Capsule for an extraction beverage and device for preparing a beverage

ES 2 575 582 T3

DESCRIPTION

Capsule for an extract and a beverage preparation system

The invention relates to the preparation of beverages or the like from an extract contained in a capsule, for example, ground coffee. It relates in particular to a pierceable capsule as a portion pack as well as to a beverage preparation system.

Extract apparatus for preparing beverages from an extract available in a serving pack are known, for example, as coffee makers or espresso machines and are increasingly enjoying increasing preference. In many corresponding systems, the portion packs are configured as capsules in which the extract is, for example, encapsulated in airtight manner. For extraction, the capsule is pierced by two mutually opposite faces. An extraction liquid - generally hot water - is introduced on the first side. On the second side, the extract of the capsule is evacuated. Depending on the beverage to be prepared and the system, a considerable pressure of, for example, 5 to 20 bar, must also reign inside the capsule.

As materials for capsules, in particular aluminum and plastic, for example polypropylene, have been disclosed. The aluminum capsules provide a very good stability for the extract, although they are very expensive in energy to prepare.

Polypropylene capsules are advantageous in terms of energy cost and disposal, but have high requirements on their piercing mechanism.

On the market, both capsules with integrated filter elements as well as capsules that have only one shell, which enclose the extract, can be purchased. For the latter, the piercing mechanism must be made in such a way that the extract together with the extract product cannot be unwantedly discharged from the capsule.

An example of a capsule without an integrated filter element is disclosed, for example, in EP 1 886 942.

A cup-shaped capsule is explained in document EP 1 344 722. The capsule according to said document has, inside the capsule, a dispensing or collecting member, which separates a first section of the capsule to be filled with water or drink from a second section, containing excerpt. The dispensing or collecting member is provided with a multiplicity of liquid channels to distribute the water or collect the beverage and is configured and arranged in such a way that it is not perforated by the perforating means of the coffee maker.

Furthermore, for example from US 2005/0051478 capsules with an integrated filter are known. The filter adopts the function of a paper filter of a well-known filter coffee maker: in the section of the capsule provided with the extract, water is injected by means of a piercing needle under reduced pressure or without pressure, and after the extraction process the coffee arrives to a collection section through the capsule's own paper filter, from where it is removed by means of yet another piercing needle.

From WO 2008/011913 a capsule is known which has an outlet, which is closed with a tissue that forms a "cream". The capsule also has a safety cap, which has a tab that holds the fabric in place. On the face opposite the outlet, there is a closure, which forms a concavity that surrounds annularly around an inlet.

From EP 1 440 910 A1, a capsule with an empty section inside the capsule is known.

In many regions, filtered coffee still enjoys a high preference. In addition, larger portions of up to 3-4 dl of filtered coffee are frequently filled into coffee cups. When such filtered coffee is to be prepared from a portion capsule, an amount of coffee of, for example, 6 to 8 g, is often not enough, as is possible in the well-known portion capsules of Espresso machines. As a result, portion capsule-powered coffee makers have not become very widespread in markets with a preference for filtered coffee. Where they are nevertheless used, the capsules are clearly larger than the known capsules of the known capsule systems for Espresso. The coffee makers feature a larger infusion space suitable for larger portion capsules and a corresponding pump configured to transfer larger amounts of water under low pressure. For the espresso infusion, these coffee machines are therefore not suitable.

Although it would be advantageous if also lovers of filtered coffee could infuse an espresso at their discretion with the means at their disposal.

It is a mission of the invention to find a solution to this problem. This mission should make it possible, in particular, for lovers of both filtered coffee in larger volumes (and prepare it with larger quantities of coffee) and also espresso coffee to have both drinks without having to have two completely different devices.

That mission is solved by the invention as defined in the claims.

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According to a first aspect of the invention, a portion capsule is made available for an infusion, in particular a coffee capsule, the outer dimensions of which are adjusted to the size of a capsule for a larger portion of filtered coffee (for example, 300 ml or more), but having a separator element, separating an empty section from an extract section. Furthermore, there is at least one liquid channel which, for example, passes through the empty section. The liquid channel / liquid channels and the extract section are configured so that water introduced by an injection point into the capsule or beverage produced in the capsule does not substantially reach the empty section.

