Method for dispensing doses of coffee grounds

A method of controlling dispensing of coffee grounds from a grinding-dosing machine, the machine comprising a grinding device which is configured to grind coffee beans, a dispensing conduit, having an inlet in communication with the grinding device for receiving coffee grounds, and an outlet, a closure member which is adapted to be removed between an open position for the coffee grounds to be discharged from the dispensing conduit through the outlet, and a closed position for closing the outlet, and a coffee grounds weight sensor, which is configured to generate signals representative of a weight of the coffee grounds built-up in the dispensing conduit onto the closure member when the closure member is in the closed position, the method comprising:

• a) storing a nominal weight value of the coffee grounds;
• b) storing a nominal grinding time value associated with the nominal weight value;
• c) placing the closure member in the closed position;
• d) operating the grinding device for discharging the coffee grounds through the dispensing conduit onto the closure member for a time equal to the nominal grinding time value, in a first grinding operation;
• e) at the end of the first grinding operation, receiving a measurement signal representative of an actual weight value of the coffee grounds built-up in the dispensing conduit onto the closure member;
• f) placing the closure member in the open position to discharge the coffee grounds weighed at the end of the first grinding operation from the dispensing conduit;
• g) repeating the steps c) to e) (N−1) times, with N≥2, to receive N actual weight values at the end of N respective grinding operations and placing the closure member in the open position at the end of each of the (N−1) grinding operations following the first grinding operation;
• h) calculating a respective mass throughput value based on each of the N actual weight values and the nominal grinding time value, to obtain N mass throughput values;
• i) calculating an average mass throughput value from the N mass throughput values and an average weight value from the N actual weight values;
• j) comparing the average weight value with the stored nominal weight value and, if the average weight value differs from the nominal weight value to an extent exceeding a predetermined threshold value, calculating an average grinding time value, defined as a ratio of the nominal weight value to the calculated average mass throughput value;
• and
• k) storing the average grinding time value as a new nominal grinding time value.