阅读说明：本技术 饮料制备机及其方法 (Beverage preparation machine and method ) 是由 伦佐·马宗 詹保罗·特雷维桑 亚历山德罗·百丽丝 于 2020-03-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种饮料制备机,包括至少一个与用于容纳芳香混合物(11)的过滤容器(13)流动连接的水箱(12),从水箱(12)抽水的泵(24),用于加热输送中水的加热装置(25),以及连接到用户界面(35)的控制指令单元(34)。本发明还涉及饮料制备方法。(A beverage preparation machine comprises at least one water tank (12) in flow connection with a filtering receptacle (13) for containing an aromatic mixture (11), a pump (24) for pumping water from the water tank (12), heating means (25) for heating the water in delivery, and a control command unit (34) connected to a user interface (35). The invention also relates to a beverage preparation method.)

1. Beverage preparation machine comprising at least one water tank (12) in flow connection with a filter receptacle (13) for containing an aromatic mixture (11), a pump (24) for pumping water from the water tank (12), heating means (25) for heating the transported water, a temperature sensor (28) for detecting the temperature of the heated water and a control instruction unit (34) connected to a user interface (35), characterized in that the beverage machine comprises boiling temperature indicating means (42), the boiling temperature indicating means (42) being configured to monitor in real time the temperature rise curve of the beverage preparation water and to provide information to the control instruction unit (34) about the actual water boiling temperature value, and the control instruction unit (34) being configured to adjust at least the heating means (25) depending on the actual water boiling temperature value and the heating speed related to the ambient pressure around the beverage machine (10), such that the temperature of the beverage preparation water is kept below a safe temperature value below said actual boiling temperature value.

2. Beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the boiling temperature indicating means (42) comprises an algorithm executed by the control instruction unit (34) and configured to calculate the derivative of the temperature over time in real time in order to determine the heating rate of the beverage preparation water and the rising curve trend.

3. Beverage machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boiling temperature indicating means (42) is configured to determine the actual boiling temperature value when the calculated derivative value is close to zero.

4. Beverage machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an ambient pressure measuring device (43) configured to transmit an ambient pressure value to the control command unit (34), and in that the control command unit (34) is configured to convert the pressure value into a water boiling temperature by means of a table and/or graph in order to determine a safe temperature of the beverage preparation water.

5. Beverage machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises geographical position detection means (44) configured to detect a geographical position of the beverage machine and to communicate it to the control instruction unit (34), and that the control instruction unit (34) is configured to determine a safe temperature of the beverage preparation water based on the detected position.

6. Beverage machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the boiling temperature indicating means (42) comprise command means (39) provided on a user interface (35), by means of which a user can input data relating to the place of installation/use of the beverage machine, and the control command unit (34) is configured to calculate and/or estimate the actual boiling temperature value and the safety temperature value from said received data.

7. A method for preparing a beverage using a beverage preparation machine, comprising a water tank (12) in flow connection with a filter receptacle (13) for containing an aroma compound (11), the method comprising the steps of:

-receiving, by means of a control command unit (34), commands relating to the selection of the type of beverage and the organoleptic characteristics by the user through a user interface (35);

-determining the operating parameters of the pump (24) and of the heating means (25) to adjust the water temperature and the flow rate according to the beverage selected,

characterized in that it detects the temperature of the beverage preparation water using a sensor (28), monitors in real time the temperature rise curve of the beverage preparation water and adjusts at least the heating means according to said rise curve and the actual boiling temperature value in relation to the ambient pressure around the beverage maker (10) so that the temperature of the beverage preparation water remains below a safe temperature value lower than said boiling temperature value.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that it controls the heating rate of the water in real time while calculating the derivative with an algorithm in order to determine when the detected temperature is close to the boiling value and to halt the heating means (25) when the derivative value is below a defined threshold.

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it receives, by said control unit (34), the temperature values detected by said temperature sensor (28) at defined time intervals, the difference being calculated one after the other, with respect to a previous value corresponding to a maximum safe temperature value reached by heating the beverage preparation water, until a limit difference is reached.