The extract section, the empty section, the separating element and the liquid channels are arranged, in this case, in the interiors of capsules, that is, in the volume enclosed by the exterior walls.

In general, the empty section is limited by the spacer element, on the one hand, and on the one hand, the outer walls, on the other.

In the present text, low pressure, for example, less than 5 bar, in particular 3 bar or less, and coffee made in larger quantities of water, is referred to as "filtered coffee", whereas High pressure coffee drinks of, for example, more than 5 bar or more than 8 bar, are grouped together under the name "Espresso". The concept of "filtered coffee" thus also includes coffee beverages, in the infusion process of which there is no proper filter, and "Espresso" also includes, for example, "Espresso Lungo".

Filling a large capsule with a volume of, for example, 30 ml with a small quantity of coffee of, for example, about 7 g, has not proved to be a favorable option, since in such a configuration the coffee powder only it would become fluid and you couldn't make Espresso coffee.

The process according to the first aspect thus makes it possible for a portion capsule with a comparatively large volume to have a low-volume filling section, that is, the extract section, in which a reduced quantity of coffee is available. However, due to the fluid channels, the entire outer volume of the capsule (the entire interior of the capsule) is not filled with liquid unlike the appendages known from the current state of the art. For the preparation of espresso, the performance of the pump of a liquid pump and / or the passage time, important for the quality of the drink, should therefore not be greater than in the well-known espresso machines, due to the greater volume of the capsule. There is also no drawback that a larger quantity of beverage had to be infused due to a larger volume of the capsule (compared to known capsules), and / or that the capsule, after the infusion process, was filled to a large extent. proportion of water or hot drink. The difference in volume between a “large” capsule for filtered coffee - this should hold up to 15 g of coffee or more and therefore have a useful filling volume of about 30 to 34 ml - and an Espresso capsule with a volume of about half as large is entirely relevant compared to the liquid volume of an average Espresso of, for example, 25ml to 40ml.

Compared to conceivable systems with a coffee machine, which has been configured for capsules of different sizes, there is the advantage that the coffee machine for capsule systems according to the first aspect of the invention only requires one infusion chamber to boil coffee with different volumes. filling. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide for the corresponding duplication of the supply and withdrawal pipes, for example, to the brewing chamber, the piercing means, the movement mechanism for closing the brewing chamber, etc.

The empty section can be a hollow chamber section, which is formed by the outer walls of the capsule and the spacer element and which is basically only filled with air or an inert gas; There may also be a suitable filling material, for example based on a solid foam, in the empty section. The empty section can be traversed by liquid channels then, for example, tubular, which lead to the extract section. Among the embodiments with the liquid channels traversing the empty section and leading to the extract section, those in which the empty section is on the injection side and the extract section on the side are often especially advantageous. capsule extraction face. The positions of the liquid channels are then adjusted to the positions of the injection needles of the infusion module of the coffee makers in such a way that the injection of the infusion liquid takes place automatically into the liquid channels.

The liquid channels do not necessarily have to pass through the empty section in the sense that they are surrounded by the empty section, but can also be led, for example, along a side wall.

In embodiments in which the liquid is injected into the face of the empty section, the injection point is defined generally by the meeting point of the liquid channels in an outer wall on the injection side. The position of the piercing needles of the infusion module is then defined in the capsule in such a way that the outer walls are pierced at the corresponding point and that the injection hole extends only through a surface section covered by the corresponding channel.

But it is not excluded that on the injection side there is a specially provided collection section, from which the liquid reaches the liquid channels and from these then to the extraction section.

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In embodiments in which the liquid is injected into the face of the extract section, corresponding considerations apply to the location of the injection needles of the evacuation device.

