Filter holder with adjustable backpressure

Abstract

A filter holder (100) for receiving a filter basket (110) to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, the filter holder (100) including: a chamber (120) for receiving the filter basket (110), the chamber (120) having a first outlet (130) for allowing the coffee beverage to flow out of the chamber (120); a conduit (140) fluidly connected to the first outlet (130) for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet (130) toward a second outlet (150), the conduit (140) being manufactured from an elastically deformable material; a handle (160) attached to the chamber (120), the handle (160) including: a shaft (180) disposed within the handle (160) having a distal end (182) located adjacent the conduit (140), wherein the shaft (180) is movable between an open position, in which the conduit (140) is substantially unimpeded by the distal end (182) of the shaft (180), and a restricting position, in which the distal end (182) of the shaft (180) deforms the conduit (140) to increase a flow resistance of the conduit (140).

Description

FILTER HOLDER WITH ADJUSTABLE BACKPRESSURERELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims convention priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2025901200 and Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2024902010, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto.FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a filter holder or portafilter with adjustable backpressure.BACKGROUND

[0003] Espresso coffee brewing is often viewed as difficult or unpredictable for relatively unskilled consumers. A primary reason for this is the necessity to “dial in” the grind size and dose to provide sufficient hydraulic resistance to the hot water being pressured through a puck of ground coffee held in a filter basket, to ensure that the flow rate through the puck, and the pressure gradient maintained across the puck, are within acceptable ranges. A flow rate that is too fast, meaning not enough hydraulic resistance, typically results in an under-extracted coffee beverage, due to the shorter contact time between water and coffee grounds, the lower peak water pressure, and the lower amount of cavitation resulting from the decreased pressure gradient. A flow rate that is too slow, meaning too much hydraulic resistance, typically results in an over-extracted coffee beverage, due to the longer contact time between water and coffee grounds, the higher peak water pressure, and the higher amount of cavitation due to the bigger pressure gradient.

[0004] The “purist” method of adjusting hydraulic resistance typically involves adjusting the quantity of the dose and / or grinding the coffee grounds more finely or more coarsely.

[0005] Consumer espresso machines may also provide a so-called “double walled” filter basket, which includes a fixed flow restriction in the filter basket that adds a substantial amount of hydraulic resistance, such that the grind size or dose of the coffee beans is relatively unimportant in controlling the flow rate. However, due to the fixed nature of the flow restriction, such filter baskets are viewed unsuitable to be used with a great degree ofcustomization, and can result in suboptimal extraction outcomes, depending on grind size, dose, age of the coffee bean and other parameters that may influence hydraulic resistance.

[0006] Additionally, as beans outgas in a hopper of the coffee machine, their ability to offer hydraulic resistance might drop, and a consumer may wish to add hydraulic resistance, but to do so using a double-walled filter basket involves changing the filter basket.SUMMARY

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages of the above-mentioned portafilter arrangements, or at least provide a useful alternative to the portafilters discussed above.

[0008] There is disclosed herein a filter holder for receiving a filter basket to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, the filter holder including: a chamber for receiving the filter basket, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the coffee beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet, the conduit being manufactured from an elastically deformable material; a handle attached to the chamber, the handle including: a shaft disposed within the handle having a distal end located adjacent the conduit, wherein the shaft is movable between an open position, in which the conduit is substantially unimpeded by the distal end of the shaft, and a restricting position, in which the distal end of the shaft deforms the conduit to increase a flow resistance of the conduit.

[0009] Preferably, the shaft is movable along a shaft axis between the open and restricted positions.

[0010] Preferably, the handle further includes a grip portion that is rotatable relative to the shaft, and wherein the shaft is threadedly connected to the grip portion such that rotation of the handle portion relative to the shaft moves the shaft between the open and restricting positions.

[0011] Preferably, the handle includes a locking pin that is movable between a free position, in which the shaft is movable away from the restricting position, and a driving position, in the shaft remains in the restricting position until the locking pin is moved to the free position.

[0012] Preferably, the locking pin is biased towards the driving position, and wherein movement of the locking pin towards the driving position is resisted by the shaft, such that movement of the shaft away from the locking pin results in the locking pin moving towards the driving position.

[0013] Preferably, the handle further includes a pin holder having a channel in which the locking pin is held, wherein the channel ends adjacent an end face of the shaft, such that the locking pin engages the end face in the driving position.

[0014] Preferably, the grip portion includes a shaft driver that is translatable along the shaft axis relative to the handle by movement of the grip portion, and the shaft driver being rotatable about the shaft axis relative to the shaft by movement of the grip portion, the shaft driver being threadedly connected to the shaft such that the shaft translates with the shaft driver, and translates proportional to rotational movement of the shaft driver.

[0015] Preferably, the grip is movable between a plurality of restricting positions when the locking pin is in the driving position, by movement of the grip portion relative to the shaft using the threaded connection.

[0016] Preferably, the grip portion further includes an actuator operable to move the locking pin from the driving position to the free position.

[0017] Preferably, the actuator moves independently of the grip portion.

[0018] Preferably, movement of the shaft driver away from the actuator opens a gap into which the locking pin is urged to prevent movement of the shaft driver towards the open position.

[0019] Preferably, the actuator includes a ramp surface to urge the locking pin towards the free position.

[0020] Preferably, the actuator is received by an opening of the grip portion, and wherein the actuator protrudes from the opening when the grip portion and shaft are in the restricting position, so that the actuator is pushable along the shaft axis towards the shaft.

[0021] Preferably, the chamber includes a seal located to be abutted by the filter basket, such that a cavity between the first outlet and the filter basket is substantially sealed.

[0022] Preferably, the seal is located so as to be abutted by a lower edge of the filter basket.

[0023] Preferably, the handle further includes a solenoid actuator to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions.

[0024] Preferably, the chamber includes two or more bayonet lugs for cooperation with a group head of a beverage machine, each bayonet lug including an electrical contact pad, wherein the solenoid actuator is driven by an electric circuit completed using the electrical contact pads.

[0025] Preferably, the filter holder may be combined with the beverage machine including the group head, wherein the beverage machine includes a controller operable to control the electric circuit driving the solenoid actuator, wherein the coffee machine includes a pressure and / or flow rate transducer that is fluidly connected to the group head, the transducer providing a signal to the controller indicative of a pressure and / or flow rate in the filter basket, and wherein the controller operates the solenoid actuator to adjust the pressure and / or flow rate in / through the filter basket.

[0026] Preferably, the shaft includes a proximal portion with a ramp surface, and a distal portion with a follower to engage the ramp surface, the distal portion having the distal end, wherein rotation of the ramp surface about a shaft axis causes displacement of the follower along the shaft axis.

[0027] Preferably, the ramp surface is helical.

[0028] Preferably, the pitch of the helical ramp surface decreases towards a distal end such that a cam ratio between the proximal portion and the distal portion decreases towards the distal end.

