Abstract: A drinks machine, in particular a coffee machine, with an entry device for solid cleaning agent, in particular in pressed form, being user-friendly and safe during cleaning, and having an automatically dosing, enclosed dosage device for the cleaning agent which includes a spout, a storage container protected from the spout, and at least one dosage unit.

Abstract: Described is a coffee percolator having a coffee meal supply container mounted at an upper portion thereof, in which heating of the coffee meal supply by the heat of the coffee percolator and the resultant loss of volatile aroma substances are avoided. This is accomplished by providing a cooling system effective to cool the bottom of the supply container. In a preferred embodiment the supply container is cooled by means of air aspirated by a fan through an air flow path extending along the bottom of the supply container and subsequently returned to the environmental atmosphere.

Abstract: Described is a coffee percolator having a reservoir provided with means for sensing the filling level of coffee meal therein. The filling level sensing means comprises an electro-optical sensor secured to the outer side of the reservoir across a corner formed by portions of a sidewall and a bottom wall. An emitter and a receiver of said electro-optical sensor are disposed along an optical axis extending through the interior of the reservoir substantially diagonally across the corner, the sidewall and the bottom wall being optically transparent at least at the locations whereat the optical axis passes therethrough.