Coffee machine with dispensing pressure regulation and a method relating thereto

A method for controlling the dispensing pressure and flow rate of water in a coffee machine for producing and dispensing coffee-based beverages which includes a dispensing device comprising a filter unit configured for containing ground coffee, the method comprising:

• supplying a predetermined quantity of water from a hydraulic pump constructed to supply variable quantities of water at a rate of flow corresponding to at least one nominal dispensing pressure value to a hydraulic circuit in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and the dispensing device, in which the hydraulic pump is actuatable by an electronic drive,
• detecting at least one dispensing pressure value of the water by means of a pressure sensor arranged along the hydraulic circuit, and
• if the at least one dispensing pressure value detected deviates from the at least one nominal pressure value, adjusting the flow of water supplied by the pump as a function of the at least one dispensing pressure value detected while continuing the flow of water through the dispensing device to adjust the detected dispensing pressure to the at least one nominal dispensing pressure value,
• wherein supplying the predetermined quantity of water comprises detecting at least one value of the flow rate of water supplied by the pump by means of a flow rate measurement device arranged in the hydraulic circuit,
• the method further comprising selecting a nominal flow rate value corresponding to a nominal dispensing time, wherein adjusting the flow rate of water supplied by the pump is carried out such that the predetermined quantity of water is supplied to the filter unit in an actual time substantially equal to the nominal dispensing time, and
• stopping the pump when the quantity of water which has passed through the flow rate measurement device is equal to the predetermined quantity of water, thereby providing for an independent measurement of the dispensing pressure and of the flow rate to provide for the dispensing of coffee-based beverages of desired quality from different grinds of the ground coffee in the filter unit.