Apparatus for preparing a foam from a liquid, particularly a food liquid, such as milk or a milk-based liquid

An apparatus (10) for preparing a foam from a liquid, particularly a food liquid, such as milk or a milk-based liquid, comprising

• a base body (16) provided with electrical connection means (52, 54), and
• an upper unit (12, 14) arranged to be releasably placed on the base body (16) to be electrically connected to the base body (16) through said electrical connection means (52, 54), wherein the upper unit (12, 14) comprises
• a vessel (12) for containing an amount of liquid,
• a stirring member (24) detachably mounted inside the vessel (12) and arranged to be driven to rotate about an axis of rotation (z),
• heating means (40) for heating the liquid contained in the vessel (12), and
• electrically operated driving means (42, 44, 46) for driving the stirring member (24) to rotate about said axis of rotation (z),
• wherein the upper unit (12, 14) comprises an upper body (12) and an intermediate body (14) separate from each other,
• wherein the upper body (12) acts as a vessel and includes a main portion (18) of cylindrical shape, which is open at its top, and the intermediate body (14) houses said heating means (40) and said electrically operated driving means (42, 44, 46),
• wherein the upper body (12) further includes a coupling portion (20) of cylindrical shape, which is placed underneath the main portion (18) and communicates therewith,
• wherein the intermediate body (14) has at its top a seat (34) for receiving the coupling portion (20) of the upper body (12),
• wherein the upper body (12) and the intermediate body (14) are provided with releasable coupling means (36, 38) for coupling the upper body (12) with the intermediate body (14) when the coupling portion (20) of the upper body (12) is inserted into the seat (34) of the intermediate body (14), and
• wherein said heating means (40) are arranged around the seat (34) of the intermediate body (14).