Coffee machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a coffee machine featuring a brew spoon with a brewing cup portion and a handle portion. The brewing cup portion includes a bottom with an outlet opening for coffee extraction. The machine further comprises a water delivery head for supplying heated water to the brewing cup and a closing and / or tamping system that creates relative movement between the brewing cup and the water delivery head. The system includes a chamber accessible through a side opening of the machine, allowing the brew spoon to be placed in a brewing position via a linear sliding motion. In the brewing position, the brewing cup portion aligns beneath the water delivery head, and its outlet opening aligns with a coffee outflow opening in the chamber's bottom. The chamber's bottom is designed to prevent coffee grounds or residue outside the outflow opening from being discharged, ensuring efficient and clean operation.

Description

[0001] COFFEE MACHINE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a coffee machine for producing, in particular brewing, a coffee beverage.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] A coffee machine according to the preamble of independent claim 1 is known from US5,992,298, which discloses a coffee machine for different coffee types. The known coffee machine comprises a brewing chamber base inserted in a holder provided with a handle, wherein the holder is slid into the coffee machine by a user. A brewing chamber, lid configured to deliver hot water, is movable downwardly and locks the brewing chamber. The holder comprises a coffee outlet that when the holder is locked in the coffee machine, is located above a spout of the coffee machine.

[0006] W02024003364A1 discloses machine unit comprising a brewing piston that is moveably mounted between a starting position and a brewing position. A portafilter can be inserted, among other things, into a filling position, in which the portafilter is arranged below a grinder. Following the filling of the coffee receiving space of the portafilter with coffee powder, the portafilter is retracted into a brewing position in a linear movement via the linear guide. A brewing unit contains a brewing piston with a piston shaft, which is guided in a piston shaft housing, as well as a piston plunger 6 arranged at the lower end, i.e. towards the portafilter, which is guided in a piston plunger guide housing. To initiate the brewing process, the brewing piston is moved by a piston drive from its starting position in the direction of gravity downwards to the coffee receiving space of the portafilter. The piston plunger is moved into the coffee receiving chamber and compresses the coffee powder. Hot brewing water is fed under pressure into the brewing chamber via a brewing water feed which is guided through the piston rod.

[0007] EP4081081 discloses a coffee machine comprising a water reservoir, water heater, water pump, coffee vessel for receiving ground coffee and a water delivery system having a water delivery head for delivering heated water to the coffee vessel. A closing and / or tamping system is for compacting ground coffee in the coffee vessel by providing relative movement between the water delivery head and the coffee vessel.

[0008] There are also coffee machines that use capsules or pods to prepare coffee. These machines are relatively small, but the quality of the coffee is inferior to that of coffee prepared with the aforementioned coffee machines. The aforementioned coffee machines, on the other hand, are relatively large compared to coffee machines that use capsules or pods. Additionally, used capsules or pods generate a significant amount of waste that is difficult to recycle.

[0009] SUMMARY

[0010] The objective of the invention is to provide an improved coffee machine that addresses at least some of the disadvantages of the coffee machines described above.

[0011] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a coffee machine having the features of Claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further implementations of the invention can be achieved through the measures specified in the dependent claims.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a coffee machine, comprising a spoon-shaped brewing cup comprising a brewing cup portion and a handle portion, wherein the brewing cup portion has a bottom with an outlet opening; a water delivery head for supplying heated water to the brewing cup portion; a closing system for closing the brewing cup portion by creating relative movement between the water delivery head and the brewing cup. The closing and / or tamping system further comprises a chamber configured to receive the spoon shaped brewing cup in a brewing position by a linear sliding motion through an opening in a side of the coffee machine, which provides access to the chamber. In the brewing position, the brewing cup portion is located beneath the water delivery head. The chamber comprises a bottom with a coffee outflow opening, wherein the outlet opening of the brewing cup portion is located above the coffee outflow opening when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is in the brewing position. Furthermore, coffee outflow opening is surrounded by a raised edge such that a surrounding bottom surface is recessed relative to the coffee outflow opening.

