Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A bag assembly for use with a heat exchanger includes a flexible bag having of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the bag having a first end that bounds a first compartment and an opposing second end that bounds a second compartment, a support structure being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment is separated and isolated from the second compartment. A first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the first compartment. A second inlet port, a second outlet port, and a second drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the second compartment.

An improved drinking vessel is a drinking cup or glass having a mixing blade located on the interior bottom having a shaft passing through the bottom of the glass to a rotationally separate portion of the glass that can be spun by hand. A screen sets inside the glass just above the mixing blade to prevent ice or other large solids in the glass from contacting the mixing blade.

A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface bounding a compartment. A first rotational assembly includes a first casing mounted to the first end of the flexible bag and a first hub rotatably mounted to the first casing. A second rotational assembly includes a second casing mounted to the second end of the flexible bag and a second hub rotatably mounted to the second casing. An elongated member has a first end coupled with the first hub and an opposing second end coupled with the second hub, the connector being flexible and having a uniform flexibility along its entire length. A first impeller is mounted to the connector.

A novel device for frothing milk and corresponding method are disclosed. The frothing device preferably comprises a rotatable shaft, an impeller rotatable by the shaft, and a screen disposed about the bottom of the impeller downstream of milk being pushed by the impeller. In another embodiment, the frothing device may further comprise a pitcher having a bottom wall, wherein the rotatable shaft extends upward from the bottom wall of the pitcher. This embodiment may further comprise a heater in the base of the pitcher. In yet another embodiment, the frothing device may further comprise a pitcher having a bottom wall, wherein the rotatable shaft extends upward from the bottom wall of the pitcher. This embodiment may further comprise a housing having a heater and a nub extending upwardly from the housing. The nub is configured to engage an opening at the bottom of the shaft for rotating the shaft. The disclosed embodiments advantageously create foam and further break the foam bubbles down into microscopic bubbles resulting in a silky smooth foam-textured milk without the conventional use of a steam wand or other such device.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

A method for processing a fluid includes removably securing a retention member to a vessel that bounds a chamber; inserting a collapsible bag within the chamber of the vessel; securing the bag to the retention member so that the bag is supported within the chamber of the vessel; and dispensing a fluid into a compartment of the collapsible bag supported within the chamber of the vessel. The fluid can be mixed within bag while the bag is disposed within the vessel.

Systems and methods operable to brew and then cool a beverage include inserting a pod into a recess of a machine for providing the beverage, the pod comprising granulated ingredients and a filter, displacing a cap of the pod, by a plunger, into the pod; the plunger being used to compress the graduated ingredients and the filter, heating water within the machine using a refrigeration system of the machine, flowing the heated water through the compressed granulated ingredients and through the filter of the pod to brew a brewed beverage; and dispensing the brewed beverage from the pod.

A stirring member (90) for an industrial stirrer, in particular for a stirring rod arrangement, for connecting to a stirring mechanism combinable with a container for receiving liquids, wherein the container comprises a filling opening closable with a lid for filling the container in an upper bottom wall, wherein the stirring member is connectable to a rod-shaped stirring member carrier of the stirring rod arrangement, wherein the stirring member comprises a bearing end (91) and a stirring member end (94) connected to the bearing end (91) via a link (92) and having a flow tube (93), wherein the flow tube comprises a tube wall, wherein the flow tube comprises an annularly formed accumulating surface (95) at its flow inlet cross section, wherein the accumulating surface comprises at least one circular ring sector (96) which is inclined with respect to an inflow plane of the flow inlet cross section.

A system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection, wherein the system comprises a pod comprising at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of a frozen confection; the system cools the pod; the system introduces water into the pod; the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent a build-up of the frozen confection on the at least one wall of the pod; and the system ejects the frozen confection out of the pod.