The invention relates to a system, for the preparation of a liquid product, comprising a disposable cartridge (1) and a dispensing apparatus. The cartridge comprises a cartridge body (2) having a reservoir (5), one or more dispensing passages located at its bottom and a sealing film (12) that seals off the reservoir at the top of the cartridge. The cartridge further comprises piercing members (14) arranged in the reservoir so that pressing the sealing film inward causes said piercing members to locally rupture the sealing film. According to the invention, the cartridge has a droplet capture member, adjacent the sealing film and in the vicinity of the piercing members, such that when the sealing film has been ruptured the droplet capture member extends over the one or more openings in the sealing film to capture droplets of liquid ingredient exiting said openings.

The invention relates to a cartridge comprising a wall region, to one end of which a connection region is connected, which is closed particularly with a membrane, and on the opposite end of which optionally a bottom region is provided, the wall region and optionally the bottom region containing a cavity which receives a beverage and/or food substrate.

A system for the preparation of a liquid product comprises a disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of a liquid product. Further the system comprises a dispensing apparatus with a pressurized gas source, wherein the apparatus is adapted to bring said pressurized gas source in direct communication with the reservoir of the disposable cartridge so as to allow said liquid ingredient therein to be pressurized by said gas thereby assisting the dispensing thereof from the reservoir via said one or more dispensing passages. The system is adapted to create one or more openings in said portion of the sealing film that covers the reservoir. The dispensing apparatus further comprises a pressurization dome member having a peripheral gas seal adapted to sealingly engage the disposable cartridge around a location where said one or more openings are created in said sealing film and the pressurized gas source is connected to said dome member and is adapted to feed pressurized gas beneath said dome member within the contour of the peripheral gas seal sealingly engaging the disposable cartridge, so as to allow said liquid ingredient in said reservoir to be pressurized by said gas via the one or more openings in said sealing film, thereby assisting the dispensing of the liquid ingredient from the reservoir via said one or more dispensing passages.

Method and apparatus for forming both carafe quantities and smaller (e.g., cup) quantities of a beverage using a cartridge-based beverage machine. A beverage forming machine accommodates cartridges having different sizes and/or shapes, including different rim sizes/shapes. The outlet used for receiving a beverage from a standard cartridge differs from the outlet used for receiving the beverage from a carafe cartridge inserted in a same cartridge holder. Beverage may exit the cartridge in an upward direction in some embodiments.

A hot beverage maker is provided with a removable pump for cleaning a brewing needle. The pump fits into a brewing chamber which normally receives a pod of an infusible beverage material. A pod receptacle and a lid pivotally connected to the housing form the brewing chamber. After a brewing cycle or when cleaning of the brewing needle is desired, an interior chamber of the pump is filled with cleaning fluid and the pump inserted into the pod receptacle. When the lid is closed, the brewing needle is inserted into the interior chamber. The lid is closed and released repeatedly to operate the pump. This creates a pumping action of the cleaning fluid through the brewing needle to dislodge a buildup of minerals or residual deposits. The used cleaning fluid and dislodged deposits are discarded after the cleaning operation is completed.

A portion capsule for producing a beverage. The portion capsule has a capsule body including a cavity. A filter is located inside of the cavity. The filter is configured to stretch and/or yield upon contact with an external perforation means. A lid is attached to the capsule body.

The invention relates to a cartridge system (1) for producing a drink in a drink preparation machine, comprising a cartridge (2) that has a reservoir (6) filed with a drink substance (7), and a cartridge receiver (10) that can be reversibly connected to the cartridge, said cartridge receiver (10) comprising a mixing chamber (8) and a cartridge discharge device (34) which causes at least partial transfer of the drink substance (7) from the reservoir (6) into the mixing chamber (8), and said cartridge receiver (10) comprising a fluid supply (12) which opens into the mixing chamber (8). The invention also relates to the cartridge receiver (10) of the cartridge system (1), the drink preparation machine, and the corresponding method for producing a drink (70).

The invention relates to a cartridge system (1) for producing a drink in a drink preparation machine, comprising a cartridge (2) that has a reservoir (6) filed with a drink substance (7), and a cartridge receiver (10) that can be reversibly connected to the cartridge, said cartridge receiver (10) comprising a mixing chamber (8) and a cartridge discharge device (34) which causes at least partial transfer of the drink substance (7) from the reservoir (6) into the mixing chamber (8), and said cartridge receiver (10) comprising a fluid supply (12) which opens into the mixing chamber (8). The invention also relates to the cartridge receiver (10) of the cartridge system (1), the drink preparation machine, and the corresponding method for producing a drink (70).

The invention relates to a cartridge system (1) for producing a drink in a drink preparation machine, comprising a cartridge (2) that has a reservoir (6) filed with a drink substance (7), and a cartridge receiver (10) that can be reversibly connected to the cartridge, said cartridge receiver (10) comprising a mixing chamber (8) and a cartridge discharge device (34) which causes at least partial transfer of the drink substance (7) from the reservoir (6) into the mixing chamber (8), and said cartridge receiver (10) comprising a fluid supply (12) which opens into the mixing chamber (8). The invention also relates to the cartridge receiver (10) of the cartridge system (1), the drink preparation machine, and the corresponding method for producing a drink (70).

Disclosed is a system for producing a beverage, in particular a cold beverage, comprising a cartridge that has a reservoir tilled with a beverage substance, a beverage preparation unit with a cartridge receptacle into which the cartridge can be rcvcrsibly inserted, and a cartridge discharge device which causes at least partial transfer of the beverage substance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber; furthermore, the beverage preparation unit comprises a fluid supply which opens into the mixing chamber, or the system includes a movable plunger which is placed inside the reserv oir and can be transferred from a starling position into a final position by means of the cartridge discharge device.