Machine and method for the preparation and delivery of coffee-based beverages

Abstract

A machine for preparing and conveying a coffee-based beverage is disclosed, comprising: a heating boiler (1); a conveying assembly (3) including a solenoid valve (8) and a second device for heating (7) and controlling (4) the temperature of water; a filter holder (5) removably connected to the conveying assembly (3) including: a filter (6) into which ground coffee powder is pressed; a hydraulic pump (2) for conveying water from the conveying assembly (3) through the ground coffee powder and connected to the heating boiler (1) and the conveying assembly (3); a first pressure sensor (21) for detecting the water conveying pressure and adjusting the water flow rate based on the pressure value detected by a second pressure sensor (26), the second pressure sensor (26) being arranged adjacent to the solenoid valve (8) to measure the counterpressure applied by the ground coffee powder.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a machine and method for preparing and dispensing coffee-based beverages.

[0002] Machines for preparing and delivering coffee-based beverages are known in the art, particularly for specialized sectors such as bars, restaurants, hotels, and catering. These machines include a hydraulic circuit comprising a boiler, a pump, and a hot water delivery assembly associated with a filter holder. The delivery assembly includes a filter into which ground coffee is placed and compressed.

[0003] The ground coffee is forced into the filter of the filter holder, which is then secured to the delivery assembly, and then the pump delivers hot water to achieve brewing.

[0004] The sensory characteristics of the obtained coffee can be altered by factors such as the amount of ground coffee used, the grind size, the pressure applied, and the time it takes to deliver water.

[0005] To control the sensory characteristics of the obtained beverage, it is known that machines for preparing and delivering coffee-based beverages include pressure sensors arranged along a hydraulic circuit to detect the value of the water delivery pressure; based on this detected pressure value, the flow rate of the water delivered by the machine is adjusted, for example, by changing the flow rate of the water delivered by the pump, or by using a valve with adjustable flow rate, or by changing the delivery time.

[0006] This solution is based on controlling the water flow rate through the hydraulic circuit, and because it only measures the water pressure or water delivery time in the hydraulic circuit, it is difficult to achieve optimal brewing and to keep the sensory characteristics of the beverage obtained in the cup constant in a timely manner.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a machine and method for preparing and delivering coffee-based beverages that can achieve optimal brewing and ensure timely repeated brewing, thereby enabling operators to easily and simply implement the process, in order to solve the problems in the prior art.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for preparing and delivering coffee-based beverages, capable of delivering an infusion with constant sensory properties in a timely manner, so that the beverage obtained in the cup maintains a constant quality.

[0009] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention described below are achieved through a machine and method for preparing and dispensing coffee-based beverages as claimed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments and significant variations of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] The purpose is that all the appended claims form part of this specification.

[0011] It is obvious that several changes and modifications may be made to the description without departing from the scope of the invention as included in the appended claims (e.g., involving shapes, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent effects).

[0012] The invention will be better described with reference to the accompanying drawings, through some preferred embodiments that are non-limiting examples. Wherein:

[0013] - Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to the present invention.

[0014] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of a machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to the present invention is shown and described, comprising: a heating boiler 1 including a first means for heating and controlling the water temperature, such as a temperature sensor 14 and a resistor 19; a hydraulic pump 2; a conveying assembly 3 including a first solenoid valve 8 and a second means for heating and controlling the water temperature for heating water, such as a temperature sensor 4 and a resistor 7; and a filter holder 5 removably connected to the conveying assembly 3, including a first filter 6 into which ground coffee powder is pressed.

[0015] The hydraulic pump 2 is configured to deliver the required amount of water from the delivery assembly 3 through ground coffee powder contained in the first filter 6 of the filter holder 5 to obtain a cup of strong coffee; and the hydraulic pump 2 is fluidly connected to the heating boiler 1 and the delivery assembly 3 via a hydraulic circuit.

[0016] Preferably, the machine of the present invention for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages includes: a first pressure sensor 21 arranged along a hydraulic circuit, preferably located between the heating boiler 1 and the conveying assembly 3; a volumetric flow meter 13 for managing the coffee delivery volume, detecting the values ​​of water volume and delivery pressure, and adjusting the flow rate of the discharged water by means of a flow rate adjustment device 22 based on the pressure value detected by a second pressure sensor 26. The second pressure sensor 26 is arranged adjacent to a first solenoid valve 8 and configured to measure the back pressure exerted by the ground coffee powder in the first filter 6.

[0017] The device 22 for regulating the flow rate, for example, a variable and adjustable regulating valve, preferably an electrically controlled proportional solenoid valve or a manifold solenoid valve, is arranged along the hydraulic circuit in the manifold, preferably located between the heating boiler 1 and the delivery assembly 3, to regulate the pressure of the water discharged by the regulating valve and the pressure of the water delivered by the delivery assembly 3 according to the value detected by the second pressure sensor 26.

[0018] The water supply is provided to the heating boiler 1 via the insertion of desulfurization equipment 25, second filter 10, and solid wood component 11, as well as through water pipeline network 9. The function of the solid wood component is to distribute pipeline water in the hydraulic circuit.

[0019] The boiler 1 is also connected to the conveying assembly 3 via a volumetric flow meter 13; and preferably, the hydraulic circuit includes a valve 23, such as a solenoid valve, inserted into the hydraulic circuit parallel to the regulating valve.