[0013] The core idea of the invention was to create a coffee machine with the compact size of a capsule or pod-based coffee machine, but without generating waste that is difficult to recycle. Additionally, it was desired that the quality of the brewed coffee be comparable to that of professional barista coffee machines. To minimize the depth of the device, it is not practical to place a cup or mug directly under the outlet opening of the spoon-shaped brewing cup, and a channel will be required to guide the coffee forward. As a result, the water delivery head will be difficult to access. Since the water delivery head comes into contact with the ground coffee, it is important that the head can be cleaned. However, any dirt that comes off the head should not end up in the next cup of coffee. To solve this issue, we have designed the chamber with the characteristics outlined in the claim. The structure of the chamber ensures that it is virtually impossible for dirt from the head to enter the cup of coffee. The dirt is primarily collected at the bottom of the chamber and cannot flow into the cup through the outlet opening at the bottom.

[0014] In an embodiment, the closing system is further configured to compact ground coffee in the brewing cup portion during the closing movement. This embodiment has the advantage that compaction of the ground coffee is automatically achieved during the closing movement, thereby simplifying operation for the user and ensuring a consistent and reproducible coffee puck density, which contributes to a more uniform extraction and improved beverage quality.

[0015] In an embodiment, the bottom of the chamber comprises one or more drain openings and wherein a bottom surface surrounding the raised edge is shaped to direct coffee grounds or residue toward the one or more drain openings. These features make it possible to regularly clean the water delivery head by allowing a small amount of water to flow through the water delivery head when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is removed from the chamber. The water, along with coffee residues, falls to the bottom of the chamber around the outlet opening and then flows through the drain openings to, for example, a drainable reservoir.

[0016] In an embodiment, the bottom and side walls of the chamber form a removable receptacle of the closing and / or tamping system, the removable receptacle being configured to slide in and out of a main body of the closing and / or tamping system. This feature makes it possible to easily clean the walls and bottom of the chamber if they become dirty from leftover residues. This feature also allows for a chamber that only collects coffee dirt at the bottom and does not have openings to direct the collected dirt to a large waste collection bin within the coffee machine.

[0017] In an embodiment, a cleaning wipe mechanism is provided that wipes along the water delivery head when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is slid in and out the chamber. This feature provides an alternative or additional way to remove coffee residues from the water delivery head to prevent serious contamination.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the cleaning wipe mechanism is made of an elastic material extending from one side to an opposite side of the chamber, which is stretched when the brewing cup is slid into the brewing position and contracts when the brewing cup is slid out of the brewing position. In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning mechanism is a flexible arm pivotable around a rotation axis located on a side wall of the chamber, the flexible arm being moved around the rotation axis as the brewing cup is slid into the brewing position within the chamber, and being returned by a spring mechanism when the brewing cup is slid out of the chamber.

[0019] In an embodiment, the cleaning mechanism comprises a wiping element positioned on a rear wall of the chamber, opposite the opening of the chamber, the wiping element being configured to wipe along the water delivery head when the removable receptacle is slid into or out of the closing and / or tamping system. This embodiment has the advantage that no forces are exerted on the spoon-shaped brewing cup when placing and removing it from the chamber. In an embodiment, the water delivery head comprises a transfer part and a detachable head part. The transfer part transferring heated water to the detachable head part, which subsequently delivers the heated water to the brewing cup, and wherein a seal between the transfer part and the detachable head part closes the gap between the transfer part and the removable head part to prevent leakage of heated water. These features make it possible to design the coffee machine in such a way that all parts in contact with coffee residues can be cleaned outside the machine.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the removable receptacle comprises a cavity to accommodate the detachable head part, enabling the detachable head part to engage / disengage from the transfer part when the removable receptacle is slid into / out of the closing and / or tamping system. These features make it possible to remove both the chamber and the detachable head part of the water delivery head from the coffee machine in a single action for cleaning.

[0021] In an embodiment, the chamber provides a support structure to support the brewing cup portion when the water delivery head exerts forces on the ground coffee in the brewing cup. This enables brewing coffee under high pressure.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the brewing cup comprises protruding rim, and the support structure comprises a horizontal groove along sidewalls of the chamber to guide the brewing cup portion from the opening into the brewing position. This makes it easy to position the spoon-shaped brewing cup under the water delivery head.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the horizontal groove is provided with one or more springy positioning protrusions. The springy positioning protrusions ensure that the user can feel when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is fully inserted into the chamber, and they also prevent the spoon-shaped brewing cup from sliding out of the chamber on its own and keeps it in place under the water delivery head.

