Abstract: A steam dispensing apparatus for hot beverage preparation may include: a boiler configured to generate steam and comprising a first outlet; a wand configured to introduce the steam into a container; a steam supply conduit connected to the first outlet of the boiler and configured to supply the steam to the wand; and a valve for dispensing the steam to the wand and for draining condensation water formed in the steam supply conduit upstream from the valve, during a closing time of the valve elapsed from a previous dispensing operation, wherein the valve is interposed between the wand and the steam supply conduit. The valve may include a hollow body that includes: a steam inlet connection; a steam outlet connection; a condensation water drain connection; a cartridge configured to perform angular movements about a longitudinal axis; and a control knob, connected to the cartridge to impart the angular movements thereto.

Abstract: A grinder-doser may include: grinding members configured to receive and grind coffee beans and configured to deliver ground coffee into a dispensing conduit; a compacting member including a dispensing opening aligned with the dispensing conduit; a slide guide; and a sliding block configured to slide along the slide guide for selectively superimposing a first or second opening to the dispensing opening, allowing the ground coffee to move from the dispensing conduit to the dispensing opening via the first or second opening. The first opening may be reversibly closed by a closure element. The closure element may include a flexible sheet. The closure element may be configured to allow the ground coffee to move from the dispensing conduit to the dispensing opening as a thrust limit value exerted by the ground coffee on the closure element is exceeded. Thrust exerted by the ground coffee may cause the closure element to bend.

Abstract: A grinder-doser comprises grinding members, which are configured to receive and grind coffee beans and deliver ground coffee into a dispensing conduit; a compacting member comprising a dispensing opening aligned with the dispensing conduit for receiving the ground coffee from the dispensing conduit; a slide guide; a sliding block comprising first and second openings and being adapted to slide along the slide guide for selectively superimposing the first and second openings to the dispensing opening allowing the ground coffee to move from the dispensing conduit to the dispensing opening via the first opening or the second opening, the first opening is reversibly closed by a closure element, the closure element allows the ground coffee to move from the dispensing conduit to the dispensing opening as a thrust limit value exerted by the ground coffee on the closure element is exceeded.

Abstract: It it described a roasted coffee bean grinder device comprising a grinding chamber (2), a pair of grinders, one on top of the other, housed within said grinding chamber, one of said grinders being rotatable relative to the other which is kept stationary, a support for at least said rotatable grinder, a drive member (4), connected to said support for rotating said rotatable grinder, an electronic control and command unit (16). The grinding chamber (2), containing said grinders, has a first opening (5a) for introducing the roasted coffee beans to be ground between the grinders and a second opening for discharging the ground product.

Abstract: A grinder for grinding beans of plant-based products and generating a ground powder can include: a grinding chamber; a wheel motor having a shaft defining an axial direction; a rotating grinding wheel and a stationary grinding wheel housed in the grinding chamber, wherein the rotating grinding wheel is connected to the shaft of the wheel motor and is configured to rotate around the axial direction, and wherein the stationary grinding wheel is stationary against rotation and is configured to axially move in both ways in the axial direction; and a device for resetting position of the rotating and stationary grinding wheels. The device can include: a mechanism for axially moving the stationary grinding wheel; an electric motor, coupled to the mechanism, for actuating the mechanism; and a way to stop the electric motor as soon as a contact state is detected between the stationary and rotating grinding wheels.

Abstract: A method of controlling dispensing of doses of coffee grounds, the machine comprising a grinding device which is configured to grind coffee beans, a conduit, having an inlet in communication with the grinding device for receiving coffee grounds, and an outlet, a closure member which is adapted to be removed between an open position for the coffee grounds to be discharged from the conduit through the outlet, and a closed position for closing the outlet, and a coffee grounds weight sensor, which is configured to generate signals representative of the weight of coffee grounds built-up in the dispensing conduit when the closure member is in the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling the basket of a portafilter of an espresso machine with a predetermined dose of coffee grounds and for pressing it within the portafilter is disclosed. A support device for supporting the portafilter projects out of a front wall of the espresso machine. The portafilter is placed on the support device in a first coffee-dispensing position below a coffee grounds dispenser, then moved to a second position below a pressing device. In the second position, a pestle of the pressing device is moved vertically toward the dose of coffee contained in a basket of the portafilter to compress the coffee grounds a desired amount, and is then removed vertically away from the basket of the portafilter containing the pressed coffee dose.

