Method and machine for preparing espresso coffee

• US 8,850,956 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: La Marzocco S.r.l. (La Marzocco International, LLC)
• Original Assignee: La Marzocco S.r.l. (La Marzocco International, LLC)
• Inventors: Bianchi, Roberto, Ellul-Blake, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, RENEE LAROSE
• Application Number:
  US13/503,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20120269944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 992/81, 992/88, 992/85, 992/86, 992/90, 992/93, 992/82, 992/91, 992/97, 993/02.P, 993/02.R, 992/75, 426/433
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5251 of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5253 of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls

Abstract

In an improved method and machine for espresso coffee there are provided one or more operating units (10) each of which comprises a boiler, a pump, a heating unit, a group (26) for aroma extraction and dispensing of the espresso coffee brew, including related conduits. Each unit (10) is equipped with a system for controlling and adjusting the espresso coffee brewing parameters, in particular the water pressure.

Claims

1. An improved espresso coffee machine comprising one or more operating units, wherein each of said one or more operating units comprises a boiler, a pump, a heating unit, a brewing group for aroma extraction and dispensing of the espresso coffee brew, including related conduits, wherein each of said one or more operating units is equipped with a system for controlling and adjusting the espresso coffee brewing parameters, wherein each of said one or more operating units comprises a variable speed DC motor pump and manual actuator for adjusting water outlet pressure during coffee brewing, wherein said manual actuator comprises a rheostat operatively connected to the variable speed DC motor pump, the rheostat operatively configured to allow a user to modulate an espresso coffee brew extraction pressure, and the rheostat operatively configured to change a speed of the variable speed DC motor pump so as to vary a brewing pressure.

2. The machine according to claim 1 comprising a pressure control module for modulating the espresso coffee brew extraction pressure.

3. The machine according to claim 1 comprising a temperature control module for modulating the espresso coffee brew extraction temperature.

4. The machine according to claim 1 comprising a central processing unit (CPU) connected to a pressure control module, to an eventual temperature control module and to a user interface (UI), the central processing unit (CPU) having a port (I/O) for connection to an external memory device.

5. The machine according to claim 4 wherein different pressure profiles are stored in the central processing unit and the different pressure profiles are selectable by the user and reproduced by the pressure control module.

6. The machine according to claim 4 wherein different temperature profiles are stored in the central processing unit and the different temperature profiles are selectable by the user and reproduced by the temperature control module.

7. The machine according to claim 5, wherein a desired pressure profile is selected by the user through a command button and wherein the motor pump is activated by acting on said rheostat.

8. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said rheostat is manually operated by means of a lever mounted on the brewing group.

9. The machine according to claim 1 comprising a pressure transducer for measuring the water supply pressure.

10. The machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pressure profiles includes a first time period for an increase in pressure, a second time period for a peak time period, and a third time period for a decrease in pressure.