10. Method according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the method is performed by measuring the atmospheric pressure by means of a pressure measuring device (43) and calculating a boiling temperature value based thereon, and thereby calculating a safe temperature value to be reached for heating the beverage preparation water.

11. Method according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it receives data relating to the installation/use place of the beverage machine (10), i.e. measured values relating to the altitude and/or the ambient pressure entered by the user through the user interface (35), and estimates and/or calculates the water boiling temperature corresponding to the installation/use place of the beverage machine (10), while comparing the received data with tables and/or charts relating to temperature, pressure and/or altitude, stored in advance in the storage unit (33).

12. Method according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it detects data relating to the place of installation/use of a beverage machine (10) by means of a geographical position detection device (44) communicating with the control instruction unit (34) and determines the boiling temperature from said position.

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the method detects and/or receives data settings relating to the ambient pressure and/or relating to the installation/use of the beverage maker (10), when the beverage maker (10) is switched on and/or periodically and/or when the beverage maker (10) is switched back on as the installation/use changes.

14. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that it modifies the temperature ranges required for preparing the beverage selected by the user interface (35), reduces the extremes if these temperature ranges are higher than safe temperature values related to the boiling temperature, and stores these modified temperature ranges so as to be able to reuse them when the same operating conditions occur.

15. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that it stores in a memory unit (33) one or more temperature rise curves determined during beverage preparation and compares the measured actual heating rate with stored data in order to identify any possible malfunctioning of the heating means (25).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic or semi-automatic machine for preparing beverages, in particular machines for preparing hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, infusions of various kinds, or even just water, and to a method for preparing said beverages.

Background

Beverage machines for producing american coffee are well known, namely american weak coffee, also known as "drip coffee", obtained by infusion of a quantity of ground coffee with hot water.

The applicant has set the technical problem of improving such beverage machines so that they are suitable for supplying a wide range of beverages, ensuring the desired organoleptic characteristics and their high quality.

The known beverage machines have a water tank, a water heating device, a container fitted with a filter element for ground coffee or other aromatic compounds and through which hot water passes, and a receptacle, for example a glass bottle, equivalent to fill the volume of a certain number of cups or glasses for its end user.

The heating device is usually arranged in cooperation with the water tank or downstream of the water tank, for example along a line connecting the outlet of the water tank to the filter vessel.

When the heating means are activated, the heated water flows in a known manner from the tank to the filtering receptacle, whether it performs a convective movement or by means of a pump-like element, and the infusion of the beverage is performed at ambient pressure.

The mixture may be automatically fed or loaded into the filter element. Means for containing the powder mixture and/or metering and automatic loading means may be provided.

It is also known that coffee preparation methods provide that the water temperature for brewing the coffee must be controlled within a low and controllable temperature range to ensure correct extraction of the aroma.

The optimum temperature range, particularly for coffee beverages, is usually between 92 ° and 96 °. In order to bring the water into contact with the aromatic substance at the desired temperature, it is necessary, on the one hand, to heat the water to a temperature slightly higher than the desired temperature in order to take into account the heat losses and, on the other hand, to prevent it from reaching the boiling point, which would cause the aromatic substance to deteriorate and steam to be produced.

In beverage machines that connect a water heating device with a sensor to verify the thermodynamic level reached by the water, if the machine is located at a considerable altitude, these machines attempt to reach a threshold that is physically impossible to obtain with respect to the ambient pressure conditions, possibly overloading the heating element, generating excessive steam, or, in the worst case, overheating the entire machine, posing a serious threat to the safety of the user.

In other cases, if the start of the preparation of the beverage depends on reaching the minimum temperature point of the infusion water, it may happen that the beverage machine never starts the process, precisely because the pressure conditions related to the altitude at which the beverage machine is located, make it physically impossible to reach the desired temperature.

Furthermore, reaching the boiling temperature of the water may cause excessive evaporation of the water, thereby distorting the measurement of the supplied water and thereby causing a change in the predetermined characteristics of the infused beverage.

Another disadvantage is that boiling of the beverage preparation water results in the emission of water vapour, which is a potential source of risk threatening the safety of the user.

