Cooler control system for a beverage dispense system 1 having a beverage line (2) extending from a beverage source to a dispense site via a cooler (6). The cooler control system comprises: a controller (51) for adjusting the cooling of the beverage line; a flow rate sensor (41) measuring the flow rate in the beverage line, a temperature sensor (40); and an electronic control unit (31) for receiving a signal from the temperature sensor and/or the flow rate sensor and sending a signal to said controller. Cooler monitoring system comprising: at least one sensor (45) for monitoring energy consumption of the cooler (6); and an electronic control unit for receiving a signal from the at least one energy consumption sensor and for sending a signal to a remote location when energy consumption increases above a predetermined maximum value.

A system and method to prepare and dispense a N.sub.2 or N.sub.2/CO.sub.2 gas infused chilled beverage is provided. The beverage may be any non-carbonated liquid and in one embodiment the beverage is coffee. The dispensed N.sub.2 or N.sub.2/CO.sub.2 gas infused chilled coffee has a unique appearance and enhanced flavor and aroma. The system may be provided as a self-contained unit.

An apparatus for brewing and dispensing a beverage comprising a fermentation container for containing and fermenting a beverage, the fermentation container comprising a first outlet, and a collector for collecting waste from the fermentation container, the collector being attachable to and detachable from the fermentation container at the first outlet.

Beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a container and a tapping apparatus having a chamber in which the container fits and can be entered into through an opening closable by a lid, such that the container is enclosed between the lid and an opposite end of a chamber, wherein spaced apart from the lid and preferably at said opposite end of the chamber a first connector is provided, for feeding pressurised gas into the container through a gas inlet provided in the container, and at the side of the opening of the chamber a pressure element is provided for pressing the container with the gas inlet onto the first connector.

Beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a dispenser and a beverage container, wherein the beverage container has a neck portion and a shoulder portion adjacent the neck portion, wherein the neck portion is provided with at least an outflow opening and at least one gas inlet opening and wherein the dispenser comprises a housing, wherein the housing is provided with a receptacle for receiving at least part of the container, wherein the container is positioned in the dispenser with the neck and shoulder portion facing downward, such that the neck portion and at least part of the shoulder portion are received in the receptacle, wherein part of the shoulder portion extends close to and/or is in contact with a wall of the receptacle, wherein preferably a lid is provided over the container, enclosing a part of the container extending outside the receptacle.

A method and apparatus of filing beverage combines pressurized beverage delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the gas flow from the can during snift. By modulating beverage flow and especially pressure, it is possible to saturate a beverage, or optionally fill a can's widget with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beverage filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beverage bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.

A beer dispensing faucet is configured to be attached to a shank connector. The shank connector has a connecting member and an internal passageway having an outlet opening positioned within the connecting member. The dispensing faucet has a housing defining a central conduit having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The housing defines a valve seat in the central conduit and further has an aperture in communication with the central conduit. The inlet opening is dimensioned to correspond in size to the outlet opening of the internal passageway and further configured to be positioned in confronting relation to the outlet opening of the internal passageway. The housing has a connecting member configured to cooperate and connect to the connecting member of the shank connector. A valve stem is positioned in the aperture. The valve stem has a first position wherein the valve stem is engaged with valve seat to define a closed faucet position. The valve stem has a second position away from the valve seat to define an open faucet position.

A stand-alone ice and beverage dispenser is provided. Appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a bottom portion and a countertop. Appliance includes an ice maker assembly mounted on the countertop, a liquid dispenser assembly mounted on the countertop, and a sealed refrigeration system. Sealed refrigeration system includes a compressor, condenser, chamber evaporator, and an ice maker assembly evaporator fluidly coupled through a refrigerant conduit. The compressor is operably coupled to the refrigerant conduit for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant conduit. Appliance also includes refrigerant valve assembly including one or more valves. Refrigerant valve assembly is configured to selectively provide refrigerant to chamber evaporator to refrigerate chilled chamber and selectively provide refrigerant to the ice maker assembly evaporator for ice production.

A liquid sales management device is to be added to a liquid supply system supplying a liquid within a storage container to a dispensing device through a supply pipe with the liquid pressurized in order to cool the liquid in the dispensing device, and dispensing the cooled liquid to a drinking container. The liquid sales management device includes an actual flow rate determining unit that determines an actual measured flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the drinking container from the dispensing device, a cleaning mode detection unit that detects a cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and a consumption flow rate acquisition unit that determines an actual consumption of the liquid based on the number of cycles of the cleaning mode, a known liquid amount consumed in one cycle of the cleaning mode in the liquid supply system, and the actual measured flow rate.

Cooler control system for a beverage dispense system 1 having a beverage line (2) extending from a beverage source to a dispense site via a cooler (6). The cooler control system comprises: a controller (51) for adjusting the cooling of the beverage line; a flow rate sensor (41) measuring the flow rate in the beverage line, a temperature sensor (40); and an electronic control unit (31) for receiving a signal from the temperature sensor and/or the flow rate sensor and sending a signal to said controller. Cooler monitoring system comprising: at least one sensor (45) for monitoring energy consumption of the cooler (6); and an electronic control unit for receiving a signal from the at least one energy consumption sensor and for sending a signal to a remote location when energy consumption increases above a predetermined maximum value.