RU2801521C2 - Beverage preparing machine with hot water and steam dispenser function and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: beverage equipment.

SUBSTANCE: beverage preparation apparatus comprises an outlet for dispensing hot water or steam, the steam is used by the milk frother while the hot water is discharged by the outlet directly outside the beverage preparation apparatus to be collected in the beverage container. Thus, a single nozzle is provided for the dispensing of steam or hot water, without the need for any auxiliary device during the dispensing of hot water.

EFFECT: cost savings, fewer components to be lost, and simplified cleaning by requiring only the milk frother to be cleaned on a per-use basis rather than the fixed parts of the device connected to the milk frother.

15 cl, 11 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present invention relates to beverage preparation apparatuses, and in particular beverage preparation apparatuses, which have a hot water outlet (for example, to enable the user to prepare tea or soup) and a steam outlet (for example, to use when heating and/or frothing milk).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Typically, espresso machines have an automatic cappuccino brewing function. In most cases, steam is used to heat and/or froth milk in a similar way to a barista.

[0003] In the first type of device, milk frothing is provided by a container or carafe type milk frothing unit, configured to be connected to the steam outlet of the device to receive steam leaving the device. This steam is used to heat and/or froth the milk stored in the milk frother. As a rule, the steam outlet is built into the interface, like a socket in the body of the device. The milk frother is located outside the body of the device and inserted into the intermediate part. The milk frother can be easily removed for easy cleaning. In particular, all parts that come into contact with milk must be cleaned regularly.

[0004] Because the espresso maker heats water for coffee, it can also provide hot water for tea, etc. It can be dispensed through a separate special outlet that protrudes from the device so that a cup can be placed directly below it.

[0005] There are a number of problems with such separate dedicated outlets where one is for hot water supply and the other is for steam supply. These include additional cost and size, as well as more components that can fail. The task of cleaning, in particular the descaling procedure, is also difficult due to the presence of several nozzles that require cleaning.

[0006] It is also known to provide a hot water dispenser that can be attached to a steam outlet (instead of a milk frother) to dispense hot water. Thus, the same outlet can be used for dispensing steam when the milk frother is attached and for dispensing hot water when the hot water dispensing unit is attached. When a single outlet is provided, this is generally also designed as a socket-like interface, and the milk frother and the separate hot water dispensing unit can be selectively inserted into the intermediate part.

[0007] The problem associated with this approach is that the user has several connection blocks that can be lost, as well as additional costs for the entire device. For example, US 7,946,219 discloses a coffee machine in which an outlet can deliver steam to a milk frother or water to a cup through an optional nozzle.

[0008] In the device of the second type, milk frothing is provided by a tube-type milk frother, the so-called cappuccinatore or panarello. In order to froth milk, the tube must be immersed in a container of milk and will therefore become soiled afterwards. When further used to dispense hot water for making tea, etc., this water may contain unwanted milk particles. Thus, the tube is generally not used to dispense hot water. Instead, a separate dedicated outlet can again be provided, with the corresponding disadvantages mentioned above.

[0009] US 2014/0123858 discloses a beverage preparation apparatus with a whisker. The steam wand has an outlet that can be connected to a whisker. The frother contains a passage valve leading to an outlet to be immersed in the milk to be frothed. US 2017/0325625 discloses a steam device that can be controlled to produce steam or hot water.

There remains a need for a beverage preparation apparatus of such a design that it can deliver steam and hot water in a cost-effective manner, is simple to operate, and is easy to clean by the user.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is defined in the claims.

[0011] According to examples, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a beverage preparation apparatus is provided, comprising a water heater, a user interface for allowing the user to select a hot water option or an option requiring steam generation, and an outlet nozzle for dispensing hot water or steam, depending on selection on the user interface. In addition, a milk frother can be provided having a steam inlet. The steam inlet can be detachably connected to the outlet nozzle to receive steam therefrom. The beverage preparation apparatus is designed to operate in at least two modes:

the first mode in which the hot water option is selected on the user interface. In this mode, the steam inlet in the milk frother is not connected to the outlet nozzle, so that hot water can be delivered by the outlet nozzle directly outside the brewer to be collected in the beverage container, and

the second mode, in which the selection on the user interface is an option requiring steam generation. In this mode, the steam inlet of the milk frother is detachably connected to the outlet nozzle, so that steam can be delivered by the outlet nozzle to the steam inlet of the milk frother.