Furthermore, another drawback is that excessive boiling of the water also leads to excessive deposition of scale, which can impair the thermal and control efficiency of the beverage machine.

The beverage machine of the known solution has the drawback that it does not allow to precisely regulate the temperature of the water of the preparation of the aromatic substance, and therefore it is overheated and the organoleptic characteristics with respect to the desired infused beverage are altered, resulting in a deterioration of the quality of the beverage itself.

Another drawback is that beverage machines producing american coffee may present safety problems for the user, depending on the place of installation/use, since it is difficult to maintain an optimal control of the heating temperature of the beverage preparation water.

Another drawback is that the known beverage machine does not allow a concise and rapid control of the infusion beverage preparation process in order to ensure its quality regardless of the different places where the machine is installed/used, in particular in relation to the different conditions of the environmental pressure, and/or the type of aromatic compound used, and in each cycle of preparing the beverage.

The patent document US-A-2018/303271 describes A coffee beverage preparation machine comprising A pressure sensor that detects the difference in atmospheric pressure and sends it to A controller that limits the upper temperature of the water dispensed to A few degrees below the boiling temperature at the measured pressure.

The applicant has therefore set the object of improving the efficiency of the above mentioned types of beverage machines, avoiding the above mentioned and other drawbacks.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a beverage machine that ensures a high quality of the infused beverage with the desired organoleptic characteristics under any conditions of use, regardless of the place of installation/use and of the environmental conditions, in particular regardless of the pressure.

Another object is to avoid user safety problems that may arise when steam is generated and discharged due to boiling water or overheating of the beverage machine.

While another object is to facilitate and simplify the use of the beverage maker by a user.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to minimize the scale deposits and ensure proper functioning of the appliance, while minimizing cleaning and maintenance interventions.

The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain the above and other purposes and advantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The independent claims recite and describe the technical features of the invention. The dependent claims describe further technical features of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, the embodiments relate to an infusion beverage preparation machine that optimizes in any case the temperature of the water heated, according to its installation/use and/or the type of beverage to be prepared.

In particular, the beverage preparation machine of the invention is a machine of the "drip coffee" type, comprising a water tank, in any case a filtering receptacle into which the flavouring substances enter, a pump and heating means being provided along which a hydraulic circuit is drawn to heat the water from the water tank to the desired temperature and to deliver it to the filtering receptacle.

According to some embodiments, a sensing device is provided to check whether the supplied water has reached a desired temperature. The temperature check sensor device may be disposed downstream of the heating device or may be connected to a terminal portion of the heating device.

According to some embodiments, the beverage machine comprises a control instruction unit configured to regulate the pump and the heating element to prepare the beverage requested by the user.

According to some embodiments, the control instruction unit is further configured to adjust at least the heating means in dependence on an actual boiling temperature value of the water in relation to the ambient pressure around the beverage maker, such that the temperature of the beverage preparation water is kept below a safe temperature value lower than the actual boiling temperature value.

According to some embodiments, the beverage maker comprises indicating means for indicating an actual boiling temperature value of the water in relation to the ambient pressure, the indicating means being configured to provide information relating to this value to the control instruction unit.

According to some embodiments, the indicating means are configured to monitor the temperature rise profile in real time with each beverage preparation cycle in order to adapt the function of the beverage machine automatically to any changes in the environmental conditions without prior knowledge of these changes.

In particular, unlike those machines for preparing beverages under pressure, which are mainly used for preparing espresso coffee, in which the hydraulic circuit is open, beverages are prepared at ambient pressure.

According to some embodiments, the beverage machine has means to optimize the temperature of the beverage preparation, taking into account the effect of the ambient pressure, for example corresponding to the atmospheric pressure, and determined by the altitude of the place where the beverage machine is installed/used, on the water temperature itself. When the ambient pressure is below 1 atmosphere, the boiling temperature of the water is actually below 100 ℃, indicating that it corresponds to an altitude of 0 meters above sea level. By taking into account the actual boiling temperature of the water, for example, a coffee machine can be used, and even in mountains, the problems caused by boiling at a lower temperature, rather than at around 100 ℃, can be avoided.