[0029] Preferably, the handle includes a grip portion rotatable relative to the handle, wherein the grip cover engages the proximal portion of the shaft to rotate the proximal portion with the grip cover.

[0030] Preferably, the grip portion includes a plurality of position marks, and the filter holder includes a haptic pin located between the handle and the grip portion, the haptic pin being biased towards the grip portion such that the haptic pin exerts varying forces on the grip portion as the grip portion is rotated.

[0031] Preferably, the proximal portion of the shaft is displacable relative to the handle to calibrate the position of the distal end relative to the conduit.

[0032] Preferably, the filter holder further includes a lock pin located between the handle and the proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the lock pin prevents displacement of the shaft relative to the handle once inserted between the handle and proximal portion.

[0033] Preferably, the filter holder includes a flow diverter between the first outlet and the second outlet.

[0034] There is further disclosed a method of extracting a beverage using a beverage machine and a filter holder, wherein the beverage machine includes: a controller for operating the beverage machine to extract the beverage; a group head for receiving the filter holder, the coffee machine including a pressure and / or flow rate transducer providing a signal to the controller indicative of a pressure and / or flow rate in / through the filter basket, wherein the filter holder includes: a chamber for receiving the filter basket, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the extracted beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet, the conduit comprising an elastically deformable material; a handle attached to the chamber, the handle including: a shaft disposed within the handle body having a distal end located adjacent the conduit, wherein the shaft is movable between an open position, in which the conduit issubstantially unimpeded by the distal end of the shaft, and a restricting position, in which the distal end of the shaft elastically deforms the conduit to increase a flow resistance of the conduit, wherein the handle further includes an actuator operable by the controller to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions, the method including the steps of: placing the filter holder with the filter basket in the group head; operating, using the controller, the machine to begin extracting the beverage; operating, using the controller, the actuator to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions based on the signal to control the pressure and / or flow rate in / through the filter basket.

[0035] There is further disclosed a beverage extraction assembly comprising: a filter holder for receiving a filter to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, and the filter adjoining a cavity for holding the beverage ingredient, the filter holder assembly comprising: a chamber for receiving the filter, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the extracted beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet; a valve disposed between the cavity and the second outlet to adaptively influence the flow resistance to the extracted beverage between the cavity and the second outlet, the valve including a valve seat and an elastomeric valve element movable relative to the valve seat, the valve element having an aperture to allow the extracted beverage to flow from the first outlet through the valve to the second outlet, the valve element being adapted to deflect against the valve seat due to fluid pressure applied to the valve such that the aperture decreases in size to increase the flow resistance between the cavity and the second outlet when the flow of extracted beverage exceeds a pre-determined magnitude.

[0036] Preferably, the filter includes a filter basket and the filter basket at least partially defines the cavity.

[0037] Preferably, a first fluid pressure drop exists across the ground coffee beans held in the cavity, and wherein a second fluid pressure drop exists across the valve, wherein the valve isadapted to increase the flow resistance of the conduit in response to fluid pressure applied to the valve such that the first and second fluid pressure drops in sum are within a permissible fluid pressure drop range.

[0038] Preferably, the filter includes a first floor and a sidewall to define the cavity holding the ingredient, wherein the basket further includes a second floor spaced from the first floor, away from the cavity, to form a subfloor space between the first floor and second floor, wherein the second floor includes an aperture leading to the conduit, wherein the valve is located in the subfloor adjacent the aperture.

[0039] Preferably, the second floor includes a well for receiving the valve.

[0040] Preferably, the well includes retaining lugs at a distance from the aperture to retain the valve within the well.

[0041] Preferably, the filter includes an axis of radial symmetry and the aperture is located on the axis of radial symmetry, and wherein the first outlet is located on the axis of radial symmetry.

[0042] Preferably, the aperture is located at a second offset to the first outlet, such that fluid from the aperture impacts a wall of the chamber before flowing through the first outlet.

[0043] Preferably, the filter includes an axis of radial symmetry and the first outlet is located on the axis of radial symmetry, and wherein the aperture is located at the second offset from the axis of radial symmetry.

[0044] Preferably, the valve element includes a dome-shaped recess to cause the deflection of the valve element due to fluid pressure at the predetermined flow magnitude.

[0045] Preferably, the predetermined flow magnitude is in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 ml s'1at a pressure in the chamber of 9 bar.

[0046] There is also disclosed a filter holder for receiving a filter basket to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, the filter holder including:a chamber for receiving the filter basket, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the coffee beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet, a handle attached to the chamber, the handle including: a shaft disposed within the handle having a distal end located adjacent the conduit, wherein the shaft is movable between an open position, in which the conduit is substantially unimpeded by the distal end of the shaft, and a restricting position, in which the distal end of the shaft deforms the conduit to increase a flow resistance of the conduit.

[0047] Preferably, the handle further includes an actuator to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions.

[0048] Preferably, the actuator includes a motor and / or a solenoid actuator.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference signs designate like parts and in which:

[0050] FIG. l is a top view of a portafilter according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a sectioned side view of the portafilter of FIG. 1.

[0052] FIG. 3 is detail D of FIG. 2.

[0053] FIG. 4 is detail C of FIG. 2.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a detailed side section view of the portafilter of FIG. 1 in the open position.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a detailed side section view of the portafilter of FIG. 1 in the restricted position.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a detailed side section view of the portafilter of FIG. 1 in the open position.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a detailed side section view of the portafilter of FIG. 1 in the restricted position.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a series of side section views of another embodiment of the portafilter of FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a portafilter according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0060] FIG. 11 is a detailed side section view of the portafilter of FIG. 10.

[0061] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a valve used with the portafilter of FIG. 10.

[0062] FIG. 13 is an extraction flow rate chart obtained using the portafilter of FIG. 10.

[0063] FIG. 17 is a side section view of a portafilter according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0064] FIG. 18 is a detailed top isometric view of the portafilter of FIG. 14.

[0065] FIG. 19 is a detailed bottom isometric view of the portafilter of FIG. 14.

[0066] FIG. 20 is a side section view of a portafilter according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0067] FIG. 21 is a side section view of an alternative to the portafilter of FIG. 20.

[0068] FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a method of using the portafilter of FIG. 14.

[0069] FIG. 23 is an isometric section view of a portafilter according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

[0070] FIG. 24 is a side section view of the portafilter of FIG. 23.

[0071] FIG. 25 is a side section detail view of the portafilter of FIG. 24.

[0072] FIG. 26 is an exploded isometric view of a basket used with the portafilter of FIG. 23.

[0073] FIG. 27 is a side section view of a portafilter according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

[0074] FIG. 28 is an isometric detail section view of the portafilter of FIG. 27.

[0075] FIG. 29 is an isometric section view of a portafilter according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.

[0076] FIG. 30 is a section view of the portafilter of FIG. 29.

