Beverage Making Device

Abstract

A beverage making device comprising a brewing chamber for enclosing a pad ( 6 ) containing a substance from which the beverage is to be brewed. The brewing chamber is formed by an upper part with one or more openings ( 5 ) for supplying water to the brewing chamber and by a lower part ( 8 ) with an outflow opening ( 16 ) through which the brewed beverage can leave the brewing chamber. Beverage receiving means ( 10,11 ) are present below said lower part ( 8 ). One or more further openings ( 22 ) are present between the brewing chamber and the beverage receiving means ( 10,11 ), and means for closing said one or more further openings ( 22 ) during the brewing process are present.

1 . A beverage making device comprising a brewing chamber for enclosing a pad ( 6 ) containing a substance from which the beverage is to be brewed, which brewing chamber is formed by an upper part with one or more openings ( 5 ) for supplying water to the brewing chamber and by a lower part ( 8 ) with an outflow opening ( 16 ) through which the brewed beverage can leave the brewing chamber, while beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ) are present below said lower part ( 8 ), characterized by one or more further openings ( 22 ) between the brewing chamber and the beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ), and by means for closing said one or more further openings ( 22 ) during the brewing process. 
   
   
       2 . A beverage making device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said one or more further openings ( 22 ) can be closed in that a portion ( 15 ) of said lower part ( 8 ) is pushed downward, said portion comprising at least a part of the lower wall of the brewing chamber, preferably the central part of the lower wall of the brewing chamber. 
   
   
       3 . A beverage making device as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said portion ( 15 ) of the lower part ( 8 ) is pushed downward by the pad ( 6 ) present in the brewing chamber. 
   
   
       4 . A beverage making device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises means for increasing the supply of heated water to the brewing chamber to a higher level than is required during brewing of a beverage by means of a pad ( 6 ) in the brewing chamber. 
   
   
       5 . A beverage making device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said further openings ( 22 ) are formed as nozzles for creating liquid jets in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction. 
   
   
       6 . A beverage making device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower part ( 8 ) comprises an additional chamber ( 19 ) located underneath the brewing chamber such that said further openings ( 22 ) connect said additional chamber ( 19 ) with said beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ), and the connection between the brewing chamber and said additional chamber ( 19 ) can be closed during the brewing process. 
   
   
       7 . A beverage making device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the central part ( 1 S) of the lower wall of the brewing chamber can move in vertical direction, such that an annular opening between the brewing chamber and said additional chamber ( 19 ) is present around said central part ( 15 ) in the upper position thereof, and in the lower position said annular opening is closed. 
   
   
       8 . A beverage making device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ) comprise a foam chamber for creating foam in the beverage, said further openings ( 22 ) being formed as nozzles for directing liquid jets to different parts of the wall of said foam chamber. 
   
   
       9 . A method of cleaning a beverage making device comprising a brewing chamber for enclosing a pad ( 6 ) containing a substance from which the beverage is to be brewed, which brewing chamber is formed by an upper part with one or more openings ( 5 ) for supplying water to the brewing chamber and by a lower part ( 8 ) with an outflow opening ( 16 ) through which the brewed beverage can leave the brewing chamber, beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ) being present below said lower part ( 8 ), characterized by one or more further openings ( 22 ) between the brewing chamber and the beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ), which one or more further openings ( 22 ) are closed during the brewing process and are opened during a cleaning process. 
   
   
       10 . A method of brewing a beverage by means of a beverage making device comprising a brewing chamber for enclosing a pad ( 6 ) containing a substance from which a beverage can be brewed, which brewing chamber is formed by an upper part with one or more openings ( 5 ) for supplying water into the brewing chamber and by a lower part ( 8 ) with an outflow opening ( 16 ) through which liquid can leave the brewing chamber, beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ) being present below said lower part ( 8 ), characterized by one or more further openings ( 22 ) between the brewing chamber and the beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ), wherein no pad ( 6 ) is present in the brewing chamber, said one or more further openings ( 22 ) are open, and a substance soluble in water is present in said beverage receiving means ( 10 , 11 ) in order to brew the beverage.