The beverage is prepared without the use of boiling water, which avoids altering its predetermined characteristics and the other drawbacks mentioned above.

According to some embodiments, the control instruction unit is configured to estimate the actual boiling temperature value by controlling the heating rate of the beverage preparation water, for example by calculating a temperature derivative detected by the sensing means by means of an algorithm.

According to a variant of the invention, the beverage machine may comprise an ambient pressure measuring device connected to the command and control unit. According to these embodiments, the command and control unit may be configured to receive a signal indicative of the ambient pressure around the beverage machine, to calculate/estimate a boiling temperature value, to control the heating means such that the water is heated to a safe temperature below the calculated/estimated value.

According to another variant, the beverage machine may comprise a user interface connected to the command and control unit and configured to receive from a user at least an altitude level and/or an ambient pressure level of the place of use of the beverage machine.

This information can be taken into account in conjunction with the temperature rise curve to define a safe temperature limit.

According to some embodiments, the user interface is further configured to receive from the user a measurement of the kind of beverage to be prepared having the particular organoleptic property.

According to some embodiments, the control instruction unit is configured to limit the temperature of the beverage preparation water, check that the temperature defined by the beverage type and the set parameter input by the user do not exceed a safe value below the boiling temperature of water.

According to a variant of the invention, the control command unit may comprise or be connected to a memory unit in which tables and/or figures are already or may be provided, in which standard and/or limiting parameters relating to the altitude and/or the ambient pressure value and/or the boiling temperature of the water and/or the safety temperature relating to the installation/use site are stored, and the control command unit may also adjust the heating device at least on the basis of the tables and/or icons.

According to some embodiments, the control command unit may be configured to check its correctness and consistency, at least in relation to the limits relating to the specific beverage and the safe temperature, before authorizing the preparation of the beverage on the basis of the command given by the user.

The embodiments relate to a method of preparing a beverage having the type of beverage and organoleptic properties selected by a user in a drip coffee type preparation machine.

According to some embodiments, the method comprises the steps of:

-receiving, by means of a user interface, an instruction for preparing a beverage selected by a user;

-determining the functional parameters of the pump and of the heating means according to the selected beverage,

wherein the method further monitors the temperature rise curve of the beverage preparation water in real time and adjusts at least the heating means in accordance with the water temperature rise curve and the actual boiling temperature value in relation to the ambient pressure surrounding the beverage maker itself such that the temperature of the beverage preparation water remains below a safe temperature value below the boiling temperature value, i.e. does not boil under any ambient pressure conditions.

According to some embodiments, the method controls the heating rate of the beverage preparation water by calculating a temperature derivative by means of an algorithm in order to determine when the water temperature is close to the boiling value.

According to this embodiment, the method may switch off the heating means or operate it intermittently when the temperature derivative is below a certain threshold.

According to a variant of the invention, the method receives data relating to the place of use of the beverage machine, for example when the beverage machine is switched on and/or restarted periodically and/or following a change in the place of installation and/or use thereof.

According to one embodiment, the data relating to the installation/use site may be an ambient pressure value or an altitude measurement of the installation/use site.

According to some embodiments, the method may measure the atmospheric pressure by means of a pressure measuring device and calculate, based thereon, a boiling temperature value and a safe temperature value to which it is possible to heat water for preparing the beverage.

According to another variant, the method receives from the user, for example through a user interface, data relating to the installation/use place, or measurements relating to the altitude and/or the ambient pressure.

According to one embodiment, the method estimates and/or calculates the water boiling temperature of the corresponding installation/use by comparing the received data with tables and/or charts relating to temperature, pressure and/or altitude values pre-stored in a memory unit.

According to one embodiment, the method may store in the storage unit the water boiling temperature and/or a safe temperature below the water boiling temperature and/or a limit value of the beverage preparation range that in any case is adapted to the calculated and/or estimated water boiling value.