[0077] FIG. 31 is a section view of an outlet component used with the portafilter of FIG. 1.

[0078] FIG. 32 a second embodiment of the outlet component of FIG. 31.

[0079] FIG. 33 is a partial perspective view of a portafilter according to an eighth embodiment of the invention.

[0080] FIG. 34 is a detail of the portafilter of FIG. 33.

[0081] FIG. 35 is a bottom perspective view of the portafilter of FIG. 33.

[0082] FIG. 36 is a top plan view of a shaft of the portafilter of FIG. 33.

[0083] FIG. 37 is a section view of the portafilter of FIG. 33.

[0084] FIG. 38 is a detail perspective view of a grip cover of the portafilter of FIG. 33.

[0085] FIG. 39 is a detail perspective view of the portafilter of FIG. 33 without the grip cover.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] A portafilter 100 according to a first preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The portafilter 100 may also be referred to as a filter holder, in that the portafilter 100 holds a filter. The portafilter 100 receives a filter 110, preferably a filter basket, to hold ground coffee beans(not shown) to be extracted into a coffee beverage (not shown) by applying a flow of hot water. The hot water is typically applied by a constant flow rate pump, such as a peristaltic or a solenoid pump, such that the pressure of the water when it contacts the ground coffee beans in the filter basket 110 is determined by the resistance to fluid flow of the ground coffee beans in the filter basket 110. As explained in more detail, further resistance to fluid flow may be applied to affect the pressure of water in the filter basket 110.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 2, the portafilter 100 includes a cradle 120 for receiving the filter basket 110. The cradle may also be referred to as a chamber. The cradle 120 has an outlet 130, or first outlet, for allowing the extracted coffee beverage to flow out of the cradle 120. A conduit 140 is fluidly connected to the outlet 130 and typically extends below the outlet 130. The conduit 140 conveys the extracted coffee beverage from the outlet 130 toward a spout 150, or second outlet, from where the extracted coffee beverage may flow under the influence of gravity into a beverage container, such as a cup or glass. The portafilter 120 may include one or more spouts 150. The conduit 140 is preferably manufactured from an elastically deformable material, more preferably an elastically deformable material that is food safe at temperatures up to 110 °C. Examples of such materials are silicone rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, fluoroelastomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, natural rubber, nitrile, and polyurethane.

[0088] The portafilter 100 also includes a handle 160 attached to the cradle 120. The handle 160 typically extends away from the cradle 120 to allow a user to move and manipulate the portafilter 100. The handle 160 may include a handle body 170. The handle 160 includes a shaft 180 disposed within the handle body 170. The shaft 180 has a distal end 182 located adjacent the conduit 140. The shaft 180 is movable along a shaft axis 184 between an open position, shown in FIG. 7, and a restricting position, shown in FIG. 8. Typically, the shaft 180 is prevented from rotating relative to the handle 160. In the open position, the conduit 140 is substantially unimpeded by the distal end 182 of the shaft 180 and may have an internal channel that is about 2 mm in diameter, such that no additional resistance to fluid flow, or hydraulic resistance, is provided by the conduit 140. In the restricting position, the distal end 182 of the shaft 180 deforms the conduit 140 to increase a flow resistance of the conduit, for example by decreasing an internal cross sectional area of the conduit 140. In another example, the deformation of the conduit 140 by the distal end 182 could transition the fluid flow from laminar to turbulent, increasing the flow resistance of the conduit 140.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 2, and in more detail in FIG. 3, the handle 160 may further include a grip portion 162 that is rotatable relative to the shaft 180, preferably about the shaft axis 184. The grip portion 162 is threadedly connected to the shaft 180, such that rotation of the grip portion 162 relative to the shaft 180 moves the shaft 180 relative to the grip portion 162 between the open and restricted positions. The shaft 180 may further include a distal shaft portion 186 that has the distal end 182 of the shaft 180. The handle 160 may further include a locking pin 164 that is movable between a free position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and a driving position, as shown in FIG. 6. In the free position, the grip portion 162 is rotatable relative to the shaft 180 without causing translation of the distal end 182 of the shaft 180 along the shaft axis 184 sufficient to reach a restricted position. In the driving position, the locking pin 164 is located so as to abut the distal portion 186 of the shaft 180 in a position further towards the restricted position, such that movement of the grip portion 162 relative to the shaft 180 causes translation of the distal end 182 along the shaft axis 184 sufficient to reach the restricted position. The locking pin 164 is preferably biased towards the driving position, for example by using a spring 204 that may be made from metal, plastic, or another elastic material. Movement of the locking pin 164 towards the driving position is preferably resisted by the distal shaft portion 186, such that movement of the distal shaft portion 186 away from the locking pin 164 along the shaft axis 184 results in the locking pin 164 moving towards the driving position. Preferably the distal shaft portion 186 is in the open position before moving away from the locking pin 164, and the distal shaft portion 186 is in the restricted position after moving away from the locking pin 164. As previously mentioned, the grip portion 162 forms a threaded connected between the shaft 180 and the handle 160, such that movement of the grip portion 162 relative to the shaft 180 using the threaded connection results in movement of the distal shaft portion 186, and when the locking pin 164 is in the driving position, the movement is between a plurality of restricted positions, each restricted position deforming the conduit 140 to a different extent, causing the conduit 140 to have a different flow resistance to the extracted beverage moving through the conduit.

[0090] The handle 160 may also include an actuator 190, the actuator 190 being movable relative to the shaft 180, preferably along the shaft axis 184. The actuator 190 is disposed to urge the locking pin 164 towards the free position when the actuator is moved towards the distal shaft portion 186. To this end, the actuator 190 may include a cam surface 192 to convert a force applied to the actuator 190 along the shaft axis 184 to a force that is non-parallel to the shaft axis 184 to urge the locking pin 164 out of contact with the distal shaft portion 186.Examining FIG. 3 in more detail, the handle 160 may include a pin holder 216 that includes a channel 218 in which the locking pin 164 is located. The channel 218 preferably extends perpendicular to the shaft axis 184. The grip portion 162 may include a grip cover 214 having an internal surface 220 that is normal to the shaft axis 184. The shaft 180 may include a shaft driver 224 that abuts the internal surface 220, such that movement of the grip portion 162 away from the open position moves the shaft driver 224 relative to the pin holder 216. However, the actuator 190 does not abut the internal surface 220, instead the grip portion 162 includes an opening 222 through which the actuator 190 protrudes when the grip portion 162 is moved away from the open position. In the open position, the actuator 190 abuts the shaft driver 224. The channel 218 is located substantially adjacent the contact between the actuator 190 and the shaft driver 224, such that movement of the locking pin 164 into the driving position is resisted by the shaft driver 224. Movement of the shaft driver 224, without movement of the actuator 190, causes a gap 226 to appear between the actuator 190 and the shaft driver 224. The gap 226 is located adjacent the channel 218 of the pin holder 216, such that once the gap 226 has been created, the locking pin 164 is no longer prevent from moving into the driving position by the shaft driver 224, and is urged into the gap 226 by the spring 204. This position of the locking pin 164 prevents the shaft driver 224 from translating back into the open position, forming the driving position of the locking pin 164. As shown in FIG. 6, the cam surface 192 of the actuator 190 is located such that, when the actuator 190 is urged along the shaft axis 184 towards the shaft driver 224, the cam surface 192 urges the locking pin 164 into the channel 218 of the pin holder 216, allowing the shaft driver 224 to translate back towards the open position shown in FIG. 5. The shaft 180 may be biased towards the open position, for example using a spring. The grip cover 214 may include an internal guide surface 228 having rotational symmetry that is received by a groove 230 of the handle 160, to allow rotation of the grip portion 162 relative to the handle 160, and translation of the grip portion 162 relative to the handle 160 between the open position and the restricted positions.

