Milk frothing and heating system

A method for frothing and heating :milk for use in coffee/espresso drinks, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a cold milk supply;
• drawing cold milk from the cold milk supply via a milk conduit configured to pass the cold milk along a milk flow path;
• frothing the cold milk by controlled introduction of air into the milk flow path;
• passing frothed milk through an ambient pressure hot water tank via a coiled frothed milk conduit, thereby heating the frothed milk for discharge.

A coffee/espresso machine including a system for use in frothing and heating milk, said system comprising:

• an ambient pressure hot water tank including a heating element which automatically heats water contained within said hot water tank to a predetermined temperature;
• a replenishable cold milk supply;
• a milk conduit configured to draw milk from said cold milk supply and pass such milk along a milk flow path;
• a milk frother positioned along the milk flow path and including an air inlet valve and a pump which controllably mixes milk from said cold milk supply with air from said air inlet valve;
• a frothed milk conduit fluidly connected to said milk frother, said frothed milk conduit being configured to pass cold frothed milk through said hot water tank, thereby heating the frothed milk for discharge.