Patent Publication Number: US-2020288901-A1

Title: Machine and method for preparing beverages

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a machine, either automatic or semiautomatic, suitable for preparing beverages, hot or cold, such as coffee, tea, various infusions, or even just water, and a method for preparing the beverage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Machines that produce American-style coffee are known, that is, those long coffees also called “drip coffee”, obtained by infusing a quantity of coffee powder with hot water. 
     The Applicant set himself the problem of improving these machines, making them suitable to provide a wide range of beverages, whether cold, or, advantageously, hot. 
     It is known that current machines have a tank for the water, a device for heating the water, a container suitable for positioning a filtering element for the coffee powder, or other aromatic mixture, which is passed through by the hot water, and a receptacle, for example a jug, normally suitable to contain a maximum volume sufficient to fill a certain number of cups for the end users. 
     The jug is normally associated with its own heating means to keep the coffee beverage dispensed in the jug hot. 
     The heating device is generally put in co-operation with the tank, or put downstream of the tank, for example along a pipe that connects an exit of the tank to the filtering container. 
     When the heating device is activated, the heated water is made to flow from the tank to the filtering container in a known manner, either by convective motion, or by means of a pumping element. 
     The mixture can be introduced manually or automatically into the filtering element. Means for containing the powdered mixture, and/or metering means and automatic loading means can be present. 
     It is also known that such machines are generally structured and organized to provide the filtering container with the quantity of hot water useful and/or necessary, or to empty the tank. 
     These machines have a number of limitations and/or disadvantages. 
     A first disadvantage is that they dispense a fixed quantity of brewed beverage, and are not able to dispense accurate partial quantities with respect to the size of the jug and/or tank. 
     To partly solve such problems, machines are known that dispense beverages of the “drip coffee” type, which provide the possibility of selecting the quantity of brewed beverage, and also the degree of infusion of the same. 
     For example, machines are known that provide to control the quantity of water to be dispensed by regulating the operation of the heating mean. Such solutions, however, do not allow accurate control of the quantity of water to be dispensed in relation to the selection made by the user, since convective motion is generally unreliable. 
     Machines are also known that provide to control the quantity of water to be dispensed by a pump. These solutions too, however, do not guarantee to dispense the specific quantity of water for each beverage preparation, since the pump alone can not guarantee a correct control These machines provide to use level sensors disposed in the tank to control the water dispensed, but they do not allow a precise control. 
     Known solutions also provide to control the intensity of the beverage dispensed by performing a pre-infusion step and regulating the quantity of water and/or the pre-infusion time on each occasion. 
     Providing a pre-infusion step, however, entails an increase in the time required for dispensing the brewed beverage, which can therefore exceed the time normally set as a requirement by the “high quality” certification parameters. 
     Moreover, the period of time needed for pre-infusion, during which there is a pause in the delivery of the water, entails a decrease in the heat of the water delivered which influences the qualities of taste of the brewed beverage prepared. 
     Another disadvantage is that they are generally structured to dispense only coffee-based brewed beverages, so that they are not structured to dispense tea-based brewed beverages or other plant substances, or not. 
     In fact, known solutions do not allow to precisely modify the temperature of the water fed at exit, in order to adapt it to aromatic mixtures of different types. 
     It is indeed known that in order to prepare beverages based on tea or other vegetable substances, or other, different infusion temperatures than those required for coffee are generally required. Furthermore, different types of substances require different infusion times and temperatures. 
     These known machines, moreover, are not suitable for dispensing only hot water. If a user wishes to obtain only hot water, he can avoid filling the filtering container with the aromatic mixture; however, the hot water in any case passes through the filtering container, and therefore it can also marginally absorb the aromas, or other, retained inside it, remaining contaminated. 
     Machines for preparing a brewed beverage are known, which provide to divert a portion of the heated water so that it does not transit through the powdered mixture but is delivered directly into the receptacle that receives the beverage. This solution is implemented in part to reduce the dispensing time of the brewed beverage, and in part to dilute the intensity of the taste that otherwise could be excessive. 
     However, in the known machines as above, it is provided that a portion of the stream of heated water in any case passes through the filtering container, with the problems described above. 
     From WO-A-2016/034255 an apparatus and a method for preparing beverages are known, in particular espresso type coffee or “cappuccino”; the apparatus comprises a brewing chamber, at least a pump for supplying water from a tank to the brewing chamber, two heating elements to heat the water, and a controller to independently activate the heating elements. This solution, however, does not allow a user to specifically select the desired organoleptic characteristics for a determinate type of beverage to be prepared. 
     Document WO-A-2014/032110 discloses a machine for preparing espresso type coffee, which is constructed and programmed to have a secondary water system which can supply water in conjunction with the machine brewing mechanism to produce automatically an Americano-type coffee beverage. 
     EP-A-0 771 542 discloses a machine for preparing coffee comprising a water tank, a pump, a heat exchanger, a plurality of temperature sensors and a control device programmed to instantly control the operation of the pump as a function of the temperature of the water exiting the heat exchanger. 
     The aforementioned documents refer in particular to machines for preparing espresso type coffee which generally require to maintain a stable temperature around a given reference value, and possibly to modify the flow rate of the water to compensate for deviations of the water temperature with respect to the predefined reference value. 
     The machines known in the art, moreover, do not allow to effectively regulate the intensity of the taste of a selected beverage, without the need to modify the quantity of water or the type of coffee used. 
     The Applicant has thus set himself the purpose of extending the function and functionality of this type of machine, avoiding the disadvantages identified above, and others. 
     It is a first purpose to dispense different types and/or different quantities of beverage as requested by the user. 
     Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine able to regulate the temperature of the water delivered according to the type of aromatic mixture used and the user&#39;s selection. 
     Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine able to dynamically regulate the temperature of the water delivered according to the user&#39;s selection. 
     Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine able to regulate the temperature of the water delivered according to the organoleptic characteristics required in the selected beverage. 
     Another purpose of the present invention is to optimize the efficiency of the water heating. 
     Another purpose is to dispense the hot water with the precise temperature selected by a user. 
     Another purpose is to dispense the brewed beverage with the desired degree of intensity and desired concentration of the specific essence. 
     It is another purpose to facilitate and simplify the use of this machine by the user. 
     The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea. 
     In accordance with the above purposes, embodiments described here concern a machine for preparing a beverage which allows to dispense, on each occasion, the necessary quantity of water, or also the necessary quantity of water, in relation to the beverage required by a user. 
     The machine according to the invention also allows to optimize, on each occasion, the temperature, or also the temperature, of the heated water according to the beverage required. 
     The machine according to the invention provides, in particular, that a user can choose, by means of a user interface, a particular type of beverage, qualifying the characteristics thereof, for example a beverage with precise organoleptic characteristics. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine comprises selection means, with which a user can select the type of beverage, that is a brewed beverage, or hot water, as well as organoleptic characteristics thereof. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine comprises a first outlet for the brewed beverage, cooperating with the filtering container, and a second outlet for the hot water, cooperating with an autonomous diversion channel, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are selectively and alternatively put in fluidic communication with the tank by a diversion element. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine comprises a selector device by means of which the user can select the type of beverage. 
     According to other forms of embodiment, the selector device and the diversion element are reciprocally governed in a selective manner. 
     According to some embodiments, the user can select the quantity of beverage to be dispensed, choosing the size of the receptacle to be used, for example a jug, a cup, a mug a glass or a different sized receptacle. 
     According to a variant, the machine has means to control the maximum amount of water to be delivered, depending on the size of the receptacle used. 
     According to some embodiments the user can select the concentration of the brewed beverage, for example light, normal, or strong, or other, or the concentration of total dissolved solids. 
     According to other embodiments the user can select the delivery temperature of the beverage requested. 
     The machine comprises a water tank, of a known type, which can be filled on each occasion, periodically or continuously or alternatively, or in addition it can provide access to a continuous source. 
     Possible means to indicate the volume of water can be present in the tank, possibly associated with signaling means and/or controlled delivery means of water into the tank in order to warn if there is sufficient water or not. 
     According to a variant, means to indicate to the user the amount of water available are provided. 
     The tank is put in fluidic communication, by means of at least one circuit, with a filtering container suitable to contain the aromatic mixture to be subjected to infusion to obtain the desired brewed beverage. 
     According to some embodiments, the filtering container can be standard, that is, suitable to contain a desired quantity of aromatic mixture on each occasion. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine comprises a pump suitable to pick up the water from the tank and supply it to the filtering container. 
     According to another variant, the pump has an adjustable and controllable flow rate. 
     According to other embodiments, along the path of the fluid there is a flowmeter suitable to control the amount of water supplied. 
     Along the path of the water there is also a heating device of the water passing through. 
     According to some embodiments, the heating device comprises a boiler disposed along the pipe for the fluid, though which the water fed from the pump transits. 
     The boiler comprises at least a transit channel associated with at least a heating element disposed along its longitudinal extension. 
     Downstream of the heating device sensor means to control the temperature are advantageously provided. 
     The temperature sensor means guarantee that the water passing through as far as the outlet has the desired temperature. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine according to the invention comprises a control and command unit configured to receive information at least from the temperature sensor means and from the flowmeter, and to regulate the functioning of the heating device and the pump in order to regulate the temperature and the flow rate of the water delivered as a function of the selection made by the user. 
     In particular, the machine according to the invention on the one hand allow the user to select type, quantity and taste intensity of a beverage, or possibly also the temperature thereof, and on the other hand to regulate the intensity of the taste of the beverage selected according to what indicated by the user acting on the temperature and the flow rate of the water. 
     In other words, unlike what happens with the machines mainly intended to prepare espresso coffee, in which in order to change the intensity of the taste of a beverage it is necessary to change the type or quantity of aromatic mixture and/or the amount of water that is delivered through the aromatic mixture itself, the machine according to the invention provides to appropriately regulate the temperature and/or the flow rate of the water which passes through the aromatic mixture in order to obtain the desired taste and intensity on each occasion selected by the user. 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit interacts with the user interface and with the selector device to receive a command corresponding to the beverage selected by the user. 
     According to a variant, the machine has a memory unit in which are installed, or can be installed, tables in which there are standard parameters, or even limit parameters, concerning the various types and concentrations of beverages which can be selected. 
     According to another variant, the control and command unit, before authorizing the preparation of the beverage on the basis of the instructions given by the user, controls that the instructions are correct and correspond at least to the limits connected with the specific beverage. 
     Embodiments described here concern a method to prepare a beverage, wherein the method comprises at least: 
     receiving through a user interface associated with a control and command unit the selection of a type of beverage to be prepared selected between a beverage obtained by infusion, or hot water; 
     based on the type of beverage selected by the user, disenabling the commands of a user interface not related to the type of beverage selected, or enabling the commands connected with the type of beverage selected, in order to allow and simplify the selection by the user of further specific organoleptic characteristics for said type of beverage selected; 
     receiving and verifying the characteristics selected by the user as a function of the type of beverage selected, comprising at least one of either quantity, temperature, concentration, infusion times and/or particular functions; 
     conditioning the various functioning factors in relation to the specific characteristics of the specific beverage selected and the operating parameters provided for said beverage selected; 
     regulating the operation of a pump and a heating device to regulate the temperature and the flow rate of the water to be delivered according to the operating parameters provided for obtaining said selected beverage with the specific organoleptic characteristics selected. 
