Abstract: A new and improved espresso making apparatus and method of making espresso is disclosed in which a motor is utilized to move a piston to compress ground coffee in a pressure chamber a predetermined amount and wherein the amount of compression of the ground coffee is controlled by sensing a motor parameter such as voltage or current which is related to the amount of compression of the ground coffee in the pressure chamber. The motor rotates a cam and the piston is operatively connected to a cam follower which engages the cam and moves the piston in response to rotation of the motor to compress the ground coffee in the pressure chamber until the sensed rotor parameter exceeds a preset reference.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for blending a mix and a beverage concentrate to dispense a blended beverage formed from the mix and the concentrate includes a supply of mix, a supply of at least a single type of concentrate, a manifold, a first conduit connecting the supply of concentrate to the manifold, a first valve for controlling fluid flow through the first conduit, a vacuum source operatively connected to the manifold to establish a vacuum in the manifold to draw the concentrate from the supply of concentrate through the first conduit and into the manifold when the first valve is in its open position, a second conduit for directing the mix to the manifold and a dispensing station for dispensing a blended beverage formed from a predetermined amount of mix and predetermined amount of concentrate.