[0024] In an embodiment, the spoon-shaped brewing cup further comprises a sieve-like lid configured to close the brewing cup portion and configured to provide a sealing between the brewing cup portion and the water delivery head when moved relatively to each other towards each other. A spoon-shaped brewing cup with a lid has the advantage that the ground coffee does not come into contact with the solid parts of the machine. In this case, the water delivery head does not need to be cleaned, and the bottom of the chamber only needs to catch water droplets falling from the water delivery head, which, after evaporation, result in almost no contamination and consequently does not need cleaning.

[0025] In an embodiment, the sieve-like lid is pivotally attached to the brewing cup portion. This feature prevents the lid from getting lost.

[0026] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments.

[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] These and other aspects, properties and advantages will be explained hereinafter based on the following description with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like or comparable parts, and in which:

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a coffee machine according to the invention;

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional of the coffee machine;

[0031] Fig. 3 shows a kind of exploded perspective view of several components for brewing coffee;

[0032] Fig. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the combination of the brew spoon, chamber, and closing and / or tamping mechanism in brewing position;

[0033] Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the combination of the brew spoon, chamber, and closing and / or tamping mechanism, perpendicular to the cross-section shown in Fig. 4;

[0034] Fig. 6 schematically shows a cross-section, similar to Fig 4, but now in release position; Fig. 7 illustrates the removal of the chamber from the closing and / or tamping mechanism;

[0035] Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a brew spoon with a lid;

[0036] Fig. 9 schematically shows a cross-sectional view, similar to Fig 4, where the brewing cup according to Figure 8 is being used;

[0037] Fig. 10 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a water delivery head consisting of two separable parts;

[0038] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the removable receptacle forming the chamber for receiving the brew spoon;

[0039] Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along the line XII-XII in Fig. 11 ;

[0040] Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view along the line XIII-XIII in Fig. 11 ;

[0041] Fig. 14 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a cleaning mechanism before the brewing cup is inserted;

[0042] Fig. 15 shows a top view of the first embodiment of the cleaning mechanism when the brewing cup is in the brewing position;

[0043] Fig. 16 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a cleaning mechanism;

[0044] Fig. 17 shows, a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cleaning mechanism; and,

[0045] Fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment.

[0046] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In the present description, the term "brew spoon" refers to a spoonshaped brewing cup 30 that includes a handle portion 30A and a brewing cup portion 30B. The brewing cup portion forms a coffee compartment 31 configured to receive ground coffee.

[0048] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a coffee machine 10 according to the subject technology. The coffee machine comprises a housing part 12, forming a part of the top, left and right sides of the coffee machine. The front is composed of two parts, an upper front part 14 and a lower front part 16. The upper front part comprises an opening 20 configured to insert a brew spoon 30 into the coffee machine. The brew spoon 30 comprises a handle portion 30A and a brewing cup portion 30B.

[0049] The lower front part 16 comprises a drip tray 18 for placing a coffee mug beneath a beverage dispensing port 28. An operating lever 22 is provided on the top side to move a water delivery head up and down, thereby opening or closing the coffee compartment 31 when the brew spoon is placed in the coffee machine.

[0050] At the rear of the coffee machine, a water reservoir 24 is located. A control panel 26 is provided at the top side for operating the coffee machine.

[0051] Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the coffee machine. The brew spoon 30 is placed in a brewing position by a linear sliding motion through the opening 20 at the front side of the coffee machine. The opening 20 provides access to a chamber 21. The brewing cup portion of the brew spoon 30 has a bottom with an outlet opening 34.

[0052] The coffee machine includes a main support structure 70 that provides stability to the machine and connects its components. The water reservoir 24, equipped with a compartment 25 for water, is removably positioned at the rear of the coffee machine.

[0053] The lower front part 16 forms a waste collection compartment 17 for collecting residues from the brewing process, such a water and coffee drips falling from beverage dispensing port 28 onto the drip tray 18. The drip tray 18 channels the water and coffee drips into waste collection compartment 17. The lower front part 16 can be detached by a horizontal linear sliding motion.

[0054] A closing and / or tamping system 40 is provided for closing the brewing cup portion and / or compacting ground coffee in the brewing cup portion by creating relative movement between a water delivery head 44 and the brew spoon. The relative movement of the water delivery head is perpendicular to the linear sliding movement of the brew spoon 30 in chamber 21 .

