CN121194726A

CN121194726A - Beverage preparation machine with reliable dispensing

Info

Publication number: CN121194726A
Application number: CN202480035680.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 三轮健太郎; S·津格
Original assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA
Current assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA
Priority date: 2023-06-05
Filing date: 2024-06-04
Publication date: 2025-12-23
Also published as: WO2024251710A1

Abstract

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (100) has a beverage processing unit (5) and a beverage outlet (10) in fluid communication with the unit (5). The outlet (10) includes an outlet conduit (11) extending along a flow direction (12) and having a lower conduit portion (11a) with a bottom end (13). A bottom dispensing opening (14) is located at the bottom end (13) to dispense the beverage (100) from the bottom end (13) into an area (2) for placing a user receiver (9). The lower conduit portion (11a) has a single lateral dispensing opening (14a) above its bottom end (13), which is configured to dispense the beverage (100) from the lower conduit portion (11a) into the placement area (2) above the bottom opening (14) when the bottom opening (14) is partially or completely blocked at the bottom end (13).

Description

Beverage preparation machine with reliable dispensing

Technical Field

The field of the invention relates to beverage preparation machines, in particular but not exclusively capsules using ingredients of a beverage to be prepared, having an arrangement for managing the dispensing of the beverage to a user-receptacle.

For the purposes of this specification, "beverage" is intended to include any liquid substance that is edible to humans, such as tea, coffee, chocolate hot or cold drinks, milk, soup, baby food, and the like. "capsule" is intended to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredients, such as flavor ingredients, disposed within a closed package, particularly a hermetically sealed package, made of any material (e.g., plastic, aluminum, recyclable, and/or biodegradable), and of any shape and configuration, including soft pods or rigid cartridges containing the ingredients. The capsule may contain a quantity of ingredients for preparing a single beverage supply or multiple beverage supplies.

Background

Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or dissolved, and for other machines the ingredients are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or added at the time of preparation of the beverage.

Most beverage machines have in a housing filling means comprising a pump for liquid, typically water, pumping liquid from a source of water that is cold or actually heated by heating means, such as heating resistors, boilers, heating blocks, etc., a brewing unit in which ingredients are brewed with water or a mixing unit in which ingredients are mixed together, and a beverage outlet for dispensing the prepared beverage. Typically, the beverage outlet is located above the beverage dispensing zone, for example above a grid for supporting cups or other receptacles below the outlet, and for passage of liquid droplets from the beverage outlet or other spills into a collector tray located below the grid.

There are a variety of beverage preparations, in particular coffee preparations, with corresponding dedicated preparation systems. The flavouring ingredients may be supplied to the machine within the capsule or loosely or as agglomerates or in bulk, for example as a particulate ingredient supply.

For preparing coffee, it is known to use agglomerated roast and ground coffee portions, for example in the shape of balls, which are fed to the machine unpackaged. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO 2022/018245, WO 2022/018249 and WO 2022/063201.

In particular in the field of coffee preparation, a variety of machines have been widely developed in which a capsule containing beverage ingredients is inserted in a brewing device. The brewing device tightly encloses the capsule, water is injected at the first face of the capsule, beverage is made within the enclosed volume of the capsule, and brewed beverage can be expelled from the second face of the capsule and collected in a container such as a cup or glass. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO 2005/004683, WO 2014/076041 and WO 2013/026845.

In addition, it is also known to prepare beverages by centrifugation. Such beverage preparation comprises providing beverage (flavouring) ingredients, for example as a powder and/or a blade, mixing it with a liquid and rotating the mixture at a sufficient speed to ensure that the liquid interacts with the ingredients while creating a pressure gradient in the mixture. Such pressure increases gradually from the center toward the periphery of the centrifuged mixture. Extraction of the ingredients, e.g. coffee composition, occurs when the liquid traverses the ingredients, e.g. coffee layer, and a liquid extract is obtained that flows out and collects at the periphery. Examples of such systems are disclosed in WO 2008/148601, WO 2013/007776, WO 2013/007779 and WO 2013/007780.

WO 2006/050769、WO 2012/072758、WO 2013/127907、WO 2016/050657、WO 2016/083485、WO 2018/069266、WO 2019/121593、WO 2019/121594 And WO 2019/121865 discloses various beverage machines having a beverage outlet downstream of an ingredient processing unit configured to manage beverage dispensing.