Abstract: A grinder for beans of plant-based products, for example roasted coffee beans, includes a grinding chamber defined by a cylindrical wall and a pair of opposed grinding wheels located in the grinding chamber. At least one of the pair of opposed grinding wheels rotates. The grinder further includes an electric motor for driving the rotating grinding wheel and a first cooling duct extending in the cylindrical wall between a first inlet and a first outlet. A tubular circuit connected to the first cooling duct includes a pump for circulating fluid, a heat dissipater, at least one valve member, and an electronic control unit for actuating the pump and for turning on the heat dissipater according to a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A grinding chamber of a grinding device for vegetal products suitable to form beverages includes, in its interior, a pair of grinders axially overlapping each other, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other which is kept stationary, a grinder support at least for the rotatable grinder, a motor member connected to the grinder support for setting the rotatable grinder in rotation. The grinding chamber is formed by a first bottom wall, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable grinder, adjacent and below the support thereof, and at least a second cylindrical wall, connected axially to the first wall at the peripheral boundary thereof. The grinding chamber also includes a first opening for introducing the product to be ground and with a second opening for discharging the ground product. A labyrinth is provided between the peripheral boundary of the first wall and the grinder support.

Abstract: A method of controlling dispensing of doses of coffee grounds, the machine comprising a grinding device which is configured to grind coffee beans, a conduit, having an inlet in communication with the grinding device for receiving coffee grounds, and an outlet, a closure member which is adapted to be removed between an open position for the coffee grounds to be discharged from the conduit through the outlet, and a closed position for closing the outlet, and a coffee grounds weight sensor, which is configured to generate signals representative of the weight of coffee grounds built-up in the dispensing conduit when the closure member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A dosing device dispenses predetermined doses of ground coffee into a filter holder of an espresso coffee machine. The dosing device includes a carousel body formed by plural compartments sized to hold respective p doses of ground coffee. Each compartment includes a top opening and a bottom provided with members for opening and closing thereof. The carousel body can be displaced between a first position, in which the top of one of the compartments is at a discharge conduit of ground coffee and a second position in which the bottom of the compartment is positioned above the filter holder. The dosing device disclosure can arrange doses of ground coffee, different from each other, preparing different types of beverage, within respective containment compartments, select the dose for the beverage, select the compartment that contains it, move the compartment to the filter holder, and supply the selected dose to the filter holder.

Abstract: A steam dispensing apparatus for preparing hot beverages comprises a boiler, a steam wand, a steam supply conduit connected to the first outlet of the boiler and configured to deliver steam to the wand and a valve for delivering steam to the wand and draining condensation water. The valve comprises a hollow body, a steam inlet connection, a steam outlet connection and a drain connection for draining condensation water, a cartridge, which is axially accommodated in said hollow body and able to perform angular movements in either direction about said longitudinal axis, a control knob which is axially connected to said cartridge to impart said angular movements thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a portafilter of an espresso coffee machine with a dose of ground coffee having a predetermined weight and composed of a single type of coffee or of a composition of different types of coffee, according to a given recipe. The apparatus comprises a plurality of hoppers each containing a different type of coffee beans. The exhaust pipes of the hoppers converge into a single collection point associated with a coffee bean weighing device and a coffee bean grinding device that can provide different grinding degrees.

Abstract: A device for resetting the position of the grinding wheels in a grinder for beans of plant-based products, whose powder, resulting from grinding, is adapted for use in the preparation of a beverage, particularly coffee. The grinder comprises a grinding chamber, a pair of grinding wheels housed in said grinding chamber, a grinding wheel being connected to the shaft of a motor, whose axis defines the axial direction (Z-Z) of the grinding wheels, to be rotated, the other grinding wheel, opposite thereto, being stationary against rotation and susceptible of being axially moved in both ways along said axial direction (Z-Z).