According to some embodiments, in the method the control command unit limits the temperature of the beverage preparation water, verifying that neither the temperature defined by the beverage type nor the set value entered by the user exceeds a safe temperature.

Drawings

The above and other technical features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view of a beverage preparation machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the trend of temperature over time.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be combined with or incorporated into other embodiments naturally, without further recitation.

Detailed Description

Reference now will be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of illustration of the invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described in connection with some embodiments can be applied to or combined with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. It is to be understood that the invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations.

The embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 relates to a beverage machine 10 for preparing and dispensing hot or cold beverages, which infuses or mixes a powdered or ground aromatic mixture 11 with water.

Beverage machine 10 allows to optimize the temperature of the beverage preparation water, for example a beverage with fine organoleptic properties, in any case according to the installation/use of beverage machine 10 and/or the type of beverage.

The beverage maker 10 comprises a water tank 12, which water tank 12 is fluidly connected to a filter receptacle 13, which filter receptacle 13 is adapted to contain an aroma mixture 11 to be infused.

For example, the aroma mixture 11 may be a powder and/or a mixture of particles of a certain size of leaves or parts thereof of coffee, tea, other vegetable matter, etc.

The beverage maker 10 further comprises a beverage outlet 14, which cooperates with the filter holder 13, by means of which beverage outlet 14 the infusion beverage can be transported towards the delivery area and fed into a receptacle 15 provided in the delivery area.

The water tank 12 may generally be a container that holds a quantity of beverage preparation water. The volume of the water tank 12 may, for example, be at least equal to the volume of water required to fill the carafe.

The water tank 12 may be provided with an inlet hole 12a fitted with a cover 21, and a drain hole 17 through which water can enter the water tank 12 through the inlet hole 12a, and from which drain hole 17 the desired amount of water can be drained in any case.

According to some embodiments, water tank 12 is located within, or attached to, housing 20 of beverage maker 10, possibly being cleaned and/or filled in a removable manner.

According to some embodiments, the housing 20 is provided with a seat 37 for the receptacle 15.

According to a possible variant, the seat 37 can be provided with heating means 38, which heating means 38 can be selectively activated to keep the beverage delivered in the receptacle 15 hot.

According to a variant of the invention, the tank 12 can be connected to a continuous source of water.

The water tank 12 is connected to the filter vessel 13 by a hydraulic circuit 22.

The hydraulic circuit 22 is connected on one side to the water discharge hole 17 of the tank 12 and on the opposite side to a diffusion head 19, which diffusion head 19 is arranged above the filtering receptacle 13 and is configured to diffuse the water coming from the tank 12 onto the aromatic mixture 11 in order to increase the contact between the aromatic mixture 11 itself and the water.

According to some embodiments, the filtering container 13 for the mixture may be funnel-shaped and the filtering element 18 for retaining the solids of the aromatic mixture 11 may be inserted therein, preventing it from being conveyed together with the infused beverage.

According to some embodiments, access means 36 and/or movement means are provided and configured to allow access to the filtering container 13, so that in any case the desired quantity of aromatic mixture 11 can be input, and/or moved together with the possible filtering element 18 at the end of the delivery of the prepared beverage.

Beverage maker 10 also includes a heating device 25 disposed along hydraulic circuit 22 and configured to heat water therethrough.

By way of example, the heating means 25 may be a through-flow boiler comprising a water delivery channel 25a and at least one heating element 26, for example an electric resistance, which heating element 26 is fitted with the water delivery channel 25a and configured to heat the water inside it.

Beverage maker 10 further includes a pump 24, which pump 24 is configured to draw from water tank 12 an amount of water required for preparing the selected beverage and supply it along hydraulic circuit 22 to a heating device 25.

According to some embodiments, the pump 24 has an adjustable flow rate, so as to be able to adjust the speed of the water flowing through the heating means and possibly through the aromatic mixture 11.

According to some embodiments, beverage maker 10 includes a flow meter 27, or other device for measuring the flow rate in water tank 12 and/or along hydraulic circuit 22 to measure the amount of water passing therethrough.

