Patent ID: 7294266

Claim:
A filter cartridge for a water tank of a coffee machine, comprising: a housing containing a filter medium and having at least one inlet located at the bottom of said filter cartridge and an outlet located at the bottom of said filter cartridge; a plurality of spaced apart baffle members located in the interior of said housing and adapted to increase the length of the flow path of the water between said at least one inlet and said outlet; said housing including a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion mounted to said lower housing portion, said baffle members being fixed alternately to said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion and extend essentially in a vertical direction; said upper housing portion having water permeable barrier members extending therefrom toward the upper edges of the baffle members fixed to said lower housing portion; and a first number of water flow passages between said upper housing portion and said baffle members fixed to said lower housing portion as well as a second number of water flow passages between said lower housing portion and said baffle members fixed to said upper housing portion.