A food product dispenser includes a drive unit and a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit. The dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store the food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly including a pump assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to convey the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle.

A liquid cooling device that is capable of efficiently cooling a liquid in the inside of a liquid holding container, and a beverage forming device including the liquid cooling device are provided.

The liquid cooling device includes the liquid holding container that has an open portion; a container mounting part on which the liquid holding container is to be mounted; an air passage; and an airflow generating unit. The air passage is located directly above the open portion (4b), and at least a part of an outer periphery of the air passage extends along a peripheral edge of the open portion (4b). The airflow generating unit generates, within the air passage, an airflow flowing along the air passage. A hole portion (33) that communicates with the open portion (4b) is provided in a lower surface of the air passage.

A liquid cooling device that is capable of efficiently cooling a liquid in the inside of a liquid holding container, and a beverage forming device including the liquid cooling device are provided.

The liquid cooling device includes the liquid holding container that has an open portion; a container mounting part on which the liquid holding container is to be mounted; an air passage; and an airflow generating unit. The air passage is located directly above the open portion (4b), and at least a part of an outer periphery of the air passage extends along a peripheral edge of the open portion (4b). The airflow generating unit generates, within the air passage, an airflow flowing along the air passage. A hole portion (33) that communicates with the open portion (4b) is provided in a lower surface of the air passage.

A flash brewer includes an insulated container, a liquid inlet, a liquid flow assembly, a cooling assembly, and a liquid outlet. The insulated container thermally insulates interior of the insulated container from an exterior environment. The liquid inlet is coupled to the insulated container and receives a liquid, e.g., coffee, to be chilled. The liquid flow assembly is housed within the insulated container and receives the liquid to be chilled from the liquid inlet and to flow the liquid to be chilled. The cooling assembly is housed within the insulated container and flows coolant composition within the cooling assembly. The cooling assembly is thermally coupled to the liquid flow assembly facilitating a heat exchange between the liquid to be chilled and the coolant composition. The liquid outlet is coupled to the insulated container and outputs the chilled liquid to the exterior environment of the insulated container.

A flash brewer includes an insulated container, a liquid inlet, a liquid flow assembly, a cooling assembly, and a liquid outlet. The insulated container thermally insulates interior of the insulated container from an exterior environment. The liquid inlet is coupled to the insulated container and receives a liquid, e.g., coffee, to be chilled. The liquid flow assembly is housed within the insulated container and receives the liquid to be chilled from the liquid inlet and to flow the liquid to be chilled. The cooling assembly is housed within the insulated container and flows coolant composition within the cooling assembly. The cooling assembly is thermally coupled to the liquid flow assembly facilitating a heat exchange between the liquid to be chilled and the coolant composition. The liquid outlet is coupled to the insulated container and outputs the chilled liquid to the exterior environment of the insulated container.

A dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store a food product, a dispensing nozzle configured to dispense the food product from the product reservoir, and an aerator including a first stationary mixing rod and a second stationary mixing rod, the aerator disposed upstream of the dispensing nozzle to aerate the food product before the food product is discharged from the dispensing nozzle.

A dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store a food product, a dispensing nozzle configured to dispense the food product from the product reservoir, and an aerator including a first stationary mixing rod and a second stationary mixing rod, the aerator disposed upstream of the dispensing nozzle to aerate the food product before the food product is discharged from the dispensing nozzle.

A machine for preparing coffee-based beverages starting from whole coffee beans includes a hopper configured to contain the coffee beans, a grinding member associated with said hopper to grind the coffee beans in order to obtain a coffee powder, brewing means configured to subject the coffee powder to brewing, hydraulic means configured to supply water to the brewing means, and identification means configured to automatically identify one or more actual characteristics of the coffee beans and to automatically associate with the one or more actual characteristics one or more functioning parameters for at least one of either the grinding member, the brewing means or the hydraulic means.

A machine for preparing coffee-based beverages starting from whole coffee beans includes a hopper configured to contain the coffee beans, a grinding member associated with said hopper to grind the coffee beans in order to obtain a coffee powder, brewing means configured to subject the coffee powder to brewing, hydraulic means configured to supply water to the brewing means, and identification means configured to automatically identify one or more actual characteristics of the coffee beans and to automatically associate with the one or more actual characteristics one or more functioning parameters for at least one of either the grinding member, the brewing means or the hydraulic means.

A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages comprising: a housing; a first reservoir station; a first reservoir for containing an aqueous medium, the first reservoir being connectable to said first reservoir station; an auxiliary module station for receiving an auxiliary module.