A liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing water and a flavored beverage. The dispensing apparatus may dispense chilled drinking water, hot drinking water and/or ambient temperature drinking water. The dispensing apparatus may further dispense a chilled, ambient temperature and/or hot flavored beverage. The flavored beverage may be coffee, tea, hot chocolate or another flavored beverage. The dispensing apparatus may include a replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle stored in a lower portion of the dispensing apparatus or an external source of water. Preferably, the liquid dispensing apparatus dispenses chilled drinking water and hot coffee from a replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle stored in a lower portion of the dispensing apparatus wherein the replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle is stored in an upright orientation, i.e., the discharge port of the replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle is oriented above a bottom of the replaceable five (5) gallon water bottle.

A disposable beverage bag, filled with beverage material, for use in preparing a beverage in connection with single-serve beverage brewing machines. The beverage bag is preferably made from environmentally-friendly woven or knitted materials that are biodegradable, compostable and/or recyclable, or any other suitable stretchy, water-permeable, eco-friendly material. The beverage bag offers an easy, convenient, cost-effective and mess-free way to prepare beverages, and easy, eco-friendly disposal. The beverage bag can be configured to work with any beverage brewing machine, and it can be filled with any suitable beverage material, including coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. An adapter comprising a gasket and plug can be installed in the beverage machine to allow for the beverage bag to be used without the need for a reusable cup.

A device for extracting a substance to be brewed comprising: an extraction compartment in a first and a second portion, movable relative to the first portion to switch the compartment between a closed position and an open position; a linking device between the first and the second portion, comprising a holder with a first link so configured as to produce a rotation of the holder relative to the first portion, and a second link relative to the second portion, and the device comprises an articulation joint so configured as to successively produce, during a rotational motion of the holder about the first link in a first direction of rotation, a first tilting of the second portion in the first direction, then a second tilting of the second portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A capsule is designed for insertion in a centrifugal beverage production device for preparing a beverage from a substance contained in the capsule by introducing liquid in the capsule and passing the liquid through the substance using centrifugal forces. The capsule includes a body having a bottom end and an open end spaced apart in the axial direction, an upper wall for covering the body at the open end along a direction transverse to the axial direction, and an enclosure between the body and the upper wall containing a predetermined amount of beverage substance. The capsule further includes an annular pressure-setting ring configured for adjusting the backpressure in the beverage production device. The pressure-setting ring provides an improved coffee in-cup quality. A set of capsules can have pressure-setting rings of different dimensions for setting different backpressure when engaged in a centrifuging beverage production device.

A machine for preparing beverages, in particular espresso coffee, comprises a hydraulic circuit including a brewing unit, a water tank, a pump having the inlet connected in fluid communication to the tank, and the outlet or delivery connected in fluid communication to the brewing unit. A normally closed one-way hydraulic valve, which is set between the pump and the brewing unit, enables a flow of water toward the brewing unit when the pressure of the water delivered by the pump exceeds a substantially predetermined threshold. There is a heating means for heating the water delivered by the pump. The machine has a normally open discharge valve having a main inlet (12.sub.IN), connected between the one-way hydraulic valve and the brewing unit, a main outlet, connected toward a discharge space, and an open/close member set between the main inlet and the main outlet, designed to assume an open condition and a closed condition, where it enables and prevents, respectively, a flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet, with the open/close member being urged by a corresponding spring into the open condition. The discharge valve is a hydraulically driven valve, which includes a chamber for hydraulic driving of the open/close member, an auxiliary inlet of the driving chamber, connected to the delivery of the pump, and an auxiliary outlet of the driving chamber, connected to the brewing unit, in such a way that water forced by the pump passes through the driving chamber before reaching the brewing unit. The discharge valve has a further outlet of the driving chamber, connected in fluid communication to a device for spillage of water from the driving chamber, in particular towards one of the water tank and the inlet of the pump.

The invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (20) for providing a pressurized liquid to a dose of beverage ingredients (10) such as a coffee capsule, the machine comprising a pressurizing liquid chamber (1) designed for being filled with a predefined amount of liquid upon operation of a liquid pump (2) connected to a liquid reservoir (3) of the machine, a potential energy accumulator (4) that is associated to the pressurizing liquid chamber (1) and which is designed for being brought into a charged position upon filling of the pressurizing liquid chamber (1), a brewing chamber (5) for receiving the dose of beverage ingredients (10) and which is designed for being selectively brought in fluid communication with the pressurizing liquid chamber (1), the machine (20) further comprising flow control means (6a,6b) designed for regulating the amount of liquid conveyed from the liquid pump (2) into the pressurizing liquid chamber (1) depending on an operating position of the potential energy accumulator (4) and/or on the pressure of liquid in the pressurizing chamber (1).

A capsule for powder or semi-liquid food products includes: a hollow rigid body forming a chamber for a dose of product and having a base and upper opening. A cover closes the opening. Elements for controlled flow of a solvent toward the chamber are formed on the cover and result in thrust on the cover via pressure of the solvent, to allow sliding of the cover, guided by walls of the body, from the opening towards the base with pushing on the dose. Notches on the base act as flexible membranes to obtain an opening of the base, at the thrust of the cover, and allow the passage of the dose towards a connecting duct. Elements retaining the cover on the opening are positioned between the cover and an annular zone of the opening of the body, and temporarily retain the cover up to the start of the thrust.

An in-car coffee maker, powered by DC12 or DC24 direct current voltage, has an outer shell; a water pump support rack is provided at an inner bottom part of the outer shell; a water pump is mounted in the water pump support rack; a circuit control board is mounted on the water pump support rack; a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe are mounted on the water pump; a heating element support rack is mounted on the circuit control board; a heating element is mounted on the heating element support rack; the heater element support rack is mounted with a water container; four legs of the water container are fitted to a periphery of the heating element support rack; a left side surface of the water container is provided with an insertion slot inserted with a button board; a button switch is mounted on the button board.

A brew head assembly insertable within a brewing apparatus dimensioned to fit within a compartment in a galley of an aircraft may include an adjustable assembly and a brew cup. The adjustable assembly may include a brew head and a support member. The support member may define a first brew head cavity. The brew head may be at least partially inserted into the first brew head cavity. The adjustable assembly may be actuatable between an open position and at least one closed position. The brew cup may define a second brew head cavity. The brew head may be at least partially inserted into the second brew head cavity. A height between the brew head and the brew cup when the adjustable assembly is in the at least one closed position may be responsive to one or more parameters of a brew pod of a plurality of brew pods.

An assembly is disclosed. The assembly has a body member, an intermediate member attached to the body member, and a first sealed cavity formed by the body member and the intermediate member. The assembly also has a cover member attached to the body member, and a second sealed cavity formed by the cover member, the body member, and the intermediate member. The assembly further has a beverage-preparation liquid concentrate disposed in the second sealed cavity.