[0055] The water delivery head 44 is designed for supplying heated water to the brewing cup portion. The water delivery head 44 comprises a brewing water feed 58. In Figure 2, the water pump unit, the water heating element, and the connecting pipes are not shown. These components function together to extract water from the water reservoir 25, direct it through the water heating element, and deliver the heated water under pressure via a pipe to the brewing water feed 58 of the water delivery head 44, which then channels it through the water delivery head to the ground coffee in the brew spoon.

[0056] Additionally, the processor unit, which controls the water heating element and the water pump unit in response to commands entered via the control panel 26, is also not depicted.

[0057] The closing and / or tamping system 40 comprises a slider frame 42 in which the water delivery head 44 can be moved up and down. In the design shown, the sliding frame 42 is positioned within a cavity of the main support structure 70. However, it is also possible for the function of the sliding frame to be integrated into the main support structure.

[0058] With a lever mechanism consisting of the operating lever 22, pivot arm 54, which is perpendicularly attached to the operating lever 22, and an intermediate arm 52, the rotational motion of the operating lever 22 is converted into a linear movement of the water delivery head within the piston housing 44.

[0059] One side of the intermediate lever arm 52 is pivotally connected around axis 56 to pivot arm 54, which is perpendicularly attached to the operating lever 22. The opposite side of the intermediate lever arm 52 is pivotally connected to the water delivery head 44, with the axis of rotation alternately movable linearly up and down in elongated openings 43 in the sliding frame 42 on either side of the water delivery head 44.

[0060] Chamber 21 is formed by a component of the closing and / or tamping system. The bottom of chamber 21 contains a coffee outlet opening 48, positioned beneath the outlet opening 34 of the brew spoon 30 when it is placed in chamber 21 in the brewing position. Through this outlet opening 48, coffee brewed in the coffee cup flows via a discharge channel to the coffee dispensing port 28 located at the front of the coffee machine.

[0061] The edge of outlet opening 48 is elevated above the surrounding bottom surface. In other words, the bottom area around outlet opening 48 is recessed below the level of the outlet opening, thus the coffee outflow opening is surrounded by a raised edge such that a surrounding bottom surface is recessed relative to the coffee outflow opening. This design ensures that droplets, coffee grounds, or residue falling from the water delivery head 44 primarily land on the bottom surface next to the coffee outlet opening and cannot be discharged anymore through the coffee outlet opening into a mug placed under the coffee dispensing port 28.

[0062] One or more drain openings 49 are provided in the bottom of chamber 21 to discharge droplets and coffee residue that fall from the water delivery head 44 onto the bottom of chamber 21 to the waste collection compartment 17. Consequently, the bottom surface surrounding the raised edge of the outflow opening slopes gradually toward the drain openings 49 and is thus shaped to direct coffee grounds or residue toward the one or more drain openings. To facilitate this, the floor surface gradually slopes toward the drain openings 49.

[0063] Additionally, an optional sealing element 50 may be provided within outlet opening 48. When the brew spoon 30 is moved into the brewing position, the bottom of the coffee cup presses the sealing element 50 downward, opening outlet opening 48. When the spoon-shaped coffee cup 30 is removed from chamber 21 , the sealing element 50 is pushed back up by a spring component, closing the outlet opening 48.

[0064] When the upper front part 14 and the lower front part 16 are removed, inner wall element 60 temporarily forms the front of the coffee machine. The inner wall element 60 includes a sloping portion 61 that directs water or coffee residue discharged through the drain openings 49 in the bottom of chamber 21 towards the rear of the discharge channel 62. The residue then falls down through the discharge channel into waste collection compartment 17 being part of the lower front part 16.

[0065] Figure 3 shows a partially exploded perspective view of various components for brewing coffee. Depicted are the brew spoon 30, the upper front part 14, the receptacle 46 forming chamber 21 , the inner wall element 60, the water delivery head 44, the lever mechanism consisting of the operating lever 22, pivot arm 54, and lever arm 52. In this embodiment the upper front part 14, receptacle 46, the beverage dispensing port 28, and the channel connecting the coffee outlet opening 48 of chamber 21 to the beverage dispensing port 28 together form a removable element of the coffee machine.

