Patent ID: 7836819

Claim:
A cartridge, particularly for espresso coffee machines, for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained therein by means of water under pressure, the cartridge comprising: a main body comprising a cup portion and a lid portion, the cup portion comprising a base, a sidewall and a rim opposed to said base, the lid portion being fixedly attached to said rim of the cup portion so as to define an internal volume of said cartridge, the internal volume of said cartridge housing the particulate substance comprised within filtering means for retaining said particulate substance and for percolating fluid substances therethrough, said lid portion comprising a lid port defining a first passage for percolation fluid substances, the base of said cup portion comprising a cup port defining a second passage for percolation fluid substances, said internal volume comprising valve means mounted on said cup port which are resiliently openable under pressure of said percolation fluid substances during a beverage extraction phase, so as to allow passage of said percolation fluid substances through said cup port during said beverage extraction phase, said valve means comprising a pad or disc of a resilient material comprising a through slit that is normally closed, for insulating the internal volume of said cartridge from external environment and for retaining fluid residuals inside said internal volume when said beverage extraction has been terminated, said valve means, in their opened condition, allowing passage of said percolation fluid substances through said slit, for increasing formation and stability of crema in the beverage extracted from said cartridge when said particulate substance comprises ground coffee, and said cup port comprising fluid flow hurdles formed on its internal surface or mounted therein, for breaking direct fluid flow passing through said cup port.