System for making an infused beverage, includes: at least one infusion assembly of a machine for preparing infused beverages; at least one capsule containing an aromatic substance for the preparation of an infused beverage through interaction with a liquid; the capsule including: a cup-shaped body with a recess having a depth for containing a predetermined amount of an aromatic substance; the body including at least one side wall and a bottom, and running around a vertical axis; the first infusion assembly including: a first infusing member, including a recess for accommodating at least partially the capsule; a second infusing member for cooperating with the first infusing member so as to at least partially close the recess to define an accommodating seat with the first infusing member; the capsule including first coupling elements; the infusion assembly including second coupling elements structured to removably engage the first coupling elements.

A machine-implemented method, comprising: heat-sterilising water; cooling the sterilised water; removably receiving a capsule containing powdered infant milk formula in a capsule chamber; injecting the cooled, sterilised water into the capsule chamber and through the capsule to form liquid infant milk formula; steam-sterilising the capsule chamber after removal of the capsule.

A beverage making device comprising a brewing chamber configured to brew a beverage, the device comprising: a valve assembly comprising: a housing including an inlet for receiving pressurized water into the housing, a two way passage coupling the housing to the brewing chamber, an outlet configured to remove the brewed beverage from the housing, and a pressure release valve configured to close the outlet to send the pressurized water out of the two way passage to the brewing chamber when the pressurized water is supplied to the inlet, and close the inlet to receive a brewed beverage from the brewing through the two way passage when the pressurized water is not provided to the inlet.

A device (1) handles a capsule (2a, 2b) having a flange (2a, 2b). The device comprises: a first part (10) and a second part (20) that are relatively movable across a space (3a, 3b) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule (2a, 2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part (30) for guiding such capsule (2a, 2b) to in between the first and second parts (10,20) when in the transfer position; and stop means (32a,32b). The stop means are configured for successively: stopping the capsule (2a, 2b) in between the first and second parts (10, 20) in the transfer position; maintaining the capsule while the first and second parts (10, 20) are relatively moved from the transfer position towards the extraction position to receive the capsule; and allowing a liberation of the capsule from the stop means after reception of the capsule by at least one of the first and second parts (10,20) while relatively moving towards the extraction position. The third part (30) has a flange section (300) that has a first position for engaging with and guiding the capsule flange (2a, 2b) when the first and second parts (10, 20) are in the transfer position before liberation of such capsule (2a, 2b) from the stop means (32a, 32b). The flange section (300) in the first position extends into such space (3a, 3b), the flange section (300) being moved after the capsule liberation from its first position to a second position in which the flange section (300) is retracted from the space (3a, 3b) to allow a crossing thereof by the at least one of the first and second parts (10, 20).

An apparatus for making beverages using capsules (2) containing a food substance, comprising an extraction unit (3) in which an openable extraction chamber (4) is made, an infeed section (9) for a capsule (2), a feed path (10) for the capsule (2) in the apparatus (1) from the infeed section (9), and at least one image acquisition device (12) operating in the range of visible light, positioned along the feed path (10) outside the extraction chamber (4), and designed, in use, when the capsule (2) is positioned in an image capture zone (13) located along the feed path (10), to capture images of at least an identification portion (14) of the capsule (2) on which a graphical element (15) is present and visible; the image acquisition device (12); an electronic processing unit (20) is connected to the image acquisition device (12) and is programmed to selectively enable or not enable the making of a beverage by performing the following operating steps based on a comparison between a first image detected by the image acquisition device (12) and one or more reference images saved in the apparatus (1).

A capsule assembly including a capsule for preparation of beverages and a conveyor cap mounted on the capsule for conveying the beverage exiting the capsule. The capsule includes an inlet wall, an outlet wall, and a lateral wall defining an internal volume inside which at least one beverage ingredient is housed. The outlet wall includes one or more capsule beverage outlets. The conveyor cap is mounted on the capsule to define an enclosure space between the outlet wall and an inner surface of the conveyor cap. The conveyor cap includes one or more beverage delivery openings and is movably mounted on the capsule. The capsule beverage outlets and the conveyor cap are configured to interact so that the capsule beverage outlets are opened by the conveyor cap due to a relative movement between the capsule and the conveyor cap.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a water supply heater configured to heat water; an ingredient supplier connected to the water supply heater through a water supply channel; a container connected to the ingredient supplier through a first channel; a first valve configured to regulate a flow through the first channel; and a beverage extractor connected to the first channel at a location between the ingredient supplier and the first valve.

A pack for preparing a food or beverage product is disclosed, as well as methods of use thereof. The pack includes an insert comprising at least one primary fluid inlet with aqueous and gaseous fluid injection inlets, as well as a container where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, wherein the aqueous fluid injection inlet and the gaseous fluid injection inlet communicate with the inner volume of the container. Also disclosed is a machine for use with the pack in preparing a food or beverage product, a system containing the pack and the machine, and methods of use of the system containing the pack and machine. Applicant respectfully submits that no substantive changes have been made to the specification of the application, and that the amendments to the application do not constitute new matter. Entry thereof is respectfully requested.

The present invention relates in general to beverages providing enhanced taste perception. In particular, the present invention concerns beverages comprising a first homogeneous portion, and a second homogeneous portion being visually the same as the first portion, wherein a tastant is present in the second portion, the tastant being essentially absent from the first portion. Further aspects of the invention are a kit for the preparation of a beverage, a process for preparing a beverage and the use of a beverage according to the invention to reduce the quantity of tastant in a beverage without adversely affecting the taste of the beverage.

The present invention relates to a method for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine. The beverage preparation machine is adapted for preparing a beverage by receiving a capsule in a capsule extraction unit, circulating a carrier liquid, such as water in particular heated water, through said capsule in the extraction unit and by dispensing a resulting beverage. The machine is in data communication with a remote server via a communication network. The machine monitors parameters related to the machine and submits the monitored parameters to the server. The server initiates a service functionality depending on the submitted parameters. The present invention further relates to a beverage preparation machine adapted to support such a method and to a system for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine at a customer location.