[0012] This beverage maker has one outlet for dispensing steam or hot water. Hot water can be delivered directly to the beverage container, such as tea, hot chocolate or soup, or steam can be delivered to the milk frother. The outlet nozzle does not come into contact with milk while in the milk frothing mode, since a separate milk frothing unit is provided, so that the nozzle does not become contaminated with milk during operation and therefore hot water is not contaminated in the first mode or hot water mode. In addition, the cleaning of the outlet nozzle is easier or less frequent, since it only serves to pass steam or water through it. Only one separate specially designed unit (milk frother) is needed as hot water can be delivered directly to any beverage vessel (mug or cup) of suitable size.

[0013] The outlet nozzle may be downwardly facing so that there is no danger that steam will be directed towards the user in the second mode. It should be noted that "down" does not mean that the nozzle must face a clearly vertical downward direction when in use. It may be oriented, for example, at an inclination of less than 45 degrees relative to the vertical downward direction, more preferably at an inclination of less than 30 degrees.

[0014] By "just outside the beverage preparation machine" is meant that the hot water flows as a stream through the ambient air to be captured in the vessel. In other words, hot water passes directly from the outlet into the beverage container without passing through any other part (drink machine or milk frother) or, in other words, without passing through any part entering in contact with milk.

[0015] Selecting the second mode on the user interface may comprise selecting a milk-based recipe, i.e. selection of a beverage that includes the preparation of frothed milk as part of an automated beverage preparation process. Instead, a selection on the user interface can be made to select a steam, for example, to heat or froth milk, regardless of the preparation of the drink. Thus, a "option that requires steam generation" may be a recipe (i.e. a type of beverage such as cappuccino) that uses frothed milk and therefore requires steam generation, or it may be a user choice aimed at only for hot or frothed milk.

[0016] An outlet nozzle may be located in a mounting area for receiving a beverage container or a milk frother.

[0017] The installation area can be used for dispensing hot water or dispensing steam for heating or frothing milk. This enables a compact design that is simple and intuitive to operate.

[0018] The beverage preparation apparatus may include a drip tray under the outlet nozzle.

[0019] Thus, this drip tray serves to capture spilled hot water when the first hot water mode is selected.

[0020] Preferably, the drip tray is also located under the milk outlet of the milk frother when the beverage maker is in the second mode.

[0021] Thus, the drip pan serves to capture spilled milk when the second mode is selected and there is no receiving cup on the drip pan.

[0022] The outlet nozzle may protrude outward from the outside, for example, the front side of the apparatus, and is angled away from the side in the absence of the beater.

[0023] The angle of the nozzle means that the hot water protrudes slightly forward from the outside, so that the nozzle does not have to protrude further, but still allows the hot water to be directed towards the center of the mug or other receiving vessel.

[0024] The angle is in the range, for example, from 5 to 25 degrees. Thus, the outlet nozzle may not extend clearly vertically downwards, but may be at a slight forward angle in the direction of the target location of the beverage container in the first hot water mode.

[0025] The outlet nozzle may protrude less than 4 cm outward from the outside, such as less than 3 cm, such as less than 2 cm.

[0026] This provides a compact and visually appealing design.

[0027] The outlet nozzle may include a movable or deformable tip that interacts with the milk frother in the second mode.

[0028] The tip serves as a holding mechanism between the milk frother and the outlet nozzle, and also helps to ensure a tight connection between them.

[0029] In one set of examples, the outlet nozzle may be rotatable between a first direction that is offset from vertical when in the first mode and a second direction that is different when in the second mode, which, for example, extends closer to the vertical direction.

[0030] In yet another set of examples, the outlet nozzle may be movable (eg, translational) between a first position when in a first mode and a second position when in a second mode.

[0031] In both cases, the milk frother can be placed in a more aligned position with respect to the apparatus. This means that the size of the drip tray, which can be used to collect spilled water and spilled milk, can be reduced, providing a compact overall design.

[0032] In yet another set of examples, the outlet nozzle may have a fixed position.

[0033] The milk frother may include a receiving chamber that is fitted onto the outlet spout. This makes it easy for the user to level the milk frother.

