Fixed-volumes of liquid are measured and dispensed from a container by empirically determining the liquid surface height and opening a dispensing valve for a time period that is calculated using a volume of liquid specified to be dispensed and the empirically-determined liquid surface height. The liquid surface height in the container is determined empirically for initial and subsequent volumes of liquid that are dispensed. Dispensing accuracy is maintained whether the container is full or nearly empty.

A method of operating an automated beverage generating system. The method comprises receiving one or more electrical signals representative of an order for a specified beverage. The method further comprises translating the order into one or more steps required to generate the specified beverage. The method still further comprises and entering each required step into a dynamic sequence corresponding to a module of the system configured to perform that particular step, the dynamic sequence representing an order in which one or more steps in the dynamic sequence will be performed by the module for one or more beverages to be generated by the system.

A solvent-borne base paint or stain includes one or more polymeric binders, one or more pigments or dyes, one or more vehicles or carriers, and at least one synergist that will disperse water-only fluid colorants throughout the solvent-borne base paint or stain.

A point-of-sale custom color system for tinting base paints and stains includes an array of water-only fluid colorants and at least one synergist containing, primarily or exclusively, one or more ingredients that will disperse the water-only colorants into solvent-borne base paints or stains. The one or more water-only colorants provides a compatibly tinted base paint or stain.