Small convenient Italian coffee machine and Italian brewing method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a small convenient Italian coffee machine and an Italian brewing method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of coffee equipment. The small convenient Italian coffee machine comprises a grinding device, a brewing device and a water supply device; a powder receiving station is arranged at the output end of the grinding device, and a brewing station is arranged at a brewing net of the brewing device; the powder receiving station and the brewing station are arranged on the same side of the machine shell, and each station is provided with a clamping groove. The filter cup is detachably connected with the clamping groove of the station; the filter cup comprises a cup body with a hollow filter cavity, and a powder ejecting assembly is arranged in the filter cavity and used for bearing powder and providing pre-tightening force for the powder. Through the movable top plate, the initial height and the compression stroke can be dynamically adjusted according to the powder amount. And in cooperation with the detachable filter cup structure, a user can easily pour slag only by taking out the filter cup. The powder receiving station and the brewing station are arranged on the same side, so that the Italian operation ceremony feeling of manually transferring the filter cup is reserved, and the requirement of a user on high-quality coffee making is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of coffee equipment, and in particular relates to a small and convenient Italian coffee machine and an Italian brewing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with rising consumption and improved living standards, small, convenient espresso machines have gradually become a core category of modern kitchen appliances. Their compact design, fast brewing speed, and near-professional coffee machine performance have made them a popular choice for many households, becoming a vital part of the family coffee culture. Consumers not only seek convenience but also prioritize the high-quality extraction experience of espresso, placing higher demands on the functional design and user experience of espresso machines.

[0003] In the prior art, Chinese patent publication CN201404080Y discloses a fully automatic coffee machine that integrates a grinder, a coffee grounds adjustment device, and a brewer, achieving automated control of the entire process from grinding to tamping and brewing. While this solution simplifies user operation, its overreliance on mechanical automation results in a loss of core espresso-making experiences, such as the engaging experience of distributing and tamping the grounds, and the need for dynamic adjustment during the brewing process. Furthermore, the traditional espresso filter structure exhibits significant technical drawbacks: First, the filter is fixed, and the tamping stroke cannot adapt to the dynamic changes in the coffee grounds volume. When the grounds volume is low, the distance between the tamping screen and the grounds layer is too large, allowing the high-pressure water flow to penetrate the loose grounds and cause splashing, resulting in uneven extraction. When the grounds volume is high, the tamping screen, limited by its fixed stroke, cannot fully compact the grounds, creating a risk of localized high-pressure zones and clogging. Second, after brewing, the grounds must be manually tapped or poured at a specific angle to remove them from the filter, which is cumbersome and prone to residue, reducing the user experience.

[0004] The above-mentioned technical bottlenecks limit the quality improvement and user stickiness enhancement of espresso machines, and urgently need to be broken through through structural innovation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In response to the problems in the related art, the present invention proposes a small and convenient espresso machine and an espresso brewing method thereof to solve technical problems such as the excessive reliance on mechanical automation of existing coffee machines, which leads to a lack of espresso brewing experience and poor coffee brewing effect.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows: a small and convenient espresso machine includes a housing, on which a grinding device, a brewing device, and a water supply device are installed; the grinding device is used to grind coffee beans into powder and output it; the brewing device includes a brewing net that moves up and down, and the upper end of the brewing net is connected to the water supply device;

[0007] The output end of the grinding device is provided with a powder receiving station, and the brewing net of the brewing device is provided with a brewing station; the powder receiving station and the brewing station are arranged on the same side of the housing, and each station is provided with a slot;

[0008] It also includes a filter cup, which is detachably connected to the card slot of the work station; the filter cup includes a cup body with a hollow filter cavity, and the upper end of the cup body is provided with a powder inlet, and the powder inlet is connected to the filter cavity; a powder push component is provided in the filter cavity, and the powder push component is used to receive the powder and provide a pre-tightening force for the powder to be away from the bottom of the filter cavity;

[0009] During brewing, the filter cup is first clamped onto the clamping slot of the powder receiving station, and the powder to be extracted enters the filter cavity from the powder inlet; then the filter cup is clamped onto the clamping slot of the brewing station, and the brewing net is extended into the filter cavity to inject water and press the powder, and the top powder assembly moves up and down with the brewing net; a dripping port is provided at the bottom of the filter cup, and the extracted liquid flows out from the dripping port after being filtered through the filter cavity.

[0010] The present invention utilizes the elastic preload and follow-up lifting design of the powder lift assembly to dynamically adjust the initial height and compression stroke of the movable top plate according to the powder load. Combined with the detachable filter cup structure, users can simply remove the filter cup to easily dump the powder residue, without the need for knocking or other complicated operations. Furthermore, the powder receiving station and the brewing station are located on the same side, combined with the quick-release filter cup slot design. This retains the Italian-style ritual of manual filter cup transfer while simplifying the process, meeting users' core needs for premium coffee making.

