System for heating and frothing a beverage, a device for heating and frothing a beverage suitable for being used in such a system, a froth wand suitable for being used in such a system and a method of preparing a beverage using such a system

Abstract

A system for heating and frothing a beverage comprises a device for heating and frothing a beverage and a froth wand. The device for heating and frothing a beverage includes a steamer, a steam conduit connecting the steamer to a steam nozzle and a froth wand holder for removably holding a froth wand. The froth wand is a disposable froth wand and comprises a tubular wall having a steam inlet end comprising a steam inlet, a steam outlet end comprising a steam outlet separate from the steam inlet and a steam channel extending between the steam inlet and the steam outlet. The froth wand holder is arranged for holding the disposable froth wand at least in an operational position in the device for heating and frothing a beverage in which operational position the steam nozzle is in communication with the steam inlet of the disposable froth wand.

1 . A system for heating and frothing a beverage, said system comprising a device for heating and frothing a beverage and a froth wand, said device for heating and frothing a beverage including a steamer, a steam conduit connecting the steamer to a steam nozzle, a controller operationally connected to the steamer for controlling operation of the steamer, a froth temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of froth in the cup, said temperature sensor being operationally connected to said controller for supplying thereto a signal indicative for the measured froth temperature, and a froth wand holder for removably holding a froth wand, said froth wand being a disposable froth wand comprising a tubular wall having a steam inlet end comprising a steam inlet, a steam outlet end comprising a steam outlet separate from the steam inlet and a steam channel extending between the steam inlet and the steam outlet, said froth wand holder being arranged for holding the disposable froth wand at least in an operational position in the device for heating and frothing a beverage in which operational position the steam nozzle is in communication with the steam inlet of the disposable froth wand, and wherein the froth temperature sensor comprises a plurality of microphones, each positioned above the cup, beside the cup above the upper edge of the cup or beside the cup below the upper edge of the cup. 
     
     
         2 . A system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microphones comprise at least one microphone positioned above the cup, and at least one microphone positioned beside the cup above or below the upper edge of the cup. 
     
     
         3 . A system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microphones comprise at least one microphone positioned beside the cup above the upper edge of the cup, and at least one microphone positioned beside the cup below the upper edge of the cup. 
     
     
         4 . A system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam conduit comprises an air inlet, and the device for heating and frothing a beverage comprises an air pump connected to the air inlet via an active air inlet tube, wherein the controller is operationally connected to the air pump for controlling the operation of the air pump. 
     
     
         5 . A system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 4 , wherein the steam conduit comprises a passive air inlet and the air pump is connected to an active air inlet, wherein the device for heating and frothing a beverage comprises a valve displaceable in a respective connection position for either connecting the steam conduit to the passive air inlet or the active air inlet, and wherein the controller is operationally connected to the valve for positioning the valve in a respective connecting position. 
     
     
         6 . A system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 1 , wherein the device for heating and frothing a beverage comprises a reservoir for cold water, a cold water conduit and a cold water pump for supplying cold water to the steamer, and wherein the controller is operationally connected to the cold water pump for controlling the operation of the cold water pump. 
     
     
         7 . A device for heating and frothing a beverage suitable for being used in a system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 1 , wherein said device for heating and frothing a beverage includes a steamer, a steam conduit connecting the steamer to a steam nozzle, a controller operationally connected to the steamer for controlling the operation of the steamer, a froth temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of froth in a cup, said temperature sensor being operationally connected to said controller for supplying thereto a signal indicative for the measured froth temperature, and a froth wand holder for removably holding a disposable froth wand, said froth wand holder being arranged for holding the disposable froth wand at least in an operational position in the device for heating and frothing a beverage, wherein the froth temperature sensor comprises a plurality of microphones, each positioned above the cup, beside the cup above the upper edge of the cup or beside the cup below the upper edge of the cup. 
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of microphones comprise at least one microphone positioned above the cup, and at least one microphone positioned beside the cup above or below the upper edge of the cup. 
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of microphones comprise at least one microphone positioned beside the cup above the upper edge of the cup, and at least one microphone positioned beside the cup below the upper edge of the cup. 
     
     
         10 . A device for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 7 , comprising an air pump connected to an air inlet of the steam conduit via an active air inlet tube, wherein the active air inlet tube comprises an air orifice, and wherein the controller is operationally connected to the air pump for controlling the operation of the air pump. 
     
     
         11 . A device for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 7 , comprising a reservoir for cold water, a cold water conduit and a cold water pump for supplying cold water to the steamer, and wherein the controller is operationally connected to the cold water pump for controlling the operation of the cold water pump. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a beverage using a system for heating and frothing a beverage according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of positioning a froth wand in the froth wand holder of the device for heating and frothing a beverage such that the froth wand is held in the froth wand holder in a substantially vertical position, the step of activating the device for heating and frothing a beverage when the froth wand holder is in the operational position in the device for heating and frothing a beverage in which operational position the steam nozzle is in communication with the steam inlet of the froth wand, the step of supplying steam to and through the froth wand, the step of releasing the froth wand from the froth wand holder after steam has passed a predetermined number of times through the froth wand and the step of disposing the froth wand, and the step of measuring the temperature of the froth in the cup, wherein the step of measuring the temperature of the froth comprises the step of recording sound from the froth and the step of deriving the temperature from the recorded sound.