ledge engages a front tab of the portafilter for resisting imbalance of the portafilter when supported by the cradle. Wherein, when the portafilter is supported by the cradle and advanced forward, the front tab of the portafilter further contacts the actuator to operate an electrical switch, thereby causing a signal to be sent to a microprocessor for delivering coffee grinds to the portafilter.

Abstract: A steam wand assembly for an espresso machine has features for preventing overheating of the tip of the steam wand. In a first aspect there is provided a steam wand device comprising a metallic main body tube, a steam hose that passes through the tube, the steam hose also passing through a flexible spacer that is within the tube. In a further aspect there is provided a steam wand device comprising a main body tube having a metallic primary tube and a metallic tip, the primary tube and the tip being attached to one another by a polymeric steam nozzle, the nozzle having a central bore that extends from an inlet adjacent to a lower end of a steam hose to an exit opening.

Abstract: A drip filter coffee making device has a filter basket with a lid. The lid supports a water dispenser for wetting grounds in the filter basket. The basket is removable from a body of the device. The lid may have a dampened opening motion, biased into an open positon by a spring.

Abstract: A temperature sensing assembly for a milk frothing apparatus. The assembly including: a temperature sensor element and a resilient support element that receives and biases the temperature sensor element towards thermal communication with the underside of a vessel; wherein the assembly is located towards the end of a protruding portion that extends from the body of the a milk frothing apparatus; and wherein an upper surface of the temperature sensor assembly is adapted to promote liquid movement into a drip tray reservoir. The apparatus may include: a steam source; an air source coupled to an air injector module for mixing the air and steam; a user interface for receiving input from a user; and wherein the apparatus is configurable by receiving input parameters through the user interface, whereby the parameters includes final milk temperature, and an indication of froth amount.

Abstract: An espresso machine has a built-in coffee grinder. A coffee grinding apparatus cooperates with a removable portafilter having a handle, the apparatus including: a cradle for supporting the portafilter; an actuator adjacent to the cradle for co-operating with the portafilter; a downward facing ledge engages a front tab of the portafilter for resisting imbalance of the portafilter when supported by the cradle. Wherein, when the portafilter is supported by the cradle and advanced forward, the front tab of the portafilter further contacts the actuator to operate an electrical switch, thereby causing a signal to be sent to a microprocessor for delivering coffee grinds to the portafilter.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding coffee. The apparatus including: a grinder mechanism; a ground discharge region; a user control for enabling a user to select grind preferences; a display element for displaying data indicative of user inputs to the user control; a processor element coupled to the user control and a display element for controlling operation of the grinder mechanism. The apparatus being adapted to provides fine control over grind size and dispense discreet doses according to a users preference and control inputs; and display depictions representing a range of coffee grinder functions.

Abstract: A domestic beverage carbonator for carbonating a liquid in a bottle comprising temperature and pressure sensors that communicate with a processor to improve the carbonation process. The device further comprises a CO2 cylinder coupling and a cylinder discharge valve, an exhaust valve, a fill head and a user interface. The user interface further comprises user controls and a graphic display and the fill head has a pressure sensor to sense a pressure in the attached bottle and communicate a pressure signal to the processor and the processor uses the pressure signal to regulate the cylinder valve and the exhaust valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a resultant flow delivered by a pump coupled to an over pressure valve, the method comprising the steps of: measuring, using a first flow meter, feed flow to the pump; measuring, using a second flow meter, return flow from the over pressure valve; and calculating resultant flow, at least in part, by subtracting measured return flow from measured feed flow. A pump power modification module can further modifying the pump output pressure to enable pressure profiling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a resultant flow delivered by a pump coupled to an over pressure valve, the method comprising the steps of: measuring, using a first flow meter, feed flow to the pump; measuring, using a second flow meter, return flow from the over pressure valve; and calculating resultant flow, at least in part, by subtracting measured return flow from measured feed flow. A pump power modification module can further modifying the pump output pressure to enable pressure profiling.