According to some embodiments, flow meter 27 is located upstream of pump 24, enabling faster and more efficient determination of flow rate, and thus dynamic and real-time adjustment of pump 24.

According to some embodiments, beverage maker 10 further includes a temperature sensor 28, which sensor 28 is arranged along hydraulic circuit 22 and is configured to determine the temperature of the conveyed water.

According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor 28 may be disposed downstream of the heating device 25, or inside it, possibly aligned with the outlet end of the water delivery channel 25 a.

According to some embodiments, beverage maker 10 includes a control instruction unit 34 functionally connected to user interface 35, control instruction unit 34 being configured to adjust pump 24 and heating device 25 to optimize the temperature of the heated water.

According to some embodiments, the control instruction unit 34 is configured to control the temperature of the beverage preparation water such that it does not reach the boiling temperature due to the influence of the ambient pressure, e.g. the influence of the ambient pressure corresponding to the atmospheric pressure and determined by the altitude of the installation/use place of the beverage maker 10.

According to some embodiments, the beverage maker 10 comprises a boiling temperature indicating device 42, which boiling temperature indicating device 42 is configured to provide information of an actual boiling temperature value of the water in relation to the ambient pressure to the control instruction unit 34.

According to some embodiments, the boiling temperature indicating means 42 is configured to monitor the temperature rise profile of the beverage preparation water in real time, and the control instruction unit 34 is configured to receive data related to the temperature rise profile and automatically and in real time adjust at least the heating means 25 to keep the water temperature below the boiling temperature.

Fig. 2 shows by way of example the trend of the temperature rise curve C over time t, which extends from a minimum temperature Ta corresponding to the ambient temperature to a maximum temperature Tb corresponding to the boiling temperature.

According to some embodiments, the boiling temperature indicating means 42 comprises an algorithm for limiting the temperature of the beverage preparation water to a maximum extent to a safe temperature below the boiling temperature.

According to some embodiments, the boiling temperature indicating means 42 comprises an algorithm executed by the control instruction unit 34 configured to monitor the heating rate of the beverage preparation water in real time.

According to some embodiments, the boiling temperature indicating means 42 monitors the heating rate of the beverage preparation water by calculating a derivative of the temperature over time in order to control when the derivative value approaches zero.

As shown in fig. 2, in practice, the straight line tangent to the curve C at the points t1, t2, … tn has a decreasing slope, corresponding to the derivative of the temperature with time.

In other words, the temperature indicating device 42 monitors the temperature rise curve and determines that the boiling temperature has been reached when the derivative value is near zero.

For example, the control command unit 34 may receive the temperature values detected by the temperature sensor 28 at defined time intervals T1, T2, … Tn, calculating the differences Δ T1, Δ T2,. Δ Tn one by one, with respect to the previous value corresponding to the maximum safe temperature value reached by heating the beverage preparation water, until a limit difference is reached.

According to some embodiments, it may also be configured that, based on the data received from the temperature sensor 28, the control instruction unit 34 determines the respective temperature rise curve and may store it in the storage unit 33.

The control instruction unit 34 may be configured to compare the water heating rate during beverage preparation with previously stored data to monitor the heating means 25. For example, if the temperature rise curve slows down over time, problems with the heating resistance may be detected, or scale may accumulate, which prevent proper heat transfer to the water.

According to a variation combined with the other embodiments described, the boiling temperature indicating means 42 comprises an ambient pressure measuring means 43, for example an atmospheric pressure sensor, which ambient pressure measuring means 43 is configured to send ambient pressure data to the control command unit 34.

According to another variant combined with the other embodiments described, the boiling temperature indicator means 42 comprise geographical position detection means 44, which geographical position detection means 44 are configured to detect the geographical position of the beverage maker 10 and to communicate it to the control instruction unit 34.

The detection means 44 of the geographical position may be a GPS module provided with the beverage machine 10 or a connection means via Wi-Fi, bluetooth or other data transmission protocol for receiving information by a computer or other means.

According to another variant combined with the further embodiments described, the boiling temperature indicating means 42 may comprise instruction means 39, for example provided on the user interface 35, by means of which instruction means 39a user can input data relating to the place of installation/use of the beverage maker 10. The data may be, for example, an altitude level and/or an ambient pressure level.

