A refillable brewing cartridge that includes a fixed metal filter, and a paper filter inserted therein, wherein the paper filter is designed to sorb at least part of any essentially oils or aromatics produced during the brewing process, and retain at least a part of any sediment that is produced during the brewing process.

A container contains a beverage base material in a beverage base material chamber defined by a chamber bottom and a chamber wall. The container furthermore comprises an elongated handle extending in a direction having a radial component outward from the chamber. The handle is provided with an outlet channel extending from the chamber to a channel outlet provided at the free end of the handle. A beverage preparation system for preparing a beverage includes an automatic beverage preparation apparatus and such a container and is arranged for removably connecting the container to the apparatus such that the handle is positioned vertically with the channel outlet pointing downwards. A method of preparing a beverage using such a beverage preparation system in which the container is connected to the apparatus such that the handle is positioned vertically with the channel outlet pointing downwards for dispensing a beverage from the beverage base material chamber substantially vertically.

A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage with a beverage brewing device is disclosed. The beverage brewing device comprises a receptacle for receiving the capsule. The capsule comprises a cup comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid in use connected to the cup at a second end of the circumferential wall opposite the bottom. The wall, bottom and lid, in use, enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product. At least a portion of a surface of the capsule conceived to, in use, interact with the receptacle is provided with at least one projection for forming a sealing engagement with the receptacle.

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.

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage by supplying a fluid under pressure into the capsule. The capsule has an aluminum capsule body with an outwardly extending flange and a cover sheet attached to the flange and hermetically closing off the capsule. A deformable sealing ring portion of the flange projects axially from base portions of the flange, to which said cover is attached. The deformable sealing ring portion has 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 said 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. A support member is arranged between the inner and outer wall portions.

A capsule includes a first container provided with a first closed cavity containing a first product and a second container provided with a second closed cavity containing a second product. The first container and the second container include a first interface element facing the first cavity and a second interface element facing the second cavity, respectively. The first interface element is provided with a first connecting device having a first conduit and the second interface element is provided with a second connecting device having a second conduit. In an assembled configuration of the capsule, in which the first container is associated with the second container, the first connecting device is engaged with the second connecting device so as to couple the first conduit with the second conduit to make a flow connection between the first cavity and the second cavity and enable at least the first product to pass into the second cavity and join the second product to make a final product.

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 present invention concerns a brewing unit (5) for a beverage preparation machine (1), having several automated functionalities actuated by one single motor (16). The invention also concerns a beverage preparation machine comprising such an automated brewing unit.

A container (6) arranged for containing a precursor material for use with a machine (4) for preparing a beverage and/or foodstuff, the container comprising: a storage portion (58), a closing member (56), a flange (60) connecting the storage portion and closing member, a machine-readable code (44) storing preparation information for use with a preparation process performed by said machine, and a code carrying member (62), wherein the flange comprises a viewing window (84), the code carrying member (62) extending over the viewing window (84) at a side of the flange that comprises an upper surface (68) of the flange (60), and the code (44) arranged on a flange facing surface (64) of the code carrying member (62), wherein the code (44) is readable from a side of the flange (60) that comprises a lower surface (70) of the flange through the viewing window (84).

A container (6) arranged for containing a precursor material for use with a machine for preparing a beverage and/or foodstuff, the container comprising: a storage portion (58) having an opening for receiving the precursor material; a membrane (56) to close the opening; a flange (60) including an upper surface, an opposed lower surface, and a peripheral edge, and; a machine-readable code (44) storing preparation information for use with a preparation process performed by said machine, wherein the membrane is arranged to extend; over the upper surface, around the peripheral edge, and over the lower surface, wherein the code is arranged on a lower surface portion of the membrane, which adjoins the lower surface.