A method for sweetening a milk-containing fluid, in which the milk-containing fluid is passed through a sweetener. To this end, a sweetening unit (1) for a dispensing device (2) can be used, in which a fluid inlet (4) and a fluid outlet (5) are designed such that a fluid flow through the sweetener can be generated. The sweetening unit (1) can preferably be placed removably on a milk outlet (20) of a milk delivery unit (19).

Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.

A mobile liquid tank is disclosed that includes an insulated tank body and two heating elements. Also disclosed is a liquid heating system comprising the mobile liquid tank, as well as methods of heating a liquid using the mobile liquid tank.

A liquid dispensing apparatus includes a container including a downwardly extending wall portion that defines a bottom opening through which a liquid in the container is dispensed; a valve; and an actuator connected to the valve for controlling dispensing of the fluid from the container. The actuator is movable along an axis between a dispensing position, in which liquid from the container is dispensed, the valve being open when the actuator is in the dispensing position; and a non-dispensing position, in which liquid from the container is not dispensed, the valve being closed when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position, and the actuator in the non-dispensing position being located further from the container than when in the dispensing position. A spring biases the actuator in a direction away from the container. The liquid may be dispensed into a bottle containing a hard seltzer for flavoring of the seltzer.

An automated self-cleaning frothing appliance includes: a housing having a base, a tower extending upwardly from the base, and a canopy extending from an upper portion of the tower above the base; a vessel mounted beneath the canopy, the vessel having an outlet at a lower end; a frothing tool extending from the canopy into the vessel; a first fluid pathway in the housing to receive water from a water source and deliver water into the vessel; a valve positioned to selectively open and close the outlet to the vessel; a valve-opening mechanism attached to the housing to selectively open and close the valve; a drain positioned beneath the outlet to receive water draining from the outlet; a second fluid pathway routed from the drain to deliver water to an external receptacle; and a controller operatively connected with the drive unit, the first fluid pathway and the valve-opening mechanism.

Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.

A beverage maker, in particular an electrically operated coffee machine having a water tank, which can be filled with water which can be used to prepare a beverage by means of the beverage maker, wherein the beverage maker is configured as connectable to a drinking water network via an inflow, characterized in that the water tank can be manually removed from the beverage maker by a user of the beverage maker in a state in which the beverage maker is connected to the drinking water network via the inflow and/or can be filled with the water selectively by manual filling of water by a/the user of the beverage maker or by introducing drinking water from the drinking water network via the inflow.

The disclosure introduces a beverage cooling device, including a body, a first cooling tank, a second cooling tank, a cooling pipeline, a cleaning module and a control unit. The first cooling tank is configured in the body and filled with a first coolant; the second cooling tank is configured in the body and filled with a second coolant; the cooling pipeline includes a first pipeline and a second pipeline, wherein the first pipeline is connected to an inlet end, the second pipeline is configured in the second cooling tank and connected to the first pipeline and an outlet end; the cleaning module is configured in the body and includes a cleaning pipeline and a valve body, wherein the cleaning pipeline is connected to a cleaning liquid source and the inlet end, the valve body is connected to the cleaning pipeline, the control unit is connected to the valve body.

A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.

A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: a beverage preparation module (20, 30) having a front face (21) with an outlet (31) for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support (10) located under the outlet (31) for placing a cup (2) under the outlet (31). The cup support (10) comprises a liquid collection receptacle (14) supporting a removable cup placement platform (16) that has a peripheral part (18). The collection receptacle (14) is delimited by at least one upright peripheral sidewall (15) forming a seat (15′) for placing the platform (16). The peripheral part (18) extends over and above the peripheral sidewall (15) when the platform (16) is placed in the seat (15′) so that the platform (16) is seizable at the peripheral part (18) adjacent the peripheral sidewall (15) by a user-hand for removing the platform (16) from the receptacle (14).