[0066] Fig. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the combination of the brew spoon, chamber, and closing and / or tamping mechanism in brewing position. In this figure, the brew spoon 430 is positioned in the brewing position within chamber 421 . The water delivery head 444 is moved up and down into the coffee compartment 431 of the coffee cup using the lever mechanism, which consists of the operating lever 422, arm 454, and intermediate arm 452. When the water delivery head is lowered, the ground coffee in the coffee compartment 431 of the brew spoon 430 is compressed. Simultaneously, the O-ring-shaped seal 464 ensures a tight closure, allowing heated water at a pressure of up to 15 bar to be forced through inlet 458 and channels 460 of the water delivery head 444 into the coffee compartment.

[0067] A saucer plate 462 at the end of the channels 260 distributes the heated water across a perforated diffuser screen 466. This ensures that the heated water is evenly distributed over the top of the compressed ground coffee and pressed through the ground coffee.

[0068] A brew sieve 436 is located at the bottom of the brew spoon 430, with a labyrinth 432 beneath it, through which the brewed coffee flows to an opening 434 in the brew spoon 430. In the brewing position, opening 434 is positioned above a coffee outlet opening 448 of chamber 421. A brew plug 450 with an O-ring seal is positioned in the coffee outlet opening. When the brew spoon is shifted into the brewing position, the bottom of the brew spoon pushes the brew plug downward, opening the coffee outlet opening 448 and allowing the brewed coffee to flow through the channel to the beverage dispensing port 428.

[0069] Fig. 4 also shows a drain opening 449 of the chamber 421 which allows for the drainage of droplets and coffee residues that fall from the water delivery head.

[0070] The lever mechanism includes three pivot axes: 441 , 456, and 453, which rotate when the water delivery head 444 moves up and down, controlled by the operation of the operating lever 422. The operating lever 422 and arm 454 rotate around pivot axis 441. Pivot axis 456 allows the arm 454 and intermediate arm 452 to rotate relative to each other. Finally, pivot axis 453 rotates and slides within the elongated opening 443 in the slider frame 442. This pivot axis moves up and down within the elongated opening 443 when the operating lever 442 is operated, thereby moving the water delivery head up and down within the slider frame.

[0071] Fig. 5 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the combination of the brew spoon, chamber, and closing and / or tamping mechanism, perpendicular to the cross-section shown in Fig. 4.

[0072] This figure also shows that the receptacle 446 has two parallel grooves 504 through which an outwardly extending flange 30C of the brew spoon slides when it is moved in or out of chamber 421. Additionally, the slider frame 442 is equipped with two parallel grooves 512 with a sliding surface 510, allowing the outwardly extending sides of the receptacle 446 to slide. This design enables the receptacle 446 to be easily removed from the slider frame 442 for cleaning purposes.

[0073] Due to the parallel grooves 512 and the outwardly extending sides of the receptacle 446, the receptacle cannot move up and down relative to the slider frame 442. Similarly, the parallel grooves 504 and the outwardly extending flange 30C prevent the brew spoon 30 from moving up and down relative to the receptacle 446. This design allows the water delivery head to be pressed into the brew spoon with significant force and, conversely, to be pulled out with considerable force. The parallel grooves 512 of the chamber provides a support structure to support the brewing cup portion when the water delivery head exerts forces on the ground coffee in the brew spoon. Furthermore, the horizontal parallel grooves along the sidewalls of the chamber guide the brewing cup portion from the opening into the brewing position by pushing the brewing cup portion to the back of the chamber 421.

[0074] Fig. 6 schematically shows a cross-section, similar to Figure 4, but in the release position, where both the brew spoon 30 and the receptacle 446 can be detached from the coffee machine. When the control lever 422 is moved from the brewing position to the release position, the control lever 422 rotates upward around pivot axis 441. As pivot axis 456 moves along an upward arc, the end of the intermediate arm, which is rotationally coupled to arm 454, moves upward, causing pivot axis 453 to move upward through the elongated openings in the slide frame 442. Since the water delivery head is suspended from pivot point 453, it also moves upward.

[0075] Fig. 7 illustrates the removal of the chamber from the closing and / or tamping mechanism.

[0076] In both Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, it can be seen that when the brew spoon is removed, the sealing plug 450 is pushed upward by a spring element, such as a coil spring. The O-ring 451 around the sealing plug seals the coffee outlet opening 448.

[0077] Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a brew spoon with a lid 832, and Fig. 9 schematically shows a cross-sectional view, similar to Fig 4, where the brew spoon according to Fig. 8 is being used.

