US 12,557,936 B2Granted

Method for preparing a beverage, preferably milk froth or hot milk

AssigneeSteiner AG Weggis

InventorAdrian Steiner

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Abstract

Method for producing milk froth, in particular for preparing beverages containing milk froth using coffee machines. The beverage, preferably cold milk, is at least partially introduced into a container before the preparation. The introduced beverage, in the container positioned on a placement surface of a station, is guided through at least one line, which leads away from the station, to a device for preparing milk froth or hot milk. The beverage is subsequently led back into the container, and this circulation is repeated until the beverage has a certain temperature and/or consistency. Using this method, a container can be used by operating personnel in a conventional way for preparation of the beverage, because the beverage can thus be prepared manually and specifically in accordance with the desires of the guest, while the milk froth or the like can be produced and served with constant and high quality.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Method for preparing a beverage, comprising:

conveying a beverage from an interior of a container positioned on a station through a part of at least one line leading away from the station, to and then through a froth production unit, and then through another part of the at least one line leading to the station back into the container, the step of conveying the beverage comprising:
conveying the beverage from the interior of the container through a first passage opening in a base of the container in a downward direction into the part of the at least one line leading away from the station, and
conveying the beverage from the another part of the at least one line leading to the station through a second passage opening in the base of the container only in an upward direction into the interior of the container such that the beverage enters directly into the interior of the container from the second passage opening;
configuring the station and the container such that when the container is placed onto a standing surface of the station, the first and second passage openings are automatically connected to the part of the at least one line and the another part of the at least one line, respectively,
providing a closure element to selectively open and close the first and second passage openings, and
repeating the conveying step to provide for circulation of the beverage through the froth production unit until the beverage exhibits a specific temperature and/or consistency when conveyed back into the container.

3 more elements

Method for preparing a beverage, comprising:

providing a first line through which the beverage flows from a container to an outlet, the first line passing through a froth production unit in which froth is produced in the beverage;
providing a second line including a chamber, the second line having an adjustable inlet from the first line between the froth production unit and the outlet, and an adjustable outlet into the first line between the container and the froth production unit;
conveying the beverage from the container through the first line to and through the froth production unit in which froth is produced in the beverage, and then from the froth production unit through the second line to the chamber;
conveying the beverage from the chamber into the first line and then again to and through the froth production unit;
and then
if the beverage exhibits a specific temperature and/or consistency in the froth production unit, conveying the beverage from the froth production unit to the outlet without being further directed into the second line;
and
if the beverage does not exhibit a specific temperature and/or consistency in the froth production unit, repeating the conveying steps to provide for circulation of the beverage into the second line and through the chamber and then back to the first line to and through the froth production unit.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/596,659Filed 29 May 2020
Priority: CH 00816/1917 Jun 2019
Published: US 2022/0296031 A122 Sep 2022
Granted: 24 Feb 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A47J 31/4485
Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus: nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk…
A23C 9/1524
Containing additives: inert gases, noble gases, oxygen, aerosol gases; Processes for foaming
A47J 31/4489
Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus: steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk
A47J 31/461
Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices: valves, e.g. drain valves