[0091] The shaft driver 224 of the grip portion 162 is threadedly connected to the shaft 180, forming the aforementioned threaded connection between the grip portion 162 and the shaft 180, such that translation of the shaft driver 224 along the shaft axis 184 causes similar translation of the shaft 180 along the shaft axis 184. Further, rotation of the shaft driver 224 about the shaft axis 184 causes translation of the shaft 180 along the shaft axis 184, proportional to the pitch of the thread between the shaft driver 224 and the shaft 180. The shaft driver 224 is preferablyrotationally fixed within the grip cover 214, such that rotation of the grip cover 214 causes rotation of the shaft driver 224.

[0092] The grip portion 162 may be attached to the handle 160 using a magnet 232 held by the grip cover 214 facing side of the shaft driver 224. The shaft driver 224 being limited in its movement out of the handle 160 by the engagement with the shaft 180, which at the open position abuts an internal shoulder 234 of the handle 160.

[0093] Moving to FIG. 4, the cradle 120 may include a seal 122 located so as to be abutted by the filter basket 110, preferable a lower edge 112 of the filter basket 110, such that a cavity 128 between the outlet 130 and the filter 110 is substantially sealed. Preferably, the filter 110 includes a filter basket 110, and the filter basket 110 at least partially defines the cavity 128.

[0094] A similar mechanism to FIGS. 3 to 8 is shown in FIG. 9, also including the grip cover 214, the shaft driver 224, the pin holder 216, and the actuator 190. In this embodiment, the components are not arranged radially symmetrically about the shaft axis 184.

[0095] FIGS. 10 to 16 show a second preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the portafilter 100 includes a valve 200 disposed in the conduit 140 to influence the flow resistance to the extracted beverage flowing through the conduit 140. Shown in more detail in FIG. 12, the valve has an aperture 202 to allow the extracted beverage to flow from the outlet 130 through the valve 200 to the spout 150. The aperture 202 may have a diameter of about 0.3 mm to 2 mm, preferably about 0.8 mm. The valve 200 is adapted to deflect due to fluid pressure applied to the valve 200, such that the aperture 202 decreases in size to increase the flow resistance of the conduit 140 as higher fluid pressures are applied to the valve 200. To this end, the valve 200 may have a height of between 2 mm to 6 mm, preferably about 2.85 mm, and the valve 200 may have an overall diameter of between 5 mm to 15 mm, preferably between 7 mm to 12 mm, most preferably about 7.6 mm. As shown in FIG. 14, the aperture 202 may open into a recess 203, the recess 204 have a larger diameter than the aperture 202. For example, the recess 203 may have a diameter of about 7.6 mm. The interface between the aperture 202 and the recess 203 may include a 45° chamfer. The aperture 202 may be defined by sidewalls 205. As shown inFIG. 15, under normal flow conditions, being flow rates under about 3 ml s'1, the valve 200 remains dimensionally stable and flow rates are unaffected by the valve 200. At faster than nominal flow rates, which may be flow rates above 3 ml s'1, the drop in static pressure of the extracted beverage in the aperture 202 caused by the acceleration of the beverage through the aperture 202, causes the sidewalls 205 to deform inward, as shown in FIG. 16, increasing the flow resistance of the valve 200. Thus, when a first fluid pressure drop exists across the ground coffee beans held in the filter basket 110, and a second fluid pressure drop exists across the valve 200, the valve 200 is adapted to increase the flow resistance of the conduit 140 in response to fluid pressure applied to the valve 200 such that the first and second fluid pressure drops, in sum, are within a permissible fluid pressure drop range. As shown in FIG. 13, this allows the fluid flow rate through the conduit 140, and therefore the filter basket 110, to remain substantially constant. The valve 200 may be manufactured from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, preferably with a shore hardness of between 30 to 90.

[0096] FIGS. 17 to 19 relate to a third preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the previously disclosed embodiments.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 17, the handle 160 may include a solenoid actuator 166 to move the shaft between the open and restricted positions. The solenoid actuator 166 may include a solenoid coil 206 wound about the shaft axis 184 and the shaft 180 includes a conductive component 208, such that a current passing through the coil 206 induces a force on the conductive component 208, and thus the shaft 180, along the shaft axis 184. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the cradle 120 may include two or more bayonet lugs 124 for cooperation with the group head 20 of the coffee machine 10, to mount the portafilter 100 in the group head 20 for extraction of the coffee beverage. Each bayonet lug 124 may include an electrical contact pad 126, or two electrical contact pads 126, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In the preferred embodiment, a contact pad 126 is mounted each on an upper surface 210 and a lower surface 212 of the lug 124. Preferably, each lug 124 includes a pair of contacts 126, for redundancy in case the contact between the group head 20 and the contact 126 is poor for any lug 124. The solenoid actuator 166 may then be driven by an electric circuit that is completed using the contact pads 126.

[0098] The coffee machine 10 may include a controller 30 adapted to operate the coffee machine 10 to extract the coffee beverage, such as by controlling a pump (not shown) of the coffee machine 10 to pump water through the filter basket 110 held by the portafilter 100 in the group head 20. The controller 30 is also operable to control the electric circuit driving the solenoid actuator 166. To this end, a pressure transducer 22 may be provided that is in fluid communication with the group head 20, providing a pressure signal to the controller 30 indicative of a pressure in the extraction cavity (not shown) formed between the filter basket 110 and the group head 20. In one embodiment, the pressure transducer 22 may be located close in the group head 20, in other embodiments, the pressure transducer 22 may be located in other portions of the hydraulic system of the coffee machine 10 that are hydraulically coupled to the group head 20. In some embodiments, the pressure transducer 22 may be replaced or supplemented with a flow rate transducer 22. The controller 30 may be adapted to operate the solenoid actuator 166 to adjust the pressure in the filter basket 110, by moving the shaft 180 to a restricted position that increases the flow resistance of the conduit 140, thereby increasing the pressure in the extraction cavity and reducing the flow rate through the filter basket 110.