[0078] The lid 832 is hingedly attached to the brew spoon. When the compartment 831 in the brew cup section 30B is filled to the edge with ground coffee and the lid is closed, the ground coffee in the compartment will be compressed. The lid is bowl-shaped with a perforated sieve part 834 that rests on the ground coffee when the lid closes the compartment 831 of the brew cup section 830B. Furthermore, O-ring 836 seals any gaps between the brewing head section. The bottom part of the brew cup section houses a brew sieve 842 and labyrinth 840 and coffee outlet opening 838 of the brew spoon.

[0079] This brew spoon has the advantage that the ground coffee does not come into contact with the internal parts of the coffee machine. As a result, the surface of the brewing sieve 466 at the bottom of the water delivery head 444 remains clean. The only thing that may fall from the water delivery head is water droplets, which do not directly cause contamination of the coffee machine.

[0080] If only water droplets can fall from the water delivery head 444, it is possible to have a compartment 421 without drainage openings 490. The water that falls onto the bottom can evaporate, and what remains after evaporation is minimal, so there is no need to drain the collected water and to clean the bottom of the compartment 421 . In an alternative embodiment the lid is a component that is not coupled to the brew spoon. Fig. 10 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a water delivery head consisting of two separable parts. The water delivery head comprises a transfer part 444B and a detachable head part 444A. The transfer part 444B transfers heated water to the detachable head part 444A. The detachable head part comprises a similar structure to push the heated water evenly through the ground coffee in the brewing cup portion. A seal 490 between the transfer part 444B and the detachable head part 444A closes the gap between the two parts, preventing leakage of heated water when brewing coffee under pressure.

[0081] The receptacle comprises a cavity to accommodate the detachable head part 444a, enabling the detachable head part to disengage from the transfer part when the removable receptacle 1046 is slid into or out of the closing and / or tamping system. The O-ring seal 464 ensures that the detachable head part is lightly clamped into an opening at the top of the receptacle 1046.

[0082] The transfer part 444B contains parallel internal grooves into which a protruding flange of the detachable head part 444A can be slid. The parallel internal grooves also run parallel to the grooves in the sliding frame.

[0083] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the removable receptacle 46 forming the chamber for receiving the brew spoon. Fig. 12 shows a cross- sectional view along the line XII-XII in Fig. 11 and Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view along the line XIII-XIII in Fig. 11 .

[0084] These drawings clearly show that the bottom of the chamber slopes from the coffee outlet opening 1148 towards the drainage openings 1149.

[0085] The horizontal grooves 504 are provided with one or more springy positioning protrusions 1200. The springy positioning protrusions are flexible arms that bend outward as the outwardly extending flange 30B of the brewing cup portion slides along them. Once the widest part of the brewing cup portion passes the springy positioning protrusions, the opposing arms flex back toward each other, securing the brew spoon in place and preventing it from sliding out of the rear of the chamber on its own. Fig. 14 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a cleaning mechanism 1400 before the brew spoon 30 is inserted and Fig. 15 shows a top view of the first embodiment of the cleaning mechanism when the brew spoon is in the brewing position. The cleaning wipe mechanism 1400 is made of an elastic material extending from one side to an opposite side of the chamber, which is stretched when the brew spoon is slid into the brewing position and contracts when the brew spoon is slid out of the brewing position.

[0086] The cleaning mechanism moves along the underside of the perforated distribution screen, wiping away water droplets and / or ground coffee particles from the screen. The water droplets and coffee particles will then fall to the bottom of the chamber.

[0087] Fig. 16 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a cleaning mechanism. The cleaning mechanism is a flexible arm pivotable around a rotation axis located on a side wall of the chamber, the flexible arm being moved around the rotation axis as the brew spoon 30 is slid into the brewing position within the chamber, and being returned by a spring mechanism when the brew spoon is slid out of the chamber.

[0088] Fig. 17 shows, a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cleaning mechanism, and, Fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment. The cleaning mechanism comprises a wiping element 1700 positioned on a rear wall of the receptacle 46, opposite the opening of the chamber. The wiping element 1700 is configured to wipe along the water delivery head when the removable receptacle 46 is slid into or out of slider frame of the closing and / or tamping system.

