A capsule for the preparation of a beverage can include a container and a beverage ingredient contained therein. The container can include at least one support having a section on which a plurality of sequences of symbols is represented; each symbol is sequentially readable, by a reading arrangement of an external device, while the capsule is rotated along an axis of rotation. Each sequence can code a set of information related to the capsule, and at least one of the sequences can include symbols defining a preamble sequence that allows determination of a position of the symbols in the associated sequence coding the set of information related to the capsule. The container can include a cup-shaped body having a flange-like rim and a lid connected to the body, the support can be on a bottom of the rim, and the bottom of the rim can be opposed to the lid.

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.

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.

A coffee extraction apparatus includes: a grinder grinding whole beans into coffee powder having a preset size or less and discharging the coffee powder, a grinder inlet defined at a first side of the grinder to introduce the whole beans to the grinder, a grinder outlet defined at a second side of the grinder and discharging the coffee powder, and a first extractor. The first extractor includes: a receiver inlet that faces the grinder and that receives the discharged coffee powder, a filter part receiving the coffee powder through the receiver inlet and extracting coffee liquid by rotating the coffee powder with water of a first temperature, the first temperature being equal to or lower than 25 degrees Celsius, and a receiver that receives the water of the first temperature and that is configured to store the water of the first temperature or the extracted coffee liquid.

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

A device to brew beverages or otherwise extract compounds from solids into a liquid solvent, and to decrease the time necessary to accomplish such brewing or extraction, using physical motion. A method to decrease the time necessary to brew a beverage or extract compounds from solids into a liquid solvent without the necessity of adding thermal energy.

There is described a beverage preparation machine comprising a centrifugal brewing unit (2) for preparing a beverage by centrifugation of an ingredient contained in a capsule and mixed with a carrier liquid, the centrifugal brewing unit (2) comprising a centrifugal cell (3) for receiving such a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C); driving means (5) for rotating the centrifugal cell (3); a regulator for regulating a rotation speed of the centrifugal cell (3) by controlling the driving means (5) based on a feedback signal representative of a difference between a desired rotation speed and a measured rotation speed of a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) rotated in the centrifugal cell (3); the machine further comprising: liquid supply means (6, 4) for supplying carrier liquid to the centrifugal brewing unit (2); an optical reading arrangement (100) for reading a code on a periphery of a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) while the capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) is rotated relative to the optical reading arrangement (100) in the centrifugal cell (3) and generating an output signal representative of the code; wherein the beverage preparation machine is 15 configured to compute the feedback signal using an output signal of the optical reading arrangement (100) representative of at least part of a code of a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) read by the optical reading arrangement (100).

There is described a beverage preparation machine comprising a centrifugal brewing unit (2) for preparing a beverage by centrifugation of an ingredient contained in a capsule and mixed with a carrier liquid, the centrifugal brewing unit (2) comprising a centrifugal cell (3) for receiving such a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C); driving means (5) for rotating the centrifugal cell (3); a regulator for regulating a rotation speed of the centrifugal cell (3) by controlling the driving means (5) based on a feedback signal representative of a difference between a desired rotation speed and a measured rotation speed of a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) rotated in the centrifugal cell (3); the machine further comprising: liquid supply means (6, 4) for supplying carrier liquid to the centrifugal brewing unit (2); an optical reading arrangement (100) for reading a code on a periphery of a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) while the capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) is rotated relative to the optical reading arrangement (100) in the centrifugal cell (3) and generating an output signal representative of the code; wherein the beverage preparation machine is 15 configured to compute the feedback signal using an output signal of the optical reading arrangement (100) representative of at least part of a code of a capsule (2A, 2B, 2C) read by the optical reading arrangement (100).

A method and equipment for extracting dissolvable solids from small particles using a staged, counter-current battery of centrifuges is described. The advantages gained by working with particles having a mean diameter smaller than 50 microns and doing the extraction with the particles dispersed in a non-flowing liquid are (1) a significant reduction in the concentration gradient of the dissolvable solids across the diameter of the particles and throughout the body of particles being extracted in a comparable standard column battery and (2) higher overall yields because extraction can be conducted to a uniform limit rather than being constrained by a local (surface or column position) limit. As regards coffee extraction, the equipment and method are intended for the production of high quality concentrated coffee extracts rather than the production of soluble or instant coffee.