[0099] FIGS. 20 and 21 relate to a fourth preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the previously disclosed embodiments.

[0100] The fourth embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 19, however the conduit 140 does not include an elastic material. Instead, in the restricting position the shaft 180 protrudes into the conduit 140 and the occlusion of the conduit 140 causes the increased resistance to flow of the extracted beverage. To prevent incursion of extracted beverage into the handle 160, the portafilter 100 includes one or more seals 161 located between the shaft 180 and the handle 160. In the embodiment of FIG. 20, the shaft 180 is moved between the open and restricted positions by a motor 166. The motor 166 turns a motor shaft 168 that is threadedly engaged with shaft 180, such that rotation of the motor shaft 168 causes displacement of the shaft 180 along the shaft axis 184. In the related embodiment of FIG. 21, the shaft 180 is moved by a solenoid actuator 166 similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 19. It should be noted that the shaft 180 could also be moved using the manual mechanical means of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0101] FIGS. 23 to 26 relate to a fifth preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the previously disclosed embodiments.

[0102] When combined, the portafilter 100 and filter basket 110 may be described as a filter holder assembly 102. As shown in FIG. 23, the valve 200 may be located in the basket 110, rather than in the filter holder 100, as shown in the third embodiment. The basket 110 may be described as having a first floor 114 with a sidewall 116 extending from the first floor 114 to define a cavity 118 for holding the beverage ingredient. The valve 200 is thus generally located between the cavity 118 of the filter basket 110 and the second outlet, or spout, 150 of the filter holder 100. The basket 110 may further include a second floor 115 at an offset 117 from the first floor, away from the cavity 118.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 25, a subfloor space 121 is thereby formed between the first floor 114 and the second floor 115. The first floor 114 may include a plurality of holes forming a filtering sieve 134, such that the beverage ingredient remains in the cavity 118, while fluid flows through the sieve 134 into the subfloor 121. The second floor 115 may include an aperture 119 leading to the conduit 140, or otherwise generally opening up from the basket 110 into the chamber 128. The valve 200 may be located in the subfloor 121 adjacent the aperture 119. To this end, the second floor 115 may include a well 123 for receiving the valve 200. The subfloor 121 may, except for the aperture 119 and the sieve 134, be otherwise sealed, such that when the cavity 118 is pressurized, the subfloor 121 may be at a pressure other than ambient, depending on the behaviour of the valve 200 governing the flow through the aperture 119.

[0104] The filter basket 110 may have an axis of radial symmetry 127. The first outlet 130 of the chamber 128 may be on the axis of radial symmetry 127. As shown in FIG. 24, the aperture 119 of the second floor 115 may also be on the axis of radial symmetry.

[0105] FIGS. 27 and 28 relate to a sixth preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the previously disclosed embodiments.

[0106] The sixth embodiment is substantially similar to the fifth embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 27, the aperture 119 may be located at a second offset 129 from to the first outlet 130, such that fluid flowing through the aperture 119 impacts a wall 131 of the chamber 128 before flowing through the first outlet 130. Thus, the aperture 119 is located at the second offset 129 from the axis of radial symmetry 127.

[0107] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 28, the well 123 may include one or more, preferably three, retaining lugs 125 extending from the second floor 115 at a distance 132 from the aperture 119 to retain the valve 200 within the well 123. Each lug 125 may be part of the second floor 115, sticking out from the second floor 115, used to fix the valve 200 in place. The second floor 115 may be formed using a moulding or stamping process, to then be welded to the first floor 114, as also shown in FIG. 26. The retaining lugs 125 may be formed by punching the second floor 115 into the well 123 at point locations. The distance 132 may be less than a height of the valve 200, such that the fit of the valve 200 into the well 123 is in slight compression.

[0108] FIGS. 29 and 30 relate to a seventh preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the previously disclosed embodiments.

[0109] In this embodiment, the subfloor space 121 extends into a channel 135. The valve 200 is located within the channel 135, hydraulically between the first floor 114 and the second outlet 150. The valve 200 may be vertically oriented, and retained by a valve chamber 136 within the channel 135.

[0110] FIGS. 31 and 32 show two embodiments of an outlet assembly 240 primarily conceived for use with the portafilter 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. The outlet assembly 240 may be formed from one or more components to define the first outlet 130 and the conduit 140. In the embodiment of FIG. 31, the outlet assembly 240 is integrally formed from a single component. In the embodiment of FIG. 32, the outlet assembly 240 includes a plate 242 that is threadedly attached to the cradle 120 using a thread 244. The outlet assembly 240 also includes an elastomeric conduit 140 attached to the plate 242 and extending through the thread 244. The outlet assembly 240 also includes a seal ring 246 extending around the plate 242 and forming a seal between the lower edge 112 of the filter basket 110 and the cradle 120.

[0111] FIGS. 33 to 39 show an eighth preferred embodiment of the portafilter 100, where similar features will not be further discussed, and may be embodied as discussed above. Differing features will be discussed and may be combined in any number of variations with the features discussed in reference to the previously disclosed embodiments.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 33, the shaft 180 includes a proximal portion 185 and a distal portion 186. The proximal portion 185 includes a drive nut 252 to drive movement of the shaft 180 about the shaft axis 184. FIG. 36 shows the proximal portion 185 in more detail, in particular the proximal portion 185 may include a ramp surface 254. The ramp surface 254 is engaged by a follower 255 located on the distal shaft portion 186. Preferably, the ramp surface 254 azimuthally changes elevation along the shaft axis 184, such that rotational movement of the proximal portion 185 about the shaft axis 184 causes displacement of the distal portion 186 along the shaft axis 184. Preferably, the ramp surface 254 has a helical shape. More preferably, the helix of the ramp surface has a first gradient at a proximal end 256 and a second gradient at a distal end 258, it is preferred that the second gradient is shallower than the first gradient, such that the cam ratio between the proximal portion 185 and distal portion 186 is decreased as the distal shaft portion 186 is advanced further to impinge on the conduit 140. In short, the pitch of the helical ramp surface 254 decreases towards the distal end 258. As shown in FIG. 34, the distal portion 186 includes a key surface 260 that engages a profiled aperture 137 of the cradle 120 to movement of the distal portion 186 about the shaft axis 184, such that movement of the distal portion 186 is primarily, or exclusively, along the shaft axis 184.

