Patent ID: 9339142
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: A47J

Claim Text:
1. A method of preparing beverages using a beverage preparation machine for preparing beverages from one or more beverage ingredients, said beverage preparation machine comprising a cartridge head for receiving, in use, a cartridge containing said one or more beverage ingredients, a delivery system for supplying liquid from a storage tank to the cartridge head, valve means and a pump for supplying liquid through the delivery system, the method comprising the step of controlling a volume of air resident in a part of the delivery system of the machine to produce predetermined crema or froth characteristics in a prepared beverage, wherein the volume of air is actively controlled by decreasing the volume of air to decrease the air:liquid ratio in the beverage produced, or by maintaining the volume of air, and the control is effected in the following manner: 1. if the required volume of air is present, closing the valve means and subsequently starting operation of the pump; or 2. if too much air is present, opening the valve means, starting operation of the pump to vent air from the delivery system, and subsequently closing the valve means.