Abstract: A dosing device dispenses predetermined doses of ground coffee into a filter holder of an espresso coffee machine. The dosing device includes a carousel body formed by plural compartments sized to hold respective p doses of ground coffee. Each compartment includes a top opening and a bottom provided with members for opening and closing thereof. The carousel body can be displaced between a first position, in which the top of one of the compartments is at a discharge conduit of ground coffee and a second position in which the bottom of the compartment is positioned above the filter holder. The dosing device disclosurecan arrange doses of ground coffee, different from each other, preparing different types of beverage, within respective containment compartments, select the dose for the beverage, select the compartment that contains it, move the compartment to the filter holder, and supply the selected dose to the filter holder.

Abstract: A grinder for beans of plant-based products, for example roasted coffee, whose powder is adapted for use in the preparation of beverages, includes a grinding chamber defined by a cylindrical wall, a pair of opposed grinding wheels, at least one of which rotates, and which are located in said grinding chamber, an electric motor for driving the rotating grinding wheel, a first cooling duct extending in said cylindrical wall between a first inlet and a first outlet. A tubular circuit connected to the first cooling duct comprises a motor pump for circulating the fluid, heat dissipater, at least one valve member, an electronic control unit for actuating said motor pump and for turning on said heat dissipater according to the value of temperature sensed by said temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method and a machine of controlling dispensing of doses of coffee grounds, the machine comprising a grinding device which is configured to grind coffee beans, a conduit, having an inlet in communication with the grinding device for receiving coffee grounds, and an outlet, a closure member which is adapted to be removed between an open position for the coffee grounds to be discharged from the conduit through the outlet, and a closed position for closing the outlet, and a coffee grounds weight sensor, which is configured to generate signals representative of the weight of coffee grounds built-up in the dispensing conduit when the closure member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A grinding-dosing machine with a dosing device for ground coffee, adapted to be fixed to a coffee grinder to form a grinding-dosing machine, comprises a main body, having a dispensing conduit which is configured to receive ground coffee from a coffee grinding device, and discharge it by gravity into a filter holder, and a closure element which can close the conduit and allow ground coffee to build up in the conduit. A bending beam load cell has a first end portion connected to the main body and a second end portion attached to the coffee grinding device. Thus the load cell will support the main body which hangs therefrom, and measure the weight of the ground coffee built up in the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling the basket of a portafilter of an espresso machine with a predetermined dose of coffee grounds and for pressing it within the portafilter comprises a frame having a front wall, a support device for supporting the portafilter, which projects out of said front wall, and upon which the portafilter is placed, a first emplacement, configured on said support, in which said portafilter is placed for filling a predetermined dose of coffee grounds in its basket, a conduit with its opening facing said first emplacement configured on the support, a dispenser device for dispensing coffee grounds and cause a predetermined dose of coffee grounds to reach the basket of the portafilter, through said conduit, a second emplacement, configured on said support, in which said portafilter is positioned with the basket filled with the predetermined dose of coffee grounds, upon displacement thereof from said first emplacement, a pressing device for pressing the coffee grounds, mechanical means for supporting

Abstract: A grinding chamber of a grinding device for vegetal products suitable to form beverages includes, in its interior, a pair of grinders axially overlapping each other, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other which is kept stationary, a grinder support at least for the rotatable grinder, a motor member connected to the grinder support for setting the rotatable grinder in rotation. The grinding chamber is formed by a first bottom wall, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable grinder, adjacent and below the support thereof, and at least a second cylindrical wall, connected axially to the first wall at the peripheral boundary thereof. The grinding chamber also includes a first opening for introducing the product to be ground and with a second opening for discharging the ground product. A labyrinth is provided between the peripheral boundary of first wall and the grinder support.