[0113] Moving to FIG. 35, which shows a flow diverter 270 attached downstream of the conduit 140, preferably being at a location between the conduit 140 and the second outlet 150. The reduction of the available flow area in the conduit 140 by the distal end 182 of the shaft 180 to reduce the flow rate going through the filter basket 110 can result in a very high flow rate flow in the small flow area, leading to undesirable spraying and spattering. The flow diverter 270 acts as a barrier to the very high flow rate flow and spreads the flow over a larger area of the one or more diverter outlets 272.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 38, the grip cover or grip portion 214 may include a drive recess 274 on an internal surface 276 to engage the drive nut 252 of the proximal portion 185 of the shaft 180, such that rotation of the grip cover 214 about the shaft axis 184 causes rotation of the proximal portion 185 about the shaft axis 184. The internal surface 276 of the grip cover 214may further include a first end stop 278 and a second end stop 280 located radially away from the shaft axis 184 and adapted to engage end blocks 282 located at a rear surface 284 of the handle 160 to define a minimal and maximal radial position of the grip cover 214, respectively. The internal surface 276 may further include a plurality of position marks 284 between the first and second end stop 278, 280. The portafilter 100 may include a haptic pin 286 that is located between the handle 160 and the grip cover 214, biased towards the grip cover 214 such that as the grip cover 214 is rotated, the haptic pin 286 exerts varying forces on the grip cover 214 resulting in a haptic sensation to the user rotating the grip cover 214.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 37, there are a large number of component interfaces between the grip cover 214 and the distal end 182 of the shaft. Namely, the connection between the drive recess 274 of the grip cover 214 and the drive nut 252 of the proximal portion 185, the engagement of the ramp surface 254 of the proximal portion 185 with the follower 255 of the distal portion 186, as well as the engagement of the handle 160 in which the shaft 180 is located to the cradle 120, in which the conduit 140 is located. To make the portafilter 100 more manufacturable, a means of calibrating the position of the shaft 180 relative to the conduit 140 is provided. The proximal portion 185 includes a thread 276 engaging a thread 278 in the handle 160, allowing the proximal portion 185 to be displaced relative to the handle 160 along the shaft axis 184. After assembly of the components, the grip cover 214 is rotated to the maximum rotation position, as discussed above, and the proximal portion 185 is then rotated about the shaft axis 184 relative to the handle 160 to move the shaft 180 until the distal end 182 completely closes the conduit 140. This action has now calibrated the shaft 180 relative to the handle 160, such that the maximum position of the grip cover 214 corresponds to a complete closure of the conduit 140. The ramp surface 254 is configured such that displacement along the shaft axis 184 from the maximum position of the grip cover to the minimum position of the grip cover corresponds to moving from complete closure to complete opening of the conduit 140. The portafilter 100 further includes a lock pin 288 that is locatable in a recess 290 of the handle 160, and configured to engage one of a plurality of recesses 292 in the proximal portion 185 of the shaft 180. When inserted, the lock pin 288 prevents rotation between the proximal portion 185 and the handle 160, such that the position of the proximal portion 185 relative to the handle 160 along the shaft axis 184 remains fixed to when the lock pin 288 was inserted.

[0116] Use of the portafilter 100 will now be discussed.

[0117] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, the filter basket 110 is installed in the cradle 120 of the portafilter 100, such that the lower edge 112 of the filter basket 110 seals the cavity 128 with the seal 122 of the cradle 120. Ground coffee is deposited in the filter basket 110, and the portafilter 100 is received by the group head 20 using the bayonet lugs 124 of the cradle 120. Extraction of the beverage is started, for example by pressing a button (not shown), such that the pump starts pumping water through the filter basket 110. If the user wishes to reduce the flow rate of extracted coffee beverage, the user moves the grip cover 214 from the open position along the shaft axis 184 towards the restricted position, guided by the groove 230. The movement of the grip cover 214 causes the shaft driver 224, and shaft 180, to move along the shaft axis 184, causing the distal end 182 to deform the conduit 140. The actuator 190 is not moved by the grip cover 214, causing the gap 226 to appear next to an end face 236 of the shaft 180 or shaft driver 224. The locking pin 164 is urged into the gap 226 by the spring 204, preventing the shaft 180 from returning to the open position. The shaft 180 may now be moved between a variety of restricted positions using the threaded connection between the shaft driver 224 and the shaft 180, by rotating the grip cover 214 about the shaft axis 184, causing translation of the shaft 180 along the shaft axis 184, causing the distal end 182 to restrict the flow through the conduit 140 to greater or lesser extents, depending on the direction the grip cover 214 is rotated about the shaft axis 184. If flow restriction in the conduit 140 is no longer desired, the actuator 190 may be pressed along the shaft axis 184 towards the shaft driver 224, such that the cam surface 192 urges the locking pin 164 from the gap 226 back into the channel 218 of the pin holder 216, allowing the shaft driver 224, and the shaft 180, to return to the open position. The shaft 180 may be biased to return to the open position. Preferably, the shaft 180, shaft driver 224, actuator 190, pin holder 216, and grip cover 214 are all disposed radially symmetrically about the shaft axis 184.

[0118] In the embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 16 and FIGS. 23 to 28, the filter basket 110 is installed in the cradle 120 of the portafilter 100, such that the lower edge 112 of the filter basket 110 seals the cavity 128 with the seal 122 of the cradle 120. Ground coffee is deposited in the filter basket 110, and the portafilter 100 is received by the group head 20 using the bayonet lugs 124 of the cradle 120. Extraction of the beverage is started, for example by pressing a button (not shown), such that the pump starts pumping water through the filter basket 110. Differently to the first embodiment, the valve 200 does not require user action to function. If the pressure drop across the coffee grounds held by the filter basket 110 is insufficient, and the flow rate through the conduit 140 is higher than desirable, the valve 200 deforms due to the flow rate toclose the aperture 202, to restrict the flow and create a second pressure drop across the valve 200.

[0119] In the embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 19, the filter basket 110 is installed in the cradle 120 of the portafilter 100, such that the lower edge 112 of the filter basket 110 seals the cavity 128 with the seal 122 of the cradle 120. Ground coffee is deposited in the filter basket 110, and the portafilter 100 is received by the group head 20 using the bayonet lugs 124 of the cradle 120. Extraction of the beverage is started, for example by pressing a button (not shown), such that the pump starts pumping water through the filter basket 110. In a user controlled version, if the user desires a decrease in flow rate, the user may operate the solenoid actuator 166 in order to urge the shaft 180 to the restricted position. Different currents flowing through the solenoid coil 206 will cause different positions of the shaft 180, resulting in different amounts of flow restriction through the conduit 140. In one example, the user may operate the solenoid actuator 166 through the controller 30. For example, the coffee machine 10 may include a user interface 40 through which the user may indicate to the controller that a different flow rate is desired. The controller 30 may then operate the solenoid actuator 166 to effect the desired level of flow restriction.

[0120] In an automated embodiment, the method may proceed as detailed in FIG. 22. At step S 101 , the shaft 180 is in the open position. At step S103, the controller 30 operates the coffee machine to commence the extraction of the coffee beverage. At step SI 05 the pressure transducer 22 measures the pressure in the extraction cavity and provides the pressure signal to the controller 30. At step S107 the controller 30 operates the solenoid actuator 166 based on the pressure signal, which, at step SI 08, causes the shaft 180 to move to a corresponding open or restricted position, affecting the cross section of the conduit 140, altering the flow rate through the conduit 140, which in turn alters the pressure in the extraction cavity. At step S109, the controller 30 ceases operating the coffee machine to extract the beverage. At step Si l l, after the extraction has completed, the controller 30 ceases operating the solenoid actuator 166, allowing the shaft 180 to revert to the open position.

