The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

A system for preparing a quantity of beverage suitable for consumption includes a second exchangeable capsule having a second body with a second flange-like rim and a second exit face attached to the second flange-like rim. The system further includes an apparatus for preparing a quantity of beverage suitable for consumption having a first brew chamber part having a cavity for holding the second exchangeable capsule and a second brew chamber part for closing the first brew chamber part around the second exchangeable capsule. The first brew chamber part has a first substantially annular abutment surface in the cavity and further has a second substantially annular abutment surface. A diameter of the second annular abutment surface is larger than a diameter of the first annular abutment surface. The second abutment surface is arranged for abutting the second flange-like rim there against when the cavity holds the second exchangeable capsule.

A capsule processing machine (1) for preparing a beverage from a capsule (5) having a body (50) containing an ingredient. The machine (1) has a holder (10) with a cavity (11) having an upwardly oriented mouth (12) and a cover (20) cooperating with the holder (10). The cover (20) and the holder (10) are relatively movable along a movement path (14) from: an open position for inserting the capsule (5) inbetween the holder (10) and cover (20) into the cavity (11) and/or for removing the capsule (5) therefrom; to a closed position for extracting the capsule (5) in the cavity (11). The machine (1) includes a capsule transfer device (30) having a capsule guide (31) for guiding the capsule (5) from the holder (10) to a used-capsule evacuation area (40). The capsule guide (31) extends along an evacuation direction (31′) and is configured to seize the capsule (5) and hold the capsule (5) above the holder (10) and to guide the capsule (5) towards the evacuation area (40) along the evacuation direction (31′). The movement path (14) and the evacuation direction (31′) are at an angle (α1,α2,α3,α4) favouring a movement of the capsule (5) under the effect of gravity along the capsule guide (31) towards the evacuation area (40). The capsule guide (31) is tillable during the relative movement of the holder (10) and the cover (20) from the closed position to the open position to reduce the angle (α1,α2,α3,α4) so as to increase the effect of gravity for moving the capsule (5).

A capsule or container is provided having optimized recycling attributes. The capsule is provided for use in a machine for preparing a consumable product from capsules. The capsule includes a body that defines an interior space with an opening. A cover is disposed over the opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define a chamber between the filter and the cover. The body, filter and cover are preferably formed of the same substantially pure polymer material. Ingredients are disposed in the interior space for preparing a desired product. A hinge is provided to tether the cover to the body. The cover is attached with a peelable seal to the body so that cover may be peeled away from the body while remaining tethered at the hinge.

A liquid dispensing system, a liquid flow control assembly or member and a liquid dispenser. Preferably, the liquid dispensing system includes a single hot water tank. A liquid flow control assembly operably connected to the hot water tank is configured to direct only water from an upper portion of the hot water tank to a flavored beverage brewer (e.g., coffee or tea brewer) so that the flavored beverage is at an optimal elevated temperature when dispensed. The liquid flow control assembly or member is further configured to mix water from an upper portion of the hot water tank with water from a lower portion of the hot water tank and provide the water mixture to a hot water dispensing nozzle or outlet of the liquid dispenser to reduce the temperature of the water directed to the hot water dispensing nozzle or outlet.

A beverage-making machine includes: a housing; an espresso station; a coffee station; a water reservoir; a fluid transport system fluidly connected with the water reservoir, the fluid transport system including a pump configured to provide selectively variable pressure, a heater positioned to heat fluid in the fluid transport system, and a three-way valve fluidly connected with the pump; and a controller configured such that, (a) upon a user's selection to brew espresso, the controller signals the pump to operate at a first, higher operating pressure and signals the three-way valve to direct fluid from the pump to the espresso brewing station, and (b) upon a user's selection to brew coffee, the controller signals the pump to operate at a second, lower operating pressure and signals the three-way valve to direct fluid from the pump to the coffee brewing station.

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.

Provided is a refrigerator, comprising a cabinet, a door and a water dispensing device, the water dispensing device comprises a first water tank connected with an external water source, a first water passage, a beverage making chamber, a dispenser, a second water tank and a second water passage connected with the dispenser. The refrigerator according to the present invention at least has two water passages, in which the first water passage provides a room temperature beverage, and the second water passage provides ice water, so that user may obtain at least the room temperature beverage and the ice water through the dispenser.

The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (13). The brewing chamber (35) comprises two chamber portions (34a, 34b, 12) relatively movable each other, means (7) being provided to apply a clamping force to said chamber portions in order to close the brewing chamber, the clamping means and at least part of the chamber portions (34a, 34b, 12) being connected to a frame structure (33) of the machine. A machine control unit (17) is also provided. The machine (1) comprises at least one sensor means (50) for sensing the deformations of at least a resilient deformable portion. The sensor means is connected to the control unit and, based on the sensed deformation of said deformable portion, carries out at least one of the following operation: controlling of a machine switching-on, a clamping means closure, a capsule presence in the brewing chamber, a fluid injection in the brewing chamber, a fluid temperature, detecting of the type of ingredient capsule amongst a set of different capsule types. Also a method to control a beverage preparation machine on the basis of the deformation of said resilient deformable portion is claimed.

A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.