There remains a need to provide a beverage management system such that the beverage is reliably dispensed outside the beverage preparation machine.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a machine for dispensing beverages. The beverage preparation machine may be a home or non-home machine. The machine can be used for preparing coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, milk, soup, baby food, etc.

The machine of the present invention comprises a beverage processing unit and a beverage outlet in fluid communication with the unit.

The machine may be arranged for preparing a beverage within the beverage preparation unit by passing hot or cold water or another liquid through a flavouring ingredient which is supplied into the unit, for example within a capsule or loosely or as an agglomerate or bulk, for example as a particulate ingredient supply. The flavouring ingredient of the beverage to be prepared may be selected from ground coffee or tea or chocolate or cocoa or milk powder.

Beverage preparation typically includes mixing a plurality of beverage ingredients, such as water and milk powder, and/or brewing the beverage ingredients, such as brewing ground coffee or tea with water. One or more of such ingredients may be supplied in loose and/or agglomerated powder form and/or in liquid form, in particular in concentrate form. A carrier or diluent liquid (e.g., water) may be mixed with such ingredients to form a beverage. Typically, a predetermined amount of beverage is formed and dispensed according to user requirements, the predetermined amount corresponding to the serving size. Such serving volumes may range from 25mL to 200mL, even up to 400mL or 1000mL, e.g. the volume of a filled cup or mug, depending on the type of beverage. The beverage formed and dispensed may be selected from the group consisting of cyrtoise (ristretto), espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, latte coffee, american coffee, tea, and the like. In particular, the coffee machine may be configured for dispensing espresso coffee, e.g. with an adjustable volume of 20ml to 60ml per serving, and/or for dispensing an elongated coffee, e.g. with a volume of 70ml to 150ml per serving, and/or for dispensing American, e.g. with a volume of 150ml to 500 ml.

The beverage outlet of the machine comprises an outlet duct extending in the flow direction and having a downcomer portion with a bottom end. A bottom dispensing opening is located at the bottom end to dispense beverage from the bottom end to an area for placement of a user-receptacle, such as a cup or mug, to collect such dispensed beverage.

The user-receiver placement area may be defined by a container support. Typically, the support includes a support surface for positioning a user receiver, such as a mug or cup, to collect the dispensed beverage. The support surface may be formed by a support member that is part of the machine, or may be a virtual surface, such as the surface of a table on which the machine is placed. Examples of such support surfaces for user receivers are disclosed in EP 1 867 260, WO 2009/074557 and WO 2013/104636.

Typically, the beverage outlet and/or the processing unit is at least partially located in the stationary frame and/or the housing. The stationary frame and/or housing may be used to assemble components of the machine therein, such as the components mentioned below. Exemplary beverage preparation architectures are disclosed, for example, in WO 2009/074550 and WO 2009/130099.

The beverage outlet is movable relative to the stationary frame and/or the housing between a dispensing position in which the beverage outlet dispenses such beverage via the downcomer portion to an area for placing a user receiver, and a non-dispensing position in which the beverage outlet prevents dispensing of beverage via the downcomer portion to such area, e.g. the beverage outlet directs waste liquid towards the waste collector. Examples of such beverage outlets having a dispensing position and a non-dispensing position are disclosed in the references cited in the background description above.

The waste collector may include a removable container positioned, for example, with a frame of the machine (such as a machine housing). Examples of such collectors are disclosed in EP 1 867 260, WO 2009/074557, WO 2009/074559, WO 2009/135869, WO 2011/086087 and WO 2011/154492. Typically, the waste collector is configured to collect at least one of one or more waste beverage ingredients, such as used flavouring ingredients and/or waste water, one or more used capsules for supplying beverage ingredients into the machine, and a cleaning agent, such as a cleaning, rinsing or de-dusting liquid.

The processing unit may have a first part and a second part which are relatively movable between a proximal configuration in which they delimit a chamber for containing and processing beverage ingredients therein, and a distal configuration for receiving and/or expelling such ingredients in and/or from the chamber. Examples of such processing units are disclosed in the references cited in the background description above.

The downcomer section has a single lateral dispensing opening above its bottom end configured to dispense beverage from the downcomer section above the bottom opening to an area for placement of a user-receptacle when the bottom opening is partially or completely occluded at the bottom end.

Thus, when the bottom opening is partially or completely blocked (e.g., plugged), the beverage may still flow out through the lateral dispensing opening. Since there is only a single lateral dispensing opening configured to dispense beverage to the area for placing the user-receptacle, the flow of beverage is less likely to be split laterally into spray shapes flowing out of the beverage outlet, but is maintained as one or possibly two flows.