[0121] Various forms of the portafilter 100 described above may have one or more of the following advantages.

[0122] The movement of the shaft 180 between open and restricted positions allows the selective flow restriction of the conduit 140, such that the same portafilter 100 may be used for “assisted” extraction, where the conduit 140 is flow restricted, and “normal” extraction, where the flow is governed almost entirely by the characteristics of the ground coffee.

[0123] The threaded connection between the grip portion 162 and the shaft 180 allows fine control of the position of the shaft 180 by rotation of the grip portion 162. The use of the locking pin 164 allows selective engagement of the shaft 180 with the conduit 140, such that rotation of the grip portion 162 in the open position, without translation, does not cause the shaft 180 to reach any restricted position. The use of the actuator 190, in particular the cam surface 192, allows the return of the shaft 180 towards the open position, by movement of the locking pin 164 towards the free position. The use of the actuator 190 allows the user to quickly return the shaft 180 to the open position, allowing the conduit 140 to become unimpeded, and therefore the cavity beneath the filter basket 110 to revert to atmospheric pressure. This facilitates the removal of puck of ground coffee beans from the filter basket 110 after extraction of the beverage, as a restricted conduit 140 would prevent air from moving into the filter basket 110 through the conduit 140, inhibiting the removal of the puck. The use of the seal 122 ensures that the cavity 128 remains sealed, such that the fluid system is substantially sealed between the group head 20 and the spout 150. In this way, the flow rate through the conduit 140 is equal to the flow rate through the filter basket 110. The use of the solenoid actuator 166 allows the shaft 180 to be moved by the controller 30. The use of the electrical contact pads 126 on the lugs 124 allows secure electrical connection between the portafilter 100 and the coffee machine 10.

[0124] The location of the aperture 119 such that fluid impacts the wall 131 of the chamber 128 before fluing through the first outlet 130 reduces the jet-like nature of liquid being released from pressurization valves typically being ejected at high pressure with high flow velocities, to flow rates more commonly associated with quality beverages, being at moderate to low pressure and gravity-driven, rather than pressure-driven, flows. Ejecting highly pressurized flows through the first and / or second outlets 130 / 150 may adversely affect the quality of the beverage by excessive frothing and / or sputtering or spilling of the beverage. The creation of recirculation flows in the chamber 128 by the second offset 129 between the aperture 119 and the first outlet 130 allows a depressurization of the flow in the chamber 128, before flowing from the first outlet 130.

[0125] It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “include”, “including”, “contain”, “containing”, “have”, “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms “a” and “an” used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

[0126] Integers:10 coffee machine 140 conduit20 group head 150 second outlet22 pressure transducer 160 handle30 controller 161 seal40 user interface 162 grip portion100 portafilter 164 locking pin102 portafilter assembly 166 solenoid actuator110 filter basket 168 motor shaft112 lower edge 170 handle body114 first floor 180 shaft115 second floor 182 distal end116 sidewall 184 shaft axis117 offset 185 proximal portion118 cavity 186 distal portion119 aperture 190 actuator120 cradle 192 cam surface121 subfloor space 200 valve122 seal 202 aperture123 well 203 recess124 bayonet lugs 204 spring125 retaining lug 205 sidewalls126 electrical contact pad 206 solenoid coil127 axis of radial symmetry 208 conductive component128 cavity 210 upper surface129 aperture 212 lower surface130 first outlet 214 grip cover131 wall of chamber 216 pin holder132 distance 218 channel134 sieve 220 internal surface135 channel 222 opening136 valve chamber 224 shaft driver137 profiled aperture 226 gapinternal guide surface 260 key surface groove 270 flow diverter magnet 272 diverter outlet internal shoulder 274 drive recess end face 276 internal surface outlet assembly 278 first end stop plate 280 second end stop thread 282 end blocks seal ring 284 position marks drive nut 286 haptic pin ramp surface 288 lock pin follower 290 recess in handle proximal end 292 recess in shaft distal end

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A filter holder for receiving a filter basket to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, the filter holder including: a chamber for receiving the filter basket, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the coffee beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet, the conduit being manufactured from an elastically deformable material; a handle attached to the chamber, the handle including: a shaft disposed within the handle having a distal end located adjacent the conduit, wherein the shaft is movable between an open position, in which the conduit is substantially unimpeded by the distal end of the shaft, and a restricting position, in which the distal end of the shaft deforms the conduit to increase a flow resistance of the conduit.

2. The filter holder of claim 1, wherein the shaft is movable along a shaft axis between the open and restricted positions.

3. The filter holder of claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle further includes a grip portion that is rotatable relative to the shaft, and wherein the shaft is threadedly connected to the grip portion such that rotation of the handle portion relative to the shaft moves the shaft between the open and restricting positions.

4. The filter holder of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle includes a locking pin that is movable between a free position, in which the shaft is movable away from the restricting position, and a driving position, in the shaft remains in the restricting position until the locking pin is moved to the free position.

5. The filter holder of claim 4, wherein the locking pin is biased towards the driving position, and wherein movement of the locking pin towards the driving position is resisted by the shaft, such that movement of the shaft away from the locking pin results in the locking pin moving towards the driving position.

6. The filter holder of claim 5, wherein the handle further includes a pin holder having a channel in which the locking pin is held, wherein the channel ends adjacent an end face of the shaft, such that the locking pin engages the end face in the driving position.

7. The filter holder of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the grip portion includes a shaft driver that is translatable along the shaft axis relative to the handle by movement of the grip portion, and the shaft driver being rotatable about the shaft axis relative to the shaft by movement of the grip portion, the shaft driver being threadedly connected to the shaft such that the shaft translates with the shaft driver, and translates proportional to rotational movement of the shaft driver.

8. The filter holder of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the grip is movable between a plurality of restricting positions when the locking pin is in the driving position, by movement of the grip portion relative to the shaft using the threaded connection.

9. The filter holder of any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the grip portion further includes an actuator operable to move the locking pin from the driving position to the free position.

10. The filter holder of claim 9, wherein the actuator moves independently of the grip portion.

11. The filter holder of claim 10, wherein movement of the shaft driver away from the actuator opens a gap into which the locking pin is urged to prevent movement of the shaft driver towards the open position.

12. The filter holder of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the actuator includes a ramp surface to urge the locking pin towards the free position.

13. The filter holder of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the actuator is received by an opening of the grip portion, and wherein the actuator protrudes from the opening when the grip portion and shaft are in the restricting position, so that the actuator is pushable along the shaft axis towards the shaft.

14. The filter holder of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the chamber includes a seal located to be abutted by the filter basket, such that a cavity between the first outlet and the filter basket is substantially sealed.

