Device for producing milk foam and coffee machine with such a device

Abstract

Device (1) for producing milk foam, in particular in a coffee machine (2), comprising a mixer (3) and a homogenizer (4), wherein a heating device (5) is provided for directly heating the mixer (3) and the homogenizer (4), characterized in that the heating device (5) is integrated into a wall (7) of the mixer (3) and into a wall (7') of the homogenizer (4) and heats these.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for producing milk foam, in particular in a coffee machine, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a coffee machine with such a device.

[0002] EP 2 798 987 B1 discloses a generic device for producing milk foam, comprising: a milk line connecting a milk container and an outlet device, wherein at least the following components are connected in the milk line between the milk container and the outlet device: a first mixing chamber for mixing milk and air to create an air-milk emulsion, a milk pump, and a second mixing chamber downstream of the first mixing chamber for optionally heating the air-milk emulsion from the first mixing chamber. The speed of the milk pump is adjustable.

[0003] Further devices for producing milk foam are known, for example, from DE 10 2013 109 864 A1, DE 10 2013 224 786 B3 and EP 3 262 995 A1.

[0004] In general, the advantages of automatic coffee machines or fully automatic coffee machines over simple filter coffee machines lie in their quick preparation and the wide range of settings for coffee intensity and temperature. Another advantage is the automatic production of mixed drinks, such as cappuccino, i.e. coffee with warm milk or milk foam. All that is needed is an additional milk container and connected to the system, in this case the coffee machine. The milk usually does not have its own heating circuit and is therefore heated by the steam generated in the coffee machine. By switching on an air stream, milk foam is produced in the usual way, so that popular mixed coffee drinks, such as cappuccino or latte macchiato, can be made simply at the touch of a button.

[0005] The consistency and quality of the milk foam is usually predetermined by predefined geometric parameters. Complete control of the milk flow, milk temperature, or air flow is only found individually in consumer-grade machines and only as a whole in professional machines in the catering industry, for which some additional switching and measuring components are used. For example, the milk is guided through a dedicated fluid system, where it can be controlled and heated.

[0006] To complete or create a so-called "barista mode" for a customer, in addition to the settings for making espresso, settings for producing milk foam are also required. The temperature of the milk foam, and thus its flavor, are crucial. The temperature of the foamed milk should preferably be between 65°C and 68°C to achieve a smooth and full-bodied flavor.

[0007] In order to be able to set a target temperature for the milk foam, EP 2 798 987 B1, cited at the beginning, for example, creates the option of setting an air flow, a milk speed and a flow rate control in the mixing area. However, the temperature of the milk foam produced can only ever be influenced indirectly and is subject to high tolerances in individual components. For example, the mixer has a certain mass and thus also a predefined specific heat capacity, which causes a difference in particular after a switch-on process or longer pauses between milk foam dispensings, since the milk foam produced in this way transfers part of its heat energy to the mixer. As a result, producing milk foam at the desired milk foam temperature is either impossible or very difficult and, in particular, only possible indirectly.

[0008] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for a device of the generic type which overcomes the disadvantages known from the prior art.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​providing, for the first time, a heating device by means of which a mixer, in particular a mixing chamber and a homogenizer, can be heated directly. The device according to the invention for producing milk foam has the aforementioned mixer and a homogenizer as well as the aforementioned heating device and is thus able to enable direct heating or tempering of the milk foam via the heating device, which was not possible with previously known mixers or homogenizers because in these cases the temperature of the milk foam could only be controlled indirectly via a milk temperature or steam temperature. In the mixers or homogenizers known from the prior art,Furthermore, with homogenizers, a significant difference in the milk foam temperature could occur after several direct milk foam dispensings in succession or after the first milk foam dispensing after the device has been switched on. These problems can now be completely eliminated with the device according to the invention, since the heating device according to the invention enables direct heating of the mixer and the homogenizer and thus a direct influence on the temperature of the milk foam to be produced. This makes it possible for the first time to produce milk foam at a defined desired temperature regardless of the state of the device or of a coffee machine having the device, and regardless of whether the coffee machine has just been switched on or whether several mixed coffee drinks or milk foams have already been dispensed directly one after the other.The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to obtain milk foam within a predefined temperature range, thus ensuring high quality and excellent flavor. With such a heating device provided according to the invention, it is also possible to implement a so-called "barista mode" in a particularly cost-effective manner, thus enabling a wide distribution, even in the consumer sector or in consumer devices.

[0011] In an advantageous development of the inventive solution, the heating device is a steam heater. This makes it possible to directly utilize a heat source already present in a coffee machine, namely a steam generator, to control the temperature of the mixer or homogenizer and thus the temperature of the milk foam. In particular, this makes it possible to dispense with a separate electrical heating device, thus saving costs.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively, it is of course also conceivable for the heating device to be an electric heating device, whereby this embodiment opens up the possibility of enabling the temperature control of the milk foam independently of a steam generator. Such an electric heating device can be implemented cost-effectively and offers the possibility of individual control and regulation.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, an adjustment device is provided for adjusting the heating power of the heating device and, via this, for adjusting the milk foam temperature. Such an adjustment device, for example, via a corresponding display, allows for precise adjustment of the milk foam temperature, for example, within a specific temperature range, in particular, for example, between 65°C and 68°C. Especially in this range, foamed milk tastes fresh and sweet, thus enabling a particularly rich taste experience.