[0034] The milk frother may include a milk container and a network of channels for mixing milk from the milk container with steam from an outlet nozzle below the steam inlet.

[0035] By this network of channels is meant that the outlet nozzle is not contaminated with milk, which simplifies cleaning. For example, capillary forces can be used to draw fluid through the channels, and a mixing chamber based on the Venturi effect (below the steam nozzle) can also be used to ensure mixing of steam, milk and air, and therefore for whipping, as well as heating milk.

[0036] A beverage preparation apparatus may refer to a coffee machine that is configured to deploy further in a second mode to dispense coffee from a coffee outlet to automatically prepare a milk-based coffee recipe.

[0037] Thus, the second mode may comprise a frothed milk coffee recipe that automatically dispenses coffee and heated and/or frothed milk. This provides a fully automatic functionality in terms of the possibility of automatic preparation of coffee drinks based on milk. Of course, the beverage maker may have other modes of operation, including coffee recipes that do not require frothed milk.

[0038] For dispensing coffee, for example, a special outlet nozzle is provided. In the case of a milk-based coffee recipe, the milk frother can be located in one place and the beverage container can be located close to the milk frother, so that the beverage container can receive coffee (without milk) from a special coffee outlet and take frothed milk from the milk frother outlet.

[0039] The beverage preparation apparatus may comprise a water pumping system and a brewing chamber or group for receiving ground coffee that is pre-packaged in tablets or capsules, or derived from a bean grinder that may be contained in the apparatus (e.g., machines for espresso with bean grinding function).

[0040] In addition, the present invention provides a method of using a beverage preparation apparatus comprising: a water heater, a user interface for allowing the user to select a hot water option or an option requiring steam generation, an outlet nozzle for dispensing hot water or steam depending on the selection on the user interface and a milk frother, the method comprising controlling the beverage preparation machine at different times in:

the first mode, in which the hot water option is selected on the user interface, with hot water dispensing from the outlet nozzle directly into the beverage container, and

the second mode, in which the selection on the user interface corresponds to dispensing steam from the outlet to the steam inlet of the milk frother, with dispensing steam from the outlet to the frother.

[0041] The beverage container may be, for example, a mug, jug or cup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

in fig. 1A and 1B show two views of the beverage preparation apparatus,

in fig. 2A-2D show four views of the discharge nozzle used in the apparatus of FIG. 1A and 1B,

in fig. 3A and 3B show two views of the milk frother used in the apparatus of FIG. 1A and 1B, and

in fig. 4A shows the method of attaching the milk frother of FIG. 3A and 3B to the machine,

in fig. 4B shows an alternative implementation of the milk frother and a method of attaching the milk frother to the machine and

in fig. 5 shows a method of using the beverage preparation machine.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, which provide exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems, and methods, are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit the scope of the present invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods in accordance with the present invention will become better understood from the description below, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the figures are purely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference signs are used throughout the figures to refer to the same or like parts.

[0044] The present invention provides a beverage preparation apparatus comprising an outlet nozzle for dispensing hot water or steam. The steam is used by the milk frother, while the hot water is dispensed by the outlet directly outside the beverage preparation machine to be collected in the beverage container. Thus, a single outlet nozzle is provided for dispensing steam or hot water, without the need for any auxiliary device during the dispensing of hot water. This provides cost savings and fewer components that can be wasted. The outlet nozzle does not come into contact with milk. This ensures that hot water can be dispensed from the outlet nozzle without milk impurities. In addition, this provides simplified cleaning by requiring only cleaning of the milk frother for each use, and not the fixed parts of the device connected to the milk frother.

[0045] FIG. 1A and 1B show a beverage preparation apparatus 10 in the form of an espresso coffee machine. In FIG. 1A is a perspective view and FIG. 1B is a front view. This example shows a coffee machine with a bean grinding function, although other options are possible, as further noted below.

[0046] It includes a main body 12 that houses a water tank, a water heater, and a coffee bean receiving tank. There is a built-in grinder to create ground coffee, a brewing chamber or group to receive ground coffee, and a pumping system to pump heated water through the ground coffee.