[0011] As a further improvement to the above solution, the powder top assembly includes a movable top plate and a support provided at the lower end of the movable top plate; the support is slidably connected to the bottom of the filter chamber, and the circumferential edge of the movable top plate is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the filter chamber; the powder to be extracted is isolated on the upper end surface of the movable top plate; and further includes an elastic element, which is sleeved on the support and provides a pre-tightening force for the movable top plate to be away from the bottom of the filter chamber;

[0012] At least one first filter screen is provided in the middle of the movable top plate from top to bottom, and a second filter screen is provided at the bottom of the filter chamber. A mixed filtration space is formed between the movable top plate and the bottom of the filter chamber. The extracted liquid passes through each first filter screen in sequence, flows into the mixed filtration space, and then flows out after being filtered by the second filter screen; a plurality of filter holes are provided on the first filter screen and the second filter screen; wherein the aperture of the second filter screen is smaller than or equal to the aperture of the first filter screen.

[0013] The synergistic effect of the movable top plate and elastic element enables adaptive adjustment of the brewing net's travel, effectively preventing splashing when the powder dosage is too low or clogging when it's too high, significantly improving extraction uniformity and stability. Furthermore, a mixing and filtration space is provided, allowing the coffee liquid to undergo a coarse filtration followed by a secondary mixing and final fine filtration. This promotes full contact between the oil and the fine powder, enhancing the liquid's purity and flavor. Furthermore, upon completion of brewing, the elastic element automatically resets the movable top plate. This linkage structure quickly separates the powder residue from the inner wall of the filter chamber, facilitating cleaning and improving the user experience.

[0014] As a further improvement of the above scheme, the movable top plate includes a top plate body, the middle part of the top plate body is provided with the first filter screen, the circumferential edge of the top plate body is provided with a flexible spacer ring, the flexible spacer ring extends obliquely upward and abuts against the cavity wall of the cup body filter cavity; the top plate body and the flexible spacer ring form a disc-shaped structure with the opening facing upward.

[0015] As a further improvement of the above solution, the filter cavity is provided with a narrow cavity portion that gradually narrows toward the bottom; when the movable top plate descends, the narrow cavity portion acts on the flexible spacer ring and deforms it, and the disc opening of the disc structure shrinks accordingly.

[0016] A flexible spacer ring extends diagonally upward and dynamically conforms to the filter chamber wall, forming a sealed isolation zone that effectively blocks coffee grounds from migrating toward the filter chamber walls. During the compacting process, the flexible spacer ring adaptively deforms with the movement of the movable top plate. This prevents coffee grounds from becoming lodged in the gap between the movable top plate and the chamber wall, causing residue, while also ensuring that the extraction liquid flows strictly along the pre-set fluid path, preventing high-pressure water leakage from the side walls and uneven extraction. The disc-shaped structure further guides the powder distribution to the center of the top plate, improving compaction uniformity and micro-powder interception efficiency.

[0017] As a further improvement to the above solution, the brewing device includes a support connected to the housing, the support is provided with a water injection head, and a transmission mechanism for driving the water injection head to move up and down; the lower end of the water injection head is provided with the brewing net, and the upper end of the water injection head is connected to the water supply device for supplying water to the filter chamber;

[0018] The transmission mechanism includes a driving shaft, and a pressing cylinder directly or indirectly connected to the driving shaft; a plurality of vertically extending guide columns are provided on the support, and the pressing cylinder is slidably connected to the guide columns; one end of the driving shaft is connected to a handle or a power source. The brewing device ensures that the water injection head is smoothly raised and lowered in the vertical direction through the sliding cooperation between the guide columns and the pressing cylinder, thereby avoiding uneven force on the powder layer due to tilting or offset during the powder pressing process. The structural design of the driving shaft linked to the pressing cylinder, combined with the handle or power source drive mode, can achieve manual precise pressure control to adapt to different powder quantities, and can also be switched to automatic mode to improve operating efficiency. At the same time, the direct connection design between the water injection head and the water supply device ensures the continuous and stable injection of high-pressure water flow, and cooperates with the brewing net to evenly cover the powder layer, effectively enhancing the extraction consistency and avoiding local high-pressure penetration or water flow dispersion problems.

[0019] As a further improvement of the above solution, the grinding device includes a bean hopper and a grinding mechanism; the upper end surface of the housing is provided with a support shell, the upper end of the support shell is detachably connected to the bean hopper, and the lower end thereof is provided with a grinding mechanism;

[0020] The bean hopper has a bean outlet at the bottom, which is connected to the feed port of the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism includes a grinding chamber, a cutter head is provided in the grinding chamber, and a grinding disc is provided around the outer periphery of the cutter head. The bottom of the grinding chamber is provided with an output end for discharging powder.

[0021] The device further comprises an inner and outer adjusting ring nested inside and outside, and an adjusting wheel; the adjusting wheel is arranged on one side of the outer adjusting ring and is in transmission cooperation with the outer adjusting ring; the outer and inner adjusting rings have mutually cooperating threaded structures; the inner adjusting ring is fixed relative to the grinding disc; an adjusting hole is provided at the upper end of the adjusting wheel, and a through hole is provided on the supporting shell, the through hole being opposite to the adjusting hole; when the bean bin is removed from the supporting shell, the through hole is exposed; when the adjusting wheel is turned, the outer adjusting ring rotates around its axis, driving the inner adjusting ring to drive the grinding disc to rise or fall.

