An inlet arrangement of a beverage forming apparatus is provided, where the inlet arrangement is configured to deliver liquid to a beverage cartridge. The inlet arrangement includes a central inlet port and a plurality of inlet ports arranged around the central inlet port. The beverage forming apparatus has the ability to implement different dispensing operations in which dispensing occurs through selectable subsets of the inlet ports.

The present disclosure is directed methods for making and to features that may be included in a single-use beverage dispensing container. Such containers are commonly referred to as beverage pods. Such beverage pods are commonly used in offices and in residences where individuals wish to make a single cup of coffee, tea, chocolate, or other beverage. Features that may be included in beverage pods of the present disclosure include an agitation device that redirects a flow of a fluid injected into the beverage pod when a beverage is made. This redirected fluid flow may increase an amount of turbulence within a beverage pod such that soluble materials like a chocolate powder are more effectively dissolved into the fluid, or this turbulence may increase the efficiency of extracting materials from non-soluble beverage making materials such as coffee or tea.

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage. The capsule comprises an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end which may be provided with a plurality of radially extending open grooves. The sealing member is integral with the outwardly extending flange and comprises at least one projection projecting from the outwardly extending flange. The projection comprising a projection top and is configured such that its projection top exerts a radial force on the free contact end of the annular element if the capsule is positioned in the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device and the enclosing member is closed by means of a closing member of the beverage preparation device.

Capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage, the capsule having an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end which may be provided with a plurality of radially extending open grooves. The sealing member is integral with the outwardly extending flange and comprises a projection. An annular trough between the inner projection foot and the side wall has a bottom axially spaced from the outer projection foot towards the bottom of the capsule body.

The invention relates to a capsule (10) designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by means of a beverage preparation machine. The capsule (10) comprises a cup-shaped base body (1) for holding beverage preparation ingredients and a flange-like rim (2) with a sealing member (3) comprising an inner and an outer series (4,5) of arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a), wherein the base-body (1), the flange-like rim (2) and the sealing member (3) are made integrally from metallic material such as aluminum, in which the inner and outer series (4,5) of the sealing member (3) are concentrically arranged on a surface (2a) of the flange-like rim (2) such as to form an annular space (6) there-between for receiving a sealing surface (21a) of a capsule engagement member (21) of the beverage preparation machine (20). The respective arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are continuous protrusions with circumferentially extending gaps (4b,5b) formed there-between, wherein the respective arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are arranged such as to circumferentially overlap outside the circumferentially extending gaps (4b, 5b) of the inner and outer series (4, 5) in side view of the capsule, and wherein the arc-shaped protrusions (4a,5a) of the inner and outer series (4,5) are locally connected together by at least one bridging element (8) positioned proximate to each circumferentially extending gaps (4b, 5b) of the inner and outer series (4, 5).

The drinks preparation machine includes a pump for delivering the preparation fluid—generally water—into a brewing chamber, which receives the portion package, as well as a flow-meter for measuring the fluid flow into the brewing chamber. Machine electronics activate the pump and acquire the results of flow rate measurement, in order for example to switch off the pump after reaching a defined delivered fluid quantity. The electronics are configured to evaluate the measured flow rate and from this evaluation to make a differentiation between a first state “brewing with an inserted portion package” and a second state “water throughflow without inserted portion package”, in order to detect the presence of a portion package in the brewing chamber.

The invention provides a water-injection chamber for capsule coffee machines that makes it possible to regulate and maintain constant a predetermined temperature of the water to be injected into the coffee capsule, also facilitating the adjustment of the input flow of hot water into the brewing chamber of said coffee machines, making it possible to adjust the temperature and the flow of water to be injected into a capsule according to the specific needs of each capsule without needing to modify or install new elements that increase the production cost and complicate the manufacturing process.

A set-up to be implemented in a water/beverage system for adding flavors, minerals, and/or nutritional supplements to beverages. The set-up comprises a sealed capsule containing said flavors, minerals and/or nutritional supplements. The capsule comprises a container with an upper wall and a bottom wall that are either tearable and/or dissolvable when subjected to a stream of fluid and/or to a pressure/force exerted thereon, and a housing for securely holding the capsule in the water/beverage system.

A capsule for use in a brewing device is provided, comprising a body part, which defines a cavity and which has a flange, a lid which is attached to the flange and tea material enclosed within the capsule, characterized in that the shape of the flange is defined by two intersecting circular arcs when viewed from above. A brewing device which comprises a capsule holder for receiving the capsule is also provided, the capsule holder comprising a sidewall which is circular when viewed from above and which has an upper rim, a shelf on at least part of the inside of the sidewall, a filter and an openable and closable passage on the opposite side of the filter from the upper rim. A method of preparing a tea-based beverage in the brewing device using the capsule is also provided.

A method for the operation of a drinks preparation machine, for producing a total product while using a portion package includes the following steps, which are carried out by the drinks preparation machine: a receiving step for receiving, by a communication unit, an activation command for activating a certain action in the drinks preparation machine, and authentication information; an examination step for examining, on the basis of the authentication information, whether the activation command originates from an operating appliance that is authorized for activating the certain action in the drinks preparation machine; and only in the case that the operating appliance is authorized for this. carrying out the action, particularly a production step for producing the total product.