     According to a variant, the method provides to verify the functional correctness of the data introduced by the user before starting the preparation of the beverage on the basis of said data. 
     If the data are off target, the machine, according to a variant, returns them to the nearest or most suitable target value. 
     The characteristics of the beverage can comprise, for example, organoleptic characteristics, such as quantity, concentration of the solid substances dissolved, temperature, time or the type of infusion or other. 
     According to some embodiments, on the basis of the type of beverage selected, the method provides to modify the state of a diversion element to make the water pass through a filtering container inside which an aromatic mixture is positioned, or through a diversion channel. 
     According to a variant, the method also provides to activate the selective dispensing means associated with the outlets. 
     According to other embodiments, if a brewed beverage is selected, the verification of the characteristics selected by the user provides to verify if the user has selected a concentration for the brewed beverage, or if he has selected a dispensing function on ice. 
     According to these embodiments, if the dispensing function on ice has been selected, the method provides to wait for a selection of a concentration by the user before preparing the selected beverage. 
     According to other embodiments, if hot water has been selected, the verification of the characteristics selected by the user provides to verify the heating temperature of the water, and possibly wait for a command to confirm or modify the temperature, by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a machine for preparing beverages according to embodiments described here; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view in detail of a component of the machine for preparing beverages in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the control system of the machine for preparing beverages according to embodiments described here; 
         FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of a method for preparing a beverage according to embodiments described here; 
         FIG. 5  is a graph showing the concentration, or the percentage of dissolved solids (TDS) in the brewed beverage as a function of the percentage of extraction of the substances from the aromatic mixture. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments described here with reference to  FIG. 1  concern a machine  10  for preparing a hot or cold beverage according to a selection made by a user. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  according to the invention allows a user to select a type of beverage to be prepared and the respective organoleptic and quantity characteristics of the beverage. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a user interface  35  provided with suitable commands  51 - 56 , for example, push buttons, selection knobs, and/or a touch screen, by means of which the user can select the characteristics of the beverage to be prepared. 
     According to some embodiments, the selection of a beverage comprises the selection of the type of beverage and one or more characteristics including quantity, concentration, temperature. 
     According to some embodiments, the user interface  35  can comprise commands to select the quantity  51  of beverage to be dispensed, and/or the size of a receptacle  15  to be used, for example a jug, a half jug, a cup, a mug, a glass, or suchlike. 
     Furthermore, the user interface  35  can comprise commands to select the concentration  53  of the brewed beverage, for example light, normal, or strong, or other values, or the concentration of total dissolved solids. 
     According to a variant, the user interface  35  also comprises commands to select the temperature  52 , said commands, according to another variant, can also affect the delivery of the water itself. 
     According to other embodiments, the user interface  35  can comprise other commands for the functions of dispensing particular types of infusion  54 - 56 . 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a selector device  40  drivable by a user to select a type of beverage selected between a brewed beverage or hot water. 
     According to a variant, the selector device  40  is integrated in the user interface  35 . 
     The machine  10  comprises a tank  12  for the water, fluidly connected to a filtering container  13  suitable to contain an aromatic mixture  11  to be infused to obtain the brewed beverage. 
     For example, the aromatic mixture  11  can be a powdered mixture and/or with a desired grain size, in leaves, or portions thereof, of coffee, tea, or other vegetable substance, or other. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a first outlet  14  cooperating with the filtering container  13  through which the brewed beverage can be delivered into the receptacle  15 . 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a second outlet  16  for hot water, through which the hot water can be dispensed into the receptacle  15  without passing through the filtering container  13 . 
     According to possible solutions, the first outlet  14  and the second outlet  16  are advantageously disposed adjacent to each other, so as to allow to dispense the brewed beverage, or hot water, in the same zone, facilitating positioning of the receptacle  15  by the user. For example, the first  14  and the second outlet  16  can be made in a flange  50  that closes the housing  20 , located below the filtering container  13 . 
     According to some embodiments, the first outlet  14  and the second outlet  16  are associated with respective selective dispensing means  41 ,  42 , configured to open and/or close the outlets  14 ,  16  or possibly also to regulate the flow through them. 
     According to some embodiments, the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42  can comprise one or more valves  48 ,  49 . 
     According to a variant, both the first outlet  14  and the second outlet  16  are fluidly connected to the tank  12  by at least one circuit  22 ,  23 . 
     According to some embodiments, the first outlet  14  and the second outlet  16  partly share at least one segment of the same circuit  22 . 
     According to other embodiments, the second outlet  16  is put in fluid communication with the circuit  22  by means of a diversion channel  23 , separated from the filtering container  13 . 
     According to some embodiments, the diversion channel  23  can be made in a peripheral portion of the filtering container  13 , separated from the compartment where the aromatic mixture  11  is positioned. 
     According to other embodiments, the diversion channel  23  can be an independent channel. 
     The tank  12  can generally be a container configured to contain a certain quantity of water to prepare a beverage. For example, the volume of the tank  12  can be equal to at least the volume of water needed to fill a jug. 
     The tank  12  can be provided with an introduction aperture  12   a,  associated with a lid  60 , through which water can be introduced into it, and an outlet aperture  17  from which the desired quantity of water can be taken on each occasion. 
     According to some embodiments, the tank  12  can be positioned inside a housing  20  of the machine  10 , or attached thereto, possibly removably, to be subjected to cleaning and/or for filling. 