[0047] The machine includes a coffee outlet 14 from which an espresso beverage (without milk) is dispensed. The coffee outlet 14 faces downwards and is positioned above the drip tray 16. In addition, in FIG. 1A and 1B depict a user interface 18 for receiving user selections such as water selections and other beverage selections. Hot water selection below refers to "first mode" or "hot water mode". At least some of the beverage selections are for beverage recipes that contain frothed milk and therefore require steam generation. In addition, an option for generating steam that is not part of the beverage selection may be provided, for example to enable the user to generate heated and/or frothed milk independently of any beverage being prepared in the machine. In general, these options below refer to the "second mode" or "frothed milk mode".

[0048] The operation of the apparatus in preparing an espresso coffee beverage is entirely conventional, and the general operation of the coffee machine will not be further described. In addition, the fully functional espresso machine illustrated is only one example of the type of coffee machine to which the present invention can be applied.

[0049] The present invention relates to an outlet nozzle 20 which is provided for dispensing steam or hot water. This depends on the user's choice on the user interface 18 . The steam outlet can be used to heat and/or froth milk, while the hot water only option provides the user with additional options such as soup, tea, hot chocolate, etc.

[0050] The outlet nozzle 20 is located in the mounting area 21 for receiving a beverage container or a milk frother. The installation area 21 can be used for hot water dispensing or steam dispensing. This enables a compact design that is simple and intuitive to operate.

[0051] The outlet nozzle 20 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2A-2D. In FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a side view, FIG. 2C is a top perspective view, and FIG. 2D is a bottom perspective view.

[0052] The outlet nozzle 20 includes an outlet tip 22 having an outlet that faces generally downward in operation so that hot water is directed downward into the vessel into which it enters and steam is generated in a safe downward direction.

[0053] During the dispensing of steam, it is dispensed to the steam inlet of the milk frother (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). A wide variety of milk frothers are known (and commercially available) using a steam inlet for frothing and heating milk. For example, the milk frother may include a milk container and a frothed milk outlet as shown in FIG. 3A, 3B and 4A. Alternatively, the milk frother may comprise a milk frother (cappuccinatore, panarello) as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0054] The outlet tip 22 may be spring-loaded or resiliently deformable or retractable such that it deforms or stretches when the milk frother is inserted and thus is displaced (resiliently, by an attractive force or otherwise) to ensure sealing. In this way, the tip 22 can serve as a holding mechanism between the milk frother and the outlet and also provide a seal between them.

[0055] During the dispensing of hot water, it is dispensed by the outlet nozzle 20 directly outside the beverage preparation machine to be collected in the beverage container. The opening 22 thus defines an external intermediate part of the steam/hot water path to the environment when dispensing a hot water stream or to the attached milk frother when dispensing steam.

[0056] The milk frother is configured such that the outlet nozzle 20 does not come into contact with milk while in the milk frothing mode, so that the nozzle is not contaminated with milk during operation. Thus, in hot water mode, there is no risk of dispensing hot water with milk impurities. Moreover, the cleaning of the outlet nozzle 20 is easier or less frequent, since it only serves to pass steam or water through it.

[0057] FIG. 2B, the outlet nozzle 20 is shown downwardly offset from the vertical at an angle θ that is, for example, less than 30 degrees, such as less than 20 degrees, such as 15 degrees. The nozzle 20 is angled from the outer surface, here the front side 24 of the apparatus, from which the outlet nozzle protrudes. Due to this angle θ, the nozzle should not protrude further than the center of the hot water container (e.g. mug). The projection distance d is, for example, less than 4 cm, such as less than 3 cm, or even less than 2 cm.

[0058] The outlet nozzle 20 may have a fixed position and orientation. However, in the illustrated example, the outlet nozzle 20 includes an outlet tube 26 which is rotatable about an axis 28 and has an outlet tip 22 at its lower end. Outlet tube 26 can be rotatable about axis 28 between a first direction that is offset from the vertical (when in the first mode of dispensing hot water) and a second direction that is different (when in the second mode of frothing milk). The second direction may be more vertical than the first direction, and indeed may be completely vertical. It is assumed that the second orientation is more compact and can be used when the outlet 20 is connected to the milk frother, so that the milk frother can be installed as close to the machine as possible. This in turn makes it possible to use the small drip pan 16 to capture both hot water spills and frothed milk spills.

