Abstract: The brewing device for coffee comprises a brewing unit for the brewing of coffee, a crema valve and a coffee outlet. The brewing unit, the crema valve and the coffee outlet are connected with one another so that in the brewing unit brewed coffee can be directed through the crema valve to the coffee outlet and the crema valve is designed so that the brewed coffee can be swirled through in a crema chamber of the crema valve and a crema is created. The brewing device comprises an injection device for injecting a gas into the crema chamber and a dosing device for dosing the quantity of the gas injected into the crema chamber. With each injection of the gas, a preset quantity of the gas is injected, the preset quantity of the gas being a parameter that can be changed.

Abstract: A heating device for a beverage-making machine has at least one water pump for supplying water to a first continuous-flow heater for generating hot water and to a second continuous-flow heater for generating steam. The first continuous-flow heater is switched over, if required, to steam generation and be connected up to the second continuous-flow heater. The second continuous-flow heater can also be switched over, if required, to hot-water generation and to be connected up to the first continuous-flow heater. A control means which is provided for controlling the switchover operations and the connections between the continuous-flow heaters, and is configured depending upon entries input into an operating unit and relating to the previous operating state of the heating device. In comparison with conventional appliances, the configuration envisaged for the heating device also makes it possible to provide relatively large quantities of hot water or steam in a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beverage preparation machine comprising an apparatus for frothing or heating milk, which apparatus is connected via a milk suction hose to a milk container, and a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the milk suction hose and the apparatus for frothing or heating milk by means of a flushing fluid. The milk can be sucked from the milk container into the apparatus for frothing or heating milk by means of a vacuum which can be generated in the apparatus for frothing or heating milk.

Abstract: Provided is a drink preparation machine with an outer housing, which contains at least one ventilation element for ventilating an interior which is enclosed by the outer housing. In order to reduce the likelihood of penetration by dust, water and/or small objects, to allow simple and quick cleaning with reduced use of detergents and to achieve energy-saving operation of the drink preparation machine, the at least one ventilation element can be actuated to open and close.

Abstract: The brewing device for beverages includes a brewing unit for the brewing of a beverage, a crema valve and an outlet, wherein the brewing unit, the crema valve and the outlet are connected with one another in such a manner that in the brewing unit brewed beverage can be directed through the crema valve to the outlet. The crema valve is designed in such a manner that the brewed beverage can be swirled through in a crema chamber of the crema valve so that a crema is created. Furthermore, the brewing device includes an injection device for injecting a gas into the crema chamber and a dosing device for dosing the quantity of the gas injected into the crema chamber which is designed in such a manner that with each injection of the gas a preset quantity of the gas is injected in each case, where the preset quantity of the gas is a parameter that can be changed.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine has at least one pinch valve (1) in the fluid line system, wherein the pinch valve (1) has at least two fluid passage lines (20, 21) and is designed to execute valve and/or control functions on the fluid passage lines (20, 21). The operating mechanism of the pinch valve (1) is set up for coupled activation of the valve and/or control functions and a drive with a stepper motor (25) is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dispensing milk portions in drink preparation machines having a milk fill level monitoring unit for a milk container. According to the method, one delivery of a milk portion from the milk container, said delivery being controlled by a device control electronic system, is only carried out completely and with a sufficient quantity of milk when during the delivery of the milk portion, the milk fill level monitoring unit signals a drop in the fill level of the milk below a threshold value.

Abstract: A heating device for a beverage-making machine has at least one water pump for supplying water to a first continuous-flow heater for generating hot water and to a second continuous-flow heater for generating steam. The first continuous-flow heater is switched over, if required, to steam generation and be connected up to the second continuous-flow heater. The second continuous-flow heater can also be switched over, if required, to hot-water generation and to be connected up to the first continuous-flow heater. A control means which is provided for controlling the switchover operations and the connections between the continuous-flow heaters, and is configured depending upon entries input into an operating unit and relating to the previous operating state of the heating device. In comparison with conventional appliances, the configuration envisaged for the heating device also makes it possible to provide relatively large quantities of hot water or steam in a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine is electrically operated and has a control unit, at least one functional unit, and an electric circuit for supplying the functional unit and the control unit with current. The electric circuit has a switch for switching the current on or off, through respective first and second operations of an operating element. The switch has a first switch contact and a second switch contact, which are connected in parallel in the electric circuit. The first switch contact is brought into a closed state by the first operation of the operating element, and assumes an open state after the second operation. The control unit provides a control signal so that the second switch contact is closed after the first operation of the switch and opened after the second operation of the switch.

Abstract: A coffee machine with an integrated coffee grinder and a powder chute, which serves the purpose of feeding ground coffee from the coffee grinder to a movable brewing cylinder, has an inlet with a manually operated lid for already ground special coffee. A sensor detects the position of the lid. The detection signal of the sensor is passed on to a processor controlling the coffee machine, and the signal is used to differentiate between a normal operating mode and an operating mode for producing special coffee. If the lid is opened for a certain minimum time span, a subsequent coffee preparation cycle in the operating mode for producing special coffee is initialized. Since, to that end, no separate pre-selection is required any longer, the operation of the coffee machine is simplified and the susceptibility to problems is reduced.

Abstract: A coffee machine with an integrated coffee grinder (1) and a powder chute (2), which serves the purpose of feeding ground coffee (3) from the coffee grinder (1) to a movable brewing cylinder (4), has an inlet (6) with a manually operated lid (5) for already ground special coffee. A sensor (14) detects the position of the lid (5). The detection signal of the sensor (14) is passed on to a processor (15) controlling the coffee machine, and said signal is used to differentiate between a normal operating mode and an operating mode for producing special coffee. If the lid (5) is opened for a certain minimum time span, a subsequent coffee preparation cycle in the operating mode for producing special coffee is initialised. Since, to that end, no separate pre-selection is required any longer, the operation of the coffee machine is simplified and the susceptibility to problems is reduced.

Abstract: A coffee brewing apparatus has a brewing device in which coffee powder is brewed in a brewing process with pressurised hot water. Parameters of the brewing procedure are adjustable with a control unit of the coffee brewing apparatus. The control unit includes an electronic interface via which the information related to the coffee brewing machine can be exchanged in the form of signals, wherein a transportable electronic storage medium may be attached to the interface, and may be connected to an external control unit. The external control unit is a personal computer (PC), and a docking station is provided that may be attached to the personal computer, into which docking station the transportable electronic storage medium may be inserted for the purpose of data exchange.

Abstract: The cleaning of the brewing device of a coffee machine takes place in various phases. In a first phase, water is conducted out of a water tank via a water supply connection of the brewing cylinder through the outlet pipe disposed in the brewing piston into an external water tank. The cleaning water follows the route of the brewed coffee in this phase. In a second phase (see FIG. 3) the cleaning water is conducted from the brewing cylinder via channels in the wall of the brewing cylinder into areas outside the brewing cylinder and cleans, among other things, the second extension piece for the transport of the coffee grounds to the grounds container. In a third phase the water located in the brewing chamber is caused to flow out over the edge of the brewing cylinder by means of the shifting of the ejection piston.