The process according to the first aspect of the invention can be carried out with different injection and evacuation devices. Among these are systems, on the one hand, in which the capsule is pierced simultaneously on the injection side and on the evacuation side (on the face of the evacuation device). These systems have, among others, the advantage that they also work when - for example, for boiling filtered coffee - the pressure of the introduced water is not high. On the other hand, the process is also suitable, however, for systems, in which a perforation of the capsule on the extraction side only occurs after introducing infusion water by the pressure then formed. An example of a suitable system for polypropylene capsules is found in document PCT / CH2010 / 000098, the content of which constitutes by reference a component of the present patent application.

The process according to the first aspect of the invention can also be carried out with the most diverse external shapes and configurations of the capsules. Among them is the well-known cup shape with rotational symmetry, but also alternative shapes as, for example, explained in document PCT / CH2010 / 000097, the content of which also forms by reference a component of the present patent application.

The separating element can be or have a separating wall; however, the shape of the spacer element is not critical.

The spacer element can be formed by an insert to be inserted into the capsule. Said piece forms a separating wall between the extract section and the empty section as well as the at least one liquid channel. It is configured in such a way and / or is sealed with an outer wall of the capsule, such that liquid introduced into the capsule cannot reach the empty section in considerable quantities.

Between the extract section and the liquid channel, a multiplicity of passage openings can be configured, which allow the liquid to pass through, but which are configured in such a way that the coffee powder does not reach the liquid channel in considerable quantities. For example, the through holes can be configured tapering towards the liquid channel. That shape has the effect that the coffee powder is boxed / wedged into the funnel-shaped conical section. Although, in general, the insert or the separating element configured in any other way will not have a filtering function, but will only serve for the separation between the extract section and the empty section as well as, if necessary, for the formation of the liquid channels.

It is also possible further that the liquid channels themselves are filled with extract and thus form, at least partially, the extract section.

The sealing of the at least one liquid channel with respect to the empty section takes place, for example, by the insert being connected there in a liquid-tight manner with the outer walls of the capsule, where the liquid channel meets with exterior walls. This joint can be a welded joint (by ultrasound), a glue or other appropriate joint. Alternatively, another suitable seal may also be provided, for example, provided that an elastically deformable sealing element of the liquid channel is compressed against the outer walls.

A sealing of the section of the extract with respect to the empty section can be effected, for example, also by means of a liquid-tight connection (welding; gluing) of the insert or of the spacer element with the outer walls. As an alternative to this, the insert or the spacer element can have a sealing element, which is elastically deformable and is compressed against the outer walls. In particular, such a sealing element can be configured in such a way that it is compressed by an internal pressure of the extract section additionally against the outer walls. The sealing element can be, for example, an outwardly projecting sealing flap.

Alternatively or in addition to that, a sealing flap may also be trapped between mating parts of the outer walls of the capsule, thereby constituting a labyrinth seal type effect.

The outer volume of a portion capsule according to the first aspect of the invention is, for example, 25 to 40 ml. A ratio between the volume of the extract section and the outer volume of the capsule is preferably at least 1.4, in particular, at least 1.6.

According to a second aspect of the invention, which is advantageously combined with the first aspect of the invention, a coffee preparation system is provided, which has the following elements:

- a coffee maker with an infusion chamber, into which a perforable portion capsule can be inserted respectively by piercing means on the injection side and piercing means on the extraction side of the coffee maker, as well as with a liquid pump for transferring hot water to the infusion chamber and with the piercing means on the injection side to the portion capsule,

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- a first type of coffee capsule with a first section of extract filled with coffee powder, where the first section of the extract has a first volume, and

- a second type of coffee capsule with a second extract section filled with coffee powder, where the second extract section has a second volume,

- where the external dimensions of the coffee capsules of the first type of coffee capsule are substantially identical to the external dimensions of the coffee capsules of the second type of coffee capsule and where the coffee capsules of both types are suitable in their dimensions to the infusion chamber and

- where the first volume is greater than the second volume.

The two volumes of the first and second extract sections differ significantly, for example, in that the first volume is at least 1.4 times that of the second volume, in particular, at least 1.6 times that of the second volume .

Preferably, the first volume is also significantly larger than the fill volume of conventional Espresso portion capsules and is, for example, 25 ml or more. The volume can be, in particular, between 25 and 40 ml for a filling quantity of about 10 to 18 g of coffee.

