Importance

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Abstract

Taught herein is a coffee maker (10) comprising a water tank (20) a heater device (40), a brewing station (50) and a jug or carafe (60) positioned to receive coffee brewed at the station (50), wherein the water tank (20) and the brewing station (50) are interconnected by a water pipe (70), part of which is heated by the heater device (40); the tank (20) is fitted with a flow control valve (30) containing a piston (32) arranged to respond to the head of water in the tank (20) and to heater-induced suction in the pipe (70) by moving within a housing (31) to block or to allow the passage of water from the tank (20) into the pipe (70), thereby to control the flow of water from the tank (20) through the heater (40) to the brewing station (50) so as to ensure that, however much water the tank (20) contains; and the heater (40) is able to transfer sufficient heat to water delivered to the brewing station (50) by way of the pipe (70) to provide brewed coffee at a palatable temperature.

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First Claim