[0059] The outlet 20 may be rotatable in other directions, such as sideways, which may be particularly advantageous when used with the cappuccinatore shown in FIG. 4B as will be described in detail below.

[0060] The outlet nozzle 20 may be configured to move in any other manner, such as translational movement between the first position in the first mode and the second position in the second mode.

[0061] FIG. 3A and 3B show one example of a milk frother. In FIG. 3A is a side view and FIG. 3B is a perspective view.

[0062] The milk frother 30 includes a milk carafe or milk receiving container 31, a steam inlet (shown as arrow A) from the outlet nozzle 20, and an outlet 32 for heated and/or frothed milk.

[0063] The milk frother 30 includes a steam passage that receives steam flow from the outlet nozzle 20 through the steam inlet and a milk passage that conveys milk from the base of the milk container 30 upwards. The mixing chamber mixes steam and milk to heat the milk and, if necessary, air to provide the required frothing function.

[0064] In particular, in one example of the milk frother 30, milk may flow through the milk passage due to the negative pressure generated by steam passing from the steam passage.

[0065] Air may be entrained in the mixing chamber such that a mixture of milk, steam and air enters the mixing chamber. The purpose of the mixing chamber is to release large bubbles and keep only small air bubbles in the mixture. The mixture of air, milk and steam forms a fluid that enters the mixing chamber, and the mixed outlet stream forms heated and/or frothed milk, which is dispensed to the milk outlet 32.

[0066] Thanks to the network of channels, the outlet nozzle 20, and in particular its tip 22, is not contaminated with milk, which simplifies cleaning. In particular, the mixing chamber of the milk frother 30 is far enough away and lower than the steam inlet.

[0067] It should be noted that, to the extent described above, the design and operation of the milk frother is known. In addition, this is only one possible design, and many other designs can be used, such as, for example, a tube-type milk frother (cappuccinatore, panarello), as shown in Fig. 4b. In this figure, components that are similar to those shown in FIG. 3A, 3B, and 4A have been designated with like reference numerals increased by 100.

[0068] The milk frothers include a receiving chamber 34, 134 that fits over the outlet nozzle 20 to facilitate alignment of the milk frother 30, 130 for the user.

[0069] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B shows how the milk frothers 30, 130 can be installed on the machine. It approaches at an angle so that the receiving chamber 34, 134 is aligned with the outlet nozzle 20. When the receiving chamber 34, 134 is fitted onto the outlet nozzle 20, the outlet tip 22 is pulled against its springy, resilient, gravitational or other displacement. . Then, the outlet tip is received in a recess inside the receiving chamber 34, 134 so that the opening in the outlet tip 22 is aligned and sealed with the steam inlet of the milk frother. In addition, it connects two pieces to each other, although other or additional snap-fit or snug-fit joint arrangements may be provided.

[0070] After the engagement, the milk frother 30, 130 can be moved by turning down. It then assumes a more aligned position towards the front side 24. As shown in FIG. 4A, the milk frother 30 can then be placed on the drip tray 16. This provides an easy fixing since the base of the milk frother 30 is not connected to the drip tray 16 during the initial connection as shown in FIG. 4A. In FIG. 3A shows the vertical orientation of the milk frother. In an alternative implementation, the milk frother 30 may be sized to be suspended with its base over the drip tray 16 in the installed position.

[0071] The milk frother 130 of FIG. 4B can also be moved by turning down. Preferably, it can be rotatable laterally so that its milk outlet 132 is positioned above a beverage container located below the coffee outlet 14 .

[0072] In order to provide fully automatic preparation of a coffee drink using frothed milk, the beverage container is placed under the coffee outlet 14 and the frother 30, 130 is mounted on the outlet 20. The frothed milk outlet 32, 132 in the frother frothed milk is sent to the beverage container. The milk frother 30 can then be located near the beverage container, both of which are located on the drip tray. The coffee machine implements a brewing sequence for dispensing a drink according to the recipe selected on the user interface.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a method of using the beverage preparation apparatus described above, namely, comprising: a water heater, a user interface for allowing the user to select a hot water option or an option requiring steam, an outlet for dispensing hot water or steam depending on the selection on the user interface, and milk frother.