[0022] By hiding the adjustment wheel under the bean hopper and exposing the through-hole to operate the adjustment wheel only after the bean hopper is removed, parameter deviation caused by accidental touch or dust intrusion during daily use is effectively prevented. It not only retains the user's ability to independently adjust the coarseness of the grinding, but also avoids the problem of structural stability being damaged in high-frequency operation scenarios, ensuring the long-term reliability of the grinding parameters. The through-hole on the support shell is designed to be opposite to the adjustment hole on the top of the adjustment wheel. After removing the bean hopper, the adjustment wheel can be directly turned through the through-hole with a single tool (such as a hexagonal wrench) without disassembling the entire machine or complicated debugging steps. This structure takes into account both concealment and ease of operation. It neither takes up external space nor destroys the simplicity of the overall appearance of the equipment. It lowers the user's adjustment threshold and avoids component loss caused by frequent disassembly.

[0023] As a further improvement of the above scheme, the water supply device includes a water tank, a pump body and a heating module; the water tank is arranged on a side away from the powder receiving station and the brewing station; the pump body and the heating module are arranged in the casing; the pump inlet of the pump body is connected to the water tank; the pump outlet of the pump body is connected to the heating module and the brewing device in sequence through a pipeline.

[0024] As a further improvement of the above solution, the filter cup also includes an outer cup shell, which has a hollow accommodating cavity, a cup shell opening at the upper end of the outer cup shell, and the dripping port at the lower end, and the accommodating cavity is respectively connected to the cup shell opening and the dripping port; the cup body is embedded in the accommodating cavity through the cup shell opening and is detachably connected to the outer cup shell.

[0025] As a further improvement of the above solution, the outer cup shell includes a cup holder, a heat insulation sleeve and a diversion cup;

[0026] The cup holder has the accommodating cavity, and a clamping ring is provided on the side wall of the accommodating cavity for detachable engagement with the cup body; the cup holder protrudes along one side at the mouth of the cup shell to form a clamping handle; the clamping handle is engaged with the clamping slot of each station;

[0027] The heat-insulating sleeve is sleeved on the outer periphery of the cup holder, with a heat-insulating gap between the two;

[0028] The deflector cup is in the shape of a bucket and is placed at the lower part of the cup body; the side wall of the deflector cup narrows in a stepped manner from top to bottom, and the bottom of the deflector cup protrudes in a cone shape to form the drip port. The outer cup shell is quickly disassembled and connected to the cup body through a clamp ring, which is convenient for users to separate, clean or replace components; the thermal insulation gap formed between the thermal insulation sleeve and the cup holder effectively blocks heat transfer, which not only reduces the loss of extraction temperature but also avoids the risk of external burns. The stepped narrowing side wall of the deflector cup and the conical drip port work together to guide the coffee liquid to fall in a concentrated manner, preventing droplets from splashing or hanging on the wall. At the same time, the bucket-shaped structure accelerates the flow of liquid, ensuring that the extraction liquid path is precise and controllable.

[0029] An Italian brewing method, applied to the small and convenient Italian coffee machine as described above, comprises the following steps:

[0030] S1. Attach the filter cup to the coffee receiving station. Pour coffee powder into the powder inlet of the filter cup through the grinding device. The coffee powder falls into the filter chamber and is received by the powder loading assembly.

[0031] S2. The filter cup is transferred from the powder receiving station to the brewing station and snapped into the corresponding slot. The brewing net is driven downward into the filter chamber. The top powder assembly moves downward synchronously with the descending movement of the brewing net. The top powder assembly applies a preload force away from the bottom of the filter chamber to the powder, so that the powder is pressed between the top powder assembly and the brewing net.

[0032] S3. High-pressure water is supplied to the brewing net through the water supply device, and the water penetrates the powder layer for extraction. The extract flows sequentially through the first filter of the top powder assembly, the mixed filter space and the second filter at the bottom of the filter chamber, and finally flows out from the drip port;

[0033] S4. After the extraction is completed, the brewing net is driven to rise and reset. The top powder component pushes the remaining powder residue out of the bottom of the filter cavity under the action of the pre-tightening force, and is manually cleaned after the filter cup is disassembled.

[0034] Beneficial effects:

[0035] (1) Adaptive Powder Compression Stroke Control: Through the elastic preload and follow-up lifting design of the top powder component, the movable top plate can dynamically adjust the initial height and compression stroke according to the amount of powder. When the amount of powder is small, the preload pushes the movable top plate to fit the powder layer, reducing the distance with the brewing net and avoiding splashing of high-pressure water. When the amount of powder is too much, the elastic element allows the top plate to move down and adaptively compress the powder layer to prevent local overpressure or blockage, significantly improving the uniformity of extraction.

[0036] (2) Self-detachment of powder residue and convenient cleaning: After the extraction is completed, the powder-pushing component automatically resets under the action of the elastic preload, pushing the powder residue away from the bottom of the filter chamber. Combined with the detachable filter cup structure, the user only needs to take out the filter cup to easily dump the powder residue without knocking or complicated operations, which completely solves the problem of powder residue residue residue in the traditional filter cup.

