An automated heating and/or foaming apparatus and a method for heating and/or foaming a liquid are disclosed. The apparatus includes a stage, a liquid sensor, a measuring sensor, and a steam pipe. The stage is configured to support a container holding a consumable liquid. The liquid sensor is configured to recognize a type of the consumable liquid. The measuring sensor is configured to detect a surface level of the consumable liquid. The steam pipe includes a nozzle configured to inject water vapor or compressed gas into the consumable liquid to heat and/or foam the consumable liquid. A position of the nozzle in the consumable liquid relative to the surface level of the consumable liquid is adjusted based on the type and/or volume of the consumable liquid detected by the consumable liquid sensor and/or measuring sensor.

Aspects of the present invention relate to A beverage dispensing machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (BV) into a vessel (2). The beverage dispensing machine (1) has a upper engaging member (63) movable to a deployed position for engaging a upper portion of the vessel (2) and at least one side engaging member (68-1, 68-2) movable to a deployed position for engaging a sidewall (51) of the vessel (2). An actuating mechanism (5) is provided for deploying the upper engaging member (63) in conjunction with the at least one side engaging member (68-1, 68-2) to retain the vessel (2) in the beverage dispensing machine (1). Aspects of the present invention also relate to a vehicle having a beverage dispensing machine (1).

Herein is provided a beverage apparatus for an aircraft galley. The apparatus includes: a fixed heater module including a hot water source configured to provide hot water; and a dispensing module. The dispensing module is slidably translatable relative to the fixed heater module between a retracted position and an extended position and includes: a brewing head; a support configured to support a beverage receptacle, wherein the support is attached to the brewing head; and a rigid pipe fluidly connecting the hot water source and the brewing head and attached to the brewing head. The brewing head, support and rigid pipe are configured to slidably translate together as a single unit.

An actively heated or cooled food container can have a lid movable between an open and a closed position and an insulated body to which the lid can be attached. The insulated body can have a sidewall that defines a perimeter of the container body and a base, the sidewall and base defining one or more chambers that can be sealed by the lid. The food container can have a temperature control system that can include one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with one or both of the sidewall and the base and operable to heat or cool one or both of the sidewall and the base to thereby heat or cool the one or more chambers in the food container.

A beverage maker for a vehicle galley compartment, the beverage maker comprising: a housing comprising a dispensing region configured to receive a beverage container in a beverage receiving position; a latching mechanism configured to move relative to the housing between a first position and a second position; wherein, when in the first position the latching mechanism is configured to retain the beverage container in the beverage receiving position, and when in the second position the latching mechanism is configured to allow the beverage container to be placed in or removed from the beverage receiving position; and an electrical actuator configured to control movement of the latching mechanism relative to the housing from the second position to the first position.

The present invention relates to a device (10) for handling a drinkable liquid, in particular tea and coffee, comprising: a container (12), which has an outer surface (14) and an inner surface (16), wherein the inner surface (16) surrounds a receiving chamber (26) into which a drinkable liquid can be introduced and from which the drinkable liquid can be removed; a support unit (28) having a wall structure (30), wherein the wall structure (30) surrounds a support space (32) into which the container (12) can be at least partially introduced; and a connecting element (42), which can be fastened to the support unit (28) and can be brought into contact with the outer surface (14) such that the container (12) is fixed in the support space (32) when the container (12) is introduced into the support space (32) and the connecting element (42) is fastened to the support unit (28).

A beverage server configured to make a beverage and dispense the beverage into a container placed therein. The beverage server includes an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information of the container placed in the beverage server, and a container identification unit configured to identify a type of the container based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

An actively heated mug has a body with a chamber that can receive and hold a beverage and a heating element to actively heat the chamber, batteries, and circuitry that controls the operation of the heating element. A user interface is electrically connected to the circuitry and has one or more buttons actuatable a) to turn on the heating element, b) to adjust a temperature setting to one of multiple temperature settings to control the operation of the heating element to heat or maintain the liquid at a user selected temperature setting, and c) to turn off the heating element.

A beverage brewer includes a pump assembly, a pressure chamber, an intake channel, and a brewing material holder assembly. The pump assembly has an inlet port and is configured to provide negative fluid pressure at the inlet port. The pressure chamber is configured to hold liquid and has an intake port, a draw port arranged for fluid communication with the inlet port of the pump assembly, and a drain. The intake channel is arranged for fluid communication with the intake port of the pressure chamber. The brewing material holder assembly is configured to hold ground brewing material and is arranged to receive fluid from the drain. The pump assembly is configured to draw liquid through the intake channel into the pressure chamber such that the drawn liquid issues to the brewing material holder assembly through the drain, thereby brewing a beverage in the brewing material holder assembly.

The present disclosure describes a beverage machine for dispensing liquids from a container and an apparatus for securing said container to the beverage machine. The container is removably received by a resilient sealing ring which can be tightened around the container using a rotatable bracket. Through a system of interlocking teeth, a plurality of resilient sealing rings may be operated by a single actuator so that multiple containers can be secured to the machine more or less simultaneously.