A machine for preparing a product from a capsule that contains desired ingredients is provided. The machine includes a housing, a brew chamber disposed in the housing for holding a capsule and an injection system adapted for injecting a fluid into said capsule. In one embodiment, the injection system has a plurality of injection nozzles that are each adapted for piercing a lid of a capsule. In another embodiment, the brew chamber has at least one movable portion that is adapted to move to receive different sized capsules.

A beverage brewing container is configured to be disposed within a brewing chamber of a beverage brewer and to hold brewing material while being brewed. The container includes a receptacle and a cover. The receptacle includes a base and a sidewall. The base has an interior surface and a passageway in an interior area of the base. The sidewall extends upward from the interior surface of the base. The cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the sidewall and includes an opening. The container is configured to accept input fluid through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway. The passageway allows the outflow fluid to flow from the container without being substantially received by a needle of the beverage brewer.

An inlet arrangement of a beverage forming apparatus is provided, where the inlet arrangement is configured to deliver liquid to a beverage cartridge. The inlet arrangement includes a central inlet port and a plurality of inlet ports arranged around the central inlet port. The beverage forming apparatus has the ability to implement different dispensing operations in which dispensing occurs through selectable subsets of the inlet ports.

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage. The capsule comprises an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end which may be provided with a plurality of radially extending open grooves. The sealing member is integral with the outwardly extending flange and comprises at least one projection projecting from the outwardly extending flange. The projection comprising a projection top and is configured such that its projection top exerts a radial force on the free contact end of the annular element if the capsule is positioned in the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device and the enclosing member is closed by means of a closing member of the beverage preparation device.

A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage. The capsule comprises an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end which is provided with a plurality of radially extending open grooves. The capsule comprises a bearing for the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device if the capsule is positioned in the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device and the enclosing member is closed by means of a closing member of the beverage preparation device, said bearing enclosing at least a portion of the free contact end of the annular element.

Described herein includes a puncture mechanism for a beverage appliance or machine that can be configured to puncture a pod containing a beverage medium (e.g., a flavoring agent). The puncture mechanism can be configured to induce lateral movement of one or more engagement members to securely hold a beverage pod. The puncture mechanism can be configured to induce relative axial movement between an anvil and the secured beverage pod to puncture a seal of the beverage pod.

A beverage preparation machine having an inlet arrangement and a gasket arrangement is provided, where the inlet arrangement is configured with a plurality of inlet ports to deliver liquid to a beverage cartridge. The gasket arrangement may include a plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of inlet ports is received within one of the plurality of openings. The gasket arrangement may be integrally formed and may include one or more ribs disposed about each of the plurality of openings. A perimeter rib may extend along a perimeter of the gasket arrangement.

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.

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.

A used capsule moving assembly includes a capsule blocking device leaving a capsule opening accessible, a used capsule moving device supporting the capsule blocking device and moving the capsule blocking device by taking it in front of a cutting device to partially open a capsule lid, in front of an emptying device to empty a used or extracted or exhausted substance, including used ground coffee, from a capsule body without breaking or destroying the capsule body, and in front of a capsule collection device to collect the capsule body emptied of the used or extracted or exhausted substance. The used capsule moving device displaces the capsule blocking device along a linear path at least when the capsule blocking device is placed so as to take the capsule body with the longitudinal capsule axis thereof in front of each of the cutting, emptying, and collection devices.