[0037] (3) Upgraded human-computer interaction experience: The powder receiving station and the brewing station are arranged on the same side, combined with the quick-release design of the filter cup slot, which not only retains the Italian operating ritual of manually transferring the filter cup, but also simplifies the process steps, achieving a balance between automation and human participation, and meeting users' core experience needs for boutique coffee making. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of the small and convenient espresso machine of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 It is a front view of the small and convenient espresso machine of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the small and convenient espresso machine of the present invention with the casing removed;

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of the small and convenient espresso machine of the present invention from another perspective with the casing removed;

[0042] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the filter cup of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 6 is an exploded schematic diagram of the filter cup of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the filter cup of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 8 A three-dimensional diagram of the cup body of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the filter cup of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of deformation of the flexible spacer ring of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 11 It is a structural schematic diagram of the grinding device of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 12 is an exploded schematic diagram of the grinding device of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a grinding device according to the present invention;

[0051] Figure 14 This is a schematic structural diagram of the grinding device of the present invention without the bean bin;

[0052] Figure 15 is a perspective view of the brewing device of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 16 is a three-dimensional view of the brewing device of the present invention from another perspective;

[0054] Reference numerals:

[0055] A1, housing; A2, powder receiving station; A3, brewing station; A4, card slot;

[0056] F1, powder;

[0057] 1. Filter cup;

[0058] 11. Cup body; 11a. Powder inlet; 11b. Filter chamber; 11c. Narrow chamber;

[0059] 12. Top powder component;

[0060] 121, movable top plate; 1211, top plate body; 1212, flexible spacer ring; 1213, annular boss;

[0061] 122, support; 1221, limit block; 1222, rotary handle;

[0062] 123. Elastic element;

[0063] 124, first filter;

[0064] 125. Second filter;

[0065] H1, mixed filter space;

[0066] 13. Outer cup shell; 13a. Cup shell opening; 13b. Accommodation cavity; 13c. Drip opening;

[0067] 131, cup holder; 1311, handle;

[0068] 132. Thermal insulation sleeve;

[0069] 133, diversion cup;

[0070] 2. Grinding device; Z1, supporting shell; Z2, through hole;

[0071] 21. Bean bin; 21a. Bean outlet;

[0072] 22, grinding mechanism; 22a, grinding chamber; 22b, output end; 22c, feed inlet; 221, cutter head; 222, grinding disc;

[0073] 23. Inner adjustment ring;

[0074] 24. External adjustment ring;

[0075] 25. Adjustment wheel; 251. Adjustment hole;

[0076] 3. Brewing device;

[0077] 31. Support; 311. Guide column;

[0078] 32. Water injection head; 33. Brewing net;

[0079] 34. Transmission mechanism; 341. Driving shaft; 3411. Connecting portion; 342. Pressing cylinder; 343. Rocker; 344. Handle;

[0080] 4. Water supply device; 41. Water tank; 42. Pump body; 43. Heating module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0082] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the term "several" means "at least one", and the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0083] Example:

[0084] like Figures 1-16 As shown, a small and convenient espresso machine includes a housing, on which a grinding device 2, a brewing device 3, and a water supply device 4 are installed; the grinding device 2 is used to grind coffee beans into powder and output it, and the brewing device 3 includes a brewing net 33 that moves up and down, and the upper end of the brewing net 33 is connected to the water supply device 4;

[0085] The output end 22b of the grinding device 2 is provided with a powder receiving station, and the brewing net 33 of the brewing device 3 is provided with a brewing station; the powder receiving station and the brewing station are arranged on the same side of the housing, and each station is provided with a slot;

[0086] It also includes a filter cup 1, which is detachably connected to the card slot of the work station; the filter cup 1 includes a cup body 11 with a hollow filter cavity 11b, and the upper end of the cup body 11 is provided with a powder inlet 11a, and the powder inlet 11a is communicated with the filter cavity 11b; in this embodiment, the filter cup 1 also includes an outer cup shell 13, and the outer cup shell 13 has a hollow accommodating cavity 13b, the upper end of the outer cup shell 13 is provided with a cup shell opening 13a, and the lower end is provided with the dripping port 13c, and the accommodating cavity 13b is respectively communicated with the cup shell opening 13a and the dripping port 13c; the cup body 11 is embedded in the accommodating cavity 13b through the cup shell opening 13a, and is detachably connected to the outer cup shell 13.

[0087] In this embodiment, the outer cup shell 13 includes a cup holder 131, a heat insulating sleeve 132 and a diversion cup 133;

[0088] The cup holder 131 has the accommodating cavity 13b, and a collar is provided on the side wall of the accommodating cavity 13b for detachable engagement with the cup body 11. The cup holder 131 protrudes along one side at the cup shell opening 13a to form a handle 1311. The handle 1311 engages with the slots of each station.