The beverage guide may also incorporate different flow management elements as disclosed in e.g. WO 2018/069268 and WO 2019/121593.

A single lateral dispensing opening may extend from the bottom opening, e.g. substantially upstream, e.g. forming a continuous beverage passage with the bottom opening.

The single lateral dispensing opening may form an elongated opening extending in the flow direction. In this configuration, when beverage flows out of the lateral dispensing opening, the blocked bottom opening is still exposed to the flowing out beverage, which may be advantageous to unblock the bottom opening.

A single lateral dispensing opening may form an opening extending laterally around the central axis of the downcomer portion over an angle of less than 180 degrees, such as in the range of 5 to 165 degrees, for example in the range of 15 to 150 degrees, for example in the range of 45 to 135 degrees, for example in the range of 60 to 120 degrees or 75 to 105 degrees. The central axis may be parallel or collinear with the flow direction.

The lateral dispensing opening may have a total outflow surface area of more than 50% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom opening, typically in the range of 60% to 300% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom opening, optionally in the range of 75% to 200% thereof, such as in the range of 85% to 150% thereof, e.g. in the range of 90% to 125% thereof.

The downcomer portion may be associated with an internal flow guide.

The internal flow guide may extend inside the bottom portion of the conduit and optionally above it, above the bottom end, for example parallel to the flow direction.

The inner flow guide may extend below the bottom end outside the bottom part of the conduit, e.g. parallel to the flow direction.

The inner flow guide may comprise one or more guide members extending across at least a portion of the bottom end, a single lateral dispensing opening having one side or two opposite sides, e.g., defined by such guide members.

The guide member may be formed substantially as a rib or a bar or an upstanding wall.

The guide member may be connected at a central portion of the bottom end. The guide member may be connected to a central guide pin extending downstream of the guide member or the beverage outlet may be devoid of such pins.

The one or more guide members may be spaced apart from the central portion of the bottom end. The guide member may be spaced apart from a central guide pin extending downstream of the guide member, or the beverage outlet may be devoid of such pins.

The one or more guide members may extend substantially radially with respect to or above the central axis of the downcomer portion.

The beverage processing unit may have a beverage guide and a guide outflow opening via which beverage is transferred from the beverage guide to the beverage outlet. The beverage outlet may have:

a flow chamber delimited by a bottom and a side wall, optionally a beverage outlet configured as a pool of accumulated beverage in the flow chamber, and

An inflow penetrator, such as a ridge exposed to an inflow, for penetrating a flow of beverage delivered by a unit outflow opening onto the penetrator before reaching the bottom of the flow cavity.

The influent penetrator may have an upstanding generally spear-shaped member such as a member having a cross-section in the shape of a cross or star or a circle or convex polygon.

The inflow penetrator may comprise a tip, such as a tapered tip, extending into the cell outflow opening, for example over a length in the range of 0.01mm to 7mm, such as 0.3mm to 3mm, or spaced below the cell outflow opening by a distance in the range of 0.01mm to 5mm, such as 0.3mm to 3mm.

The influent penetrator may have a tapered top, e.g., a tapered top extending over a length in the range of 1mm to 7mm, such as 2mm to 5mm, extending from a cylindrical or prismatic penetrator bottom, e.g., a bottom extending over a length in the range of 1mm to 15mm, such as 3mm to 7 mm. For example, the penetrator bottom and the tapered top have a length ratio in the range of 1.5 to 7, such as 2 to 5, for example 2.5 to 4.

The beverage processing unit may be configured to supply a beverage, such as coffee, typically prepared by centrifugation or pressure extraction, to the beverage outlet, the beverage comprising at least one of foam, coffee fat, sweetener and grease. The pressure extraction is typically carried out at a pressure in the range of 3 bar to 25 bar (e.g. in the range of 10 bar to 20 bar).

The beverage processing unit may be configured to be supplied with a liquid, e.g. water, supplied via a machine fluid line from a liquid source, e.g. a machine tank, or a connector connected to an external liquid supply line, e.g. via a machine pump and/or a thermal regulator, e.g. a heater and/or a cooler.

Such a pump may be used to drive liquid, such as water, from a liquid source along a liquid line via a processing unit. Examples of pumps in beverage machines are disclosed in WO 2006/005425, WO 2009/024300, WO 2009/150030, WO 2010/108700 and WO 2011/107574.

