A beverage preparation system is provided comprising a beverage preparation machine, a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients, and a coded insert. The beverage preparation machine comprises a brew head for receiving the cartridge. The cartridge comprises a primary code configured to provide operating instructions to the beverage preparation machine for delivering a beverage from the cartridge. The coded insert is separate from the cartridge and insertable along with the cartridge into the brew head. The coded insert comprises a secondary code configured to provide alternative operating instructions to the beverage preparation machine for delivering a modified beverage from the cartridge.

A device (1) handles selectively a first capsule (2a) having a first flange (2a) and a second capsule (2b) having a second flange (2b) greater than the first flange (2a). The device comprises: a first part (10) and a second part (20) that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule (2a, 2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule (2a, 2b); and a third part (30) for guiding such capsule (2a, 2b) to inbetween the first and second parts (10, 20) when in the transfer position. The third part (30) has: a first portion (31a) for engaging with and guiding the first flange (2a) of the first capsule (2a); and a second portion (31b) for engaging with and guiding the second flange (2b) of the second capsule (2b). The third part (30) is so configured that: the first portion (31a) is bypassed by the second flange (2b) when the second capsule (2b) is guided to in-between the first and second parts (10, 20) in the transfer position; and the second portion (31b) is bypassed by the first flange (2a) when the first capsule (2a) is guided to inbetween the first and second parts (10, 20) in the transfer position.

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage has an aluminum capsule body and a cover sheet hermetically closing off the capsule. The capsule body has a flange with a deformable sealing ring portion with an inner wall portion extending from and contiguous with an inner base portion of the flange, an outer wall portion extending from and contiguous with an outer base portion of the flange and a bridge portion interconnecting the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. The bridge portion is located axially spaced from the base portions of the flange. In radial cross-sectional view, a top of the bridge portion axially most remote from the base portions of the flange is flat or has a center plane curved with a radius of curvature larger than two times a wall thickness of the top of the bridge portion.

An apparatus for preparing a beverage by delivering sanitized liquid within a package containing nutritional ingredients. The apparatus includes a package comprising a product compartment containing nutritional ingredients and a spout arranged for the supply of liquid inside the compartment. The apparatus also includes a machine comprising a control unit and a liquid supply and treatment unit. Methods of production and use thereof are also disclosed.

A dispensing system (40) includes a body (54) having an outer wall (64) defining a volume for storing a substance, the outer wall (64) having a top end (66) and a sealed bottom end (70). The top end (66) is covered by a flexible lid (56) that is attached to the body (54). The lid (56) has a press portion (88) for being engaged to move the lid (56) from a first position into a second, deflected position. A post (58) is connected to the lid (56) and is configured in the second position of the lid (56) to breach the sealed bottom end (70) forming a dispensing orifice (80) to accommodate movement of a substance out of the body (54). In one form, the outer wall (64) includes at least one bottle stop projection (218) defining one or more vent channels (219).

The invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (1), comprising a delivery unit (2) for delivering a liquid through the beverage preparation machine (1), a dispensing unit (3) for dispensing the liquid delivered by the delivery unit (2), and a collection unit (8) being fluidly connectable to the dispensing unit (3) to selectively form a liquid path (P) to collect the liquid dispensed by the dispensing unit (3). The invention further relates to a method for dispensing a liquid, comprising (a) delivering a liquid through a delivery unit (2) of a beverage preparation machine (1), preferably the beverage preparation machine (1) of any one of the preceding claims, (b) dispensing the liquid delivered by the delivery unit (2) via a dispensing unit (3) of the beverage preparation machine (1), and (c) selectively fluidly connecting a collection unit (8) of the beverage preparation machine (1) with the dispensing unit (3) to form a liquid path (P) for collecting at least part of the liquid dispensed by the dispensing unit (3).

A beverage maker includes a body and a cover movably attached to the body. The body includes therein (among other components), a hot liquid generator (HLG) having a tank, an inlet for receiving liquid into the tank and an outlet, at least one heater in thermal communication with the liquid in the HLG tank, and a discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet of the HLG for discharge of the liquid. The cover is movably attached to the body between a closed position and an open position. At least one valve permits the discharge of the liquid via the discharge port in a closed position of the cover. The at least one valve is mechanically actuated by the cover in the open position of the cover to substantially prevent the discharge of the liquid via the discharge port.

The present invention relates to a method for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine (1). The beverage preparation machine (1) 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 (50) via a communication network (511, 501, 502). The machine (1) monitors (S1, S2, S3, S4) parameters related to the machine and submits (S5) the monitored parameters to the server (5). The server (5) initiates (S8, S9) a service functionality depending on the submitted parameters. The present invention further relates to a beverage preparation machine (1) adapted to support such a method and to a system (100) for remotely providing service functionalities for a beverage preparation machine (1) at a customer location (150).

According to embodiments described in the specification, a head assembly for a brewing apparatus is described. The head assembly includes a lid portion coupled to a fixed base portion and moveable between open and closed positions; a lock coupled to the lid portion and slideable between locked and unlocked positions; a lever with a first end connected to the lock, an axis point connected to the lid portion, and a second end; and a cover movably coupled to the lid portion and abutting the second end of the lever, such that pressure on the cover rotates the lid portion to the closed position, and rotates the lever so as to slide the lock into the locked position.

A method for preparing a coffee drink is provided in which, in a brewing process, a pre-specifiable total amount of brewing water is conducted through an amount of powdered coffee. In order to improve the tasting quality of freshly-brewed coffee drinks while, at least, increasing the uniformity of taste characteristics in successively prepared coffee drinks, a total through-flow time for the brewing process is or can be predefined in which the total amount of brewing water is conducted through an amount of powdered coffee.