[0089] The heat-insulating sleeve 132 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the cup holder 131 , with a heat-insulating gap between the two;

[0090] The deflector cup 133 is placed in the lower part of the cup body 11 in a bucket shape; the side wall of the deflector cup 133 narrows in a stepped manner from top to bottom, and the bottom of the deflector cup 133 protrudes in a cone shape, forming the drip port 13c. The outer cup shell 13 is quickly disassembled and connected to the cup body 11 through a clamping ring, which is convenient for users to separate, clean or replace components; the thermal insulation gap formed between the thermal insulation sleeve 132 and the cup holder 131 effectively blocks heat transfer, reducing the loss of extraction temperature and avoiding the risk of external burns. The stepped narrowing side wall of the deflector cup 133 and the tapered drip port 13c work together to guide the coffee liquid to fall in a concentrated manner, preventing droplets from splashing or hanging on the wall. At the same time, the bucket-shaped structure accelerates the liquid to converge and flow out, ensuring that the extraction liquid path is precise and controllable.

[0091] A powder top assembly 12 is provided in the filter chamber 11b, and the powder top assembly 12 is used to receive the powder and provide the powder with a pre-tightening force away from the bottom of the filter chamber 11b; when brewing, the filter cup 1 is first clamped to the clamping slot of the powder receiving station, and the powder to be extracted enters the filter chamber 11b from the powder inlet 11a; then the filter cup 1 is clamped to the clamping slot of the brewing station, and the brewing net 33 is extended into the filter chamber 11b for water injection and powder pressing, and the powder top assembly 12 rises and falls with the brewing net 33; a dripping port 13c is provided at the bottom of the filter cup 1, and the extracted liquid flows out from the dripping port 13c after being filtered through the filter chamber 11b.

[0092] In this embodiment, the powder top assembly 12 includes a movable top plate 121 and a pillar 122 provided at the lower end of the movable top plate 121; the pillar 122 is slidably connected to the bottom of the filter chamber 11b, and the circumferential edge of the movable top plate 121 is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the filter chamber 11b; the powder to be extracted is isolated on the upper end surface of the movable top plate 121; and it also includes an elastic element 123, which is sleeved on the pillar 122 to provide a pre-tightening force for the movable top plate 121 away from the bottom of the filter chamber 11b; specifically, the elastic element 123 can be a compression spring.

[0093] At least one first filter screen 124 is provided in the middle of the movable top plate 121 from top to bottom, and a second filter screen 125 is provided at the bottom of the filter chamber 11b. A mixed filtration space H1 is formed between the movable top plate 121 and the bottom of the filter chamber 11b. The extracted liquid passes through each first filter screen 124 in sequence, flows into the mixed filtration space H1, and then flows out after being filtered by the second filter screen 125. The first filter screen 124 and the second filter screen 125 are each provided with a plurality of filter holes. The aperture of the second filter screen 125 is smaller than or equal to the aperture of the first filter screen 124. There can be two or three first filter screens 124 stacked one on top of the other. The aperture of the filter holes of each first filter screen 124 is the same, or it can decrease from top to bottom.

[0094] The synergistic effect of the movable top plate 121 and the elastic element 123 enables adaptive adjustment of the travel of the brewing screen 33, effectively preventing splashing when the coffee powder is too little or clogging when it is too much, significantly improving extraction uniformity and stability. Furthermore, the provision of a mixing and filtration space H1 allows the coffee liquid to undergo a coarse filtration followed by secondary mixing and fine filtration, promoting full contact between the oil and the fine powder, enhancing the purity of the liquid and the richness of the taste. Furthermore, upon completion of brewing, the elastic element 123 automatically resets the movable top plate 121. This linkage structure quickly separates the coffee residue from the inner wall of the filter chamber 11b, facilitating its removal and improving the user experience.

[0095] In this embodiment, the movable top plate 121 includes a top plate body 1211, the middle part of the top plate body 1211 is provided with the first filter 124, the circumferential edge of the top plate body 1211 is provided with a flexible spacer ring 1212, the flexible spacer ring 1212 extends obliquely upward and abuts against the cavity wall of the filter cavity 11b of the cup body 11; the top plate body 1211 and the flexible spacer ring 1212 form a disc-shaped structure with the opening facing upward.

[0096] In this embodiment, the filter cavity 11b has a narrow cavity portion 11c that gradually tapers toward the bottom. When the movable top plate 121 descends, the narrow cavity portion 11c acts on the flexible spacer ring 1212, causing it to deform, and the opening of the disc-shaped structure correspondingly shrinks. The flexible spacer ring 1212 may be made of silicone, which has excellent high-temperature and pressure resistance, making it suitable for the operating environment of a coffee machine.

[0097] A flexible spacer ring 1212 extends diagonally upward and dynamically conforms to the wall of the filter chamber 11b, forming a sealed barrier that effectively blocks coffee grounds from migrating toward the sidewalls of the filter chamber 11b. During the compacting process, the flexible spacer ring 1212 adaptively deforms with the movement of the movable top plate 121. This prevents coffee grounds from being lodged between the movable top plate 121 and the chamber wall, causing residue. It also ensures that the extraction liquid flows strictly along the pre-defined fluid path, preventing high-pressure water leakage from the sidewalls and uneven extraction. The disc-shaped structure further guides the distribution of coffee grounds to the center of the top plate, improving compaction uniformity and micro-powder interception efficiency.