[0020] The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages of the present invention also includes a control unit configured to control the boiler 1, hydraulic pump 2, volumetric flow meter 13, solid wood component 11 and first solenoid valve 8 connected thereto, in order to control the thermal power of the boiler and conveying assembly 3.

[0021] The control unit is also configured to control the first pressure sensor 21 and the second pressure sensor 26 connected thereto, the device 22 for regulating the flow rate, and the second solenoid valve 23 and the first solenoid valve 8, which are typically hydraulic circuits and conveying components 3, to regulate the flow rate of water conveyed by the conveying components 3.

[0022] The control unit is also configured to manage the following steps in a suitable logarithmic manner: extracting the delivered coffee, and in particular the volume and pressure of the delivered water, based on the weight of the product delivered to the cup detected by the weighing system 29 and / or the pressure detected by the first and / or second pressure sensors.

[0023] The method of the present invention for preparing and delivering coffee-based beverages includes the following steps:

[0024] - In order to regulate the heat transfer power, the water temperature inside the heating boiler 1 and the conveying assembly 3 is heated by the first heating device 19, the second heating device 7, the first control device 14 and the second control device 4.

[0025] - A step of conveying water from the conveying assembly 3 in order to brew ground coffee powder pressed into the first filter 6 contained in the filter holder 5; wherein, according to the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor 26 in the conveying assembly 3, a certain volume of water is conveyed by the conveying assembly 3 by the control unit, the volume of water being the volume required to obtain a certain amount of conveyed product, the control unit managing the flow rate of the water conveyed by the device 22 for regulating the flow rate.

[0026] Advantageously, the machine and method of the present invention for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages can achieve optimal brewing, maintain constant sensory characteristics of the beverage obtained in the cup, and adjust the amount of water conveyed according to the pressure value applied to the ground coffee powder contained in the filter to obtain a certain dosage of product.

Claims

1. A machine for preparing and dispensing coffee-based beverages, the machine comprising: - Heating boiler (1), the heating boiler including a first device for heating and controlling water temperature; - Conveying assembly (3), the conveying assembly including a first solenoid valve (8) and a second device for heating and controlling the water temperature for heating water; - Filter holder (5), which is removably connected to the delivery assembly (3), the filter holder including a first filter (6) in which ground coffee powder is compressed; - A hydraulic pump (2) configured to deliver water from the delivery assembly (3) through the ground coffee powder contained in the first filter (6) of the filter holder (5), and the hydraulic pump is fluidly connected to the heating boiler (1) and the delivery assembly (3) via a hydraulic circuit; - A first pressure sensor (21) is arranged along the hydraulic circuit to detect the value of the water delivery pressure and to adjust the flow rate of the water delivered by the delivery assembly (3) according to the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor (26), the second pressure sensor being arranged adjacent to the first solenoid valve (8) and configured to measure the back pressure exerted by the ground coffee powder contained in the first filter (6).

2. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to claim 1, characterized in that, A device (22) for regulating the flow rate is arranged in the manifold along the hydraulic circuit to regulate the flow rate and pressure of the water delivered by the delivery assembly (3) according to the value detected by the second pressure sensor (26).

3. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to claim 2, characterized in that, The device (22) for regulating the flow rate includes a regulating valve with variable and adjustable flow rate, arranged between the heating boiler (1) and the conveying assembly (3).

4. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to claim 3, characterized in that, The regulating valve with adjustable flow rate is an electrically controlled proportional solenoid valve.

5. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The machine includes a first pressure sensor (21) arranged along the hydraulic circuit to detect the value of the water delivery pressure and to adjust the flow rate of water discharged by the device (22) for adjusting the flow rate based on the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor (26).

6. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The water is supplied to the heating boiler (1) via a desulfurization device (25), a second filter (10), and a solid wood component (11) and via a water network (9), the function of which is to distribute the network water in the hydraulic circuit.

7. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heating boiler (1) is connected to the conveying assembly (3) via a volumetric flow meter (13) to manage the amount of coffee being conveyed, detect the values ​​of water volume and conveying pressure, and adjust the flow rate of water discharged by the device (22) for regulating flow rate according to the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor (26).

8. The machine for preparing and conveying coffee-based beverages according to claim 7, characterized in that, The machine also includes a control unit configured to control the heating boiler (1), the hydraulic pump (2), the volumetric flow meter (13), the solid wood component (11), and the first solenoid valve (8) connected thereto, to control the thermal power of the heating boiler (1) and the conveying assembly (3), and the control unit is configured to control the first pressure sensor (21) and the second pressure sensor (26), the device for adjusting the flow rate (22), the second solenoid valve (23) in the hydraulic circuit, and the first solenoid valve (8) in the conveying assembly (3) connected thereto, to adjust the flow rate of the water conveyed by the conveying assembly (3).

9. A method for preparing and conveying a coffee-based beverage, employing the machine for preparing and conveying a coffee-based beverage as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: - In order to adjust the heat transfer power, the water temperature inside the heating boiler (1) and the conveying assembly (3) is heated by the first heating device (19), the second heating device (7), the first control device (14) and the second control device (4) to heat the water; - A step of conveying water from the conveying assembly (3) in order to brew ground coffee powder pressed into the first filter (6) contained in the filter holder (5); wherein, according to the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor (26) in the conveying assembly (3), a certain volume of water is conveyed by the conveying assembly (3) through the control unit, the volume of water being the volume required to obtain a certain amount of conveyed product, and the control unit managing the flow rate of the water conveyed by the device (22) for regulating the flow rate.

Images