A system and method for preparing a consumable beverage. The system includes an apparatus including a first brew chamber part having a cavity for selectively holding an exchangeable first or second capsule. An exit area of the second capsule has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of an first exit area of the first capsule. The apparatus includes a second brew chamber part for closing the first brew chamber part around the first or second capsule. The second brew chamber part has an extraction plate for abutting against the first or second exit area. The extraction plate includes a central portion and a peripheral portion. The central portion is movable relative to the peripheral portion.

The present invention relates to a brewing apparatus (1) for making a beverage from a single-serve capsule (2), wherein the brewing apparatus (1) has a first brewing-chamber element (3), a second brewing-chamber element (4) and a sealing device (5), wherein the first brewing-chamber element (3) can be moved along a central axis (12) between a loading position, in which the first and the second brewing-chamber elements (3, 4) are spaced apart from one another, and an operating position, in which the first and the second brewing-chamber elements (3, 4) have been moved towards one another to form a substantially closed brewing chamber (10), wherein, in the operating position, the sealing device (5) is arranged between the first and the second brewing-chamber elements (3, 4), wherein the first or second brewing-chamber element (3, 4) has a liquid-feeding device (6) for injecting liquid into a single-serve capsule (2) located in the brewing chamber (10).

A beverage or foodstuff preparation system (2) comprising: a base unit (74); a removable component (76) having a beverage or foodstuff component processing system (4); a power coupling (78) adapted for inductive power transfer of electrical energy between the base unit and the removable component when the removable component (76) is coupled with the base unit (74).

A brewing device for producing a beverage from a single-serve pod of the type comprising a casing formed of two sheets to form a central body containing a brewable material, and an external annular flange that extends all around, and seals, the central body; the brewing device comprises a water injection assembly and a beverage extraction assembly defining respective half-chambers and mutually movable along a longitudinal axis, from and to a closed configuration forming a brewing chamber for the pod; and a pod support device rotatably mounted about a fixed axis transverse to the longitudinal axis to move between a retention position, supporting a pod in a loading position between the injection assembly and extraction assembly, and a disengagement position, and it is configured to insert and leave the pod in the brewing half-chamber of the extraction assembly before reaching the disengagement position.

A brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion capsule includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part which is movable relative to this between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position. An operating element is further present, the operating element being able to be brought manually from a first into a second operating element position. The brewing module has an energy store which is configured, by way of moving the operating element from the first into the second position, to intermediately store energy which is coupled into the brewing module and, activated by a release, to convert it again into a movement from the first brewing module part position into the second brewing module part position.

A brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion capsule, includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which is movable relative to the housing between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position, wherein a brewing chamber is formed in the second brewing module part position. Furthermore, an operating element is able to be brought manually from a first into a second operating element position, from which a movement is transmitted via a transmission mechanism into a movement of the second brewing module part. The brewing module further includes a damping device for damping the movement of the second brewing module part. This damping device is designed such that it has non-constant damping characteristics as a function of the position and/or as a function of the movement direction.

A beverage preparation machine for brewed beverages includes a housing having a housing wall that surrounds an inner space and has an opening; a brewing device arranged in the inner space for brewing a quantity of a solid material accommodated by the brewing device, wherein the quantity of the solid material can be output from the brewing device; a movable container for receiving a quantity of the solid material output from the brewing device, which container can be brought into the inner space through the opening; a movable cover plate for covering the opening, which cover plate in a first position covers at least one region of the opening, and which in a second position uncovers the opening. The cover plate is connected to the housing via a pivoting device so that the cover plate is movable between the first and second positions by pivoting about a pivot axis.

A beverage system for making a beverage based on ingredients in a capsule has a conveying carriage with a capsule carrier, a threaded spindle extending inside a housing of the beverage system and having a drive nut connected to the capsule carrier. A stop element is arranged on the threaded spindle at an ejection position for blocking movement of the drive nut along the threaded spindle. A motor rotates the threaded spindle in a first direction of rotation, in order to move the capsule carrier to a processing position, where a beverage is made based on the ingredients in a capsule; in order to move the capsule carrier further along the threaded spindle to an ejection position; and in order to rotate the capsule carrier at the ejection position about the threaded spindle to eject the capsule from the capsule carrier.

A machine (1) for serving a beverage (7) via a dispensing outlet (8) to a consumer receptacle (9) by mixing water (3) from a water source (3′) with a flavouring ingredient (2), has a mixing unit (10) that comprises: a stationary support (11); a seat (12) having an ingredient opening (120); a closure part (13) configured to close and open the ingredient opening (120); and a wall part (14) that is movable inside the seat (12). The seat (12), the closure part (13) and the wall part (14) are: mounted to the support (11); and relatively movable between a transfer configuration and a mixing chamber configuration in which the seat (12) and the closure part (13) and the wall part (14) form a mixing chamber (12′) fluidically connected with the water source (3). The mixing unit (10) is provided with a chamber thermal conditioner (23,24), such as a chamber heater and/or a cooler, for conditioning at least one of the seat (12), the closure part (13) and the wall part (14). The chamber conditioner (23,24) is configured to thermally condition the mixing chamber (12′) prior to supplying water into the mixing chamber (12′) and independently of any thermal conditioning of such water (3) prior to such supplying of the water (3).

A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.