[0098] In this embodiment, the circumferential edge of the top plate body 1211 protrudes toward the bottom of the filter cavity 11b, forming an annular boss 1213. When the movable top plate 121 descends and presses against the bottom of the filter cavity 11b, the annular opening of the annular boss 1213 provides space for the compression of the elastic element 123. The downwardly protruding annular opening of the annular boss 1213 creates a directional compression area for the elastic element 123 when the movable top plate 121 presses down against the bottom of the filter cavity 11b. This overhead structure prevents the elastic element 123 from excessive compression and deformation failure, while also maintaining a stable preload output.

[0099] In this embodiment, the support 122 extends through the bottom of the filter cavity 11b, and a stopper 1221 is provided on the outside of the bottom of the filter cavity 11b. Specifically, the support 122 has a threaded hole along its axis. A fastener passes through the movable top plate 121 from top to bottom and engages with the threaded hole of the support 122. The stopper protrudes along its circumference to form a handle 1222. The support 122 is connected to the fastener through the threaded hole, allowing the user to quickly remove and assemble the movable top plate 121 by simply rotating the handle 1222, without the need for specialized tools.

[0100] In this embodiment, the brewing device 3 includes a support 31 connected to the housing, a water injection head 32 is provided on the support 31, and a transmission mechanism 34 for driving the water injection head 32 to move up and down; the brewing net 33 is provided at the lower end of the water injection head 32, and the upper end of the water injection head 32 is connected to the water supply device 4 for supplying water to the filter chamber 11b;

[0101] The transmission mechanism 34 includes a driving shaft 341 and a pressure cylinder 342 directly or indirectly connected to the driving shaft 341; a plurality of vertically extending guide columns 311 are provided on the support 31, and the pressure cylinder 342 is slidably connected to the guide columns 311; one end of the driving shaft 341 is connected to a handle 344 or a power source.

[0102] Specifically, the central portion of the driving shaft 341 protrudes to form a connecting portion 3411, which is hingedly connected to a rocker 343. The other end of the rocker 343 is hingedly connected to the pressure cylinder 342. Four guide posts 311 are provided at the four corners of the support 31, and the circumference of the pressure cylinder 342 is slidably connected to these guide posts 311. When the driving shaft 341 rotates, the rocker 343 drives the pressure cylinder 342 to move upward and downward. In this embodiment, one end of the driving shaft 341 extends outside the housing, and a handle 344 is provided at the extended end for applying force.

[0103] The brewing device 3 ensures that the water injection head 32 is smoothly raised and lowered in the vertical direction through the sliding cooperation between the guide column 311 and the pressing cylinder 342, thereby avoiding uneven force on the powder layer due to tilting or offsetting during the powder pressing process. The structural design of the driving shaft 341 and the pressing cylinder 342, combined with the handle 344 or the power source drive mode, can achieve manual precise pressure control to adapt to different powder quantities, and can also be switched to automatic mode to improve operating efficiency. At the same time, the direct connection design between the water injection head 32 and the water supply device 4 ensures the continuous and stable injection of high-pressure water flow, and cooperates with the brewing net 33 to evenly cover the powder layer, effectively enhancing the extraction consistency and avoiding local high-pressure penetration or water flow dispersion problems.

[0104] In this embodiment, the grinding device 2 includes a bean hopper 21 and a grinding mechanism 22. The upper end surface of the housing is provided with a support shell Z1, the upper end of which is detachably connected to the bean hopper 21, and the lower end of which is provided with a grinding mechanism 22.

[0105] The bean hopper 21 has a bean outlet 21a at the bottom thereof, which is in communication with an inlet 22c of a grinding mechanism 22. The grinding mechanism 22 includes a grinding chamber 22a, a cutter head 221 disposed therein, and a grinding disc 222 disposed around the outer periphery of the cutter head 221. A powder outlet 22b is disposed at the bottom of the grinding chamber 22a.

[0106] The device further includes an inner adjustment ring 23 and an outer adjustment ring 24 nested inside and outside, and an adjustment wheel 25; the adjustment wheel 25 is provided on one side of the outer adjustment ring 24 and is in transmission engagement with the outer adjustment ring 24; the outer adjustment ring 24 and the inner adjustment ring 23 have mutually engaging threaded structures; the inner adjustment ring 23 is relatively fixed to the grinding disc 222; an adjustment hole 251 is defined at the upper end of the adjustment wheel 25, and a through hole Z2 is defined on the support shell Z1, the through hole Z2 being opposite to the adjustment hole 251; when the bean hopper 21 is removed from the support shell Z1, the through hole Z2 is exposed; when the adjustment wheel 25 is turned, the outer adjustment ring 24 rotates about its axis, driving the inner adjustment ring 23 to move the grinding disc 222 up or down.

