There is proposed a dispensing apparatus attachable to a container that includes a retractable spout. The dispensing apparatus can dispense a predetermined volume of liquid or aerate a liquid being dispensed, wherein the retractable spout includes a volumetric dispensing assembly for dispense the predetermined volume of liquid, and/or a turbulence forming element that is configured to aerate the liquid.

A container (10) having a hollow body (24) providing a space (11) to receive a liquid to be dispensed. The container (10) may also dispense granular material, pellets or powder. A valve assembly (31) of the container (10) is adapted to dispense a predetermined volume of the liquid.

Techniques for monitoring dispensed liquid include an intelligent spout that incorporates an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) for tracking its own orientation and movement in three-dimensional space. The spout has its own processor, memory, and wireless networking components, which support local data processing, data logging, and bi-directional wireless communication. Communication may be carried out with a server, with other spouts of like kind, and/or with other devices.

The invention provides a multi-compartment container for storing and dispensing separately a plurality of consumable liquids that can be mixed in an accurate and repeatable manner. Each storage compartment within the container encloses a predetermined quantity of a consumable liquid, wherein the first compartment is filled with a first liquid and the other compartments are filled with second and third liquids. The individual storage compartments are structurally merged to form elongated dispensing compartments each with a first end and a second end, wherein a one-way outlet positioned at the first end and a one-way outlet located at the second end permits passage of liquid from the storage compartments into the corresponding dispensing compartments. Upon fully inverting the container, the designated outlet of each dispensing compartment is opened, wherein precise amounts of liquids in the first, second, and third compartments are dispensed at constant volume ratio using gravity.

A beverage dispenser comprises a bottle holder, a motor, and a controller. The bottle holder is configured to hold a bottle of a liquid beverage. The motor is connected to the bottle holder and configured to move the bottle holder in an angular movement to bring the bottle into a pouring position. The controller is configured to control the bottle holder via the motor in a set pattern to dispense a portion of the liquid beverage from the bottle into a serving receptacle. The liquid beverage may be wine, and the serving receptacle may be a wine glass. The liquid beverage may be liquor, and the serving receptacle may be a shot glass. The portion of the liquid may be an amount of liquid to fill the receptacle to a designated level. The portion of the liquid beverage is less than the entire capacity of the bottle.

This disclosure describes, in part, embodiments of a material dispenser configured to dispense material while tracking an amount of dispensed material and messaging to a user, in near-real-time, the amount of dispensed materials, a running cost of the dispensed materials, and/or the like. The material dispenser may include one or more weight sensors to track an amount of dispensed material and a display to indicate to a user a running amount of material that has been dispensed and a running cost to the user.

A dispenser for dispensing a beverage from a beverage bottle, especially for dispensing wine from a wine bottle and facilitating the aeration of the dispensed wine while it is being poured to shorten the time normally devoted to breathing the wine. An open lesser end of the dispenser inserts into the neck of a wine bottle and preferably seals therein. A valve may be closed to temporarily preserve the wine in the bottle for later aeration while dispensing.

A system and method for dispensing beverage from a container, such as wine from a wine bottle. Dispensing may be automatically controlled based on a detected orientation of the container, e.g., dispensing may occur when a bottle is tilted as if to pour from the bottle and stopped when the bottle is oriented upright. Dispensing may be stopped when the container is rotated about its longitudinal axis even while in a pour orientation. A remaining amount of beverage in the container and/or an amount of pressurized gas used to drive dispensing may be detected and beverage dispensing controlled accordingly.

Various beverage preparation systems and methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation system can include a dispensing unit configured to receive beverage, such as a shot of espresso, from a beverage preparation machine. The dispensing unit can include a dispensing unit with a first end and a second end. The dispensing unit can be rotatable between an upright position and an inverted position. The dispensing unit can be configured to receive the beverage through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the upright position, and can be configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position. In some embodiments, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the beverage out of the first end and into a cup or other vessel.

A system and method for dispensing sparkling and other non-pressurized beverages from a container. Sparkling wine and other beverages may be dispensed using a dispensing system that includes a stopper body that can be engaged with the container at the container opening. The stopper body may be arranged to introduce gas into the container during pouring-type dispensing, as well as re-pressurize and seal the container for storage, e.g., to keep a carbonation level of beverage remaining in the container.