Coffee machine with dispensing regulation and a method relating thereto

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coffee machine for producing and dispensing coffee-based beverages comprising a hydraulic pump (), at least one dispensing device () comprising a filter unit () apt to contain ground coffee and a supply unit () apt to supply water to the filter unit when the filter unit is engaged with the supply unit and a hydraulic circuit which brings the hydraulic pump into fluid communication with the supply unit of the dispensing device, the hydraulic circuit comprising a supply duct () which supplies hot water under pressure to the supply unit, characterized in that it further comprises a system for controlling the dispensing pressure which comprises a control unit (), a pressure sensor () disposed along the hydraulic circuit and apt to generate a control signal representative of the pressure detected, the pressure sensor being electronically connected to a control unit to detect the dispensing pressure, and a hydraulic variable-flow valve () disposed along the hydraulic circuit and apt to supply variable quantities of water to at least one dispensing device, the variable-flow valve being actuated by an electronic drive controlled electronically by the control unit in order to regulate the flow rate of water output as a function of a detected dispensing pressure value. The invention relates, moreover, to a method for controlling the dispensing pressure in a coffee machine.