System, method, and apparatus for regulating flow rate in an espresso machine

An espresso machine is enabled to adjust a brew flow rate of water during a brewing process for a coffee beverage, the machine comprising:

• a brew tank that heats water;
• a pump that provides pressurized water to the brew tank;
• a coffee ground housing that houses coffee grounds;
• an output aperture that provides the coffee ground housing with pressurized and heated water from the brew tank;
• and
• a brew flow rate regulation system that adjusts the brew flow rate of water during the brewing process for the coffee beverage, wherein the brew flow rate regulation assembly includes a first flow path in fluid communication with the pump and the output aperture.

A brew flow rate regulation assembly for regulating a brew flow rate of pressurized water within an espresso machine while brewing a coffee beverage using the pressurized water, comprising:

• an assembly body;
• a brew regulation assembly input configured and arranged to allow flow of the pressurized water into the assembly body;
• a brew regulation assembly output configured and arranged to allow flow of the pressurized water out of the assembly body;
• a first flow path disposed in the assembly body and in fluid communication with the brew regulation assembly input and the brew regulation assembly output, wherein the first flow path is configured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the pressurized water;
• a second flow path disposed in the assembly body and in fluid communication with the brew regulation assembly input and the brew regulation assembly output, wherein the second flow path is configured and arranged to receive at least another portion of the pressurized water and the first flow path and the second flow path are parallel flow paths;
• a first valve configured and arranged to regulate the brew flow rate of the pressurized water within the espresso machine by restricting a first flow rate through the first flow path;
• and
• a second valve configured and arranged to regulate the brew flow rate of the pressurized water within the espresso machine by restricting a second flow rate though the second flow path, wherein the brew flow rate of the pressurized water is equal to at least a sum of the first flow rate and the second flow rate.