In preferred embodiments, the coffee capsules of the first type are completely filled with coffee, which means that the first volume corresponds to a total volume of the coffee capsule (that is, the volume determined by the outer dimensions subtracting the volume of the outer walls, generally comparatively thin).

The coffee maker is further preferably arranged to activate the liquid pump in two different operating states to generate two different pump pressures, where a first pump pressure is below 5 bar or below 3 bar and a second pump pressure , above 8 bar or above 5 bar.

The capsules of the second type (respectively capsules according to the first aspect of the invention) and the coffee makers are mutually adjusted so that the injection takes place on the side of the empty section.

Examples of embodiments of the invention are described below on the basis of drawings. Like reference signs indicate the same or similar elements in the drawings. The drawings are not to scale and partially show mutually corresponding elements in different sizes from figure to figure. The figures show it:

- Figure 1 a view of a capsule of portions of coffee;

- Figs. 2 and 3 respectively a view of the body and the cap of the capsule of a capsule of portions of coffee according to figure 1;

- Figs. 4 and 5 respectively a view of an insert of a portion capsule;

- Figure 6 a representation of the sectioned insert;

- Figure 7 a view from below of the insert;

- Figure 8 schematic representation of a section of the capsule with an insert;

- Figs. 9 and 10 respectively in enlarged representation a detail of the insert or of the outer walls of the capsule and of the insert;

- Figure 11 an insert of an alternative embodiment;

- Figs. 12 and 13 respectively alternative embodiments of a serving capsule;

- Figure 14 a view of an infusion module of a coffee maker; Y

- Figure 15 a schematic representation of the components of a system according to the invention.

The capsule 1 according to figure 1 is basically cubic. The upper face in the figure is however somewhat larger than the lower face so that the capsule viewed strictly mathematically has a truncated pyramid shape. The angle α of inclination of the lateral surfaces in the figure with respect to the perpendicular to the surface of the base - it is obviously considered the plane perpendicular to the surface of the base, which runs along the edge between the surface of the base and the corresponding side surface - is very small, preferably at most 2 °, for example only about 1 °. Furthermore, the height of the capsule above the surface of the base corresponds approximately to the length of the edges of the surface of the base.

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The outer walls of the capsule are made from a capsule body 11 shown in Figure 2 and a lid 12 reproduced in Figure 3 by the ultrasonic fractional welding process. Regarding the outer walls of the capsule and the method for its preparation, reference is made to international applications PCT / CH2010 / 000097. Clearly visible are the angle α very slightly different from 0 ° of about 1 ° and the peripheral weld bead 14, which protrudes laterally from all faces a maximum of about d = 0.35 mm, that is, a maximum of 2 to 3 %.

The outer walls of the capsule are composed of polypropylene with a wall thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm, for example between 0.25 mm and 0, 35 mm. Other materials can also be imagined, in particular other plastics compatible with food products. The wall thickness of the outer walls is, for example, approximately equal on all faces. The outer length of the edges of the cube is preferably between 30 mm and 34 mm, for a filling of 12 to 18 g of coffee.

Unlike the capsule according to document PCT / CH2010 / 000097, the capsule 1 according to the present description is not only filled with extract (ground coffee) and homogeneous inside. Rather, an insert 21 is arranged inside the capsule, as shown in Figures 4 to 7. Said piece is also made, for example, of polypropylene and has a separating wall 22, which forms the separating element, which, when placed inside the capsule, separates an extract section, located above in figure 4, of an empty section of the capsule, located below in figure 4. From the partition wall 22 towards the face of the void section, tubular tabs 24 extend, having an approximately hollow cylindrical shape and serving as liquid channels. Optional bowl-shaped stiffeners 26 are further disposed between the appendices 24 and external to them, which extend into the empty section like the liquid channels. Between the interior of the liquid channels and the extract section, the separating wall is traversed by regions with through holes 28. During the infusion process the hot infusion water passes through them to the extract section, below in figure 4, to the extract section, where it soaks the extract in a manner known per se.

