초록 ▼

An apparatus for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, in particular cappuccino. The invention provides a beverage unit, which dispenses under pressure a beverage to be processed to a beverage processing path, through which, in use, the beverage flows to obtain the

An apparatus for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, in particular cappuccino. The invention provides a beverage unit, which dispenses under pressure a beverage to be processed to a beverage processing path, through which, in use, the beverage flows to obtain the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer. The beverage processing path successively includes a nozzle and a buffer reservoir, the nozzle being positioned relative to the buffer reservoir such that, in use, it generates a liquid jet squirting into the buffer reservoir to obtain the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer. The buffer reservoir is provided with an outlet path for discharging the beverage from the buffer reservoir, the liquid flow path, upstream of the nozzle, further including an additive holder which, in use, can be filled with a product to be dissolved in the beverage, such as concentrated milk or milk powder. In use, beverage leaving the beverage unit flows into the additive holder to dissolve the possible additive in the beverage. The additive holder is provided with an outlet path, via which the beverage is further transported from the additive holder to generate the jet of the beverage.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, the apparatus comprising: a beverage unit, which dispenses under pressure a beverage to be processed to a beverage processing path, the beverage processing path successively includ

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for preparing a beverage fit for consumption with a fine-bubble froth layer, the apparatus comprising: a beverage unit, which dispenses under pressure a beverage to be processed to a beverage processing path, the beverage processing path successively including a nozzle and a buffer reservoir, the nozzle being positioned relative to the buffer reservoir such that, in use, it generates a jet of the beverage, which squirts into the buffer reservoir to obtain the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer, and the buffer reservoir being provided with an outlet path from the buffer reservoir for discharging the beverage with the fine-bubble froth layer from the buffer reservoir, wherein the beverage processing path, upstream of the nozzle, further includes an additive holder, which, in use, can be filled with a beverage additive, wherein the beverage leaving the beverage unit, in use, flows into the additive holder to dissolve the beverage additive in the beverage, wherein the additive holder is provided with an outlet path from the additive holder, via which the beverage is further transported from the additive holder to the nozzle to generate the jet of the beverage. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further provided with a siphon for feeding the beverage from the additive holder to the nozzle when the level of the beverage in the additive holder exceeds a predetermined value. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the siphon is provided with a part of the liquid flow path surrounded by channel walls, with an inflow opening located in the additive holder above a bottom of the additive holder and an outflow opening located outside the additive holder. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the siphon is provided with a highest point, which is higher than the inflow opening. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the outflow opening is located lower than a lowest part of the bottom. 6. An apparatus according to any claim 5, wherein the liquid flow path within the siphon is formed by an inner channel, which extends through the bottom of the additive holder, the inner channel being provided with a first open end located at a higher level than the inflow opening and a second open end located outside the additive holder and lower than the bottom of the additive holder, and an outer channel surrounding the inner channel, the outer channel extending to above the first open end and, above the first open end, being of closed design, and the outer channel being provided below the first open end with an opening forming the inflow opening of the liquid flow path. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the outer channel is detachably connected with the inner channel. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the beverage processing path, upstream of the additive holder, further includes a pad holder, which is arranged to include a pad, which comprises a product to be extracted or to be dissolved, such as ground coffee, through which pad in the holder, in use, a liquid flows, which is fed under pressure to the holder to obtain the beverage to be further processed, which is fed to the additive holder, at least part of the liquid flow path extending from the pad holder to the nozzle being of closed design so that pressure of the liquid fed to the pad holder is also present with the beverage fed to the nozzle to obtain the jet from the nozzle squirting into the buffer reservoir. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer channel is connected with the pad holder. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pad holder and the additive holder are detachably connected with each other. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the beverage unit is further provided with a hot water unit for feeding under pressure the liquid to the pad holder in the form of hot water. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the additive holder is provided with an outflow opening for the beverage, the outflow opening of the additive holder being in fluid communication with the nozzle and/or forming the nozzle. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second outflow path comprises a siphon configured to feed the beverage from the additive holder to the nozzle when the level of the additive holder exceeds a predetermined value. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the siphon is defined by an outer channel wall extending from the pad holder and an inner channel wall extending from the additive holder. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the beverage flows upward between the outer channel wall and the inner channel wall and downward within the inner channel wall to the nozzle. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the level of the additive holder that exceeds the predetermined value is defined by the height of the inner channel wall above a bottom surface of the pad holder.