     According to some embodiments, the filtering container  13  for the mixture can have a funnel shape, and a filtering element  18  can be inserted therein, suitable to retain the solids of the aromatic mixture  11 , preventing them from being dispensed together with the brewed beverage. 
     According to a variant, means are provided to control the presence of the filtering element  18 . 
     According to another variant, if the filtering element  18  is absent, said means block the functioning of the machine  10 , possibly emitting a specific signal. 
     According to some embodiments, access means  61  and/or movement means can be provided, configured to allow access to the filtering container  13  in order to introduce on each occasion a desired quantity of aromatic mixture  11  and/or remove it together with the possible filtering element  18  at the end of dispensing of the beverage prepared. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a diffusion head  19 , disposed above the filtering container  13  and configured to dispense the water arriving from the tank  12  above the aromatic mixture  11  so as to distribute the water on the aromatic mixture  11 . 
     According to some embodiments, the diffusion head  19  can be configured to dispense the water in a shower, jets, mist, or also possibly in a continuous flow. 
     The machine  10  also comprises a heating device  21 , disposed between the tank  12  and the filtering container  13 , and configured to heat the water in transit to the desired temperature. 
     According to some embodiments, the heating device  21  is disposed along the hydraulic circuit  22  that connects the tank  12  to the diffusion head  19 . 
     According to some embodiments, the heating device  21  comprises a boiler  24  having at least a conduit  25  defining at least a transit channel  25   a  for the water to be heated, and at least one heating element  26  associated with the boiler  24  and configured to heat the water inside. 
     According to some embodiments, the transit channel  25   a  defines a segment of the circuit  22 . According to possible solutions, the internal walls of the transit channel  25   a  have a suitable shape to extend the useful heat exchange surface. 
     According to some embodiments, the transit channel  25   a  is internally lined with a material which does not allow the sedimentation of limescale. 
     According to other embodiments, the boiler  24  comprises at least one first smaller branch  24   a  and a second larger branch  24   b.    
     The larger branch  24   b  is disposed in a vertical direction, so as to reduce thermal losses to a minimum. 
     The inlet of the boiler  24  in particular is advantageously positioned at a lower height than its output. 
     According to some embodiments, the boiler  24  can be L-shaped, providing the smaller branch  24   a  disposed at least partly horizontally. 
     According to possible embodiments, the boiler  24  comprises an accumulation zone  24   c,  in which possible water residues present in the boiler  24  can be collected. 
     The accumulation zone  24   c  is preferably disposed upstream of the larger vertical branch  24   b  along the path of the water. 
     According to some embodiments, the boiler  24  can comprise two vertical branches, located on one side and the other of the accumulation zone  24   c.    
     According to possible variant embodiments, the boiler  24  can be U-shaped or J-shaped. 
     The U or J shape is particularly advantageous since the water possibly present inside tends to accumulate in the accumulation zone  24   c,  allowing it to be dried by activating the heating element  26 . 
     When water flows in a vertical segment, in fact, it is in direct contact with all the internal walls of the transit channel  25   a,  so that the heat exchange surface is maximized. 
     According to some embodiments, the heating device  21  comprises two or more heating elements  26 ,  27 . 
     According to other embodiments, the heating elements  26 ,  27  can be electrical resistances disposed along the longitudinal development of the boiler  24 , in a linear manner or in a spiral. 
     According to a variant, the heating elements  26 ,  27  can be activated so that they reach the target temperature, or to modulate their temperature. 
     According to some embodiments, the heating elements  26 ,  27  are autonomous and independent of one another. In particular, the heating elements  26 ,  27  can be selectively fed according to the temperature to which the water in transit is to be heated and/or depending on the state of progress of the beverage preparation operation. 
     According to some embodiments, the heating elements  26 ,  27  have the same power, that is, each one corresponds to 50% of the overall power of the heating device  21 . 
     According to possible variants, the heating elements  26 ,  27  have different powers from each other, thus allowing a further modulation of the heating temperature. 
     For example, according to possible implementations, the heating elements  26 ,  27  can have proportional powers, for example 60%-40%, 70%-30%, 75%-25%, 80%-20%, or intermediate values. 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  also comprises temperature sensor means  28  disposed along the circuit  22  and configured to detect the temperature of the water in transit. 
     According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor means  28  are disposed downstream of the boiler  24  so as to detect the temperature of the water in transit near the area in which it comes into contact with the aromatic mixture  11 . 
     According to possible variants, the temperature sensor means  28  can be positioned inside the boiler  24 , possibly in correspondence with the exit end of the transit channel  25   a.    
     According to other variants, temperature sensor means  28  can be provided both integrated in the boiler or in the heating device  21 , and also disposed downstream thereof and possibly upstream as well, so as to be able to regulate the supply of the one or more heating elements  26 ,  27  also depending on the difference in water temperature detected upstream and downstream of the heating device  21 . 
     According to possible solutions, the temperature sensor means  28  can comprise a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) resistance, located inside a pipe defining a segment of the circuit  22 . 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a pump  30  disposed along the circuit  22  and configured to draw the water from the tank  12  and feed it through the boiler  24  toward the filtering container  13  or the second outlet  16 . 
     According to some embodiments, the pump  30  can be selectively activated to take on each occasion the quantity of water suitable for preparing the quantity of beverage selected by the user. 
     According to some embodiments, the pump  30  is of the adjustable flow type, so that it is possible to regulate the speed of the water that passes through the boiler  24  and possibly through the aromatic mixture  11 . 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises flow detection means disposed in the tank  12  and/or along the circuit  22  to measure the quantity of water in transit through it. 
     According to some embodiments, the flow detection means comprise a flowmeter  32 . 