In the embodiment shown, the insert further has a peripheral wall 29 projecting in the form of a neck towards the extract side. Said wall forms together with the separating wall a cup-shaped structure in which the extract or a part thereof is located.

In figure 8, it is seen schematically how the insert 21 has been arranged inside the capsule 1. It is also observed that the capsule is subdivided by the insert into three types of sections. The section 31 of the extract is separated from the empty section 32 by the horizontal partition wall 22 in Figure 8. The liquid channels formed by the appendices 24 separate the section 33 of the liquid channels together with the area 28 of the separating wall 22 traversed by the through holes. The tabs reach the outer walls of the capsule on the side of the empty section and are connected to it, for example, in a liquid-tight manner. For the infusion process, the outer walls of the capsule on the injection side are traversed in the section of the liquid channels by means of a piercing element, which is dimensioned so that the capsule is only pierced in the area of ​​the sections 33 of the the liquid channels, and the infusion liquid is only enclosed in said sections and not in the empty section 32 located next to it. In FIG. 8, injection-side piercing needles 41 have been drawn schematically and in detail. in the position in which they rest for piercing, which is caused by a relative movement of the needles towards the center of the capsule from the position shown. The liquid arrives under pressure through the through holes 28 to the section 31 of the extract, where an infusion process of the type known per se takes place. The exit of the beverage is carried out through perforations in the wall of the capsule located above in Figure 8. Also the perforation needles 42 on the extract side have been schematically drawn in Figure 8 at the position, in the resting for piercing. By closing an infusion chamber, which has piercing needles 41, 42, for example, injection-side piercing needles 41 and extraction-side piercing needles 42 are pushed simultaneously through the walls capsule exteriors; although as mentioned also only the injection side piercing needles may first pierce, and piercing may take place by the withdrawal side piercing needles, while the capsule is deformed under the pressure of the infusion liquid.

Additional features can be clearly seen in Figure 6.

On the one hand, it is seen that the through holes 28 are not cylindrical, but taper conically downwards - that is to say towards the empty section -. This configuration has the object and effect that the coffee powder in the funnel-shaped conical section is boxed / wedged and also that it does not then reach the section 33 of the liquid channel, when the capsule is exposed to mechanical shocks. This also works when the through holes have a larger diameter in their narrowest place than the size of the average coffee powder grain.

On the other hand, it can be seen in Figure 6 that the tubular appendages 24, which form the liquid channels, have at their end (that is, the end of the side of the empty section) a comb 24.1 sharply concurrent, which in In the case of ultrasonic welding of the insert in the extreme outer wall on the side of the empty section, it works as an energy director.

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In Figure 9, a detail has also been shown, which is not available in Figures 3 to 8, but which may exist in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8. At the edge 29.1 of the peripheral wall 29, an outwardly projecting flap 29.2 has been configured, which in this case forms an integral part of the peripheral wall 29 and which can flexibly deviate "up", that is to say towards the extract side) due to its thickness, or "down" ( that is, towards the empty part). By snapping into the position depicted in Figure 8, the flap 29.2 is pressed inward and upward by the outer wall.

The flap 29.2 has a sealing effect during the infusion process and prevents the infused beverage from reaching the empty section externally along the peripheral wall due to the pressure of the infusion inside the extract section. The pressure of the infusion inside the extract section will press the flap 29.2 outwards against the outer walls of the capsule - eventually supported by means external to the cooking chamber - and thus automatically reinforcing the tightness effect.

Eventually, it can also be envisaged that the flap, due to its position when closing the capsule in the fractional welding method, is trapped between the peripheral neck 14.1 of the body 11 of the capsule originally existing and separated during the fractional welding method, and the lid 12 and thus forming by the closure of the capsule a kind of labyrinth gasket or even a material closure between the walls of the capsule and the insert. This has been represented in Figure 10. Figure 10 shows a detail of the capsule at the location, where the cap 12 is attached to the body of the capsule by the fractional welding method. Since the joint is a welded joint and thus a material seal, no line of separation is observed between the material of the body 11 of the capsule and the material of the lid 12. The dashed line 15 shows the approximate transition of the path between the capsule body and the cap. The peripheral neck 14.1 has been separated in the fractional welding method.