[0089] It is emphasized that the invention is not limited to embodiments in which the closing system is configured to actively compact the ground coffee in the brewing cup portion. The presence or absence of a tamping functionality does not affect the core advantage of the invention, which is that coffee grounds or residue originating from the water delivery head or the chamber are prevented from entering the brewed coffee. In embodiments without tamping functionality, the strength of the coffee beverage can be adjusted by the user by manually compacting the ground coffee in the brewing cup portion prior to inserting the spoon-shaped brewing cup into the coffee machine. Depending on the degree of compaction by the user, a weaker or stronger coffee can be obtained, while the chamber design continues to ensure that contaminants are kept away from the coffee outflow opening. While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification and upon study of the drawings. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. The scope of the invention is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A coffee machine (10), comprising:- a spoon-shaped brewing cup (30) comprising a brewing cup portion (30B) and a handle portion (30A), wherein the brewing cup portion has a bottom with an outlet opening;- a water delivery head (44) for supplying heated water to the brewing cup portion;- a closing system for closing the brewing cup portion by creating relative movement between the water delivery head and the brewing cup portion; wherein the closing system (44) comprises a chamber (21) configured to receive the spoon shaped brewing cup in a brewing position by a linear sliding motion through an opening (20) in a side of the coffee machine, which provides access to the chamber, wherein, in the brewing position, the brewing cup portion is located beneath the water delivery head; and, wherein the chamber comprises a bottom with a coffee outflow opening (48), wherein the outlet opening (34) of the brewing cup portion is located above the coffee outflow opening when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is in the brewing position, characterized in that, the coffee outflow opening is surrounded by a raised edge such that a surrounding bottom surface is recessed relative to the coffee outflow opening.

2. The coffee machine according to claim 1 , wherein the closing system is further configured to compact ground coffee in the brewing cup portion during the closing movement.

3. The coffee machine according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the chamber comprises one or more drain openings, and wherein a bottom surface surrounding the raised edge is shaped to direct coffee grounds or residue toward the one or more drain openings.

4. The coffee machine according to any of the claims 1 - 3, wherein the bottom and side walls of the chamber form a removable receptacle of the closing system, the removable receptacle being configured to slide in and out of a main body of the closing system.

5. The coffee machine according to any of the claims 1 - 4, wherein a cleaning wipe mechanism is provided that wipes along the water delivery head when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is slid in and out the chamber.

6. The coffee machine according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning wipe mechanism is made of an elastic material (1400) extending from one side to an opposite side of the chamber, which is stretched when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is slid into the brewing position and contracts when the spoon-shaped brewing cup is slid out of the brewing position.

7. The coffee machine according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning mechanism is a flexible arm pivotable (1402) around a rotation axis located on a side wall of the chamber, the flexible arm being moved around the rotation axis as the brewing cup portion is slid into the brewing position within the chamber, and being returned by a spring mechanism when the brewing cup portion is slid out of the chamber.

8. The coffee machine according to claim 4, wherein on a rear wall of the chamber, opposite the opening of the chamber is provided a cleaning mechanism comprising a wiping element, the wiping element being configured to wipe along the water delivery head when the removable receptacle is slid into or out of the closing system.

9. The coffee machine according to claim any of the claims 4 - 8, wherein the water delivery head comprises a transfer part (444B) and a detachable head part (444A), the transfer part transferring heated water to the detachable head part, which delivers the heated water to the brewing cup portion,and wherein a seal between the transfer part and the detachable head part closes the gap between the transfer part and the removable head part to prevent leakage of heated water.

10. The coffee machine according to claim 9, wherein the removable receptacle comprises a cavity to accommodate the detachable head part, enabling the detachable head part to disengage from the transfer part when the removable receptacle is slid out of the closing system.

11. The coffee machine according to any of the claims 1 - 10, wherein the chamber provides a support structure to support the brewing cup portion when the water delivery head exerts forces on the ground coffee in the brewing cup.

12. The coffee machine according to claim 11 , wherein the brewing cup portion comprises protruding rim, and the support structure comprises a horizontal groove along sidewalls of the chamber to guide the brewing cup portion from the opening into the brewing position.

13. The coffee machine according to claim 11 , wherein the horizontal groove (504) is provided with one or more springy positioning protrusions (1200).

14. The coffee machine according to any of the claims 1 - 12, wherein the spoon-shaped brewing cup further comprises a sieve-like lid (832) configured to close the brewing cup portion and configured to provide a sealing between the brewing cup portion and the water delivery head when moved relatively to each other towards each other.

15. The coffee machine according to claim 14, wherein the sieve-like lid is pivotally attached to the brewing cup portion.

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