     According to some embodiments, the flowmeter  32  is located upstream of the pump  30 , allowing a faster and more efficient detection of the flow rate and therefore a dynamic and real-time regulation of the pump  30 . 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a diversion element  44  disposed along the circuit  22  and configured to selectively divert the flow of water toward the filtering container  13  or toward the diversion channel  23 . 
     The diversion element  44  in particular separates the circuit  22  into two portions  22   a,    22   b,  of which a first portion  22   a  is disposed upstream of the diversion element  44 , defining the shared segment of the circuit  22 , and a second portion  22   b  is disposed downstream thereof. 
     According to variant embodiments, the diversion element  44  is disposed downstream of the heating device  21  and the temperature sensor means  28 . 
     In this way, if the user selects the preparation of a brewed beverage, the water is made to pass in the filtering container  13  through the aromatic mixture  11 , while if the user selects the preparation of hot water only, the heated water is diverted in such a way that it does not pass through the filtering container  13 , preventing the risk of possible contamination. 
     According to other embodiments, the diversion element  44  can assume at least a first state in which it closes the diversion channel  23  and allows the water to transit to the filtering container  13 , and a second state in which it closes the circuit  22  toward the filtering container  13  and allows the water to transit through the diversion channel  23 . 
     According to possible solutions, the diversion element  44  can comprise a three-way valve, of which two paths are associated with the circuit  22  respectively as inlet and as first outlet, and one path is associated as second outlet to the diversion channel  23 . 
     According to other embodiments, the diversion element  44  assumes the first or second operating state, depending on the position of the selector device  40 . 
     For example, it can be provided that the first position of the selector device  40  corresponds to the selection of an brewed beverage and determines the first state of the diversion element  44 , while the second position corresponds to the selection of hot water only and determines the second state of the diversion element  44 . 
     According to other embodiments, the selector device  40  can be connected to the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42  associated with the first  14  and the second outlet  16  and can directly or indirectly condition the functioning thereof, in relation to the opening or closing of the first and second outlets  14 ,  16 . 
     According to some embodiments, it can be provided that, depending on the position of the selector device  40 , one of the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42  closes/opens its outlet  14 ,  16 , while the other of the selective dispensing means  41 ,  40  opens/closes its outlet  16 ,  14 . 
     For example, when the selector device  40  is in the first position, the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42  can be disposed so as to open the first outlet  14  and close the second outlet  16 ; when the selector device  40  is in the second position, on the contrary, they can close the first outlet  14  and open the second outlet  16 . 
     According to possible variants, the selector device  40  can assume three different positions, with a third position in which the selective dispensing means  40 ,  41  close both outlets  14 ,  16  with the respective valves  48 ,  49 . 
     Closing the valves  48 ,  49  allows, in particular, to remove the receptacle  15  during the dispensing of the beverage without risk of drips. This is particularly useful when dispensing a brewed beverage. In fact, when dispensing water only, switching off the pump  30  implies stopping the dispensing, while when dispensing an brewed beverage, the dispensing continues for a certain period of time after the pump  30  has been switched off, because of the delay due to the transit of the water through the aromatic mixture  11 . 
     According to possible solutions, the machine  10  can be provided with presence detection means, not shown, configured to detect the presence of a receptacle  15  in correspondence with one or the other outlet  14 ,  16 . The presence detection means can be connected to the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42 , so as to regulate their functioning. 
     According to some embodiments, the selector device  40  can be a mechanical device, such as a lever, a sliding bar, or similar element, which can be manually moved by the user. 
     According to these embodiments, the selector device  40  can directly drive the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42 . 
     According to variant embodiments, the selector device  40  can be an electrical or electronic command, which can be activated by the user or according to a functioning program. 
     According to some embodiments, the selector device  40  is subjected to a functioning program executed by a control and command unit  34 . 
     In this case, the selector device  40  can indirectly drive the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42 . 
     According to other embodiments, position sensor means  45 ,  46  can be provided, configured to detect the position of the selector device  40 . 
     According to some embodiments, the position sensor means  45 ,  46  can comprise one or more of either optical sensors, proximity sensors, or other similar or comparable elements, possibly cooperating with mating elements associated with the selector device  40 . 
     According to some embodiments, the machine  10  comprises a control and command unit  34 , configured to regulate the operation of the machine  10  according to the user&#39;s selection, to prepare on each occasion the selected beverage. 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit  34  can comprise, or be connected to, a memory unit  33 , in which information can be memorized relating to the operating parameters for the preparation of each selectable beverage. 
     According to some embodiments, the percentage of total dissolved solids (TDS) and optimal extraction percentages can be memorized in the memory unit  33  for each selectable brewed beverage, for example, defined on the basis of a graph of the type shown in  FIG. 5 . The graph shows the optimal percentages fot different concentrations of coffee according to the standard parameters defined by Special Coffee Association (SCA). 
     The term “percentages of TDS” means the quantity of substances present in the brewed beverage with respect to the quantity of water that makes up the beverage itself. 
     The term “extraction percentages” means the quantity of substances that have been extracted from the aromatic mixture  11  used, in the present example from the coffee powder, with respect to the quantity of aromatic mixture  11  used. 
     For example, for a coffee-based brewed beverage with a “normal” or “ideal” concentration, the extraction percentage can be comprised between 18% and 22%, while the percentage of TDS can be comprised between 1.15% and 1.45%. Fora “light”, or “weak” concentration, the percentage of TDS can be comprised between 0.8% and 1.30%, preferably between 1% and 1.20%, while for a “strong” concentration the percentage of TDS can be comprised between 1.30% and 1.50%, preferably between 1.40% and 1.50%. An additional “ultra-strong” concentration can also be provided, where the percentage of TDS can be greater than 1.50%. 
