Patent ID: 8291811

Claim:
A machine for preparing brewed drinks, the machine comprising: a brewing compartment including a lid and a base, the brewing compartment being accessible using the lid for permitting a drink substrate portion to be inserted into the brewing compartment; a water inlet for supplying pressurized water to the brewing compartment, the water inlet supplying pressurized water into the brewing compartment in a manner such that, if the brewing compartment were to be opened while pressurized water is being supplied into it, water would spray from the brewing compartment into a user area of the machine; a safety valve, disposed along the pressurized water inlet downstream of a hot water source, the safety valve being operable to control the flow of supplied water; and a safety valve operator assembly operably associated with the lid to operate the safety valve using the lid, thereby preventing supplied water from entering the brewing compartment when the brewing compartment is open, and thereby preventing water from the brewing compartment from spraying into the user area of the machine.