The instruction means 39 may comprise one or more of a button, a selection knob and/or a touch sensitive screen, by means of which the user can select, for example, sea level, mountain, low mountain or high mountain and/or display a corresponding altitude or altitude, for example an altitude of 0 m, 600 m, 1200 m, 1600 m, and/or an ambient pressure, for example 1atm., 0.93atm., 0.86atm., 0.82atm etc.

According to a variant of the invention, the control command unit 34 may comprise or be connected to a memory unit 33 in which tables and/or graphs and/or algorithms and/or maps have been or may be provided, in which standard parameters, or limiting parameters, are present, which are related to the altitude and/or the ambient pressure and/or the boiling temperature value of the water and to the safety temperature value relating to the installation/use.

According to some embodiments, the user interface 35 includes a plurality of instruction means 39a-39c by which a user can select a particular beverage type to be dispensed, such as coffee or tea, and/or fine sensory characteristics, such as a beverage intensity between light, normal or strong.

According to some embodiments, information relating to the preparation operating parameters of each selectable beverage may be stored in the storage unit 33 for each selectable infused beverage.

According to some embodiments, the control command unit 34 is configured to modify the temperature ranges required for preparing the beverage, to lower the extremes if these temperature ranges are higher than safe temperature values related to the boiling temperature, and to save these modified temperature ranges in the memory unit 33, so as to be able to reuse these temperature ranges when the same operating conditions occur, for example the same environmental conditions or the same trend of temperature rise.

For example, water temperatures between about 92 ℃ and 96 ℃ are preferred for coffee beverages, while water temperatures between about 70 ℃ and 95 ℃ are preferred for tea, depending on the quality of the tea or infusion used.

As another example, the boiling temperature of water is shown to be 96 ℃ at an altitude of 1067 meters and 92 ℃ at an altitude of 2286 meters.

For example, water temperatures between about 92 ℃ and 96 ℃ are preferred for coffee beverages. Between an altitude of 1067 m and an altitude of 2286 m, the temperature of the beverage preparation water is limited up to a safe temperature, below boiling temperature, the value of which is checked in real time by evaluating the speed of change or by referring to the temperature data stored in the storage unit 33, as shown in the following table.

For example, depending on altitude, the boiling temperature may take the following value:

height foot (rice)	Boiling point-degree centigrade
		0 foot (0 meter)	100℃
1500 feet (457 meters)	98.5℃
		3500 feet (1067 meter)	96℃
5000 feet (1524 meter)	94.5℃
		6500 feet (1981 rice)	93℃
7000 feet (2134 m)	92.5℃
		7500 foot (2286 rice)	92℃
8000 ft (2438 meter)	91.5℃
		8500 ft (2591 m)	91℃
9000 feet (2743 meters)	90.5℃
		9500 ft (2895 meter)	90℃
10000 feet (3048 meter)	89.5℃

For example, a similar table may be stored in the storage unit 33, and the control instruction unit 34 may use the data reported therein in order to relate the altitude at which the beverage maker 10 is located to a safe temperature that must be set to prevent water from boiling.

Obviously, in order for the water to contact the fragrance material at the desired temperature, it needs to be heated to a temperature slightly higher than the desired temperature in order to account for heat losses.

According to a possible variant embodiment, two outlets are provided, one 14 for the beverage and the other 16 for the hot water only, both cooperating with a separate diversion channel 23 of the filtering container 13 and communicating with the hydraulic circuit 22.

According to a further constructive variant, one of the two outlets 14 or 16 can be used in cooperation with a special device (not shown) for preparing beverages, such as coffee, tea, herbal infusions and the like, by using a specific capsule containing the aromatic mixture 11.

According to a possible embodiment, the first outlet 14 and the second outlet 16 are advantageously arranged close to each other to allow the infusion beverage or hot water to be dispensed in the same delivery area.

According to these embodiments, each outlet 14, 16 is associated with a respective selective delivery device 29.