[0014] In the solution according to the invention, the heating device is integrated into a wall of the mixer and a wall of the homogenizer. This enables direct heating of the milk foam, which, particularly with an electric heating device and integration of the heating device into the wall of the mixer or homogenizer, simultaneously enables a protected arrangement, which in particular prevents unwanted contamination of the heating device and the associated time-consuming cleaning.

[0015] The present invention is further based on the general idea of ​​equipping a coffee machine with such a device, thereby transferring the previously described advantages to the coffee machine. In particular, a so-called "barista function" can be implemented relatively easily, thereby achieving a completely new user experience and enjoyment.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the coffee machine according to the invention, a milk quantity, milk flow, and / or air flow into the mixer and / or homogenizer can be adjusted via the adjustment device of the device or a further adjustment device. Such an adjustment device, whether part of the device or part of the coffee machine, can provide additional adjustment screws for the refined adjustment of various milk foam parameters, thereby further enhancing the barista experience for the user.

[0017] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawing and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawing.

[0018] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description.

[0020] The only Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in a coffee machine according to the invention.

[0021] According to the Fig. 1, comprises a device 1 according to the invention for producing milk foam, which according to the Fig.1 is arranged in a coffee machine 2, a mixer 3 and a homogenizer 4, wherein a heating device 5 is additionally provided for directly heating the mixer 3 and the homogenizer 4. The possibility of directly heating the milk foam via the heating device 5 allows a predefined temperature of the milk foam to be set, whereby it can be dispensed almost independently of other factors in a temperature range in which it offers a superior taste experience.

[0022] The heating device 5 can be electrically embodied, in particular comprising electrical heating elements and / or a steam heater, whereby a heat source already present in the coffee machine 2, namely steam, can be used for temperature control, i.e., for heating the milk foam. In particular, this makes it possible to keep the milk foam within a temperature range between 65 and 68°C, within which it offers a particularly rich flavor experience.

[0023] An adjustment device 6 can also be provided, via which a heating output of the heating device 5 and, by way of this, also a milk foam temperature can be adjusted. The heating device 5 is integrated into a wall 7' of the mixer 3 and a wall 7 of the homogenizer 4 and can thus heat the milk foam present in the mixer 3 or in the homogenizer 4 via a wall heater.

[0024] With the device 1 according to the invention and the coffee machine 2 according to the invention, it is possible for the first time to offer a user a completely new "barista feeling" without the temperature, and thus indirectly also the quality, of the milk foam to be produced being dependent on, for example, the number of previously performed frothing processes or the heat capacity of the mixer 3 or the homogenizer 4. The additional heating option of the mixer 3 and the homogenizer 4 via the heating device 5 also allows the use of a significantly more cost-effective steam heater with less power, which not only heats up faster but is also easier to control.In addition, a "cold start" is significantly easier to achieve with the heating device 5 provided according to the invention, since the desired milk foam temperature can be reached more quickly using the heating device 5, even during the first brewing after a longer shutdown phase. The additional heating of the mixer 3 and the homogenizer 4 also reduces the steam energy required to produce the milk foam, thereby avoiding temperature peaks in the milk that can negatively affect the taste. Thus, the heating device 5 according to the invention can achieve a significantly improved taste of the milk foam while simultaneously providing an additional barista function, even in a coffee machine intended exclusively for private use.

[0025] Further settings can be made on the coffee machine 2 via the setting device 6 or a further setting device 8, such as a milk quantity, a milk flow or an air flow, in particular into the mixer 3 and / or into the homogenizer 4. This creates further setting options which a normal user would not normally find in a coffee machine 2 in the consumer sector, since such functional settings are normally limited to more expensive machines in the catering sector.

[0026] All in all, the device 1 according to the invention and the coffee machine 2 according to the invention thus make it possible to provide a significantly improved “barista mode”, in which, in particular, the production of milk foam with an optimized temperature is comparatively easy. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 coffee machines 3 mixers 4 Homogenizer 5 Heating device 6 Adjustment device 7.7' wall 8 additional adjustment devices

Claims

[1] Device (1) for producing milk foam, in particular in a coffee machine (2), with a mixer (3) and a homogenizer (4), wherein a heating device (5) is provided for directly heating the mixer (3) and the homogenizer (4), characterized by that the heating device (5) is integrated into a wall (7) of the mixer (3) and into a wall (7') of the homogenizer (4) and heats them. [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the heating device (5) has a steam heating system. [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the heating device (5) has an electric heater. [4] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an adjusting device (6) is provided for adjusting a heating power of the heating device (5) and above it for adjusting a milk foam temperature. [5] Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized bythat the setting device (6) is designed to set a milk foam temperature between 65 °C and 68 °C. [6] Coffee machine (2) with a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [7] Coffee machine (2) according to claim 6, characterized by that a milk quantity, a milk flow and / or an air flow into the mixer (3) and / or the homogenizer (4) can be adjusted via the adjusting device (6) or a further adjusting device (8).

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