Moka Coffee Machine and Method for Preparing a Coffee-Flavoured Drink

• US 20090117240A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massimo Crescenzi
• Original Assignee: Massimo Crescenzi
• Inventors: Crescenzi, Massimo
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/303 classical type of espresso apparatus, e.g. to put on a stove, i.e. in which the water is heated in a lower, sealed boiling vessel, raised by the steam pressure through a rising pipe and an extraction chamber and subsequently is collected in a beverage container on top of the water boiling vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/32 with hot water under air pressure

Abstract

The invention refers to a moka coffee machine, basically traditional, modified in order to obtain an expresso coffee without altering the organoleptic properties thereof. The machine according to the invention allows to control the temperature of the water inside the boiler, and to prepare the drink without having the water reaching exceedingly high pressures.

Claims

1. A moka coffee machine (1;

10;

100) comprising a boiler (2;

12;

102) for heating water, a dispenser (3;

13;

103) for the prepared drink and a coffee-holding filter interposed between said boiler and said dispenser, wherein the heated water rises to the dispenser through said filter, characterized in that it comprises;

means (7;

17;

107) for controlling the temperature of the water inside the boiler, apt to provide a signal of reaching a predetermined temperature; and

means (8, 9;

14,18,19;

114;

108;

109) for inletting a fluid in the gaseous state in said boiler, that can be activated at the reaching of said predetermined temperature, wherein said gaseous fluid introduced in the boiler causes a pressure increase therein, forcing the heated water to rise to the dispenser through said filter.

2. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 1, wherein said means (8, 9;

14,18,19;

114;

108;

109) for inletting a fluid in the gaseous state into said boiler comprises a one-way valve (8;

18;

108), mounted on said boiler (2;

12;

102).

3. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 2, wherein said one-way valve (8;

18;

108) has a quick connector for connecting a feed duct of said gaseous fluid.

4. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 1, wherein said temperature controlling means (7;

17;

107) comprises one or more indicators apt to signal the reaching of said predetermined temperature.

5. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein said indicators comprise a thermometer (7).

6. The coffee machine (1) according to claim 5, wherein said thermometer is a temperature-sensitive graduated strip (7), applied externally to said boiler (2).

7. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 3, wherein said means (8, 9;

14,18, 19;

114;

108;

109) for inletting a fluid in the gaseous state into said boiler comprises an accumulation tank (9;

19) of said gaseous fluid, connectable to said one-way valve (8;

18;

108) via said feed duct.

8. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 7, wherein said accumulation tank is a compressed air bottle (9, 19).

9. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 1, wherein said temperature controlling means (7;

17;

107) comprises a thermometer probe (17;

107), mounted inside said boiler.

10. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 9, wherein said thermometer probe (17;

107) is connectable to a signalling circuit external to said boiler.

11. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 9, wherein said thermometer probe (17;

107) is calibrated in a manner such as to provide a signal at the reaching of said predetermined temperature.

12. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 11, wherein said signal is of visual and/or acoustic type.

13. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 12, comprising a LED (15) for visually signalling the reaching of said predetermined temperature.

14. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 12, comprising a buzzer (16) for acoustically signalling the reaching of said predetermined temperature.

15. The coffee machine (1;

10;

100) according to claim 11, wherein said signal enables the operation of activation means (14), said means being apt to allow a flow of the gaseous fluid to the boiler.

16. The coffee machine (10) according to claim 8, further comprising a handle (23), connected to said boiler (2), said handle being configured in a manner such as to house therein said compressed air bottle (19).

17. The coffee machine (10) according to claim 16, wherein said compressed air bottle (19) is removably connected to said one-way valve through a quick connector.

18. The coffee machine (10) according to claim 15, wherein said activation means comprises an activation pushbutton (14).

19. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 9, further comprising a base (110) apt to house a coffee maker (101) and comprising a connecting region (113) provided with quick connectors (114, 115) for connecting the one-way valve (108) present onto the boiler of the coffee maker (101).

20. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 19, further comprising a heat source (111).

21. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 20, wherein said heat source (111) is an electric cooker.

22. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 19, wherein said quick connectors (114, 115) comprise an electric contact for connecting a thermometer probe (107) present onto the boiler of the coffee maker (101).

23. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 19, wherein said base comprises a compressed air tank that can be operated, e.g., by means of a solenoid valve.

24. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 19, wherein said base comprises an micro compressor for air apt to provide compressed air to be introduced in the boiler body.

25. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 20, further comprising an adjustable thermostat (117) for setting a maximum temperature of the water inside the boiler.

26. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 25, further comprising operating means apt to deactivate the heat source (111) at the reaching of said maximum temperature.

27. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 26, wherein said operating means are moreover apt to activate the gas flow to the inside of the boiler (102), by means of the connector 114.

28. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 23, wherein the gas flow is activated by actuating said solenoid valve.

29. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 24, wherein the gas flow is activated by actuating said micro compressor.

30. The coffee machine (100) according to claim 19, further comprising a control device (118) for setting the desired pressure value inside the boiler, when the gas flow is activated.

31. A method for preparing a coffee-flavoured drink by means of a moka coffee machine comprising a boiler, a coffee-holding filter and a dispenser, comprising the steps of:

prearranging the coffee machine with water in the boiler and coffee powder in the coffee-holding filter;

heating the water in said boiler to a predetermined maximum temperature, lower than the boiling temperature of water;

and inletting a predetermined amount of a gaseous fluid inside said boiler at the reaching of said maximum temperature,

said gaseous fluid creating a pressure inside the boiler forcing the heated water to rise and flow to the dispenser through the coffee-holding filter.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said maximum temperature is of about 90°

C.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said gaseous fluid is air, or nitrogen, or carbon dioxide.

34. The method according to one of the claims 31 to 33, wherein said gaseous fluid is provided at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.