The flap 29.2, as shown, is trapped in the area of ​​the weld bead between the cap and the body of the capsule, which acts as a sealing means in the sense of a labyrinth gasket. Eventually, the neck can also be welded to the body of the capsule and / or the cap. The preparation of the capsule takes place as follows:

In a first stage, the body 11 of the capsule is made available and the insert 21 is placed therein. Then, the ends of the tabs 24 of the insert 21 are solidly welded to the "bottom" of the capsule body by ultrasonic welding. Next, the capsule is filled with extract. The cap is then fixed to the body of the capsule by the fractional welding method, where, if necessary, as also mentioned, the flap of the insert can be firmly clamped or perhaps welded.

Some alternative embodiments of capsules according to the invention will be discussed below. This discussion only goes into the differences for capsules discussed above. The principles and characteristics of the previously described embodiment also apply - insofar as they apply - to alternative embodiments.

The insert according to FIG. 11 does not have a peripheral wall, but consists of the partition wall 22 and the tabs 24 with the optional reinforcements 26. If necessary, a peripheral flap can then be arranged directly on the partition wall, which is not shown in the figure, which has a sealing effect according to the principle discussed.

The capsule according to figure 12 represented only very schematically differs from the embodiments described above in that the extract section 31 and the liquid channel sections 33 are joined and mixed. The partition wall 22 is thus interrupted at the transition to the liquid channels, and the extract also reaches the liquid channels. The dotted part of Figure 12 shows how the extract is distributed. The principle according to FIG. 12 can obviously be provided for embodiments with or without peripheral wall and embodiments with or without sealing flap.

The principle drawn in Figure 12 can still be modified. For example, there may be a single liquid channel or several liquid channels may extend such that the liquid channel / channels form the entire section of the extract. The liquid channel / channels are then filled / filled with extract and pass through the entire interior of the capsule to the upper face. A sealing of the upper face can be effected, for example, by means of a sealing flap projecting upwards and inwards. As an alternative, the insert, which forms the liquid channel (s) simultaneously both above and below, can also be welded to the outer wall of the capsule, given an appropriate selection of the energy director.

The capsule shown in Figure 13 differs from the previously described embodiments by its outer shape. The capsule is in the shape of a rotationally symmetrical cup, conically concurrent downward (that is, toward the empty section) with an outwardly projecting neck. In the neck part, the body 11 of the cup-shaped capsule is welded to the flat cap 12. The insert 21 has a corresponding adapted shape, that is, the partition wall 22 is disc-shaped. Otherwise the same principles apply as in the embodiments described above.

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In the above description of embodiments, it was assumed in each case that the injection of the infusion liquid takes place on the face of the empty section and the evacuation on the face of the extract section. This is a particularly advantageous arrangement, not least because then no infusion beverage is "evaporated" in the liquid channels, which is retained in the liquid channels after the infusion process, and also because, if necessary, it cannot There will be no problem of clogging in the section of the through holes, since only water is led through them. Although it is also entirely an option to foresee the opposite, take the infusion liquid directly to the extract section and evacuate the drink through the liquid channels.

Figure 14 shows an infusion module of a coffee maker. The infusion module can be configured, for example, according to the teaching of document PCT / CH2010 / 000099 (with or without compression means of the capsule), the content of which forms a component of the present application.

The infusion module forms in a closed state (a non-closed state is illustrated in figure 14 for the sake of clarity) an infusion chamber, the geometry and dimension of which have been adjusted to a corresponding capsule. The infusion module has been arranged, due to the process according to the invention, both for capsules with a large amount of filling and also for capsules with a small amount of filling and with a separating element.

The infusion module has an evacuation device 103 guided, in a manner known per se, between a frame with two vertical guide walls and an injector 104 that can be moved, for example, actuated by means of a service lever, relatively one with respect to of the other.