     Moreover, given the same quantity of brewed beverage to be prepared, specific information regarding optimal water temperature for each light, normal, strong, or possibly ultra-strong concentration, or other, can be memorized. 
     According to variant embodiments, the information can comprise the optimum values of water temperature and/or speed for each beverage selectable by the user, that is, for each combination defined by type of beverage, quantity, concentration, temperature, etc. 
     According to variant embodiments, the memorized information comprises, for each selectable beverage, a range of duty-cycle values for activating the heating device  21  and/or a range of values of the flow rates of the water, suitable to guarantee both that the water is heated to the optimal temperature, and also the specific TDS percentages for each beverage. 
     The regulation of the temperature makes it possible to prepare, in addition to coffee, beverages based on tea or other vegetable substances, which generally require lower infusion temperatures than those required for coffee. 
     By way of example, while for a coffee beverage a water temperature preferably comprised between about 92° C. and about 96° C. is required, to prepare tea a water temperature comprised between about 70° C. and about 90° C. is preferable, depending on the quality of the tea used, or other substance to be infused. 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit  34  can be connected to the position sensors  45 ,  46  to receive an indication of the position of the selector device  40 . 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit  34  is connected to the diversion element  44  and is configured to modify the state of the latter according to the indication received from the position sensors  45 ,  46 . 
     According to possible variant embodiments, it can be provided that the control and command unit  34  can modify the state of the diversion element  44  even during the preparation of the beverage, so as to dilute the brewed beverage and, for example, prepare an “ultra-light” beverage, for example having TDS&lt;1%. In this case, during the delivery of the brewed beverage, the control and command unit  34  can keep both outlets  14 ,  16  open, acting on the respective selective dispensing means  41 ,  42 , and alternately modify the status of the diversion element  44  so as to delivery a portion of the water in the filtering container  13 , and to dispense a portion of the water directly into the receptacle  15  without making it transit through the aromatic mixture  11 , possibly exploiting the time needed for the water in the filter container  13  to pass through the aromatic mixture  11 . 
     According to other embodiments, the control and command unit  34  can act on the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42  to close and open the respective outlets  14 ,  16 . 
     According to variant embodiments, the control and command unit  34  can act on the selector device  40  on the basis of a functioning program provided for the specific selected beverage to command the operation of the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42 . 
     Providing an automated activation/deactivation of the selective dispensing means  41 ,  42  also allows to fill the filtering container  13  with the desired quantity of water and to keep the first outlet  14  closed for a certain time before dispensing the beverage into the receptacle  15  This allows to prepare a beverage with the desired degree of infusion, for example, to prepare even a cold-brewed beverage, commonly referred to as cold-brew, which requires high cold infusion times of the aromatic mixture  11 , even hours, or to prepare a tea, or a herbal tea, by hot infusion of the aromatic mixture  11  generally for some minutes. 
     According to a variant, means are provided which determine, depending on the organoleptic characteristics required for the type of beverage, the closing time of the valve  48  associated with the infusion. 
     According to other embodiments, depending on the position of the selector device  40 , the control and command unit  34  can also enable and/or disenable one or more commands of the user interface  35 . 
     In this way, depending on the selection of brewed beverage or hot water, the user can select additional characteristics of the beverage to be prepared. 
     According to some embodiments, if the brewed beverage is selected, the control and command unit  34  can enable commands of the user interface  35  suitable to select quantity  51 , concentration  52 , and/or temperature  53 . 
     According to some embodiments, if the brewed beverage is selected, the control and command unit  34  can also enable a command for the function of dispensing the brewed beverage on ice  54 . 
     According to some embodiments, if the function of dispensing the beverage on the ice  54  is selected, the control and command unit  34  enables, or maintains enabled, the concentration selection commands  52  so that the user can select the desired concentration of the beverage to be dispensed on ice. 
     According to other embodiments, if the brewed beverage is selected, the control and command unit  34  can also enable a command for the function of preparing the cold brewed beverage, or cold-brew  55 . 
     In this case, when the command for the “cold-brew” function  55  is selected, the control and command unit  34  can activate the pump  30  to fill the filtering container  13  with the desired quantity of water, and then leave the aromatic mixture  11  in infusion for the necessary time, for example according to a functioning program memorized in the memory unit  33 , before activating the first selective dispensing means  41  and opening the outlet for the brewed beverage  14  to dispense the beverage into the receptacle  15 . 
     According to other embodiments, if the brewed beverage is selected, the control and command unit  34  can also enable a command for the function of preparing a brewed beverage with intermittent delivery, generally referred to as a “pour-over”  56 . 
     According to possible variants, if hot water is selected, the control and command unit  34  can enable commands of the user interface  35  to select quantity  51  and/or temperature  53 , and disenable those for the selection of the concentration  52 , or for the possible special infusion functions  54 ,  55 ,  56 . 
     According to other variations, it can be provided that the commands to select quantity  51  are active for each type of beverage. 
     According to other variations, it can be provided that the commands to select temperature  52  are active for each type of beverage. 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit  34  is also connected to the temperature sensor means  28  and to the flowmeter  32  to receive the data detected by them. 
     The control and command unit  34  is also configured to compare the data received with the values memorized in the memory unit  33 . 
     Depending on the selection made by the user on the type of beverage to be prepared and/or characteristics selected, and on the basis of the data received from the temperature sensor means  28  and the flowmeter  32 , the control and command unit  34  can regulate the flow rate of the pump  30  and/or the switching on/off of the heating device  21  to obtain the beverage selected. 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit  34  receives in real time the data relating to the flow rate and temperature of the water and dynamically regulates, with a feedback control, the pump  30  and the heating device  21  in such a way that the water is heated at the optimum temperature defined for the selected beverage. 