Thus, the liquid may be driven in or into the processing unit via a thermal regulator (such as a heater and/or a cooler). Suitable heaters may be boilers, heating blocks or on-demand heaters (ODHs), such as those disclosed in EP 1 253 844, EP 1 380 243 and EP 1 809 151. Other heaters are disclosed in WO 2009/043851, WO 2009/043865, WO 2009/092746, WO 2011/157675 and WO 2012/007460.

The beverage processing unit may be configured to be supplied with a flavouring ingredient, which is supplied into the beverage processing unit, e.g. optionally within the capsule or loosely or as agglomerates or in bulk, e.g. as a granular ingredient supply.

In one embodiment, ingredients are supplied to the beverage preparation unit within such a capsule. The capsule may have a container covered by a cover, e.g. the container and/or the cover extends radially to form a flange.

The capsule may have a body which may be symmetrical or asymmetrical conical or frustoconical or cylindrical or spherical or hemispherical or frusto-spherical, containing ingredients therein, such as ground coffee, tea or cocoa or other beverage ingredients.

The capsule may be of the type described above under the heading "technical field". The capsule may be a capsule having a container body, e.g. a generally cup-shaped or hemispherical or semi-elliptical body, with a flange to which a cover (or membrane) is attached, especially in a sealed state. Typically, capsules contain beverage ingredients. Examples of suitable capsules are disclosed in WO 2008/148601、WO 2008/148604、WO 2008/148646、WO 2008/148650、WO 2008/148656、WO 2008/148834、WO 2011/141532、WO 2011/141535、WO 2013/072239、WO 2013/072297、WO 2013/072326 and WO 2015/044400. The capsules may be of the type commercially available under the trade marks "Vertuo Line", "Original Line" or "Professional Line" from Nespresso.

Examples of ingredient processing units are described in WO 2007/135135, WO 2009/043630, WO 2011/042400, WO 2014/096122 and WO 2014/096123.

The processing unit may be configured to process a capsule containing beverage ingredients. The unit may have an ingredient chamber with at least one capsule opener, such as at least one of one or more piercing and/or tearing elements, and one or more pins and/or blades, such as a capsule piercer or tearing plate, as known for example from EP 0 512 468、EP 0 512 470、EP 1 299 022、EP 1 339 305、WO 2013/026845、WO 2014/076041、WO 2015/022342、WO 2015/022344 and WO 2015/022345.

The machine may comprise a control unit for controlling at least one of the motor (when present) and the motor components (such as liquid drives, thermal regulators, user interfaces). Examples of control units and user interfaces are disclosed in WO 2008/138710、WO 2009/043851、WO 2009/043865、WO 2009/092745、WO 2010/003932、WO 2010/037806、WO 2010/046442、WO 2011/020779、WO 2011/026853、WO 2011/054889、WO 2011/067156、WO 2011/067157、WO 2011/067181、WO 2011/067188、WO 2011/067191、WO 2011/067227、WO 2011/067232、WO 2011/144719、WO 2012/032019、WO 2012/072761、WO 2012/072764、WO 2012/072767 and WO 2012/093107.

When referring in this specification to an orientation or position relative to the machine or a part thereof, for example "above" or "below" or "vertical" or "horizontal", the orientation or position is referred to as the position and direction of the machine when operating for treating liquid food substances in a food cavity, unless otherwise indicated.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings in which:

fig. 1 illustrates a beverage preparation machine during beverage processing according to the invention, the beverage preparation machine having a lower housing containing a portion of the beverage processing unit and a beverage outlet, a portion of the housing being hidden to show the beverage outlet in the housing;

figure 2 shows the beverage preparation machine illustrated in figure 1 when the beverage processing unit has a first part and a second part in a distal configuration;

fig. 3 shows an enlarged view from below of a portion of the housing and the beverage outlet of the machine illustrated in fig. 1, in fig. 3 no beverage being dispensed from the beverage outlet;

figure 4 is a cross-section of the housing and beverage outlet shown in figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 schematically illustrate two alternative embodiments of the bottom end of the beverage outlet and the bottom dispensing opening from below, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the lower part of the beverage outlet with the bottom end and the beverage bottom dispensing opening shown in fig. 3.

Detailed Description

The following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, shows a non-limiting embodiment of the machine 1 according to the invention and variants thereof.

