Patent ID: 7748311

Claim:
An apparatus for preparing a consumable beverage with a fine-bubbled foam layer, such as coffee or milk with a fine-bubbled foam layer, comprising; a beverage unit for dispensing the beverage under pressure; at least one nozzle which is in fluid communication with the beverage unit for supplying the beverage to the nozzle for generating a jet of the beverage; and a collecting unit into which the jet spouts to obtain the beverage with the fine-bubbled foam layer, wherein the collecting unit comprises a chamber defining an inner wall and having at least one outflow opening for dispensing the beverage with the fine-bubbled foam layer and a jet impact element included in the chamber with a top, which is substantially free of the inner wall of the chamber, wherein the nozzle, jet impact element, and the at least one outflow opening are arranged substantially vertical relative to each other such that the jet impact element is located below the nozzle and the at least one outflow opening is located below and at least partially surrounds the jet impact element; wherein the nozzle and the jet impact element are positioned relative to each other such that the jet spouts against at least a part of the top of the jet impact element, wherein downward is directed toward the at least one outflow opening and upward is directed toward the nozzle; wherein the chamber is dimensioned relative to the top of the jet impact element to enable the beverage, after impact on the jet impact element, to form a mist directed upward that then flows downward against the inner wall of the chamber between the inner wall and the jet impact element and then leaves the chamber via the at least one outflow opening as the beverage with the fine-bubbled foam layer, wherein the at least one outflow opening for dispensing the beverage faces downwardly.