Abstract: Proposed is a milk frother including a milk feed conduit (2), a pump (5) for forwarding the milk, at least one means for heating the milk, as well as a blender element (1) for blending the milk with the frothing medium. The milk is first heated and then air is jetted into the milk. After this, the milk/air blend is fed to a blending section of the blender element (1) where it is multiply deflected and/or decombined to generate high-quality milk froth.

Abstract: The apparatus consists of a refrigerator (10) into which it is possible to insert trays (27, 28, 29) on which various tableware containing different foods and/or drinks are placed. The refrigerator contains, in addition to the cooling unit (13), a high-frequency generator (17) which interacts with induction coils which are arranged in the trays, making it possible to heat suitable tableware inductively. Furthermore, a temperature monitoring means (19) is provided which switches the high-frequency generator off or on during a settable heating time and on reaching a predetermined temperature. A preferred embodiment of the temperature monitoring means contains an induction coil (41), which corresponds to the coils in the trays, and a metal element (42), the heat capacity of which approximately corresponds to that of a piece of tableware. The metal element is connected to the refrigerator housing by a heat-conducting connection (43, 44, 46).

Abstract: The invention provides a piston-cyclinder-assembly for a coffee brewing apparatus, the assembly comprising a cylindric cavity serving as a brewing chamber, a closing member mounted on the cylindric cavity at one end thereof, and a piston which can be displaced into and retracted from the brewing chamber at the other end. The piston is equipped with internal brewing water channels leading to the front face of the piston and connected to a brewing water connector. The closing member has plate-like shape and is fixed against movement in axial direction of the brewing chamber but is pivotally mounted near the cylindric cavity. To drive the piston into the cavity and to retract it, and to pivot the closing member, first and second stepping motors, respectively, are provided which are operatively connected to a control unit. Another embodiment is provided with a normal electric motor to drive the piston and with a pressure sensor.

Abstract: In this process, the prepared food, in portions and together with the cutlery, is arranged on a tray and placed in a refrigerator. Those parts of each portion which are to be heated before serving are introduced into containers which can be inductively heated, and each shelf, in the refrigerator, on which the tray is to be placed contains means for inductively heating these containers. To avoid the situation in which, during serving, some parts of the portion are hot and the others are still at refrigeration temperature, the inductively heatable containers are covered with a lid, the outside of which is also inductively heatable, and/or possess an outer surface, at least part of which can be inductively heated. Consequently, during inductive heating of the interior of the container and the food present therein, the external environment of the container and the food present there, as well as the cutlery, are brought to ambient temperature.

Abstract: In a coffee brewing apparatus, a milling assembly produces coffee powder which is filled into a brewing chamber. Then the brewing chamber is closed by a displaceable piston in order to exert a preselected pressure on the coffee powder in the brewing chamber, and hot water is forced through the compressed coffee powder. If it is recognized after several subsequent preparation cycles that too much or too less coffee powder has been filled into the brewing chamber, the operation period of the milling assembly is shortened or extended automatically under the influence of a programmed control unit. Simultaneously or additionally, a flow rate detector measures the amount of water flowing through the compressed coffee powder and the control unit measures the time required by the water to pass through the coffee powder in the brewing chamber.