An example beverage dispensing system includes a liquid circulation loop including a reservoir. The system also includes an inlet coupled to the liquid circulation loop to enable liquid to enter the liquid circulation loop, a thermoelectric cooling assembly configured to lower a temperature of liquid in the liquid circulation loop, a carbonation assembly configured to add carbonation to the liquid in the liquid circulation loop, a pump configured to circulate liquid through the liquid circulation loop, and an outlet coupled to the liquid circulation loop to enable liquid to exit the liquid circulation loop.

A system for controlling selection and distribution of a product in a product dispensing system. The system includes a user interface for prompting a selection and selecting the product, a machine control processor in communication with the user interface, a power distribution module connected to the machine control processor, and a power supply unit for supplying power to the system through the power distribution module.

This disclosure relates to a sanitary fitting for dispensing prepared liquids, for example, for beverages. A disclosed system includes a first control element for setting a quantity of the prepared liquid to be dispensed and an actuating element for providing the quantity of prepared liquid set by means of the first control element, wherein at least one second control element is configured to select a type of preparation, for example, from at least two different types of preparation, of non-prepared liquid, wherein the first and the at least one second control element are actuatable independently of one another.

An arrangement for filling containers like bottles with a beverage like beer in a retail environment comprises a disposable dispensing line, from keg to outlet into the container. The dispensing line comprises an actuable shut-off valve. The shut-off valve may be fitted in a cartridge, comprising a valve seat for receiving and accommodating a first part of the shut-off valve and an actuable connector arranged to engage with the shut-off valve to close or open the dispensing line. The cartridge may be fitted with a valve driving module, comprising an actuator driven by a driving unit and arranged to engage with the actuable connector for operating the shut-off valve. The dispensing line may be opened or closed by squeezing the line in case of a flexible line, operating a reciprocating or rotating shut-off valve, other, or a combination thereof. The cartridge may be fitted in the filling arrangement.

The present invention relates to a device for preparing and dispensing reconstituted beer, said device comprising: a first vessel containing a liquid concentrate for preparing a beer; a second vessel containing an alcoholic liquid; a source of water; a source of pressurized carbon dioxide; a reconstitution unit; a dispensing unit for dispensing the alcoholic beer; wherein the device is operable (i) to form a reconstituted beer comprising water from the source of water, carbon dioxide from the source of pressurized carbon dioxide, liquid concentrate from the first vessel and alcoholic liquid from the second vessel, in the reconstitution unit and (ii) to dispense the reconstituted beer from the dispensing unit; wherein the liquid concentrate in the first vessel an ethanol content of 0-1% ABV; and wherein the alcoholic liquid in the second vessel contains 12-100 wt. % ethanol and 0-88 wt. % water, ethanol and water together constituting 80-100 wt. % of the alcoholic liquid.

An alternative aspect of the invention relates to a device wherein the source of water and the source of pressurised carbon dioxide are replaced by a source of carbonated water and the device is operable to form a reconstituted beer comprising water from the source of carbonated water, liquid concentrate from the first vessel and alcoholic liquid from the second vessel in the reconstitution unit.

The aforementioned devices can be used to prepare a reconstituted beer of superior quality. The use of an essentially alcohol-free concentrate offers the advantage that the stability of the concentrate is substantially improved.

The present invention relates to a capsule comprising at least two compartments, including a first compartment and a second compartment; wherein the first compartment comprises 5-30 mL of an aqueous liquid having an ethanol content of 0-10% ABV and comprising 0.1-25wt. % of protein; and wherein the second compartment comprises 5-50 mL of an alcoholic liquid containing 20-99.9 wt. % ethanol, 0-60 wt. % water, and 50-2,000 mg/kg of hop acids acids selected from iso-alpha acids, hydrogenated iso-alpha acids, hulupones and combinations thereof, and wherein ethanol and water together constitute at least 80 wt. % of the alcoholic liquid.

The capsule can suitably be used to prepare a hopped alcoholic beverage with a foam head, similar to ordinary beer. To prepare such a beverage, the contents of the capsule are combined with carbonated water and dispensed into a e.g. a drinking glass.

A mixing device for mixing at least two different types of liquids of different ingredients suitable for being placed within a tap spout, preferably at a spout outlet, comprising at least two inlets configured to receive the liquids. The mixing device is adapted to deliver liquids separately at the same time such that the liquids mix at an outlet of the mixing device. The mixing device may further comprise a mixing space adapted to mix the liquids received at the inlets and deliver the mixture of the liquids, or deliver one type of liquid through the mixing space when only one type of liquid is received at the inlets, at the outlet of the mixing device. Each of the inlets is connected to a respective conduit that is fluidly separated from the other conduits. The present invention further relates to mixing tap systems using such a mixing device.

A gas dispensing system for a beverage system is disclosed herein. The gas dispensing system can releasably secure a gas canister or other gas source for release of pressurized gas therein to the beverage system. In an embodiment, the gas dispensing system includes a distribution body that can articulate between a loading position and a dispensing position. In the loading position, a gas canister can be releasably secured within the system. As the distribution body is moved into the dispensing position, a puncture mechanism can be moved further into the distribution body, puncturing the gas canister for release of pressurized gas. The distribution body can be fluidically coupled with a valve or other flow control element of the beverage machine, allowing for controlled entry of the pressurized gas into the system.

A drink station is provided with an alkaline filter cartridge in fluid communication with an ambient temperature water line provide alkaline water, and with a chilled water mixed with the alkaline water at a spigot to provide chilled alkaline water. A hot water heating element is located below the spigot so hot water flows upward for dispensing from the spigot, with a vent line between the heating element and spigot helping hot water to flow from the spigot to the heating element. A refrigeration system and a carbonation system is also provided. The refrigeration system uses the ice-bank technology. A submersible agitator pump improves heat exchanged between ice-bank and water by forced convection. The agitator pump operating based on the temperature of the drinking water. A figure eight evaporator coil can provide two cylindrical ice banks and two chilled water coils to increase the chilled water capacity.

A beverage pod for a beverage machine is provided. The beverage pod can include a container having an internal space and a container flange defining an opening to the internal space, a plug sealing the opening of the container, and a cap secured to the container flange. A beverage medium can be located within the internal space of the container. The cap can be operable to selectively engage a portion of the plug to release the beverage medium through the plug and the cap.