[0107] By hiding the adjustment wheel 25 under the bean hopper 21, and only exposing the through hole Z2 to operate the adjustment wheel 25 after the bean hopper 21 is removed, parameter deviation caused by accidental touch or dust intrusion during daily use is effectively prevented. It not only retains the user's ability to independently adjust the coarseness of the grinding, but also avoids the problem of structural stability being damaged in high-frequency operation scenarios, ensuring the long-term reliability of the grinding parameters. The through hole Z2 on the support shell Z1 is designed to face the adjustment hole 251 on the top of the adjustment wheel 25. After removing the bean hopper 21, the adjustment wheel 25 can be directly turned through the through hole Z2 with a single tool (such as a hexagonal wrench) without disassembling the entire machine or complicated debugging steps. This structure takes into account both concealment and ease of operation. It neither takes up external space nor destroys the simplicity of the overall appearance of the equipment. It lowers the user's adjustment threshold while avoiding component loss caused by frequent disassembly.

[0108] In this embodiment, the water supply device 4 includes a water tank 41, a pump body 42 and a heating module 43; the water tank 41 is arranged on a side away from the powder receiving station and the brewing station; the pump body 42 and the heating module 43 are arranged in the casing; the pump inlet of the pump body 42 is interconnected with the water tank 41; the pump outlet of the pump body 42 is connected to the heating module 43 and the brewing device 3 in sequence through a pipeline.

[0109] This embodiment also provides an espresso brewing method, which is applied to the small and convenient espresso coffee machine described above, and includes the following steps:

[0110] S1. Attach the filter cup 1 to the coffee receiving station. Pour coffee powder into the powder inlet 11a of the filter cup 1 through the grinding device 2. The coffee powder falls into the filter cavity 11b and is received by the powder top assembly 12.

[0111] S2. Transfer the filter cup 1 from the powder receiving station to the brewing station and snap it into the corresponding slot. Drive the brewing net 33 downward into the filter chamber 11b. The powder pusher assembly 12 moves downward synchronously with the descent of the brewing net 33. The powder pusher assembly 12 applies a preload force away from the bottom of the filter chamber 11b, pressing the powder between the powder pusher assembly 12 and the brewing net 33.

[0112] S3. High-pressure water is supplied to the brewing net 33 through the water supply device 4. The water penetrates the powder layer for extraction. The extract flows through the first filter 124 of the top powder assembly 12, the mixed filtration space H1 and the second filter 125 at the bottom of the filter chamber 11b, and finally flows out from the drip port 13c.

[0113] S4. After the extraction is completed, the brewing net 33 is driven to rise and reset. The top powder component 12 pushes the remaining powder residue out of the bottom of the filter cavity 11b under the action of the pre-tightening force, and is manually cleaned after the filter cup 1 is disassembled.

[0114] In this embodiment, the elastic preload and follow-up lifting design of the powder lifting assembly 12 allow the movable top plate 121 to dynamically adjust its initial height and compression stroke based on the amount of powder. Combined with the removable filter cup 1, users can simply remove the filter cup 1 and easily dump the powder residue without tapping or other complicated operations. Furthermore, the powder receiving station and the brewing station are located on the same side, combined with the filter cup 1's quick-release slot design. This retains the Italian-style ritual of manually transferring the filter cup 1 while streamlining the process, satisfying users' core coffee experience needs.

[0115] Based on the disclosure and teachings of the above description, those skilled in the art may also make changes and modifications to the above embodiments. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and described above, and any modifications and variations of the invention should also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention. In addition, although certain specific terms are used in this description, these terms are for convenience of description only and do not constitute any limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A small, convenient espresso machine comprising a housing, the housing being provided with a grinding device, a brewing device, and a water supply device; the grinding device being used to grind coffee beans into powder and output the powder; the brewing device comprising a brewing net that moves upward and downward, the upper end of the brewing net being connected to the water supply device; and characterized in that: The output end of the grinding device is provided with a powder receiving station, and the brewing net of the brewing device is provided with a brewing station; the powder receiving station and the brewing station are arranged on the same side of the housing, and each station is provided with a slot; It also includes a filter cup, which is detachably connected to the card slot of the work station; the filter cup includes a cup body with a hollow filter cavity, and the upper end of the cup body is provided with a powder inlet, and the powder inlet is connected to the filter cavity; a powder push component is provided in the filter cavity, and the powder push component is used to receive the powder and provide a pre-tightening force for the powder to be away from the bottom of the filter cavity; During brewing, the filter cup is first clamped onto the clamping slot of the powder receiving station, and the powder to be extracted enters the filter cavity from the powder inlet; then the filter cup is clamped onto the clamping slot of the brewing station, and the brewing net is extended into the filter cavity to inject water and press the powder, and the top powder assembly moves up and down with the brewing net; a dripping port is provided at the bottom of the filter cup, and the extracted liquid flows out from the dripping port after being filtered through the filter cavity.

2. A small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The powder lifting assembly includes a movable top plate and a support provided at the lower end of the movable top plate; the support is slidably connected to the bottom of the filter chamber, and the circumferential edge of the movable top plate is in sliding contact with the inner wall of the filter chamber; the powder to be extracted is isolated on the upper end surface of the movable top plate; and an elastic element is further included, which is sleeved on the support and provides a pre-tightening force for the movable top plate to be away from the bottom of the filter chamber. At least one first filter screen is provided in the middle of the movable top plate from top to bottom, and a second filter screen is provided at the bottom of the filter chamber. A mixed filtration space is formed between the movable top plate and the bottom of the filter chamber. The extracted liquid passes through each first filter screen in sequence, flows into the mixed filtration space, and then flows out after being filtered by the second filter screen; a plurality of filter holes are provided on the first filter screen and the second filter screen; wherein the aperture of the second filter screen is smaller than or equal to the aperture of the first filter screen.

3. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The movable top plate includes a top plate body, the middle part of which is provided with the first filter screen, and the circumferential edge of the top plate body is provided with a flexible spacer ring, which extends obliquely upward and abuts against the cavity wall of the cup body filter cavity; the top plate body and the flexible spacer ring form a disc-shaped structure with the opening facing upward.

4. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The filter cavity is provided with a narrow cavity portion which gradually narrows toward the bottom; when the movable top plate moves downward, the narrow cavity portion acts on the flexible spacer ring and deforms it, and the disc opening of the disc structure shrinks accordingly.

5. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brewing device includes a support connected to the housing, a water injection head is provided on the support, and a transmission mechanism for driving the water injection head to move up and down; the brewing net is provided at the lower end of the water injection head, and the upper end of the water injection head is connected to the water supply device for supplying water to the filter chamber; The transmission mechanism includes a driving shaft and a pressure cylinder directly or indirectly connected to the driving shaft; a plurality of vertically extending guide columns are provided on the support, and the pressure cylinder is slidably connected to the guide columns; one end of the driving shaft is connected to a handle or a power source.

6. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The grinding device includes a bean hopper and a grinding mechanism; the upper end surface of the housing is provided with a support shell, the upper end of the support shell is detachably connected to the bean hopper, and the lower end thereof is provided with a grinding mechanism; The bean hopper has a bean outlet at the bottom, which is connected to the feed port of the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism includes a grinding chamber, a cutter head is provided in the grinding chamber, and a grinding disc is provided around the outer periphery of the cutter head. The bottom of the grinding chamber is provided with an output end for discharging powder. The device further comprises an inner and outer adjusting ring nested inside and outside, and an adjusting wheel; the adjusting wheel is arranged on one side of the outer adjusting ring and is in transmission cooperation with the outer adjusting ring; the outer and inner adjusting rings have mutually cooperating threaded structures; the inner adjusting ring is relatively fixed to the grinding disc; an adjusting hole is provided at the upper end of the adjusting wheel, and a through hole is provided on the supporting shell, the through hole being opposite to the adjusting hole; when the bean bin is removed from the supporting shell, the through hole is exposed; when the adjusting wheel is turned, the outer adjusting ring rotates around its axis, driving the inner adjusting ring to drive the grinding disc to rise or fall.

7. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water supply device includes a water tank, a pump body and a heating module; the water tank is arranged on a side away from the powder receiving station and the brewing station; the pump body and the heating module are arranged in the casing; the pump inlet of the pump body is connected to the water tank; the pump outlet of the pump body is connected to the heating module and the brewing device in sequence through a pipeline.

8. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filter cup also includes an outer cup shell, which has a hollow accommodating cavity. The upper end of the outer cup shell is provided with a cup shell opening, and the lower end is provided with the dripping port. The accommodating cavity is respectively communicated with the cup shell opening and the dripping port; the cup body is embedded in the accommodating cavity through the cup shell opening and is detachably connected to the outer cup shell.

9. The small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The outer cup shell includes a cup holder, a heat-insulating sleeve and a diversion cup; The cup holder has the accommodating cavity, and a clamping ring is provided on the side wall of the accommodating cavity for detachable engagement with the cup body; the cup holder protrudes along one side at the mouth of the cup shell to form a clamping handle; the clamping handle is engaged with the clamping slot of each station; The heat-insulating sleeve is sleeved on the outer periphery of the cup holder, with a heat-insulating gap between the two; The guide cup is in a bucket shape and is placed at the lower part of the cup body; the side wall of the guide cup narrows in a step-like manner from top to bottom, and the bottom of the guide cup protrudes in a cone shape to form the dripping port.

10. An Italian brewing method, applied to a small and convenient Italian coffee machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Attach the filter cup to the coffee receiving station. Pour coffee powder into the powder inlet of the filter cup through the grinding device. The coffee powder falls into the filter cavity and is received by the powder loading assembly. S2. The filter cup is transferred from the powder receiving station to the brewing station and snapped into the corresponding slot. The brewing net is driven downward into the filter chamber. The top powder assembly moves downward synchronously with the descending movement of the brewing net. The top powder assembly applies a preload force away from the bottom of the filter chamber to the powder, so that the powder is pressed between the top powder assembly and the brewing net. S3. High-pressure water is supplied to the brewing net through the water supply device, and the water penetrates the powder layer for extraction. The extract flows sequentially through the first filter of the top powder assembly, the mixed filter space and the second filter at the bottom of the filter chamber, and finally flows out from the drip port; S4. After the extraction is completed, the brewing net is driven to rise and reset. The top powder component pushes the remaining powder residue out of the bottom of the filter cavity under the action of the pre-tightening force, and is manually cleaned after the filter cup is disassembled.

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