15. The filter holder of claim 14, wherein the seal is located so as to be abutted by a lower edge of the filter basket.

16. The filter holder of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the handle further includes a solenoid actuator to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions.

17. The filter holder of claim 16, wherein the chamber includes two or more bayonet lugs for cooperation with a group head of a beverage machine, each bayonet lug including an electrical contact pad, wherein the solenoid actuator is driven by an electric circuit completed using the electrical contact pads.

18. The filter holder of claim 16 or 17 in combination with the beverage machine including the group head, wherein the beverage machine includes a controller operable to control the electric circuit driving the solenoid actuator, wherein the coffee machine includes a pressure and / or flow rate transducer that is fluidly connected to the group head, the transducer providing a signal to the controller indicative of a pressure and / or flow rate in the filter basket, and wherein the controller operates the solenoid actuator to adjust the pressure and / or flow rate in / through the filter basket.

19. The filter holder of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the shaft includes a proximal portion with a ramp surface, and a distal portion with a follower to engage the ramp surface, the distal portion having the distal end, wherein rotation of the ramp surface about a shaft axis causes displacement of the follower along the shaft axis.

20. The filter holder of claim 19, wherein the ramp surface is helical.

21. The filter holder of claim 20, wherein the pitch of the helical ramp surface decreases towards a distal end such that a cam ratio between the proximal portion and the distal portion decreases towards the distal end.

22. The filter holder of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the handle includes a grip portion rotatable relative to the handle, wherein the grip cover engages the proximal portion of the shaft to rotate the proximal portion with the grip cover.

23. The filter holder of claim 22, wherein the grip portion includes a plurality of position marks, and the filter holder includes a haptic pin located between the handle and the grip portion, the haptic pin being biased towards the grip portion such that the haptic pin exerts varying forces on the grip portion as the grip portion is rotated.

24. The filter holder of any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the proximal portion of the shaft is displacable relative to the handle to calibrate the position of the distal end relative to the conduit.

25. The filter holder of claim 24, wherein the filter holder further includes a lock pin located between the handle and the proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the lock pin prevents displacement of the shaft relative to the handle once inserted between the handle and proximal portion.

26. The filter holder of any one of claims 1 to 25, the filter holder including a flow diverter between the first outlet and the second outlet.

27. A method of extracting a beverage using a beverage machine and a filter holder, wherein the beverage machine includes: a controller for operating the beverage machine to extract the beverage; a group head for receiving the filter holder, the coffee machine including a pressure and / or flow rate transducer providing a signal to the controller indicative of a pressure and / or flow rate in / through the filter basket, wherein the filter holder includes: a chamber for receiving the filter basket, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the extracted beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet, the conduit comprising an elastically deformable material; a handle attached to the chamber, the handle including: a shaft disposed within the handle body having a distal end locatedadjacent the conduit, wherein the shaft is movable between an open position, in which the conduit is substantially unimpeded by the distal end of the shaft, and a restricting position, in which the distal end of the shaft elastically deforms the conduit to increase a flow resistance of the conduit, wherein the handle further includes an actuator operable by the controller to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions, the method including the steps of: placing the filter holder with the filter basket in the group head; operating, using the controller, the machine to begin extracting the beverage; operating, using the controller, the actuator to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions based on the signal to control the pressure and / or flow rate in / through the filter basket.

28. A beverage extraction assembly comprising: a filter holder for receiving a filter to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, and the filter adjoining a cavity for holding the beverage ingredient, the filter holder assembly comprising: a chamber for receiving the filter, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the extracted beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet; a valve disposed between the cavity and the second outlet to adaptively influence the flow resistance to the extracted beverage between the cavity and the second outlet, the valve including a valve seat and an elastomeric valve element movable relative to the valve seat, the valve element having an aperture to allow the extracted beverage to flow from the first outlet through the valve to the second outlet, the valve element being adapted to deflect against the valve seat due to fluid pressure applied to the valve such that the aperture decreases in size to increase the flow resistance between the cavity and the second outlet when the flow of extracted beverage exceeds a pre-determined magnitude.

29. The beverage extraction assembly of claim 28, wherein the filter includes a filter basket and the filter basket at least partially defines the cavity.

30. The beverage extraction assembly of claim 28 or 29, wherein a first fluid pressure drop exists across the ground coffee beans held in the cavity, and wherein a second fluid pressure drop exists across the valve, wherein the valve is adapted to increase the flow resistance of the conduit in response to fluid pressure applied to the valve such that the first and second fluid pressure drops in sum are within a permissible fluid pressure drop range.

31. The beverage extraction assembly of any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the filter includes a first floor and a sidewall to define the cavity holding the ingredient, wherein the basket further includes a second floor spaced from the first floor, away from the cavity, to form a subfloor space between the first floor and second floor, wherein the second floor includes an aperture leading to the conduit, wherein the valve is located in the subfloor adjacent the aperture.

32. The beverage extraction assembly of claim 30 or 31, wherein the second floor includes a well for receiving the valve.

33. The beverage extraction assembly of claim 32, wherein the well includes retaining lugs at a distance from the aperture to retain the valve within the well.

34. The beverage extraction assembly of any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the filter includes an axis of radial symmetry and the aperture is located on the axis of radial symmetry, and wherein the first outlet is located on the axis of radial symmetry.

35. The beverage extraction assembly of any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein the aperture is located at a second offset to the first outlet, such that fluid from the aperture impacts a wall of the chamber before flowing through the first outlet.

36. The beverage extraction assembly of claim 34 or 35, wherein the filter includes an axis of radial symmetry and the first outlet is located on the axis of radial symmetry, and wherein the aperture is located at the second offset from the axis of radial symmetry.

37. The beverage extraction assembly of any one of claims 28 to 36, wherein the valve element includes a dome-shaped recess to cause the deflection of the valve element due to fluid pressure at the predetermined flow magnitude.

38. The beverage extraction assembly of claim 37, wherein the predetermined flow magnitude is in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 ml s'1at a pressure in the chamber of 9 bar.

39. A filter holder for receiving a filter basket to hold a beverage ingredient to be extracted into a beverage, the filter holder including: a chamber for receiving the filter basket, the chamber having a first outlet for allowing the coffee beverage to flow out of the chamber; a conduit fluidly connected to the first outlet for conveying the extracted beverage from the first outlet toward a second outlet, a handle attached to the chamber, the handle including: a shaft disposed within the handle having a distal end located adjacent the conduit, wherein the shaft is movable between an open position, in which the conduit is substantially unimpeded by the distal end of the shaft, and a restricting position, in which the distal end of the shaft deforms the conduit to increase a flow resistance of the conduit.

40. The filter holder of claim 39, wherein the handle further includes an actuator to move the shaft between the open and restricting positions.

41. The filter holder of claim 40, wherein the actuator includes a motor and / or a solenoid actuator.

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