A beverage preparation
machine includes: - at least one
brewing assembly for producing a beverage by
brewing a
brewing substance with a brewing liquid; - a brewing liquid supply line for supplying the brewing liquid to the brewing
assembly; and - an
electronic control unit for controlling the operation of the beverage preparation
machine; the brewing
assembly includes: - a brewing liquid dispenser for dispensing the brewing liquid; and - a
filter holder having one or more beverage dispensing nozzles, the
filter holder internally defining a brewing chamber that can be filled with a brewing substance to be brewed with the brewing liquid to prepare a beverage, and the
filter holder being manually connectable to the brewing liquid dispenser to receive the brewing liquid therefrom; the brewing liquid supply line includes: - a brewing liquid flow
rate regulation system for regulating the flow rate of the brewing liquid supplied to the brewing assembly; and - a brewing liquid flow meter for measuring... The
electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to: - store functional data required to control the brewing liquid flow
rate regulation system during the beverage preparation cycle, and, for example, allow determination of the presence of one or more predetermined characteristics of the brewing liquid flow rate supplied to the brewing assembly during the beverage preparation cycle; and - control the brewing liquid flow
rate regulation system during the beverage preparation cycle based on the stored functional data and the electrical output of the brewing liquid flow rate meter to perform the steps of pre-brewing the brewing substance located in the brewing chamber with the brewing liquid, followed by the step of pressurizing the brewing chamber and the subsequent step of brewing the brewing substance located in the brewing chamber with the brewing liquid. The
electronic control unit is also designed to perform the pressurized brewing chamber step by: - controlling the brewing liquid flow regulation system to increase the flow rate of brewing liquid supplied to the brewing assembly; - determining, based on the electrical output of the brewing liquid flow meter, whether the flow rate of brewing liquid supplied to the brewing assembly exhibits one or more first predetermined characteristics, wherein the one or more first predetermined characteristics indicate that the brewing chamber is properly filled with brewing liquid; and - when it is determined that the flow rate of brewing liquid supplied to the brewing assembly exhibits one or more first predetermined characteristics, maintaining the brewing liquid flow regulation system in a predetermined stable operating state.