[0074] The method includes controlling the beverage preparation machine at various times in:

a first mode 50 in which hot water dispensing is selected on the user interface, dispensing hot water from the outlet nozzle directly into the beverage container, and

the second mode 52, in which the selection on the user interface is the option to generate steam, with steam being dispensed from the outlet nozzle to the milk frother.

[0075] The present invention is of particular interest to the fully functional espresso machine with the grinding function described above, however, the present invention can be applied in general to any beverage machine that has steam and water outlets.

[0076] For example, the present invention can be applied to a tablet device that accepts soft coffee tablets, to a capsule or cartridge device that accepts solid state consumables, or to a device that accepts pre-ground coffee.

[0077] The apparatus may include an internal or external water tank or it may be attached to it.

[0078] Other variations of the described embodiments can be understood and implemented by a person skilled in the art in the implementation of the present invention in practice after reading the drawings, description and appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps, and singular grammatical indicators do not exclude the plural. The mere fact that certain measures are listed in mutually distinct dependent clauses does not in itself indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage. No reference signs in the claims should be considered as limiting its scope.

Claims (21)

1. An apparatus for preparing drinks, comprising: body, block (30, 130) for milk frother, which is external relative to the body and contains an inlet for steam, an outlet for steam, built into the interface in the form of a socket in the body, for connection with a block for frothing milk, a water heater and an interface ( 18) of the user to enable the user to select a hot water option or an option that requires steam generation, characterized in that the interface in the form of a socket contains an outlet nozzle (20) for dispensing hot water or steam, depending on the selection on the user interface, and the apparatus for preparation of drinks is made with the ability to work in at least two modes: the first mode, in which the hot water option is selected on the user interface, with hot water dispensing from the outlet directly outside the brewer to be collected in the beverage container, and the second mode, in which the selection on the user interface is the option to generate steam by dispensing steam from the outlet nozzle into the steam inlet of the milk frother. 2. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outlet nozzle (20) is located in the mounting area (21) for receiving a beverage container or a milk frother (30, 130). 3. A beverage preparation apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a drip tray (16) below the outlet (20). 4. The beverage maker according to claim 3, wherein the drip tray (20) is also located under the frothed milk outlet (32, 132) of the milk frother (30, 130) when the frother is in the second mode. 5. A beverage preparation apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the outlet extends outward from the outer side (24) of the apparatus and is angled away from the side, at least in the absence of a whipping unit. 6. The beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the angle (θ) is in the range of 5 to 25 degrees. 7. A beverage preparation apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet nozzle (20) protrudes outwards from the outside, preferably less than 4 cm. 8. The beverage preparation apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet has a movable or deformable tip (22) which interacts with the milk frother (30, 130) in the second mode. 9. The beverage preparation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet nozzle is movable between a first position when in the first mode and a second position when in the second mode. 10. The beverage preparation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the outlet nozzle is rotatable between a first direction that is offset from vertical when in the first mode and a second direction that is different when in the second mode. 11. The beverage preparation apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the milk frother (30) comprises a receiving chamber (34, 134) which is fitted onto the outlet spout. 12. The beverage preparation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the milk frother comprises a network of channels for mixing milk from a milk container with steam from a spout. 13. The beverage preparation apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a coffee machine which is further deployable in a second mode for dispensing coffee from the coffee outlet (14) to automatically prepare milk-based coffee. 14. A beverage preparation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the coffee machine comprises a system for pumping water and a brewing chamber for receiving ground coffee which is prepackaged in tablets or capsules or obtained from a bean grinder. 15. A method of using a beverage preparation apparatus, comprising: a housing, a block (30, 130) for frothing milk, which is external relative to the housing and contains a steam inlet, a steam outlet built into the interface in the form of a socket in the housing, for connections to a milk frother, a water heater, a user interface to allow the user to select a hot water option or an option requiring steam generation, and an outlet nozzle of the interface in the form of a socket for dispensing hot water or steam, depending on the selection on the user interface, wherein the method includes operating the beverage preparation apparatus at various times in: the first mode (50), in which the hot water option is selected on the user interface, with hot water dispensing from the outlet nozzle directly into the beverage container, and the second mode (52), in which the choice on the user interface is the option that requires steam generation, with steam being dispensed by the outlet nozzle into the milk frother.

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