     According to a variant, the control and command unit can regulate the flow rate of the pump and activate the heating device  21  by means of a PID type regulation system, or by other suitable means. 
     According to these embodiments, for example, the PID regulation system can receive as inlets the flow rate of the water detected by the flowmeter  32  and the temperature of the water detected by the temperature sensor means  38  and supply as outlets the flow rate of the pump  30  and the power supply of the heating element  26 ,  27  of the heating device  21 . 
     According to some embodiments, the control and command unit  34  regulate the operation of the pump  30  and the heating device  21  in order to consequently modify the temperature and the flow rate of the water passing through the aromatic mixture so as to modify the taste and the intensity of the beverage according to the selection made by the user. 
     In particular, given the same temperature of the heated water, the control and command unit  34  can decrease or increase the flow rate of the pump  30 , and hence the water speed, respectively, to extract more or fewer substances from the aromatic mixture  11 , and thus regulate the intensity of the beverage. 
     For example, it can be provided that the control and command unit  34 , to modify the flow rate, acts on the feed power of the pump  30 , in such a way as to increase or decrease the number of revs of the motor of the pump. 
     According to other embodiments, the pump  30  can be selectively activated/deactivated to deliver the water in pulses, so as to perform a “pour-over” infusion, that is, to obtain a particularly slow extraction of the substances from the aromatic mixture  11 . 
     According to other embodiments, the control and command unit  34  can selectively switch on and off the at least one heating element  26 ,  27  according to a certain duty-cycle, so as to keep it at the suitable temperature. 
     For example, in order to prepare a jug of coffee beverage with a “light” concentration, the control and command unit  34  can regulate the pump  30  to maintain a flow rate comprised between 0.28 and 0.32 dm3/min and switch on/off the one or more heating elements  26 ,  27  with a duty cycle comprised between 55% and 65%. In another example, to prepare a jug of coffee beverage with a “normal” concentration, the control and command unit  34  can regulate the pump  30  to maintain a flow rate comprised between 0.23 and 0.28 dm3/min and switch on/off the one or more heating elements  26 ,  27  with a duty cycle comprised between 65% and 75%. According to another example, in order to prepare a jug of coffee beverage with a “strong” concentration, the control and command unit  34  can regulate the pump  30  to maintain a flow rate comprised between 0.19 and 0.23 dm3/min and switch on/off the one or more heating elements  26 ,  27  with a duty cycle comprised between 75% and 85%. In yet another example, in order to prepare a jug of coffee beverage with an “ultra-strong” concentration, the control and command unit  34  can regulate the pump  30  to maintain a flow rate comprised between 0.17 and 0.19 dm3/min and switch on/off the one or more heating elements  26 ,  27  with a duty cycle comprised between 85% and 95%. 
     It is understood that the optimal values of flow rate and duty-cycle can be suitably modified depending on the characteristics of the pump  30  and heating device  21  utilized. 
     According to other embodiments, the control and command unit  34  autonomously and independently switches on and off each heating element  26 ,  27 , so as to suitably modulate the temperature of the heating device  21  according to the operations to be performed. 
     For example, the temperature of the heating device  21  can be modulated on the basis of slow preheating operations, temperature maintenance, high temperature delivery, or other. 
     The possibility of dynamically modifying both the flow rate of the pump  30  and also the temperature of the heating device  21 , and hence of the water, allows to optimize the extraction of the substances of the aromatic mixture  11  to obtain the desired intensity of the beverage as selected by the user, without needing a pre-infusion step, thus meeting the requirements for high quality. 
     According to possible variants, however, it can be provided to perform a pre-infusion step of the aromatic mixture  11  before dispensing the brewed beverage. 
     In this case, it can be provided to keep the first outlet  14  closed with the first selective dispensing means  41  for a suitable time for performing pre-infusion. 
     According to other embodiments, the housing  20  is provided with a support base  37  for the receptacle  15 . 
     According to possible variants, the support base  37  can be provided with additional heating means  38  selectively activated by the control and command unit  34  to keep the beverage dispensed in the receptacle  15  hot. 
     For example, the additional heating means  38  can comprise a Positive Coefficient Temperature (PCT) resistance. 
     According to possible embodiments, not shown, other support bases can be provided, possibly folding or mobile, configured to bring a smaller receptacle  15  closer to the outlet of the beverage  14  so as to prevent any splashes of beverage, for example if the receptacle  15  used is a cup, or a glass. 
     Embodiments described here concern a method for preparing a beverage as a function of a selection made by a user. 
     According to embodiments described by way of example with reference to the block diagram in  FIG. 4 , the method according to the invention provides: 
     to start the machine (block  100 ); 
     to verify if a command has been received regarding the type of beverage to be prepared (block  101 ) and possible stand-by; 
     to insert in a user interface  35  associated with a control and command unit  34  the selection of a type of beverage to be prepared by infusion, or hot water (block  102 ); 
     based on the type of beverage selected by the user, to enable or disenable a plurality of commands of the user interface  35  (blocks  103 ,  104 ,  107 ,  108 ), in order to respectively allow or prevent the selection of other characteristics by the user of the beverage to be prepared; 
     to receive other characteristics selected by the user as a function of the type of beverage selected (blocks  105 - 108 ) and/or the quantity of beverage, and/or the size of thee receptacle  15 ; 
     to condition the various functioning factors in relation to the specific characteristics of the specific beverage selected and the operating parameters provided for said beverage selected (block  109 ); 
     to deliver the water according to the operating parameters provided for the specific beverage with the specific organoleptic characteristics selected (block  110 ). 