For example, the selective delivery device 29 may include a first valve 30 connected to the beverage outlet 14 and a second valve 31 connected to the hot water outlet 16.

In particular, closing the valves 30, 31 allows to be able to remove the receptacle 15 during the beverage delivery without risk of dripping.

According to other embodiments, described for example with reference to fig. 2, the beverage maker 10 comprises a flow-directing element 41, which is arranged along the hydraulic circuit 22 and alternately selects the direction of the water flow to the filter receptacle 13 or to the flow-directing channel 23.

According to a possible solution, the flow-directing element 41 may comprise a three-way valve, two of which are connected to the hydraulic circuit 22 as an inlet and a first outlet, respectively, and the other of which is connected to the flow-directing channel 23 as a second outlet.

According to some embodiments, the deflector element 41 may be driven by the control command unit 34 according to a selection made by the user.

According to a possible variant of embodiment, a switching device 40 may be provided, which switching device 40 may be manually actuated by a user and configured to act on the deflector element 41.

According to other embodiments, the switching means 40 can be connected to the selective delivery means 29 associated with the first outlet 14 and the second outlet 16 and adjust their function directly or indirectly so as to allow or prevent the delivery of the beverage.

According to a variant, the conversion means 40 can be integrated in the user interface 35.

According to other embodiments, the flow-guiding element 41 assumes the first or second operating state depending on the position of the switching device 40.

According to other embodiments, a position sensing device 47 may be provided, the position sensing device 47 being configured to detect the position of the selection device 40 and transmit it to the control command unit 34, the control command unit 34 modifying the state of the flow-guiding element 41 in accordance with the received data.

The embodiments relate to a method of preparing a beverage having the type of beverage and sensory characteristics selected by a user at the drip coffee type maker 10.

According to some embodiments, the method comprises the steps of:

-receiving an instruction to prepare a beverage;

-determining the functional parameters of the pump and of the heating means according to the selected beverage,

wherein the method further at least adjusts the heating means in dependence of the actual boiling temperature value in relation to the ambient pressure around the beverage maker such that the temperature of the beverage preparation water never reaches the boiling point.

According to some embodiments, in the method the control command unit 34 limits the temperature of the beverage preparation water in a manner to adjust the heating means 25 up to a safe temperature, thus below the boiling temperature.

According to some embodiments, the method controls the heating rate of the beverage preparation water by calculating a temperature derivative by means of an algorithm, thereby determining when the water temperature is close to the boiling value.

According to some embodiments, the method monitors the temperature rise profile in real time during each beverage preparation cycle. In this way, the beverage maker 10 can automatically adapt to any change in the environmental conditions, in particular the environmental pressure, without the pressure being known in advance.

According to a variant of the invention, the control command unit 34 limits the temperature of the beverage preparation water up to the safe temperature, for example by comparing it with an extreme value of the beverage preparation range adapted to the water boiling value and stored in the storage unit 33.

According to a variant of the invention, the method detects and/or receives data relating to the installation/use place of the beverage machine 10 and calculates a safe temperature value based on the received data.

According to some embodiments, the data relating to the installation/use place may correspond to the ambient pressure value measured by the pressure measuring device 43, or to the altitude and/or ambient pressure value of the installation/use place embedded by the user by means of the interface 35.

According to some embodiments, the data relating to the installation/use location may correspond to the geographical position of the beverage maker 10 detected by means of the geographical position detection device 44.

According to one embodiment, the method may detect and/or receive data relating to the ambient pressure and/or to the altitude of the installation/place of use of the beverage machine (10), when the beverage machine is turned on and/or periodically and/or upon re-turning on of the beverage machine with a change in the installation/place of use and/or upon embedding by the user.

According to some embodiments, the method may calculate and/or estimate an actual boiling temperature value from the detected and/or received data, thereby determining a safe temperature value for adjusting the heating means 25, such that the temperature of the beverage preparation water detected by the temperature sensor 28 always remains lower than or equal to the safe temperature value.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the beverage preparation machine 10 and to the method of preparing beverages as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of beverage preparation machine 10 and method therefore, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.