Apparatus and method for preparing coffee with a fine-bubble froth layer, in particular cappuccino

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, such as coffee or cappuccino, provided with a beverage unit for dispensing a beverage under pressure, at least one nozzle to which the beverage is fed under pressure to generate a jet of the beverage, a buffer reservoir for collecting the jet of the beverage so that, in use, a liquid level of the beverage is created in the buffer reservoir into which the jet squirts to obtain the fine-bubble froth layer and an outlet path for discharging the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer from the buffer reservoir, wherein the outlet path is provided with at least one siphon which comes into action for discharging the beverage from the buffer reservoir via the siphon when the liquid level in the siphon exceeds a predetermined height.

1 . An apparatus for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, such as coffee or cappuccino, the apparatus comprising:
 a beverage unit for dispensing the beverage under pressure,   at least one nozzle to which the beverage is fed under pressure to generate a jet of the beverage,   a buffer reservoir for collecting the jet of the beverage so that, in use, a liquid level of the beverage is created in the buffer reservoir into which the jet squirts to obtain the fine-bubble froth layer and   an outlet path for discharging the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer from the buffer reservoir,   wherein the outlet path is provided with at least one siphon which comes into action to discharge the beverage from the buffer reservoir via the siphon when the liquid level in the siphon exceeds a predetermined height.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the siphon is provided with a liquid flow path surrounded by at least one channel wall and having an inflow opening located in the buffer reservoir and an outflow opening located outside the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the siphon is provided with a highest point which is higher than the inflow opening. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the outflow opening is located lower than a lowest part of the bottom. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the inflow opening is located above a lowest point of the bottom of the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the bottom of the buffer reservoir is made convex, 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the liquid flow path is formed by an inner channel extending through a bottom of the buffer reservoir, which inner channel is provided with a first open end located at a higher level than the inflow opening and a second open end located outside the buffer reservoir and lower than the bottom, and an outer channel surrounding the inner channel, which outer channel extends to above the first open end and is closed above the first open end, and which outer channel is provided below the first open end with an opening forming the inflow opening of the liquid flow path. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer channel is detachably connected to the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the liquid flow path is formed by a U-shaped channel. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the buffer reservoir has an open communication with its surroundings only via the siphon. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet path is further provided with at least one overflow. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein an overflow level of the overflow lies at the same height as or higher than the inflow opening of the siphon. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the overflow level of the overflow is lower than the highest point of the siphon. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a plane of the outflow opening encloses an angle deviating by 90° with an axial axis of the siphon above the outflow opening of the siphon. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein just above the outflow opening of the siphon an aeration hole is provided which is located at a level lower than the inflow opening of the siphon. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a holder mounted at a top portion of the buffer reservoir and configured to receive a coffee pad, the holder includes an outflow opening for the beverage, which outflow opening is in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle,   a hot water unit for dispensing hot water under pressure through the pad to obtain the beverage.   
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein in the siphon near the inflow opening of the siphon a filling member is included in which, in use, between an inner side of the siphon and the filling member a capillary action occurs so that the beverage flows into the siphon. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the filling member extends from the inflow opening of the siphon in an upward direction of the siphon. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the filling member has a cylindrical shape. 
   
   
       20 . A method for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, such as coffee or cappuccino, the method comprising:
 providing a buffer reservoir and an outlet path, the outlet path having a siphon generating a liquid jet comprising the beverage, and in which squirting the liquid jet into the buffer reservoir to create a liquid level of the beverage in the buffer reservoir into which the jet squirts to obtain the fine-bubble froth layer,   discharging the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer from the buffer reservoir via the siphon from the buffer reservoir when the liquid level in the siphon exceeds a first predetermined height.   
   
   
       21 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising providing the siphon is provided with a liquid flow path surrounded by at least one channel wall and having an inflow opening located in the buffer reservoir and an outflow opening located outside the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , further comprising providing the siphon with a highest point which is higher than the inflow opening. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising positioning the outflow opening lower than a lowest part of a bottom of the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 23 , further comprising positioning the inflow opening above a lowest point of the bottom of the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of hermetically sealing the buffer reservoir so that the buffer reservoir has a communication with surroundings of the buffer reservoir only via the siphon so that pressure within the siphon rises faster than the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing the outlet path with at least one overflow and   discharging the beverage from the buffer reservoir also via the over flow when the liquid level exceeds a second predetermined height.   
   
   
       30 - 31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising forming the liquid flow path by an inner channel extending through a bottom of the buffer reservoir, which inner channel is provided with a first open end located at a higher level than the inflow opening and a second open end located outside the buffer reservoir and lower than the bottom, and an outer channel surrounding the inner channel, which outer channel extends to above the first open end and is closed above the first open end, and which outer channel is provided below the first open end with an opening forming the inflow opening of the liquid flow path. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32 , further comprising detachably connecting the outer channel to the buffer reservoir. 
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 20  further comprising forming the liquid flow path as a U-shaped channel. 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35 , further comprising providing a hot water unit to feed hot water under pressure to a holder in which a coffee pad is received which extends with a first side along a bottom of the holder, wherein the hot water is fed to a second side of the coffee pad located opposite the first side so that the hot water is pressed through the pad to obtain the beverage, wherein the holder is provided with an outflow opening which is in fluid communication with the nozzle and/or the nozzles, and which beverage leaves the holder via the outflow opening. 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 20  further comprising providing a filling member in the siphon near the inflow opening of the siphon so that, in use, a capillary action occurs between an inner side of the siphon and the filling member so that the beverage flows into the siphon. 
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the filling member extends from the inflow opening of the siphon in upward direction of the siphon. 
   
   
       39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the buffer reservoir is hermetically sealed such so that the buffer reservoir has a communication with surroundings of the buffer reservoir only via the siphon.