The machine 1 is configured for dispensing a beverage 100. The machine 1 comprises a beverage processing unit 5 and a beverage outlet 10 in fluid communication with the unit 5. The outlet 10 comprises an outlet conduit 11 extending in a flow direction 12 and having a downcomer portion 11a with a bottom end 13. A bottom dispensing opening 14 is located at bottom end 13 to dispense beverage 100 from bottom end 13 to area 2 for placement of a user-receptacle 9, such as a cup or mug, to collect such dispensed beverage 100.

The beverage outlet 10 and/or the processing unit (5) may be at least partially located in the stationary frame and/or the housing 4.

The beverage outlet 10 is movable relative to the stationary frame and/or the housing 4 between a dispensing position in which the beverage outlet 10 dispenses the beverage 100 to the area 2 via the downcomer portion 11a and a non-dispensing position in which the beverage outlet 10 prevents dispensing of the beverage to the area 2 via the downcomer portion 11a, e.g. the beverage outlet 10 directs waste liquid towards the waste liquid collector 3.

The processing unit 5 may have a first part 53 and a second part 54, which are relatively movable between a proximal configuration in which they delimit a chamber 55 for containing and processing beverage ingredients therein, and a distal configuration for receiving in and/or expelling from the chamber 55 such ingredients.

The downcomer portion 11a has a single lateral dispensing opening 14a above its bottom end 13 configured to dispense beverage 100 from the downcomer portion 11a over the bottom opening 14 to the area 2 for placement of the user-receiver 9 when the bottom opening 14 is partially or completely occluded at the bottom end 13.

A single lateral dispensing opening 14a may extend from the bottom opening 14, e.g. substantially upstream, e.g. forming a continuous beverage passage 14, 14a with the bottom opening.

The single lateral dispensing opening 14a may form an elongated opening extending along the flow direction 12.

The single lateral dispensing opening 14a may form an opening extending laterally around the central axis 12' of the downcomer portion 11a within an angle a of less than 180 degrees, such as in the range of 5 to 165 degrees, such as in the range of 15 to 150 degrees, such as in the range of 45 to 135 degrees, such as in the range of 60 to 120 degrees or 75 to 105 degrees. The central axis 12' may be parallel or collinear with the flow direction 12.

The lateral dispensing opening 14a may have a total outflow surface area greater than 50% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom opening 14, typically in the range of 50% to 300% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom opening 14, optionally in the range of 75% to 200% thereof, such as in the range of 85% to 150% thereof, for example in the range of 90% to 125% thereof.

The downcomer portion 11a may be associated with an inner flow guide 15a, 15a ', 15b', 15c ', 15 d'.

The inner flow guides 15a, 15a ', 15b', 15c ', 15d' may extend inside the conduit bottom part 11a and optionally above it, above the bottom end 13, for example parallel to the flow direction.

The inner flow guides 15a, 15a ', 15b', 15c ', 15d' may extend outside the conduit bottom part 11a below the bottom end 13, for example parallel to the flow direction.

The internal flow guide may comprise one or more guide members 15a, 15a ', 15b', 15c ', 15d' extending across at least a portion of the bottom end 13, optionally a single lateral dispensing opening 14a having one side or two opposite sides defined by such guide members 15a, 15a ', 15 d'.

The guide members 15a, 15a ', 15b', 15c ', 15d' may be substantially shaped as ribs or bars or upstanding walls.

The guide members 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d may be connected at a central portion of the bottom end 13. The guide members 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d may be connected to a central guide pin 16 extending downstream of the guide members 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, or the beverage outlet 10 may be devoid of such pins.

One or more guide members 15a ', 15b', 15c ', 15d' may be spaced apart from a central portion of bottom end 13. The guide member may be spaced apart from a central guide pin extending downstream of the guide member, or the beverage outlet 10 may be devoid of such pins.

The one or more guide members 15a, 15a ', 15b ', 15c ', 15d ' may extend substantially radially with respect to the central axis of the downcomer portion 11a or the aforementioned central axis 12 '.

The beverage processing unit 5 may have a beverage guide 50 and a guide outflow opening 51, via which the beverage 100 is transferred from the beverage guide 50 to the beverage outlet 10. The beverage outlet 10 may have:

A flow chamber 10a delimited by a bottom 10b and a side wall 10c, optionally a beverage outlet 10 configured to accumulate a pool of beverage 100 in the flow chamber 10a, and

An influent penetrator 12, such as a ridge 12 exposed to an influent, for penetrating the flow of beverage 100 delivered by the cell outflow opening 51 onto the penetrator 12 before reaching the bottom 10b of the flow chamber 10 a.

