A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

A beverage dispenser and process of dispensing a beverage may include pumping a micro-ingredient from a micro-ingredient container via a fluid path toward a nozzle to dispense a beverage inclusive of the micro-ingredient. The micro-ingredient may be reverse pumped via the fluid path back to the micro-ingredient container to cause an air bubble in the fluid path to be pushed into the micro-ingredient container.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage 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.

What is proposed is a beverage preparation machine for producing a beverage, into which a cartridge system having a cartridge and a cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted, wherein the cartridge comprises a reservoir filled with a beverage substance, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a mixing chamber which can be brought into fluid communication with he reservoir, and a fluid supply line opening into the mixing chamber, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a compressed-air connection for blowing compressed air into the reservoir with the aid of a compressed-air line, wherein the beverage preparation machine also has a holding unit, into which the cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted, a fluid source for feeding the fluid into the fluid supply line, and a compressed-air source for blowing compressed air into the compressed-air connection, characterized in that the holding unit has a light element which is designed in such a way that the light element at least partially encloses the cartridge receptacle received in the holding unit.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

The heterogeneous contents mixing container includes a first container formed therein with a content storage space and a container coupling space separated from each other; a second container coupled to the first container and formed with an inlet and a coupling portion; a first discharge unit installed in the first container to discharge stored contents; a second discharge unit installed in the second container to discharge stored contents; and a push button configured to operate the first and second discharge units and formed with first and second discharge passages and first and second outlets which are connected to the first and second discharge units, respectively, wherein the container coupling space of the first container and the inlet and the coupling portion of the second container deviate to one side from a center between the first and second containers, and the second discharge is connected to the second discharge passage.

A cartridge is disclosed for containing and dispensing a fluid. The cartridge includes an outer housing enclosing an inner volume, an output spout, a plunger, and a first rib. The plunger is positioned within the internal volume and engages with the internal diameter of the outer housing. The first rib is positioned along at least a portion of the outer housing, and includes at least one identifier. The identifier includes the presence or absence of a recess at a plurality of locations along the first rib. Movement of the plunger within the internal volume forces a fluid from the internal volume out through the output spout.

The present invention is directed towards a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising at least one beverage dispensing module and a base unit upon or within which the or each module is positioned. Each module comprises a container housing a beverage reservoir and a beverage dispensing arrangement comprising a dispensing valve operable to be selectively opened to dispense beverage from the reservoir. Each module further comprises valve sensing means operable to determine when the dispensing valve is opened and provide a valve status signal indicative of whether the dispensing valve is opened. Each module further comprises communication means in communication with the valve sensing means and arranged to receive the valve status signal. The base unit comprises a base-module receiver operable to communicate with the communication means of one or more modules to receive the valve status signal therefrom. The apparatus is particularly suitable for alcoholic beverages.

A machine (1) for preparing beverages and presenting a plurality of beverage concentrate cartridges (2) provided to collect a respective beverage concentrate (3), and a concentrate discharge device (4) adapted so that can interact with each one of said beverage concentrate cartridges (2), whereby said beverage concentrate cartridges (2) are provided so that the beverage concentrate (3) is discharged, from the discharge part (22) of each of said beverage concentrate cartridges (2), directly to the exterior of said machine (1), in particular into a beverage recipient (A) that can be placed on the discharge zone of a service disposition (11), without touching in any other part of the machine (1). Also, a process for preparing beverages based upon the machine (1) for preparing beverages.