Kitchen Appliance for Preparing a Beverage and Method of Operating Same

A kitchen appliance comprising:

• a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage;
• a hot water generator (HWG) having an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway extending therebetween, the inlet end of the HWG being connected to the first reservoir, liquid from the first reservoir flowing into the HWG through the inlet end;
• and
• a selector valve connected to the outlet end of the HWG, at least a portion of the selector valve being movable between a first valve position and a second valve position, in the first valve position the selector valve permitting liquid to flow out of the selector valve only in a non-pressurized path, in the second valve position the selector valve permitting liquid to flow out of the selector valve only in a pressurized path,
• the pressurized path comprising:
• a second reservoir connected to the selector valve, the second reservoir including a discharge port;
• a fluid path connecting the second reservoir to the first reservoir and bypassing the HWG;
• and
• a container at least partially enclosing foodstuff for preparing a beverage, the container being connected to the discharge port of the second reservoir, a combination of at least the first reservoir, the HWG, the second reservoir, the fluid path and the container forming at least a generally closed system, the system being configured to achieve and maintain an internal pressure greater than atmospheric pressure,
• wherein, when the selector valve is in the second valve position, activation of the HWG increases a temperature of liquid within the system and effectuates movement of liquid in the HWG to the second reservoir, through the discharge port and into the container to prepare a beverage,
• the non-pressurized path comprising:
• a showerhead connected to the selector valve, the showerhead including an outlet port exposed to atmospheric pressure,
• wherein, when the selector valve is in the first valve position, activation of the HWG increases a temperature of liquid within the HWG and effectuates movement of liquid in the HWG to the showerhead and through the outlet port to prepare a beverage,

A kitchen appliance comprising:

• a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage;
• a hot water generator (HWG) having an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway extending therebetween, the inlet end of the HWG being connected to the first reservoir, liquid from the first reservoir flowing into the HWG through the inlet end;
• and
• a selector valve connected to the outlet end of the HWG, the selector valve including a housing having an inlet opening, a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening, the inlet opening being connected to the outlet end of the HWG, the selector valve comprising a valve plate being movable by a user between a first valve position and a second valve position,
• a selector mounted to an exterior of the kitchen appliance, engagement of the selector by the user causing the valve plate to be moved between the first and second valve positions;
• a cam operatively connected to the valve plate;
• and
• a biasing member engaging at least a portion of the cam, the biasing member biasing the cam such that the valve plate is biased to one of the first valve position and the second valve position.