Influent penetrator 12 may have an upstanding generally spear-shaped member such as a member having a cross-section in the shape of a cross or star or a circular or convex polygon.

Influent penetrator 12 may have a top 121, such as a tapered top, that extends into cell outflow opening 51, for example over a length in the range of 0.01mm to 7mm, such as 0.3mm to 3mm, or is spaced below cell outflow opening 51 by a distance in the range of 0.01mm to 5mm, such as 0.3mm to 3 mm.

Influent penetrator 12 may have a tapered top 121 extending over a length ranging from 1mm to 7mm, such as 2mm to 5mm, for example, from a cylindrical or prismatic penetrator bottom 122 extending over a length ranging from 1mm to 15mm, such as 3mm to 7mm, for example. Penetrator bottom 122 and tapered top 121 may have a length ratio in the range of 1.5 to 7, such as 2 to 5, e.g., 2.5 to 4.

The beverage processing unit 5 may be configured to supply a beverage, such as coffee, typically prepared by centrifugation or pressure extraction, to the beverage outlet 10, the beverage comprising at least one of foam, coffee fat, sweetener and fat.

The beverage processing unit 5 may be configured to be supplied with a liquid, e.g. water, supplied via a machine fluid line from a liquid source, e.g. a machine tank 6, or a connector connected to an external liquid supply line, e.g. via a machine pump and/or a thermal regulator, e.g. a heater and/or a cooler.

The beverage processing unit 5 may be configured to be supplied with flavouring ingredients, e.g. flavouring ingredients are supplied into the beverage processing unit 5, e.g. within capsules or loosely or as agglomerates or in bulk, e.g. as a granular ingredient supply.

Claims

1. A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (100), the machine comprising a beverage processing unit (5) and a beverage outlet (10) in fluid communication with the unit (5), the outlet (10) comprising an outlet duct (11) extending along a flow direction (12) and having a downcomer portion (11 a) with a bottom end (13), a bottom dispensing opening (14) being located at the bottom end (13) for dispensing a beverage (100) from the bottom end (13) to an area (2) for placing a user-receiver (9), such as a cup or mug, to collect such dispensed beverage (100),

Optionally, the beverage outlet (10) and/or the processing unit (5) is at least partially located in a stationary frame and/or housing (4), for example:

-the beverage outlet (10) is movable relative to the stationary frame and/or housing (4) between a dispensing position in which the beverage outlet (10) dispenses the beverage (100) to the area (2) via the downcomer portion (11 a), and a non-dispensing position in which the beverage outlet (10) prevents dispensing to the area (2) via the downcomer portion (11 a), e.g. the beverage outlet (10) directs waste liquid towards a waste collector (3), and/or

The treatment unit (5) has a first part (53) and a second part (54) relatively movable between a proximal configuration in which they delimit a chamber (55) for containing and treating beverage ingredients therein, and a distal configuration for receiving in the chamber (55) and/or discharging from the chamber (55) such ingredients,

Characterized in that the downcomer portion (11 a) has a single lateral dispensing opening (14 a) above its bottom end (13), said single lateral dispensing opening being configured to dispense beverage (100) from the downcomer portion (11 a) above the bottom opening (14) to the area (2) for placing a user-receptacle (9) when the bottom opening (14) is partially or completely blocked at the bottom end (13).

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the single lateral dispensing opening (14 a) extends from the bottom opening (14), e.g. extends substantially upstream, e.g. forms a continuous beverage passage (14, 14 a) with the bottom opening.

3. The machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the single lateral dispensing opening (14 a) forms an elongated opening extending along the flow direction (12).

4. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the single lateral dispensing opening (14 a) forms an opening extending laterally inside an angle (a) of less than 180 degrees around a central axis (12 ') of the downcomer portion (11 a), such as in the range of 5 to 165 degrees, for example in the range of 15 to 150 degrees, for example in the range of 45 to 135 degrees, for example in the range of 60 to 120 degrees or 75 to 105 degrees, optionally the central axis (12') being parallel or collinear with the flow direction (12).

5. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the lateral dispensing opening (14 a) has a total outflow surface area greater than 50% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom opening (14), typically in the range of 50% to 300% of the total outflow surface area of the bottom opening (14), optionally in the range of 75% to 200% thereof, such as in the range of 85% to 150% thereof, for example in the range of 90% to 125% thereof.

6. A machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the downcomer portion (11 a) is associated with an internal flow guide (15 a, 15a ', 15b, 15b', 15c, 15c ', 15d, 15 d').

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the inner flow guide (15 a, 15a ', 15b, 15b', 15c, 15c ', 15d, 15 d') extends inside the duct bottom part (11 a) and optionally above it, above the bottom end (13), for example parallel to the flow direction.

8. The machine of claim 6 or 7, wherein the inner flow guide (15 a, 15a ', 15b, 15b', 15c, 15c ', 15d, 15 d') extends outside the conduit bottom part (11 a) below the bottom end (13), for example parallel to the flow direction.

9. The machine of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the internal flow guide comprises one or more guide members (15 a, 15a ', 15b, 15b', 15c, 15c ', 15d, 15 d') extending across at least a portion of the bottom end (13), optionally the single lateral dispensing opening (14 a) having one or two opposite sides defined by such guide members (15 a, 15a ', 15d, 15 d').

10. Machine according to claim 9, wherein said guide member (15 a, 15a ', 15b, 15b', 15c, 15c ', 15d, 15 d') is substantially shaped as a rib or a bar or an upstanding wall.

11. The machine of claim 9 or 10, wherein the guide member (15 a, 15b, 15c, 15 d) is connected at a central portion of the bottom end (13), optionally the guide member (15 a, 15b, 15c, 15 d) is connected to a central guide pin (16) extending downstream of the guide member (15 a, 15b, 15c, 15 d), or the beverage outlet is devoid of such pins.

12. The machine of claim 9 or 10, wherein the one or more guide members (15 a ', 15b', 15c ', 15 d') are spaced apart from a central portion of the bottom end (13), optionally the guide members are spaced apart from a central guide pin extending downstream of the guide members, or the beverage outlet is devoid of such pins.

13. The machine of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the one or more guide members (15 a, 15a ', 15b, 15b ', 15c, 15c ', 15d, 15d ') extend substantially radially with respect to a central axis of the downcomer portion (11 a) or the central axis (12 ').

14. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage processing unit (5) has a beverage guide (50) and a guide outflow opening (51) via which beverage (100) is transferred from the beverage guide to the beverage outlet (10), the beverage outlet (10) having:

-a flow cavity (10 a) delimited by a bottom (10 b) and a side wall (10 c), optionally the beverage outlet (10) being configured as a pool of accumulated beverage (100) in the flow cavity (10 a), and

An inflow penetrator (12), such as a ridge (12) exposed to an inflow, for penetrating a flow of beverage (100) delivered by a unit outflow opening (51) onto the penetrator (12) before reaching the bottom (10 b) of the flow cavity (10 a),

Optionally, the influent penetrator (12) has one or more of the following features:

upstanding substantially spear-shaped members, such as members having a cross-section in the shape of a cross or star or a circle or convex polygon;

-a top (121), such as a conical top, extending into the unit outflow opening (51), for example over a length in the range of 0.01 to 7mm, such as 0.3 to 3mm, or spaced below the unit outflow opening (51) by a distance in the range of 0.01 to 5mm, such as 0.3 to 3mm, and

-A conical top (121), for example a conical top extending over a length in the range of 1mm to 7mm, such as 2mm to 5mm, extending from a cylindrical or prismatic penetrator bottom (122), for example a bottom extending over a length in the range of 1mm to 15mm, such as 3mm to 7mm, optionally the penetrator bottom (122) and the conical top (121) having a length ratio in the range of 1.5 to 7, such as 2 to 5, for example 2.5 to 4.

15. The machine of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage processing unit (5) is configured to supply a beverage to the beverage outlet (10), such as coffee prepared typically by centrifugation or pressure extraction, the beverage comprising at least one of foam, coffee fat, sweetener and grease, optionally the beverage processing unit (5) is configured to supply with:

-a liquid, such as water, supplied via a machine fluid line from a liquid source, such as a machine tank (6), or a connector connected to an external liquid supply line, such as via a machine pump and/or a thermal regulator, such as a heater and/or a cooler, and/or

-Flavouring ingredients, for example within capsules or loosely or as agglomerates or in bulk, for example as a granular ingredient supply, are supplied into the beverage processing unit (5).