Coffee machine provided with an arrangement for the pre-infusion of the coffee panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing espresso coffee machines face complexity and increased costs due to the need for sophisticated hydraulic circuits and multiple components to implement pre-infusion and infusion steps, especially in multi-brewing group machines, which affects the uniform extraction of aromatic substances and increases the risk of breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with a simplified pre-infusion system using a three-way electro-valve for each brewing group, allowing independent operation and reducing the number of components, where a secondary feeding duct and bypass duct converge to control water pressure, enabling both pre-infusion and post-infusion steps without additional pumps or boilers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a high-pressure water flow is directly introduced through the coffee panel, then the brewing process is simplified, but the extraction of aromatic substances becomes non-uniform and suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a pre-infusion step before the main brewing process. During pre-infusion, water at low pressure permeates the coffee panel to wet the coffee powder uniformly and release trapped gases. This preliminary action prepares the coffee panel for subsequent high-pressure brewing, ensuring uniform extraction of aromatic substances without requiring complex multi-pump systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If a pre-infusion system with multiple components is implemented, then the extraction of aromatic substances is optimized, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single three-way electro-valve that performs multiple functions: it controls both the pre-infusion flow (bypassing the pump) and the main brewing flow (through the pump), and also enables post-infusion. This multi-functional valve simplifies the hydraulic circuit by eliminating the need for separate valves for each brewing group, reducing device complexity while maintaining optimized extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the pre-infusion and main brewing circuits by using a common three-way electro-valve that can direct water flow to different paths. The bypass duct for pre-infusion and the main feeding duct for brewing are combined into a single controllable system per brewing group, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall hydraulic circuit architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves and pumps are used for pre-infusion in multi-brewing group machines, then each brewing group can operate independently, but the risk of breakdowns and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by equipping each brewing group with a single three-way electro-valve that handles all brewing phases (pre-infusion, brewing, post-infusion) independently. This reduces the valve count from multiple specialized valves per group to a single multi-functional valve, decreasing the number of potential failure points while maintaining the capability for simultaneous independent operation of multiple brewing groups.
4Device complexity
If a simplified system with fewer components is used, then the production costs are reduced, but the ability to perform both pre-infusion and post-infusion steps is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The three-way electro-valve is designed with multiple positions that enable it to perform different functions: directing water through the bypass for pre-infusion, directing water through the pump for main brewing, and directing water through the bypass for post-infusion. This single multi-functional component maintains full brewing process flexibility while minimizing the number of components required.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures uniform wetting and extraction of aromatic substances, allows simultaneous operation of multiple brewing groups, and reduces complexity and production costs by using a single valve per group, while maintaining the efficiency of the brewing process.
Implementation Method 1
a pump arranged in said hydraulic circuit, between said water source and said one or more brewing groups, and adapted to raise the pressure of the water circulating in said hydraulic circuit
Implementation Method 2
a boiler arranged in said hydraulic circuit, between said water source and said one or more brewing groups, and adapted to raise the temperature of the water circulating in said hydraulic circuit
Implementation Method 3
allowing effecting a post-infusion step with delivery of water again under reduced pressure after said actual infusion step
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a coffee machine comprising one or more brewing groups and having a system for delivering water under reduced pressure at a step of pre-infusion of the coffee panel before the step of actual infusion and brewing of the coffee-based beverage. According to the invention, for each brewing group (3a, 3b) of the coffee machine (1), a secondary feeding duct (9a, 9b) in which water under higher pressure flows, and a secondary bypass duct (I la, 11b), in which water under reduced pressure flows, can selectively be communicated with the respective brewing group. The pre-infusion system of the coffee machine (1) allows effecting pre-infusion in each brewing group in a separate and independent manner.