     The characteristics of the beverage can comprise, for example, organoleptic characteristics such as the concentration of dissolved solid substances, temperature, time or type of infusion, quantity of beverage, taste and/or intensity of the beverage, or other. 
     According to some embodiments, the verification of the command of the beverage type selected comprises detecting the position of the selector element  40  by means of the position sensors  45 ,  46 . 
     According to some embodiments, depending on the type of beverage selected, the method provides to determine the state of the diversion element  44  to selectively and fluidly connect the tank  12  to the first outlet  14  for the brewed beverage, or to the second outlet  16 . 
     According to other embodiments, the control and command unit  34 , depending on the type of beverage selected, disenables the commands of the user interface  35  that are not correlated to that selection, or enables the commands correlated with the type of beverage selected, so as to simplify the use of the machine  10  for the user. 
     According to some embodiments, if the user has selected the preparation of a brewed beverage in block  102 , the method provides to maintain enabled at least the commands for selecting the concentration of the brewed beverage  53  (block  103 ). 
     According to other embodiments, if the user has selected the preparation of an brewed beverage in block  102 , the method provides to maintain enabled at least the commands for selecting special infusion functions  54 - 56  (block  104 ) and/or for selecting the concentration  53 . 
     According to other embodiments, if the user has selected a brewed beverage, the verification of the characteristics selected by the user provides to verify whether the user has selected a concentration for the brewed beverage (block  105 ), or has selected a function of dispensing on ice, depending on the commands  53 ,  54  driven. 
     According to these embodiments, if the function of dispensing on ice has been selected, the method provides to enable and/or to keep active the commands to select the concentration  52  and to wait for another selection of the concentration by the user before proceeding with the preparation of the beverage. 
     According to other embodiments, if hot water is selected in block  102 , the verification of the characteristics selected by the user provides to verify whether the water heating temperature is that desired by the user (block  107 ). 
     If so, the method provides to prepare the beverage, while if not the method provides to maintain the temperature selection commands  52  enabled to allow the user to select the desired value (block  108 ). 
     According to some embodiments, the method comprises a verification of the quantity of beverage selected by the user (block  109 ), which can be carried out at any time between the start of the machine  10  and the dispensing of the beverage (block  110 ). 
     According to variant embodiments, the conditioning step of the various functioning factors comprises determining the specific temperature parameters for the selected beverage. 
     For example, determining the specific parameters can be obtained by comparing the received commands relating to the type and characteristics of the selected beverage with the data memorized in the memory unit  33 . 
     According to other embodiments, the conditioning step of the various functioning factors comprises determining the values of the flow rate of the pump  30  and the activation cycle of the heating device  21  suitable to obtain the specific temperature parameters. 
     According to some embodiments, the functioning factors can be managed so as to guarantee to prepare and dispense the brewed beverage within 4-8 minutes, so as to meet the requirements of high quality independently from quantity and concentration of the selected brewed beverage. 
     According to some embodiments, determining the values of the flow rate and the activation cycle can be obtained by comparing the received commands relating to the type and characteristics of the selected beverage with the data memorized in the memory unit  33  and/or the data received from the flowmeter  32  and the temperature sensor means  28 . 
     According to other embodiments, at the start of the preparation, the method provides to initially activate the pump  30  until the boiler  24  is filled with the water to be heated, reaching the temperature sensor means  28  and subsequently to activate the element heating  26 ,  27  until the water inside the boiler  24  reaches a temperature coherent with the beverage selected. 
     According to some embodiments, when the temperature sensor means  28  detect a temperature of the heated water corresponding to the specific temperature, the control and command unit  34  again starts the pump  30  to dispense the amount of water corresponding to the selection made. 
     According to other embodiments, at the end of the dispensing of the beverage, the method provides to restore the initial conditions of the machine, so as to guarantee, on each occasion, for each beverage selected, both to heat the water to the correct and specific temperature, and also to provide the defined quantity thereof. 
     According to other embodiments, at the end of the dispensing of the beverage, the method provides to deactivate the pump  30 , leaving the heating device  21  active for a certain time so as to empty the circuit  22  by means of a convective motion, and possibly to dry the water remaining inside it. 
     In this way, possible residual water is prevented from remaining in the circuit and distorting the measurement of the quantity of water dispensed in a subsequent beverage dispensing operation. 
     According to possible variant embodiments, if a user selects the function of dispensing on ice  54 , the control and command unit  34  regulates the pump  30  and the heating device  21  so that, once dispensed in a receptacle filled with ice, its concentration and volume correspond to the selection made by the user. 
     In particular, the control and command unit  34  can regulate the operating parameters of the pump  30  and the heating device  21  in order to prepare a brewed beverage with a concentration higher than the concentration selected so as to compensate the dilution due to the ice in the receptacle  15 . 
     For example, if a jug of beverage on ice with a “normal” concentration is selected, the control and command unit  34  commands the components to prepare a lower quantity of brewed beverage, for example half a jug, with a higher concentration, for example “strong”, so as to compensate for the dilution of the beverage due to the ice and, at the same time, not to dispense volumes greater than the capacity of the receptacle  15  selected. 
     According to possible variants, if hot water is selected, the method according to the invention provides to enable the commands to select the temperature  52  for each type of beverage selected. 
     According to other embodiments, the method according to the invention provides to enable the commands to select the temperature  52  for each type of beverage selected. 
     According to other embodiments, it can be provided that the user can enter the desired temperature value independently, or can choose from a plurality of pre-set values. 
     It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the machine  10  and the method for preparing a beverage as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. 
     It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of machine  10  and method for preparing a beverage, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.