A beverage preparation capsule comprising a capsule body having a beverage preparation ingredient hermetically sealed therein, wherein a beverage outlet region of said capsule comprises: front and back sheets of air- and water-impermeable flexible film material arranged in face-to-face relationship along an edge; a folded strip of flexible film material in the form of a gusset extending inwardly from said edge, wherein at least a central region of said strip is provided with a plurality of perforations or a zone of weakness.

The cartridge (1) according to the invention comprises an envelope (2) having a first and a second end wall (4, 5) connected together by an annular lateral wall (6) and defining an inner chamber (7) containing a quantity or dose of a substance (S) for preparation of the beverage. The envelope (2) has at least one first and at least one second permeable wall (6a, 5) acting as an inlet for the introduction of a flow of water into the chamber (7) and as an outlet from it respectively for outflow of the beverage from chamber (7). Between the first and the second permeable walls (6a, 5) the envelope (2) has an outwardly projecting annular formation (3g). A portion of the permeable inlet wall (6a) for the introduction of water into the chamber (7) is made in the annular lateral wall (6) of the envelope (2). The annular formation (3g) extends from the second end wall (5) in a direction substantially opposite to the first end wall (4).

Pad for use in coffee machine for preparing at least one part of a single beverage serving. In use, in the coffee machine an aqueous fluid such as water is supplied under pressure to the pad so that the fluid is forced through the pad for obtaining a beverage that then exits the pad. The pad includes a covering with an interior space that is filled with a beverage preparation product for preparing the beverage, which beverage preparation product is a product such as ground coffee extractable with a fluid, such as water. The covering is formed by an optionally disc-shaped first sheet and a rigid shell, wherein the first sheet and the shell around their adjacent perimeter edges are connected to each other. The shell is equipped with at least one outlet, wherein on the interior space of the pad in a bottom of shell a fluid collecting structure is provided, advantageously embodied as channels in fluid connected with the at least one outlet. The pad is equipped with a second sheet that is positioned on the bottom of the shell and covering the fluid collecting structure or the channels. The second sheet is located between the beverage preparation product and the shell, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet each form a filter permeable to a fluid such as water and beverage, which can pass and that forms a barrier for the beverage preparation product so that, when in use, a fluid fed under pressure at the first sheet of the pad flows through the first sheet to the beverage preparation product so that the beverage is formed which then flows through the second sheet and via the fluid collecting structure, such as the channels, and leaves the pad through the at least one outlet opening.

A cartridge (10) containing a dose (12) of at least one substance for preparing a liquid product, e.g., coffee, by means of liquid and/or steam introduced into the cartridge (10). The cartridge comprises a body (14) containing the aforesaid dose (12), with a bottom wall (142), through which the liquid product is able to flow out of the cartridge (10), and a cover (16) that closes the body of the cartridge (10) at the end of the body opposite to the bottom wall (142). The body (14) comprises a crushed-plant-fibre material (e.g., with a base of rice husk), which may also be used for producing the cover. Alternatively, the cover (16) may be made of paper material (e.g., filter paper). The body (14) and the cover (16) are connected together via purely mechanical connection, it thus being possible to avoid gluing or welding.

A cartridge (10) containing a dose (12) of at least one substance, for example, ground coffee, for preparing a liquid product using liquid and/or steam introduced into the cartridge (10) comprises a body (14) with a bottom wall (142) and a cover (16) for closing the body (14) of the cartridge (10) in a position opposite to the bottom wall (142). The cover (16) is coupled to the body (14) via a coupling element, such as, for example, the mouth part (144) of the body or a lock ring (148) that undergoes shape variation under the action of said liquid and/or steam, thus causing release of the coupling between the cover (16) and the body (14) of the cartridge (10). The coupling element (144, 148) comprises, for example, compostable material that can undergo post-crystallization under the action of heat, which has not been subjected to post-crystallization in the cartridge (10) prior to use.

A capsule for producing a liquid food item includes a capsule body and two chambers for holding two substances. One chamber contains a perforation element for perforation of the capsule body. An anvil for a punch of a device into which the capsule can be inserted is provided on the perforation element.

A drip coffee apparatus includes a body of the drip coffee apparatus. The body includes a perforated top and notches at a bottom of the body of the drip coffee apparatus. A protruding handle is coupled with the body of the drip coffee apparatus. Furthermore a protruding tab is at the perforated top of the body of the drip coffee apparatus and a coffee filter is coupled to an interior of the body of the drip coffee apparatus.

A lid assembly outfits a liquid container and may function to position a liquid-permeable container relative to the liquid container. The lid assembly may include a lid body having a rim-receiving groove, an object-supportive depression, and a primary liquid-letting aperture. The primary liquid-letting aperture primarily enables liquid egression from the liquid container. The object-supportive depression supports objects and defines a tertiary liquid-letting aperture for outletting liquid into the liquid container. A lid body insert may be received and supported by the lid body in superior adjacency to the object-supportive depression and has a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body insert is rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid positions such that the secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable either in superior or lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for selectively opening and closing the lid assembly.

The disclosure provides a water soluble pouch including at least two sealed compartments, the pouch including outer walls including water soluble film including a water soluble resin, and an inner wall including water soluble film including a water soluble resin, the outer wall films being sealed to the inner wall film, the outer wall films being characterized by: a dissolution time of 300 seconds or less, the water soluble resin of the outer wall films having a viscosity in a range of 14.5 cP to 25 cP, and a pouch strength of at least 200 N, and the inner wall film being characterized by: a dissolution time of 300 seconds or less, the water soluble resin of the inner film having viscosity in a range of 12 cP to 14.5 cP, and a tackiness value of at least 1500 g/s.

The present invention provides devices for real-time, continuous, detection of spoilage and freshness of food products.