Coffee machine with dynamic flow and temperature control

A method for brewing a coffee beverage, the method comprising:

• receiving, by one or more electronic control modules, brewing settings, the brewing settings including at least one temperature set point, the one or more electronic control modules being connected to a temperature sensor, a first in-line heating element, and a second in-line heating element;
• supplying water by at least one water line;
• pressurizing the water by at least one pump;
• heating, by the first in-line heating element, the water to an intermediate temperature;
• heating, by the second in-line heating element, the water from the intermediate temperature to the at least one temperature set point during an extraction process;
• sensing, by the temperature sensor, the intermediate temperature of the water, the temperature sensor being disposed in the at least one water line between the first in-line heating element and the second in-line heating element;
• receiving, by the one or more electronic control modules, the intermediate temperature of the water from the temperature sensor;
• estimating, by the one or more electronic control modules and based partially on the intermediate temperature, a flow rate of the water through the first in-line heating element;
• and
• adjusting, by the one or more electronic control modules and based partially on the estimated flow rate, a power provided to the second in-line heating element.

A coffee machine comprising:

• a brewing chamber;
• at least one water line configured to supply water;
• at least one pump configured to pressurize the water;
• a first in-line heating element configured to heat the water to an intermediate temperature;
• a second in-line heating element configured to heat the water from the intermediate temperature to at least one temperature set point during an extraction process;
• a first temperature sensor disposed between the at least one pump and the first in-line heating element and configured to sense a first temperature of the water;
• a second temperature sensor disposed in the at least one water line between the first in-line heating element and the second in-line heating element and configured to sense the intermediate temperature of the water;
• a third temperature sensor disposed between the second in-line heating element and the brewing chamber and configured to sense a second temperature of the water;
• and
• one or more electronic control modules connected to the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor, the first in-line heating element, and the second in-line heating element, the one or more electronic control modules being configured to:
• receive brewing settings, the brewing settings including the at least one temperature set point;
• receive the intermediate temperature of the water from the second temperature sensor;
• estimate a flow rate of the water through the first in-line heating element based on an ambient temperature, the first temperature of the water, the second temperature of the water, the at least one temperature set point, and parameters concerning electrical characteristics and thermal characteristics of the first in-line heating element and the second in-line heating element;
• and
• adjust a power provided to the second in-line heating element based on the ambient temperature, the intermediate temperature of the water, the second temperature of the water, the at least one temperature set point, and the parameters concerning the electrical characteristics and the thermal characteristics of the first in-line heating element and the second in-line heating element.