Abstract: Various beverage preparation systems and methods are shown. The beverage preparation system can include a dispensing unit configured to receive beverage, such as a shot of espresso, from a beverage preparation machine. The dispensing unit can include a dispensing unit with a first end and a second end. The dispensing unit can be rotatable between an upright position and an inverted position. The dispensing unit can be configured to receive the beverage through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the upright position, and can be configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position. In some embodiments, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the beverage out of the first end and into a cup or other vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking appliance provided with: a water tank (30) disposed inside a main case (10); a steam-generation device (40) that generates steam by heating water supplied from the water tank (30); a heating chamber (20) to which steam from the steam-generation device (40) is supplied; an exhaust duct (72), provided inside the main case (10), for expelling exhaust from inside the heating chamber (20) to outside the main case (10); an exhaust temperature sensor (74) that measures the temperature of the exhaust air inside the exhaust duct (72); and a steam-generation decision unit that, upon cooking in which steam is supplied from the steam-generation unit (40) into the heating chamber (20), uses information on a physical quantity (the exhaust temperature measured by the exhaust temperature sensor (74)), which indirectly indicates whether there is water in the steam-generation device (40), to decide whether or not to halt steam generation, including the case in which the water tank (30) is out of water.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide steam oven drain valve systems and methods for draining steam ovens and associated water lines on aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles.

Abstract: A machine for preparing coffee and milk based beverages having a steam generator, a first apparatus for producing coffee as well as a source of liquid milk and a second apparatus for preparing and dispensing a beverage from a concentrated fluid product. The second apparatus includes a beverage preparation device associated with a second dispenser connected via first line to a first connector unit of the second apparatus to receive a concentrated fluid product pre-diluted in the first connector unit and, via a second line, to the source of liquid milk to complete dilution and obtain a diluted product to be dispensed from the beverage preparation device.

Abstract: A system for cleaning the interior surface of an oven appliance using heat and steam cycles is provided. More particularly, the present invention uses a heat cycle to break down water insoluble food residues into soluble materials that are then cleaned by a steam cycle. Following the steam cycle, the remaining food residues can be removed from the interior surface of the oven appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to steam ovens, and particularly to steam ovens configured to generate and deliver steam directly to the oven using a water reservoir in close proximity to an existing oven heat generating system. The steam ovens described may be designed so that they inject steam directly into the oven cavity, and in some instances, generate the steam directly in the oven cavity as well. Certain embodiments are designed with a water reservoir in close proximity to an oven heat generating system such that water in the reservoir is heated, turned to steam, and delivered to the oven cavity via a steam delivery system.

Abstract: A method and components for heating and hydrating foods and beverages using an exothermic and pressure generating chemical reaction are described. The exothermic reaction can be initiated by water, spark, electrical impulse, squib, friction, or shock to heat non-potable water and force the water through a membrane filter, thereby producing heated, potable water.

Abstract: A method and components for heating and hydrating foods and beverages using an exothermic and pressure generating chemical reaction are described. The exothermic reaction can be initiated by water, spark, electrical impulse, squib, friction, or shock to heat non-potable water and force the water through a membrane filter, thereby producing heated, potable water.

Abstract: A method for steam cooking includes introducing steam, from a steam generator device, into a food cooking container through a supply conduit so that at an inlet opening to the food cooking container the steam enters tangentially to a wall of the food cooking container. The generation of steam is controlled by a control system so as to provide a difference between the pressure in the supply conduit and the pressure in the interior of the food cooking container of at least 1 kPa.

Abstract: An overheated steam oven which is suitable for home use by simplifying a construction and reducing a size of the overheated steam oven, and which minimizes energy loss by effectively reducing heat loss due to an insulating construction thereof, and which evenly cooks foods and improves cooking efficiency by evenly heating the foods in a cooking cavity. The overheated steam oven of the present invention includes a cabinet to define a cooking cavity therein, an overheated steam generator to supply overheated steam into the cooking cavity, and a steam dispersion unit mounted to a steam inlet port of the cooking cavity to evenly discharge the overheated steam into the cooking cavity while preventing the overheated steam from being directly discharged onto foods.

Abstract: An overheated steam oven which cleans an interior of a cooking cavity of the overheated steam oven using hot water and overheated steam, and executes a cooking operation using the overheated steam. The overheated steam oven includes a cabinet to define the cooking cavity therein, an overheated steam generator to supply overheated steam into the cooking cavity, and a cleaning unit to spray water from an interior of the overheated steam generator into the cooking cavity to clean the interior of the cooking cavity. A control method of the overheated steam oven includes spraying the water into the cooking cavity by use of the cleaning unit in response to a cleaning start signal, thus cleaning the interior of the cooking cavity, and supplying the overheated steam from the overheated steam generator into the cooking cavity after the cooking cavity is cleaned, thus drying the interior of the cooking cavity.

Abstract: An overheated steam oven including a cabinet to define a cooking cavity therein, and an overheated steam generator to supply overheated steam into the cooking cavity. The overheated steam generator includes a first vessel containing a predetermined amount of water therein, and a second vessel of which an upper portion is placed in the first vessel, so that an inlet provided at the upper portion of the second vessel communicates with an interior of the first vessel. The second vessel has an outlet provided at a lower portion of the second vessel and connected to the cooking cavity. The overheated steam generator further includes a first heater which is installed in the first vessel to be immersed in the water contained in the first vessel to generate steam, and a second heater which is installed in the second vessel to overheat the steam generated by the first heater.