The invention relates to a cartridge housing comprising a diluting means, especially a water supply, a mixing chamber in which the diluting means and a beverage and/or food substrate are mixed, and an outlet. The cartridge housing is fitted with a hollow rod such that the sealing film of the cartridge is pierced as soon as the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge housing, thereby creating the flow connection between the cartridge and a mixing chamber.

Improvements in a single serve point of consumption beverage dispensing valve is disclosed. The valve includes a fresh water input fitting, a carbonated water inlet fitting a vacuum pump that transfers concentrated from a flavor bullet and diffuses the concentrate with water an optionally carbonation to provide a consistent mixture. The flavor bullet manifold is self-cleaning to eliminate flavor cross-contamination. An initiation lever starts the mixing, diffusion and dispensing that is monitored and controlled with a micro water flow metering system that controls flow solenoids and dispensing of the mixed beverage.

A beverage dispensing system for dispensing alcoholic beverages includes a beverage dispensing package and a connector assembly configured to be coupled to the package. The package includes an outer container and at least one divider positioned within the outer container to form a plurality of compartments. The package also includes a plurality of inner containers, with one of the inner containers positioned within each of the compartments. Each inner container stores an alcoholic beverage and each container includes an outlet to enable the alcoholic beverage to be dispensed. The connector assembly includes a plurality of connectors for coupling to a respective outlet of the inner containers, and a dispensing line coupled to the connectors. The connector assembly couples the inner containers in flow communication with the dispensing line to enable the alcoholic beverages within each of the inner containers to be jointly dispensed through the dispensing line.

A multi reservoir dispenser includes a first reservoir for holding a first fluid and a second reservoir for holding a second fluid. The dispenser further includes first pump mechanism that includes a first displaceable plunger and a first plunger cavity that is disposed along a first flow path for receiving the first fluid and a second displaceable plunger and a second plunger cavity for receiving the second fluid. An actuator includes a selector and an actuator that are movable between: (a) a first position in which only the first plunger of the pump mechanism is actuated for discharging only the first fluid through a first orifice of a fluid dispensing manifold by causing the first fluid to flow along a first flow path; and (b) a second position in which only the second plunger of the pump mechanism is actuated for discharging only the second fluid through a second orifice of the fluid dispensing manifold by causing the second fluid to flow along a second flow path.

A beverage ingredient pod for releasing beverage ingredients into a bottle to create a mixed beverage includes a liquid-ingredient chamber, a solid-ingredient chamber, a frangible membrane between and separating the liquid-ingredient chamber and the solid-ingredient chamber, and a rigid piercer that extends to a point toward the frangible membrane. Upon a force applied to the beverage ingredient pod, a portion of the pod collapses and drives the rigid piercer through the frangible membrane. This mixes contents of the liquid-ingredient chamber with contents of the solid-ingredient chamber and releases the mixed contents from the beverage ingredient pod into a bottle below that is filled with a liquid, creating a mixed beverage.

Combined water dispensers and coffee making devices are disclosed, which include a cabinet configured to house a water bottle in a bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; a cold tank that is configured to receive water from the water bottle, which is connected to an evaporator; one or more hot tanks that are configured to receive water (directly or indirectly) from the cold tank, which are connected to a heating coil to heat the water that is contained therein; and a coffee making device located on a top side of the cabinet. The coffee making device receives water from the hot tank, receives a disposable cartridge that contains coffee grinds for a single-serving of coffee, causes water to contact the coffee grinds to produce a coffee beverage, and employs a set of spikes to make water entry and exit apertures in the cartridge.

A flavor dispenser adapted to be attached to the top of a beverage container, for example a beer can, is provided. The flavor dispenser includes one or more easily fillable flavor containers, and passages that allow the one or more flavorings to be mixed with the beverage by the user and discarded with the beverage container.

A beverage dispensing system comprises a container, an attachment mechanism, and a cartridge. The container may hold a mixing solution or liquid, such as water, to be mixed with the contents of the cartridge. The attachment mechanism is generally located within the container. The attachment mechanism may comprise an engagement assembly, a piercing portion, and a valve assembly. The engagement assembly may generally receive the cartridge within the attachment mechanism. The piercing portion may generally pierce the cartridge, thereby releasing the contents of the cartridge into the container. The valve assembly may generally open upon engagement of the cartridge with the attachment mechanism. The cartridge generally engages with the attachment mechanism to open the cartridge to be dispensed into the container, thereby combining the contents of the cartridge with the liquid within the container to create a drinkable beverage.

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 entering at least one of the required steps 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.

The present application provides a water distribution system with a flow of water therethrough. The water distribution system may include one or more water lines, a number of flow control passages in communication with the one or more water lines, a number of flow controllers with a number of preset flow rates positioned about the flow control passages, and a number of flow control valves positioned about the flow control passages such that opening one of the flow control valves allows the flow of water to flow through one of the flow control passages with the preset flow rate.