EP-4734801-A1 - BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A system for producing a foamed beverage, the system comprising: a vessel comprising fluid deflection formations; a support element configured to be arranged within the vessel; and an impeller supported by the support element.

Inventors

• CAMPBELL, JONATHAN
• SAMMUT, Benjamin
• MASSEY, Thomas
• KANE, DANIEL

Assignees

• Hotel Chocolat Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20250701

Claims (20)

1. 1. A system for producing a foamed beverage, the system comprising: a vessel comprising fluid deflection formations; a support element configured to be arranged within the vessel; and an impeller supported by the support element.
2. 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises: a base; and a wall, wherein the wall comprises the fluid deflection formations.
3. 3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the fluid deflection formations are integrally formed with the wall.
4. 4. A system according to any of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the fluid deflection formations comprise alternating projections and recesses.
5. 5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid deflection formations comprise curved recesses.
6. 6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid deflection formations extend from the base of the vessel towards an open top end of the vessel.
7. 7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the fluid deflection formations are arranged to terminate a distance from the open top end of the vessel.
8. 8. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the support element comprises: a central portion; a shaft arranged below the central portion; and one or more support arms configured to extend from the central portion towards the vessel when the support element is arranged within the vessel.
9. 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the one or more support arms are configured to extend towards the vessel in an axial spiral.
10. 10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the spiral formed by the one or more support arms follows a direction of rotation of the impeller in use.
11. 11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the support element comprises a fluid impeding surface arranged to disrupt fluid rotation.
12. 12. A system according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the support arms comprise a fluid impeding surface arranged to disrupt fluid rotation.
13. 13. A system according to any of claims 8 to 10 or 12, wherein the one or more support arms further comprise one or more feet arranged to rest on the base of the vessel when the support element is inserted into the vessel, to allow liquid to flow beneath the support arms.
14. 14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the feet are configured to space the support arms from the base of the vessel.
15. 15. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the impeller comprises: an impeller body; and at least one blade arranged on an upper surface of the impeller body.
16. 16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one blade is arranged to extend in a radial direction away from a centre of rotation of the impeller.
17. 17. A system according to claim 15 or 16, comprising at least 12 blades and up to 20 blades.
18. 18. A system according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the impeller comprises: an impeller body; and at least one groove arranged in the upper surface of the impeller body.
19. 19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one groove is arranged to extend in a radial direction away from a centre of rotation of the impeller.
20. 20. A system according to claim 18 or 19, comprising at least 12 grooves and up to 20 grooves.

Description

BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE AND METHOD. TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The disclosure relates to systems and methods of preparing beverages. Particularly, the present invention relates to the preparation of frothed milk or milk-like products. [0002] Hot beverages made from milk products are an increasing market in the field of beverage preparation and consumption. In particular, the rise in popularity of caffeinated beverages has led to public awareness and demand for beverages comprising frothed milk or milk-like products. [0003] To meet this demand, producers of caffeinated products have established a number of establishments to which consumers must go to acquire the aforementioned beverages. This approach is merited by the difficulty of providing frothed milk or milklike products without specialised equipment. Furthermore, such frothed products have a limited lifetime during which their palatability reduces due to the foam structure of the milk collapsing. [0004] Processes and equipment for producing high quality frothed milk or milklike products are typically expensive and require skill to use, for example steam wands are the standard tool employed by establishments selling caffeinated frothed milk products. [0005] Equipment which can be used by the inexperienced consumer to produce high-quality foamed milk or milk-like products are therefore desirable. Such equipment must also be easy to use for an inexperienced consumer in a domestic environment. SUMMARY [0006] The present disclosure provides systems, methods and foamed milk or milk-like products which address one or more of the above described problems, needs and desires. In particular, the present disclosure provides for the preparation of high- quality foamed milk or milk-like products. Advantageously, the preparation can be carried out in a manner easy to use for an inexperienced consumer. [0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for producing a foamed beverage, the system comprising: a vessel comprising fluid deflection formations; a support element configured to be arranged within the vessel; and an impeller supported by the support element. [0008] Also provided herein is a method of preparing a foamed milk or foamed milk-like product comprising (a) adding milk or a milk-like product to a system for producing a foamed beverage, wherein the system comprises: a vessel comprising fluid deflection formations; a support element configured to be arranged within the vessel; and an impeller supported by the support element, wherein the milk or milk-like product is added to the vessel, and (b) aerating the milk or milk-like product by rotating the impeller thereby forming a foamed milk or milk-like product. [0009] Fluid deflection formations (which can interchangeably be referred to as liquid deflection formations) advantageously prevent or inhibit the liquid from forming a vortex, allowing higher impeller speeds to be used when foaming milk. The fluid deflection formations also encourage removal of large bubbles from the fluid, increasing homogeneity of foam and, as a consequence, the quality of foam, produced in the device. [0010] In some example implementations, the vessel does not comprise any fluid deflection formations. [0011] In some example implementations, the vessel may comprise one or more fluid deflection formations. [0012] In some example implementations, the vessel comprises: a base; and a wall, wherein the wall comprises the fluid deflection formations. [0013] The fluid deflection formations are provided on the wall of the vessel, thereby able to interact with a greater volume of fluid than if they were arranged on the base of the vessel. [0014] In some example implementations, the fluid deflection formations are integrally formed with the wall. [0015] The fluid deflection formations can thereby impede rotational flow without disrupting flow around the base, which is necessary to achieve mixing of solids which will tend to collect on the base of the vessel. [0016] In some example implementations, the fluid deflection formations comprise alternating projections and recesses. [0017] At least one recess and adjacent projection deflects fluid back into the centre of the vessel. [0018] In some example implementations, the recesses are curved. [0019] A smooth profile of the fluid deflection formations prevents splashing of the fluid during operation. [0020] In some example implementations, the fluid deflection formations extend from the base of the vessel towards an open top end of the vessel. [0021] The arrangement of the fluid deflection formations inhibits rotational flow of the fluid towards the walls of the vessel, whilst permitting vertical flow of the fluid (or at least preferentially inhibiting rotational flow). [0022] In some example implementations, the fluid deflection formations are arranged to terminate a distance from the open top end of the vessel. [0023] The fluid deflection formations