In FIG. 14 the inlet opening 107 for inserting the capsule of substantially cubic portions can be clearly seen. The inlet opening 107 is configured in the frame, is located in the area of ​​the evacuation device 103 and remains stationary like this in the event of a movement of the service lever. The inlet opening 107 may be slightly conical tapering downward to thus have a centering effect on the capsule when it is inserted so that the danger of wedging the capsule is not too great.

The entry of the capsule capsule with a separating element (in this case with an insert, which forms a separating wall) takes place in such a way that the face located below in Figures 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12 (corresponding to the face with the empty section) is at the injection point, that is to the right in figure 14.

In the operating state, the brewing module serves as a horizontal brewing module of a coffee machine, which together with the brewing module has a water tank, a water heating device (for example, a continuous heater and a pump for supplying water infusion to injector 104. Corresponding injector delivery channels 118 may be configured as is known per se. The injector also has at least one piercing needle with associated supply port, so that the capsule can be pierced and fed through the extraction liquid supply port. The coffee machine also has, for example, a capsule container arranged below the brewing chamber, in which the capsule is automatically evacuated after the brewing process by lifting the service lever.

Also the evacuation device 103 is provided with at least one piercing needle 111 and a subordinate evacuation hole. In addition, according to the configuration, it also has an outlet pipe, with which coffee (or similar) emerging from the outlet of the evacuation device 103 is led so that it flows into a cup placed in a planned place.

In the embodiment shown, the evacuation device 103 forms a receptacle for the capsule with a seat 121, which defines the bearing surface 120 for the capsule inserted through the inlet opening 107. The approximately dice-shaped capsule, inserted through the insertion opening with the infusion chamber open, will rest on the seat 121 led by the first side walls. The infusion chamber will then be closed by moving the injector towards the evacuation device 103, thereby also piercing the capsule. In the embodiment shown, a perforation takes place both on the injection side and on the side of the evacuation device 103 before using the infusion process. Although other embodiments can also be imagined - in particular with aluminum, but also with plastic as the material of the capsule walls or of a part thereof -, in which a tearing or perforation of the capsule is carried out on the side of the evacuation device 103 only by the internal pressure of the capsule when establishing the infusion process.

Figure 15 shows very schematically a coffee preparation system according to the first aspect of the invention. The coffee maker 201 has, together with an infusion chamber 202 - for example, based on the type illustrated in FIG. 14 or, for example, also formed by a plunger and a seating surface for the plunger - a pump for transferring hot water 210 , by which hot water can be supplied to the brewing chamber under pressure. A knob 205 for the pumps regulates the pump pressure and the infusion pressure. In particular, the coffee machine can be adjusted for this, being operated at any discretion at a low pump pressure, often less than 5 bar, in particular less than 3 bar, for example approximately 1.5 to 2 bar ”) Or at a high pump pressure of at least 5 bar, in particular at least 8 bar,

ES 2 575 582 T3 for example between 8 and 20 bar ("espresso") - switching between the different pump pressures often takes place manually. Although there may be a mechanism that regulates it automatically, for example, based on the characteristics of an inserted capsule. For example, the various capsules of the system may be provided with variously legible markings, optically or by RFID or the like, which can be recognized by a suitable reader device of the coffee machine, for which the pressure of the pump is suitably adjusted.

The coffee preparation system furthermore has at least two different types of portion capsules 1, 1 'for coffee. Said capsules differ in the internal volume (volume of the extract section), which is available for the extract, while the external dimensions are substantially identical. In particular, one type 1 of capsule ("espresso capsule") can be configured according to the first aspect of the invention, while another type 1 'of capsule ("filtered coffee capsule") is conventionally configured and thus has a completely filled interior space or, for example, it may also have a filter arranged inside the capsule.

It would also be possible in a coffee preparation system according to the second aspect of the invention to configure the capsule type of the espresso capsule differently than according to the first aspect of the invention and to dispense, for example, with the liquid channels, with which the empty section of the espresso capsule would be flooded in the infusion process by water or by the drink.

It is certainly possible to use the process according to the first aspect or according to the second aspect for beverages other than coffee - for example, tea -.