Dispensing group for dispensing hot water and steam, coffee machine, recirculation method, and method for dispensing hot water

A method of recirculating preheated water, the method comprising:

• a) providing a dispensing group for dispensing hot water and steam, comprising:
• a first fluidic conduit comprising a main branch extending between a first water inlet opening and a hot water dispensing opening, the main branch being suitable for receiving water through said first water inlet opening and allowing said water to flow towards said hot water dispensing opening;
• a first heating device, operatively connected to said main branch and suitable for heating the water flowing into said main branch before the water reaches said hot water dispensing opening;
• a second fluidic conduit extending between a second water inlet opening and a steam dispensing opening, said second fluidic conduit being suitable for receiving the water through said second water inlet opening and allowing said water to flow towards said steam dispensing opening;
• and
• a second heating device, operatively connected to said second fluidic conduit and suitable for heating the water flowing into said second fluidic conduit to generate steam, before the water reaches said steam dispensing opening,
• wherein the first fluidic conduit comprises a recirculation branch which fluidically originates from said main branch downstream of the first heating device and upstream of the hot water dispensing opening and which is fluidically reintroduced into said main branch upstream of said first heating device,
• and wherein said first fluidic conduit and said second fluidic conduit are fluidically and thermally separate from each other in a path thereof respectively between the first water inlet opening and the hot water dispensing opening and between the second water inlet opening and the steam dispensing opening;
• b) allowing the water to pass into the main branch from the first water inlet opening towards the hot water dispensing opening;
• c) by the first heating device, preheating the water flowing into said main branch to generate an amount of preheated water at a predetermined preheating temperature;
• d) blocking a passage of said amount of preheated water towards the hot water dispensing opening and allowing said amount of preheated water to pass from the main branch, downstream of the first heating device, into the recirculation branch;
• and
• e) re-introducing said amount of preheated water from the recirculation branch into the main branch upstream of said first heating device.

A method of dispensing hot water, the method comprising:

• f) performing a method of recirculating preheated water comprising:
• a) providing a dispensing group for dispensing hot water and steam, comprising:
• a first fluidic conduit comprising a main branch extending between a first water inlet opening and a hot water dispensing opening, the main branch being suitable for receiving water through said first water inlet opening and allowing said water to flow towards said hot water dispensing opening;
• a first heating device, operatively connected to said main branch and suitable for heating the water flowing into said main branch before the water reaches said hot water dispensing opening;
• a second fluidic conduit extending between a second water inlet opening and a steam dispensing opening, said second fluidic conduit being suitable for receiving the water through said second water inlet opening and allowing said water to flow towards said steam dispensing opening;
• and
• a second heating device, operatively connected to said second fluidic conduit and suitable for heating the water flowing into said second fluidic conduit to generate steam, before the water reaches said steam dispensing opening,
• wherein the first fluidic conduit comprises a recirculation branch which fluidically originates from said main branch downstream of the first heating device and upstream of the hot water dispensing opening and which is fluidically reintroduced into said main branch upstream of said first heating device,
• and wherein said first fluidic conduit and said second fluidic conduit are fluidically and thermally separate from each other in a path thereof respectively between the first water inlet opening and the hot water dispensing opening and between the second water inlet opening and the steam dispensing opening;
• b) allowing the water to pass into the main branch from the first water inlet opening towards the hot water dispensing opening;
• c) by the first heating device, preheating the water flowing into said main branch to generate an amount of preheated water at a predetermined preheating temperature;
• d) blocking a passage of said amount of preheated water towards the hot water dispensing opening and allowing said amount of preheated water to pass from the main branch, downstream of the first heating device, into the recirculation branch;
• and
• e) re-introducing said amount of preheated water from the recirculation branch into the main branch upstream of said first heating device;
• g) providing an electronic control unit operatively connected to the dispensing group;
• h) by the electronic control unit, preferably in response to a hot water dispensing command sent by a user, preferably by a user interface, sending a hot water dispensing signal to the dispensing group;
• i) as a function of said hot water dispensing signal, by the first heating device, performing a final heating of a volume of water to be dispensed comprising the amount of preheated water reintroduced into the main branch and/or an amount of unheated water entering the main branch from the first water inlet opening to bring it to a predetermined dispensing temperature;
• and
• j) allowing passage of water heated to the predetermined dispensing temperature through the hot water dispensing opening.